The beginning

Jed couldn't stop smiling. After months of admiring Serena Wilson from a far, he'd finally got her. Having endured loneliness all his life, he wanted to enjoy his first relationship to the fullest. His grip on her hand tightened as Adrian Powers stepped on the platform at the front of the hall.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." Adrian began, the light highlighting his bald head. The sixty year old man scanned the room before continuing. "You all know why I'm here. For six months, we've prepared all 50 of you for this day, but only 5 people will be in the first cohort going to explore Castia."

Jed's heart raced as sweat pooled in all parts of his body. Jed had worked so hard to get a chance to explore the planet because of his loneliness. Now that the woman he wanted accepted to be with him, he didn't feel like leaving earth anymore. He wanted to enjoy everything that came with having a girlfriend. The thought of dying a virgin in some unknown planet made his blood boil.

"…Without wasting time, I'll call the names of those who've excelled in the tests." Adrian continued. "When I call your name, please step forward."

The hall had gone so silent you could hear a pin drop. Jed scanned the expectant faces and sighed.

"The first person we have is Kim Seo Jin."

"Yes!" the petite girl screamed from the front.  Jed was not surprised. Seo Jin was one of the smartest people he'd ever met. The crowd cheered as Seo Jin climbed the platform. She was wearing a black blouse and slacks of the same colour.

"Next is David Carrey."

Those standing next to David patted him on the back as the room eruption into laughter and loud cheering. As usual, David Carrey was eating something as he went to the front. They called him David the glutton. He was very intelligent and always had solutions to problems, but couldn't stop eating to save his life.

At first, the instructors had tried to punish him when he couldn't stop eating everywhere, but they gave up upon realising he couldn't tame his appetite. Despite over eating, he had a sharp mind and remained pencil thin.

"Next up is Miles Jamison."

Laughter and applause filled the room as the mixed race Adonis walked to the platform.  His friends patted his back and laughed out loud. 

"I wonder how he'll survive without women," Serena chuckled. Miles was known for flirting with every female. Half of the girls in the Space program had slept with him.

Jed was now sweating profusely. He snaked his thin arm around Serena's shoulders and pulled her closer. Only two names to go, he thought, his heartbeat becoming faster each passing minute. 

"Next, we have Andres Montecristo."

There was a loud and serious applause for Andres. Everyone seemed relived he was leaving. Andres was a workaholic. During group work, he never let his teammates rest. 

"Last but not least," Adrian said, pausing. Jed was shaking so bad he'd have fallen if not for Serena's support. He closed his eyes and waited. "The last person joining the 1st Cohort heading to Planet Castia is Jed Sommers."

Jed's heart almost stopped. He turned to Serena who was staring wide-eyed at him. 

"Did he?" Jed asked.

The beautiful brunette nodded and wrapped her hands around him. Jed's mind was reeling as the applause swooshed by his ears.

"Jed Sommers, please step forward."

Jed could feel all eyes on him. He pulled back and looked at Adrian. 

"I do not wish to join the first cohort," he yelled. 

A dramatic hush fell over the room before murmurs started.  Everyone was staring at the boy who dared to refuse a one in a lifetime opportunity. When Adrian didn't say anything, Jed wondered what was going on in the old man's head.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed his wrist. He turned to see the stoic face of a guard wearing a navy blue uniform.

"Leave me alone!" Jed screamed at the guard as he dragged him towards the platform. What was this? A kidnapping? Planetary exploration was supposed to be voluntary. 

"You're dismissed," Adrian told the other young scientists. No one moved. They all decided to watch the young man giving them a show. Jed knew he was going to be the subject of conversation for a long time. He scanned the crowd for Serena as he and the others were shepherded into a room near the platform. She was crying. 

Maryanne Keller and Andrew Young, two middle aged scientists were waiting for them in the high tech chamber. The room had large glass windows and was illuminated with soft blue light. Jed's face fell when he saw five space suits lined on the right wall. Underneath the suits were chairs that looked almost identical to the ones in the dentist's office.

"I do not want to go," Jed told Maryanne who was wheeling a small machine towards one of the chairs. 

Maryanne stopped and threw him a look of sympathy. "But you have to. Although you've never tried leadership, you're the one with top leadership capabilities among this group. And you're good at heart. We believe you can keep the team grounded and focused on the mission."

"But I'm a loner," Jed insisted.

"That ends today," Adrian powers said, stepping into the room. "From today, all of you will stick together until your part of the mission is over. We need to colonise that planet as soon as possible."

"Colonise?" Jed raised his brow. "I thought we were exploring it to see how the Castians keep their planet intact."

Adrian laughed. "Don't be daft. That planet is fresh and full of minerals. We need it under us. Earth's resources are getting depleted and it may collapses soon, given the rate at which were destroying it."

"The Castians do not deserve to be stripped of their land," Jed insisted. 

"Don't worry so much about it. All you have to do is give us the information we need and we'll do the rest."

"I don't want to be part of this anymore."

Adrian laughed. "Boy, you're already part of it."

"I'll not give you any information."

Adrian gestured to a guard who stopped forward and grabbed Jed's wrist. 

"Once you're dropped at Castia, get rid of the space suits. They're programmed to self-destruct once you get there, leaving you in normal clothes. We'll input brain chips that activate individual systems in your bodies. With this, the five of you can activate a stronger system that will be the ultimate guide through the planet. That's why you'll have to stick together for the whole of your stay."

"Kim Seo Jin," Maryanne read, staring at a blue keyboard. Seo Jin stepped forward.

"Sit down," the older man said.

Seo Jin sat on the chair and Maryanne adjusted it to recline. Jed watched as Maryanne positioned the large square machine over Seo Jin's head. She pressed a button and the machine whirred into life. It emitted blue right rays which circled Seo Jin's head.

"Close your eyes," Maryanne told the girl who did as told. A part of the machine with a pointy end descended on Seo Jin's head in one swift movement. Seo Jin screamed, trying to get up but the strap tying her to the chair kept her down.

"Done," Maryanne said, standing straight. "Suit her up. Jed Sommers, you're next."

Jed's heartbeat skyrocketed.