The Anatomy of Wind: Beware!

Jeopardy at the ISS

She drove me to the metropolis and after saying goodbyes she headed back home and I proceeded to the agency responsible for trainees.

Because I was the top in my class, I became so popular on the board that I started to make money by working along with actual engineers.

Operating engines, repairing hibernation pods, repairing and designing 3D printers, and all sorts of mechanical and technological development were my specialty, plus I had knowledge about programming and geography so I wasn’t treated like a trainee but a normal scientist.

ASB had a mission to go to space on ISS in the next two months, so they thought that it would be a good idea if they added a program of Astronaut Training on our current program so that we can have that knowledge too.

They tested all trainees to see if they were in good health to take the program. Those who qualify for the program were transferred to the training center and others were given their certificates and dismissed.

I got qualified for the training plus I had all sorts of skills needed in space.

Every night, I would send her an email and she sent me a letter in a document as we agreed.

Finally, the Training day arrived. The day before that, they allowed every trainee to meet their family and friends to say goodbyes.

Taylor drove from the school and came over. We went to the hotel nearby and spent some time together. On her way, Taylor had bought two engagement rings. She slipped into my suit secretly. I’ve to admit, I had no idea how she did it. She was like Abu from Aladdin!.

She told me to check my pockets, and I tried to do so. I fished into the pockets and came across the rings, then I realized that it was hers. I put one on her finger and she did so to my finger, then after she hugged me.

In a lot of tears, she told me that she didn’t know what to do next after I left, because all sorts of outside communication between trainees and others was prohibited. I tried to liss her by telling her that it was just short-term training, and it seemed to work out perfectly.

She returned home, and I headed back. In the other pocket of the suit, there was another sticky note, reading:

“far from my eyes, but close to me!

Far from me, but close to me!

Far from my reach, but too close to my heart.

May my love protect you from everything out there. I love you so much; I love you with Cordial Intent. Love T.”

Reading that made me teary, but I managed not to cry at any cost.

On the way to the training center, I took my phone and wrote a long email, telling her about how much I’m going to miss her, and how much I love her unconditionally. I concluded by telling her that I trust her so much, and asking her to look at the ring, every time she missed me. That if she found a reflection of light on the diamonds on top of the ring, I'd be thinking of her.

Time flew as we passed through intense training like: physical training, extra-vehicular activity training, flight lessons, procedure training, rehabilitation process, as well as training on experiments that astronauts will accomplish during their stay in space.

Our training was almost underwater, higher up the mountains, jungles and fighter jets as well as artificial zero gravity machines. Most importantly, we learnt each and every system of the ISS, how to operate everything and how to repair them back in college. Their practices were via Virtual Reality.

Everything went smoothly, mostly because I passed every test they gave us. I was familiar with the crew training us, so I’d get some hints and tips on our training better than anyone.

Before the scheduled time, training was postponed, because of the Technical malfunctions at ISS. Trainees were accommodated until further notice of resuming the training. Trainers were invited to fly to the ISS to help other crew members with maintenance and preparation.

After four days, I got a message from the chief trainer, telling me that one of their mechanics was accidentally killed in the airlock because of malfunctions of their doors.

So they wanted me to go up there to help them under supervision of a skilled mechanic. Because I was familiar with repairing stuff, that’s the reason they invited me.

Meanwhile, In that pause when training was postponed, we were allowed to use our telephones. I wrote a long email notifying Taylor about what was going on and about the invitation to the space.

Finally, the time came, and I boarded the spacecraft to fly to the ISS, that’s how I left the earth. Little did I know what was waiting for me.

There was a woman over PA, synchronizing with Shuttle computers, counting down ten seconds and we launched.

It was a bumpier ride than I expected. After reaching escape velocity and catapulting into the cosmos, everything became calm.

In the shuttle, there were me and two other astronauts. They initialized docking protocols to attach our ship to the ISS.

Exiting our ship, we passed through the decontamination chamber and automated machines spritzed some chemicals all over us.

Back on earth, ASB removed a program of the internship trip to ISS for Aerospace engineering students. Because of that malfunction at ISS, that made me the last student to join ISS.

ISS chief of technicians assigned me to work on security and shield systems as well as Hydraulic systems. To scan the entire ship to see what’d be the cause of those machines going haywire. My part was to assist that mechanic wherever needed.

Through that busy work, there was plenty of time to keep in touch with our families through the internet at the break time.

The first day I called her and unfortunately I couldn’t reach her because of their time zone, it was nighttime. So I recorded a video message telling her how our journey went, every fascinating thing I saw up above the clouds and how much I loved her. Then after I wrote emails to my family and to Cory and Brittney, telling them how much I missed them.

Turns out that the mission of the ISS was way too different from what we expected! We thought that it’s role was communications and GPS and internet thingy but I came to realize that there was something the government was hiding from us.

I discovered that top secret when we were repairing the hydraulics at the control deck, which was Captain’s. That day, it was me and my supervisor Tom; the captain wasn’t on the deck.