# Chapter 8: Leaving Earth
"Attention, scholarship cadets," the boarding announcement came over the speakers. "Shuttle SC-447 is now ready for boarding. Please proceed to the gate in an orderly fashion. Have your temporary identification ready for scanning."
This was it.
Isabella stood, her duffel bag suddenly feeling heavier than it had any right to. Around her, dozens of other scholarship cadets were doing the same, all of them moving toward the gate with the same mix of excitement and terror.
Kevin fell into step beside her. "Here we go."
"Here we go," Isabella echoed.
They presented their badges at the gate, passed through the security scanner, and walked down the boarding tunnel toward the shuttle. The tunnel was enclosed and climate-controlled, but Isabella could feel the diffe
