The mission

Hours after some rest in that hotel, we went out to do the mission. All we had to do was report on the station and talk to the team that was handling this place. Luckily the place was acclimatised, it wasn't hot, it wasn't cold, it was quite cool and comfortable for the people who were in space.

We started to walk around the station, and we could observe the same scene of yesterday, some rubbish and some robots that had to do certain tasks in this place, in the academy there were some, but they were only used to repair ships, they had no other uses than those.

Surprisingly, someone who was around spoke to us. She was a rather beautiful woman, with a dressing gown, red hair, and green eyes. She had square glasses.

"Hey... Students from the pilot academy?"

"Uh...yes."

"Come with me, I'll take you to the place where your tour will take place."

Arturo was not very sure about following that woman, but he ended up accepting, we were more than twenty cadets of age, physically we could defend them against any attack from any stranger. Nobody tried to do anything to stop us from following her. We just walked through that deserted station, almost silent at that hour, together with the mysterious woman. As we moved on, we noticed that the station seemed larger than we had initially thought. The corridors were long and labyrinthine, with flickering lights that gave a sense of enclosure. 

The woman led us through these streets, and eventually we came to a metal door that opened automatically upon our arrival. Crossing the threshold, we found ourselves in a large and quite advanced control room, with interactive screens and advanced computers.

"You have arrived in the Space Station's Central Operations Room. This is where we monitor and control all repair, maintenance and weather activities," the woman informed us as she pointed to the different areas of the room.

We were impressed by the technology and the amount of information displayed on the screens. It looked like a high-level command centre. The woman introduced us to the team of operators working in the room, all dressed in identical uniforms.

These are the station operators. They are in charge of coordinating all the operations and maintaining the proper functioning of the systems," the woman explained.

The team welcomed us and explained how they go about their daily work. They showed us the safety and emergency protocols, as well as the maintenance and monitoring routines they follow to ensure the efficiency of the station. Through a video on a giant screen, we were introduced to the people in charge of each department. As they spoke, we realised the importance of their work and the responsibility it entailed.

[...]

After a detailed presentation, the woman took us to another area of the station where we could observe the beauty of outer space from an elevated platform. From there, we could appreciate the immensity of the stars and the Earth suspended in the darkness of the universe.

The woman showed us from different screens about the different space missions carried out from the station and how they contributed to exploration and scientific advancement. She showed us the achievements and challenges faced by the astronauts and scientists participating in these missions. I felt tired of this. I wanted to get out of there.

After a two-hour exhaustive tour of the station and absorbing all the information we were given, we returned to the Central Operations Room, Arturo thanked the team for their time and hospitality during our time there.

As we walked back to our ship, Arturo reflected on the experience. Despite the initial strangeness and mystery surrounding the woman, the tour of the station had been fascinating and enriching. It had given us a deeper and more realistic view of what it meant to work in space, and had left us with a greater sense of admiration for those who dedicate their lives to space exploration.

With our minds filled with new ideas and perspectives, we prepared to return to the pilot academy to continue our training. The experience on the space station had been a powerful reminder of the infinite possibilities the universe offered and the importance of continuing to pursue our dreams.

For a moment she looked at me and spoke.

"Excuse me, do I know you from somewhere?"

"Eh.... No" I replied.

I tried to ignore her because I already knew it was because of the resemblance in some facial gestures she sometimes made. Lucia told me this on several occasions when we were together.

Despite this, she kept looking at me and managed to make me uncomfortable.

"Well, let's continue with the tour, to the security system," said the woman, breaking the uncomfortable silence. She led us into a room where there were monitors and security checks leading to one of the exits of the place.

In this room, they explained how the station's surveillance and access control systems worked. We were shown the strategically placed security cameras and how they constantly monitored each area to ensure the integrity and security of the station and its staff.

As the security procedures were explained to us, and everyone was concentrating on that, the woman came up to me and stared at me.

"Really, I have a feeling I know you," she insisted.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met before," I replied, trying to avoid the conversation.

She took my arm and spoke to me seriously.

"You look like Harrison the hero, he made that look of impression like that when he was young. I know I'm not wrong about that. I know he had two sons with different characteristics, one of them died."

I couldn't confirm her doubts, as it exposed my life, it made me feel uncomfortable to see her so close to me, but 

She gave me a card with a number on it.

"Whenever you feel ready, you can write to me."

But before I could continue, one of the security operators intervened upon seeing this.

"Hey... Young man, you must leave this area, don't be left behind."

In that section, they showed us how emergency drills were conducted and explained the protocols we were to follow in case of critical situations, such as life support system failures or a possible crash landing. 

The experience was intense and made us realise the importance of being prepared for any eventuality. The team of operators emphasised to us the need for calm and discipline in times of crisis.

[...]

At the end of the security tour, we met again with the mysterious woman. She seemed to have stopped insisting on her supposed prior knowledge of me and continued to lead us out of the station.

"I appreciate you coming and showing interest in our work here," the woman said with an enigmatic smile. "Remember, space is a fascinating place full of possibilities. Keep your passion alive as you continue your training.

We waved goodbye. We made our way to the landing area where the ships were landing to leave at once. We had nothing more to do there. We took with us the lessons learned and the enriching experiences of that unexpected tour. 

I was a bit confused about what happened, I didn't know what to think of that woman, while all my companions were talking about what they had experienced in that place.

As we headed towards the landing zone, Arturo noticed my pensive state and approached me.

"Are you all right? Did that woman say something to you?" asked Arturo with concern. Maybe he could see when that woman spoke to me.

"Yes, I'm just reflecting on the station and everything we saw," I replied. 

Arturo frowned and looked off into the distance before replying.

"I saw, the way that scientist looked at you was a bit suspicious, she got very close to you. Too close," he admitted. "But maybe it was just confusion."

His comment made me nod a little, and I tried to put my disturbing thoughts aside.

As the ship moved forward and away from the station, I was grateful for the opportunity to have had that unexpected tour. It had broadened my vision and understanding of space work and left me with a greater sense of admiration for the professionals who dedicated their lives to space exploration, but many doubts about my father and his mysterious life.

I could not risk my identity or safety by following the thread of this strange connection. I needed to stay focused on my training and fulfil my responsibilities as a cadet at the pilot academy.

I decided to keep the card the woman had given me and keep it secret for now. Perhaps, at some point in the future, when I felt more prepared and confident, I could seek answers and explore this possible connection to my father.