Everyone, strap in! Santiago shouted from the rear, he had just dodged debris.
Everyone strapped in immediately except master lee.
Master Lee floated towards him. "What happened?" he asked, sensing an incoming danger.
"Nothing much, sir. I just dodged a debris, it looked like a lost ship" Santiago replied.
"Great, we're safe for now, just keep an eye out and don't turn around. Go straight you will see something like that debris you dodged again. That's the exit," Master Lee said letting out a breath of relief
"What do you mean we're safe for now?" "and what exit?" Santiago asked.
Master Lee glanced at Yelena.
"It's nothing, San. Focus and be extra careful" Yelena said, patting him gently at the back.
Master Lee turned to face the crew.
"Everyone, I am Master Lee. It looks like we've entered aliens territory,"
"Alien what?" Yelena asked.
Everyone was stunned.
"What Santiago dodged wasn't debris, it was a gate to an alien zone". Master Lee explained.
"What the heck is an alien gate? I thought aliens only existed in movies and novels" Mike blurted out.
"Have some manners, dude," Greg said to Mike.
"What's the situation now? Are we in danger?" Tomi asked. Everyone nodded in agreement to his question, all eyes were fixed on Master Lee.
"Not yet, we're not in danger, but our safety isn't guaranteed yet." Master Lee said calmly.
Andrea held Lilliana's hand, quietly assuring her everything will be okay.
Liliana pulled out her journal. Glancing at her space watch, she wrote:
Day 8:
What once existed only in movies and novels, could actually be real.
Aliens.
"Commander Yelena," Master Lee called, "send a report to Earth right now, let them know we entered aliens territory." Master Lee said.
"Right away," Yelena replied, heading straight to the system.
"Yelena Kovacs reporting from space. We just entered alien territory," she announced, once a signal confirmed someone was online.
"Report from space: the rescue team has trespassed into alien territory" The space communicator forwarded the message to other global branches.
Back in space, the air inside the ship felt colder, fear gripped everyone. Silent prayers filled the room, all hoping to escape the alien zone unharmed.
"Master Lee, how sure are you that we're in alien territory?" Zara asked.
"I've been here before," Master Lee said after a pause. He breathed in deeply. It wasn't a pleasant experience"
"Why isn't he turning? Isn't turning around safer?" Zara asked.
"He can't turn," Master Lee replied. "If Santiago turns the ship, the aliens might detect us.
They will see us as trespassers and attack."
"There's an exit up ahead," he continued. "He just needs to keep moving straight and follow that exit, once we're out we're safe."
"This is serious," Mike muttered.
"Let's stay focused, everyone. We can do this," Yelena added.
"There's another piece of debris ahead," Santiago called out.
Master Lee rushed over.
"Perfect. That's the exit. You have to pass through it, but be extra careful. The ship mustn't touch it. Master Lee warned.
"Everyone stay still. No sudden movements," Yelena commanded.
Santiago followed master Lee instructions with laser focus. Slowly, carefully he navigated the exit. No scratches.
"Good job," Master Lee commended him with a genuine smile.
"Everyone! We're safe now," Master Lee announced, smiling.
"Yayyy!" Everyone cheered happily.
Yelena returned to the communication system.
"Yelena Kovacs reporting from space, we're out of alien territory."
Those on Earth rejoiced.
"That calls for a celebration!" Martins shouted happily from the back.
Everyone laughed.
"Looks like some people came up here for fun," master Lee muttered under his breath.
"Hope you brought the wine" Zara teased.
"I did!" Kenny shouted from the back grinning
"This isn't the time for celebration. That time will come." Master Lee reminded them.
"Do you believe aliens exist?" Liliana asked Andrea quietly.
"We almost had an encounter with them just now. Would you have loved to say hello to them?" Andrea teased.
"I'm being serious, Andrea," Liliana said, refusing to laugh.
"Alright, alright. I didn't believe they existed because I haven't encountered them, but now I do" what about you? Do you believe they exist?" Andrea asked.
"Same. I never believed either, but now I do" Liliana replied.
"So if I asked you to marry me, would you say 'I do' now?" Andrea teased.
"You're so silly, Andrea," Liliana said, giving him a playful knock on the head as she laughed.
Mike watched them and frowned.
Zara, sitting quietly, pulled out a small thick covered note book from her bag. She wrote:
I wonder if he's going to propose to her in space, it would be so romantic.
She smiled, then tucked the notebook back into her bag.
She was writing a comic with Andrea and Liliana as the leads.
Suddenly, the Earth communicator signaled an incoming call from earth.
Yelena quickly answered and a report came through:
Fire outbreak. Eighty five lives lost in North Korea.
Commander Yelena went to inform the crew members immediately.
"Eighty five lives have been lost in North Korea," she announced, eyes lowered. "We still don't even know the cause of this disaster, let alone a solution.
"Don't beat yourself up. I am sure we will uncover whatever is the cause and come up with a solution." Master Lee said gently.
"I have something to say," Liliana said, raising her hand, drawing everyone's attention towards her.
"Go ahead and share it." Master Lee encouraged.
'Star girl' Zara admired her silently.
Liliana spoke:
"From my perspective, based on what I've read and discovered and with everything happening so far, I think the problem is from the ozone layer. Human activities in the use of chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons and halons could have weakened it.
"There were reports that the ozone layer had healed somewhat due to the reduced production of those chemicals. But if they're being.produced again, combined with harmful Earth activities like mining, bush burning, oil refining, then the ozone layer might be too weak to block ultraviolet rays from the sun."
"That could be what's causing the unprecedented heatwaves.'
"Second theory: Aliens. We almost had an encounter with them forty minutes ago. Their activities in space might be interfering with our atmosphere. If they've tampered with the ozone layer, we might be facing an entirely new kind of threat.
"What do you all think?"
The room was quiet. Then came a wave of nods, everyone was impressed. Her words resonated.