feeling like he had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He should have known the woman was a good listener in the absence of speaking herself.
“I worked at a research lab.”
“Doing what?”
“Research,” she answered tersely but cracked the first smile Luca had seen throughout the entire journey thus far.
He smiled back, “I’m not sure if that will be enough to score us some coffee.”
“We’ll just have to risk it, then.” She said and turned her attention back to the frog and with careful precision, unfolded the paper creature.
Luca stayed a moment longer to see if she might have a change of heart but she remained silent, retreating back into herself as she had grown so known for doing. Finally, he left her to her devices. In his wake, Jia let her hands fold the paper from muscle memory as her mind reluctantly traveled back to the research lab.
ɸ ɸ ɸ
Jia had worked on the Colony One project since the very beginning – from the discovery of a habitable planet to the logistics and planning to get there. Manned space travel was already in practice – all they needed now was a level of certainty and a new class of ship to make the colonization concept a reality.
When their sponsor, World Corp, had learned of the initial discovery, they spared no expense in the research to find a way to travel there. It was a dream job for Jia – fulfilling in every way. The idea of being able to help establish a colony on a planet even better than Earth was one that kept her spirits high every day. Much of Earth’s population was buzzing with excitement and hope at what salvation planets Alpha and Beta could bring – and she could be a part of making it a reality.
For a year, her team worked on various phases of the project and Jia had expected at least half a decade would go by before they could confidently recommend sending fully equipped colonies to the planets that had been discovered. So, just one year into the project, it was beyond shocking to her when she discovered that World Corp was going forward with the construction of Colony One.
Instinctively, she sought an audience with the research director of her program. They had known each other for years – he being only a few years her senior. They attended many of the same schools, had a similar work ethic and the same thirst for knowledge. She felt no hesitation in going to him.
Dr. Ts’ai was a tall man with a thin frame and hair cropped short. He was beginning to see the first few grey hairs peppering his smooth, black hair. She had found him in his office, sitting at his desk, eyes darting from side to side as he worked. He locked the interface when she asked him for a moment of his time.
“I believe there may have been a miscommunication.” Jia spoke quickly, out of breath from the brisk walk to his office.
The man coupled his hands and placed them in his lap, fixing her with an evaluative look, “What do you mean, Dr. Li?”
“World Corp has ordered the construction of the first Colony ship. Sir, we haven’t even sent anything more than a probe yet. I believe they are getting ahead of themselves.”
Ts’ai arched an eyebrow, “World Corp is moving forward on my recommendations.” He explained.
Jia was stunned into momentary silence, mouth slightly agape. “Sir, is that wise?” She asked before she could stop herself.
His jaw set in stony displeasure, “Do you have doubts about our findings, Dr. Li?”
She shook her head, “Our findings, no, but there is so much we don’t know yet.”
“There is no room for doubt on a project like this, doctor.” Ts’ai adjusted his thick rimmed glasses. “I would remove all doubt from your mind and continue on the projects I assign. Let me worry about what World Corp does and does not do.”
Jia’s chest tightened like the air had been knocked out of her. She had worked with Doctor Ts’ai for so many years now, and he was always nothing but the most dedicated of
“I worked at a research lab.”
“Doing what?”
“Research,” she answered tersely but cracked the first smile Luca had seen throughout the entire journey thus far.
He smiled back, “I’m not sure if that will be enough to score us some coffee.”
“We’ll just have to risk it, then.” She said and turned her attention back to the frog and with careful precision, unfolded the paper creature.
Luca stayed a moment longer to see if she might have a change of heart but she remained silent, retreating back into herself as she had grown so known for doing. Finally, he left her to her devices. In his wake, Jia let her hands fold the paper from muscle memory as her mind reluctantly traveled back to the research lab.
ɸ ɸ ɸ
Jia had worked on the Colony One project since the very beginning – from the discovery of a habitable planet to the logistics and planning to get there. Manned space travel was already in practice – all they needed now was a level of certainty and a new class of ship to make the colonization concept a reality.
When their sponsor, World Corp, had learned of the initial discovery, they spared no expense in the research to find a way to travel there. It was a dream job for Jia – fulfilling in every way. The idea of being able to help establish a colony on a planet even better than Earth was one that kept her spirits high every day. Much of Earth’s population was buzzing with excitement and hope at what salvation planets Alpha and Beta could bring – and she could be a part of making it a reality.
For a year, her team worked on various phases of the project and Jia had expected at least half a decade would go by before they could confidently recommend sending fully equipped colonies to the planets that had been discovered. So, just one year into the project, it was beyond shocking to her when she discovered that World Corp was going forward with the construction of Colony One.
Instinctively, she sought an audience with the research director of her program. They had known each other for years – he being only a few years her senior. They attended many of the same schools, had a similar work ethic and the same thirst for knowledge. She felt no hesitation in going to him.
Dr. Ts’ai was a tall man with a thin frame and hair cropped short. He was beginning to see the first few grey hairs peppering his smooth, black hair. She had found him in his office, sitting at his desk, eyes darting from side to side as he worked. He locked the interface when she asked him for a moment of his time.
“I believe there may have been a miscommunication.” Jia spoke quickly, out of breath from the brisk walk to his office.
The man coupled his hands and placed them in his lap, fixing her with an evaluative look, “What do you mean, Dr. Li?”
“World Corp has ordered the construction of the first Colony ship. Sir, we haven’t even sent anything more than a probe yet. I believe they are getting ahead of themselves.”
Ts’ai arched an eyebrow, “World Corp is moving forward on my recommendations.” He explained.
Jia was stunned into momentary silence, mouth slightly agape. “Sir, is that wise?” She asked before she could stop herself.
His jaw set in stony displeasure, “Do you have doubts about our findings, Dr. Li?”
She shook her head, “Our findings, no, but there is so much we don’t know yet.”
“There is no room for doubt on a project like this, doctor.” Ts’ai adjusted his thick rimmed glasses. “I would remove all doubt from your mind and continue on the projects I assign. Let me worry about what World Corp does and does not do.”
Jia’s chest tightened like the air had been knocked out of her. She had worked with Doctor Ts’ai for so many years now, and he was always nothing but the most dedicated of
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