The next couple of weeks went quickly with them barely seeing each other. Howard found this time relaxing for the most part, but he still had to learn the basics. Zero-G training was tense and grueling, and most of the technical things went over Howard’s head.

Then Sanders came with a surprise announcement. “I know I am cutting the proposed training time in half, but we are going to have to leave tomorrow.”

“Are you insane?” Natalie demanded.

“This isn’t up to me,” Sanders replied, “JAXA just announced a team of overqualified professionals was going to be sent into space soon. They didn’t say why but everyone is panicking that they will get to the anomaly before we do.”

“Why is it so important that we get there first?” James asked.

Sanders paused. “Well, if the anomaly is a threat in any way my orders were to destroy it. If another nation makes it public that they are aware of the anomaly then it might cause an international dispute.”

“How exactly do you destroy an anomaly without making things worse?” Selina asked.

“That is what we are going up there to find out,” Sanders replied, “We need to get up there sooner rather than later so we have more time.”

“So today will be spent like test night cramming,” Leon huffed, “Here goes nothing.”

“Actually,” Sanders broke in, “Tonight you will be focusing on getting rest while everything is prepared. We have prepared meditation music for each of you that should etch the knowledge you went over into your subconscious while you sleep.”

“Hypnosis,” Miranda whispered.

Howard had been thinking along the same lines but she didn’t have to say it.

“Not quite,” Sanders told them, “but hypnosis is better than dying in space, right?”

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

James frowned. “Coming from the man who is forcing us into this unprepared that only sounds like a threat,” he growled.

Sanders flinched slightly. “Fair enough. You don’t have to listen to meditation overviews if you don’t want to, but let me know if you do.”

“I will listen to it,” Leon volunteered, “It is still better than late-night cramming.”

“I will as well,” Howard reluctantly agreed. He didn’t want to end up being the eternal useless one who got murdered the second things started to go wrong.

In the end, only James, Natalie, and Miranda refused to listen to the meditation. Howard found it very relaxing and slept very well, but Natalie seemed very stressed, and as they headed to the shuttle to prepare for takeoff Selina clung even closer than usual.

Takeoff was full of tension, as well as the sickening feeling of their stomachs falling through the floor. The shuttle slowly fell into a steady orbit around Earth as they got used to the lack of gravity buckled down into seats.

“It's finally over, right?” Miranda complained.

“We are in a stable orbit,” Jonathan supplied helpfully, looking far too gleeful as usual.

“How long until we come up to the anomaly?” Natalie asked.

“It should take several hours,” Sanders replied, “Most of the navigation will be automatic since we are in orbit so it should be fine to split up and get used to the shuttle in Zero-G.”

“That sounds boring,” Selina complained, “Just because we are in space shouldn’t mean we can’t have any kind of fun, right?”

“What are you getting at?” Leon asked.

Selina smiled. “There isn’t much to be doing, right? Why don’t we leave Sanders at the helm and play a little game of capture the flag.”

“What flag?”

“I guess that is our first order of business! Finding flag substitutes.”

“I really don’t think this is a good idea,” James argued, “We just got out here and we don’t really know what we are doing.”

“So the gangster is a scaredy-cat?” Miranda teased.

James sighed. “That kind of provocation won’t work on me.”

“Then how about we add a wager for the winning team?” Miranda suggested.

“What kind of wager?” Leon asked.

“I know,” Selina broke in, “Whichever team wins gets priority on their favorite foods while we are here.”

“Could you please knock it off,” Natalie sighed, “James was right, you shouldn’t be playing around right now.”

“Natalie will be the referee,” Miranda decided, “As for the team captains, me versus Selina.”

“Howard, come join my team!” Selina instantly called out.

Howard had been attempting to sneak away while they were still discussing things, but it seemed that would not be possible.

“No.”

“Then how about mine?” Miranda asked with a catlike grin.

“I am joining Miranda’s team,” James decided.

“I call Selina’s team!” Jonathan announced happily.

“Miranda,” Howard answered quickly before Leon could take the last spot. A team with both Selina and Jonathan could only mean bad news.

“Drat,” Leon groaned.

“Now, to find our substitute flags,” Selina hummed.