Chapter 2 - Nebula

“Well, since we’re going to work together now, how about introductions?” the blond man said.
“Why not? I’ll start. My name’s Amethyst, I’m your geologist,” said the short girl with purple hair streaked with gold accents.
“I’m Lingyun,” said a girl with nearly waist-length brown hair. “Physicist and Pilot.”
“Name’s Adrian, that’s Alexander.” We’re the maintenance team.
“I’m Caixia, and this is Lan. I’m doing bio, and he’s studying astronomy. Nice to meet you all.”
“Likewise, Vincent, the captain.” The blond man said, finally.

After the introductions, each member's holographic map of the NFRC is handed out and uploaded to their phones. They have the rest of the day to explore and familiarize themselves with the facility.

Lan weaves through countless corridors like the threads of a tapestry. The NFRC is more than a building or research lab—it’s one big living creature. Hallways branch everywhere like arteries, and transportation robots act as its blood. Data speeds through the fibre optic nerve strands encased within the walls. The beating heart of human ambition lies somewhere within.

They pass through a bio lab containing atriums and giant glass domes. Inside these glass structures, miniature ecosystems of foreign planets were recreated using samples and data brought back by different Wanderer crews, the largest one originating from Stellaris-b. Each one is labelled with the names of the crew that retrieved these samples. One specific atrium caught Lan’s attention. Stargazer. He and Caixia approached it, Caixia barely holding back her excitement.

"Imagine all of the foreign lifeforms out there, what types of creatures wander across the surfaces of the millions of planets that exist." Caixia is filled with wonder and awe. As she turned to face the crew, Lan could make out a gleam in her eyes, which always appeared when his father spoke about the universe.
"I'm sure we'll discover many that you'll get to name," Lan said with a smile.
"All of them?" Caixia said, suddenly realizing what she might experience if she is chosen.
“All of them,” Lan reassures.
“Maybe I’ll even deign to name one after you. It’ll have to be a gloomy-looking one, though.” She grinned playfully.
“I want a cute one named after me!” Amethyst cuts in, prompting the rest of the crew to join in.

While everyone else is busy imagining the types of creatures, Lan walks to the Stargazer plaque, tracing his hand over the names. His other hand subconsciously clutches the pendant in his pocket.

As they continue through the facilities, they reach a glass wall overlooking a huge factory producing all sorts of equipment designed for space travel and expeditions to foreign planets. EXO. is known for designing and producing most of the technology they use. The entire industry has become theirs, which was a concern before EXO became a public company. People were also worried that there would be no one to keep watch over EXO. Allowing them to do whatever they wanted. The worries died down later after the disappearance of the Stargazer. After that incident, people realized that space exploration was still risky and that even EXO wasn’t close to perfecting it.

Seeing the manufacturing and designing facilities, Lan finally realizes that their concerns weren't born from jealousy. The endless conveyor belts spread across the huge open space. They twist and turn across a huge room the size of a football stadium. The conveyor belts remind Lan of the water worlds that his dad showed him during his time on Earth. Lan remembers his father showing him close-up photos of a planet named Umi-C. It was a water world unlike any other. The water acted like gravity wasn’t there. The water danced across the sky like ribbons.

"The universe is filled with wonders," Lan recalls his father saying to him.
"Worlds beyond our comprehension exist; life has to exist out there. I'm sure we aren't in some lucky coincidence," his father said while staring at the stars adorning the night sky. Lan clearly remembers looking out the window the night he received news of his father's disappearance and seeing the stars weep. The largest meteor shower in recent years happened that night, and Lan cried in the embrace of the falling stars and the cosmos. The next evening, the brightest star in the north disappeared, never to be seen again.

Lan snaps out of the trance and looks out the giant window again.

He watches the endless stream of technology reach a crossroads, which leads to more and more until it disappears into a mag-lift and is transported away. Two of the crew members brought along by Vincent started naming different components that they could see. Lan remembered that they introduced themselves as Adrian and Alexander. The two would be indistinguishable except for their builds. They both had a head of flaming red hair and eyes resembling the last embers kindling in a fireplace. The younger brother was much stronger than the older brother, he said that this came from his years of tinkering with machinery and working with tools. The older brother was born with a physical condition that wouldn't allow him to fully exert himself. Instead, he chose to develop his brain, becoming one of the top programmers of the current generation. The twins had this type of synergy with each other, allowing them to communicate without words. This would be extremely valuable since they are in charge of ship maintenance.

While they were chatting about different technological advancements that allowed for intergalactic travel, Lan noticed a room down the hallway. It's filled to the brim with star charts, stellar maps, data on exoplanets, and how to most efficiently reach different solar systems. Lan, who is an expert on interstellar navigation, is instantly excited by the data contained within these servers and charts. Caixia notices this and follows Lan over while the rest of their team continues watching the manufacturing of rocket engines and satellites.

"What's up? You got this funny look," Caixia said, tapping Lan on the shoulder,
"Nothing, I'm fine," Lan replies.
"I might not have known you for long, but I can tell you’re a bad liar," Caixia responds.
"It's, it's nothing. I'm fine, honest.” Lan replies.
“I study Bio; I notice things,”
“Really?”
“No, your pupils shrink when you lie,” Caixia said back to him.
“Fine, I’ll tell you, but promise not to tell anyone else.”
“Okay, okay, I promise. I’ll be your little secret keeper.” Caixia teases.

It may be time for someone to know. Eighteen years of holding back is enough. Maybe…

“Do you know about the EXO Stargazer?” Lan asks quietly.
“Yeah, of course, everyone does. They proved to the world that life can exist out there.” Caixia said while gesturing vaguely toward the sky.
“My father was the Navigator,” he said, turning to look at Caixia.

Her expression softened. Lan found peace in her silver eyes, prompting him to tell the story he had held back for so long.

“I still remember watching his ship take off, not knowing that it was the last time I would see him,” Lan whispers, dropping his gaze down after he finished.
“Listen, Lan. It’s not your fault. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Instead, use it to motivate you as you try to uncover what happened all those years ago. I bet he would be proud if he knew that you were continuing on his legacy,” Caixia said. Lan had expected pity, but what Caixia gave was different. She gave him hope, empowering him to continue.
Lan stays silent but turns to face Caixia again, with hope in his eyes.
“We will find him, at least clues about his disappearance, so let’s make sure we get the mission.”

They’re interrupted by the sound of a bell ringing, signalling lunch break. They share a delicious meal in one of the many astral theatres. These theaters are dome rooms with a central projector, which can create any setting they want. The projector also uses some hard light projections to create solid objects such as rocks and trees.

They share a meal under a projection of a beautiful forest filled with towering mountains and giant islands in the sky, connected by giant, overgrown chains. As the sun sets, it disappears over the horizon, and the faint glow of three moons illuminates the night sky. The moons orbit in a way that causes them to eclipse each other every few minutes.

“Y’know, we still need a name for our crew. Same for the ship.” Caixia suddenly said.
“I was waiting for someone to bring this up.” Vincent said, “Anyone got ideas?”
“We could go with Starfall?” Lingyun suggests.
“What about Starlight Odyssey?” Adrian asks.
Amidst all the ideas thrown around, Lan stays silent, his gaze focused on the projections of moons and stars.
“The brightest star in the North,” his mother had said every time Lan asked about him.
“Northbound Star,” Lan suddenly said.
“Northbound Star, I like it,” Caixia said, smiling at him.
“All in favour?” Vincent asks.
Everyone’s hand shot up.

Follow the brightest star in the north, he had said. Follow it, he did.

They spend the evening exploring the halls and getting a clear sense of the hallways that seem to branch off into more and more rooms. As the sun begins to set, Lan and the other crew members part ways to prepare for the upcoming lectures and tests. Only one team will make it to Stellaris-b.