The fried rice was hard to swallow for Howard, even though it was packed full of flavor. He was starting to wonder if he had made the wrong decision in choosing the mysterious mission over a life of house arrest. Mostly because he wasn’t entirely sure he wouldn’t get that house arrest anyway once they returned.

When Howard asked Sanders about what would happen after, the answers were just about as clear as mud. It kind of annoyed Howard that he might be stranded or die with this man.

“Okay,” Sanders broke in once he passed out the cupcakes, “We will be leaving for NASA early tomorrow so get everything you need ready now. Here is some paper so you can make lists of any necessary personal or mission supplies you think we might leave out.”

“Isn’t this moving a bit too fast?” Natalie demanded.

“Well, I will admit we are in a hurry, but you will have time to train at my NASA base,” Sanders answered as he passed out the papers.

A blank sheet of bleached white paper slid to a perfect stop in front of Howard, along with a spinning pen. Things they needed for themselves or their mission? He didn’t have the first clue what to prepare for a mission in space. The others seemed to be writing something down, but Howard’s mind was as blank as the page.

“Don’t think too hard about it,” Sanders urged, “Go with your gut.”

Go with his gut? There wasn’t much room in a spacecraft, but then again the items could always be ditched later. Howard began making a list of all his favorite hunting equipment he had been forced to leave behind when he was practically kidnapped by the government. He also mentioned food and water, in case they were stupid and forgot. It would be good to have extra in case something went wrong.

Once he was finished Agent Sanders looked over his list and grinned. “I knew I liked you,” he said, “but don’t worry. I am in charge of the food so we will definitely have enough.” He ruffled Howard’s hair and walked off, a grin still planted on his face as he looked over the others’ lists. Howard patted his hair back down as he watched him carefully.

“What?” Miranda demanded when Sanders frowned at her list.

Stolen novel; please report.

“I don’t think you need every design from the lead fashion designers on our mission,” he told her, “Why don’t you narrow it down to ten, based on practicality and awesomeness?”

“Ten?” Miranda snorted, “I admit we won’t be gone that long but that seems a bit stingy.”

“Miranda, if I wasn’t funding your supplies personally you wouldn’t even get one,” Sanders pointed out.

Howard didn’t even want to think about how much everyone’s supplies might cost. How could Sanders just casually waste so much money? Miranda, on the other hand, stuck her tongue out at him and rolled her eyes like a moody teenager. She was acting completely different than she had at the prison, and she seemed to have some kind of grudge against Sanders.

“Now that you have written up your lists, why doesn’t everyone spend the rest of the day enjoying yourselves? We have a long day tomorrow, and who knows, this might be your last chance.”

“That was not funny,” Howard grumbled.

“What are you, a pessimistic optimist?” Miranda jabbed.

“Just someone who doesn’t want to think about dying,” Howard complained, “Not that I had much of a choice in joining this circus.”

James gave a dark chuckle. “Oh I am sure you got the same choice we did,” he said, “Agree or be doomed forever. Not that I mind, myself. I like the idea of dying out in space much better than rotting away in some prison while everyone forgets that I even existed.”

“Now that just sounds like depression,” Leon broke in with his perfect white smile, “I am sure there are plenty of people who never forgot any of us.”

“Yes, the feds,” Miranda said, “Isn’t that obvious? I mean we are all here?”

“Why don’t we stop stating the obvious and do as Agent Sanders suggests,” Natalie snapped, a cold glare freezing the room, “Whether or not we die I promise you we won’t get any rest at NASA, especially if we want to survive this.”

Howard got up. She was right. “Sanders, is there any way I could go outside? I don’t want to be stuck in a concrete jungle the whole time before you guys launch us into space.”

Sanders thought. “Maybe not outside, but we do have an indoor greenhouse you could relax in.”

“Indoor greenhouse?” Howard asked, not even trying to hide his disgust. So even though all of them had signed the contract, they weren’t even allowed out for a breath of fresh air. A greenhouse would have to do then. “Fine.”

The moment Howard saw the greenhouse he realized that he had underestimated this place once again. The area itself was about the size of a standard gym in a school, but the way it was set up gave the impression of the deep jungle the moment Howard opened the door. “This is a greenhouse?” he asked.

“Oh yes,” Sanders confirmed happily, “A fine work of art, isn’t it? I do hope you find the air fresh enough.”

Howard stepped inside. “Sure,” he mumbled. What else could he say? Hopefully, NASA didn’t have any surprises like this waiting for them.

Also, he had been trying to ignore it this whole time, but had Sanders said his NASA base? And hadn’t Selina been the one who was funding this mission?

No, he needed to shove those thoughts away until later. This may be his last chance to relax in nature and he was going to make it worth his time. Selina had been oddly quiet so maybe she wouldn’t interrupt him this time.

After spending the rest of the day in the jungle greenhouse Howard went back to his assigned room, finally feeling a bit relaxed. Those hours with nature and no other humans might make it so he could survive the next morning… Or not.