3 Unit C

I step out into the endless abyss and icy hell known simply as space. I turn my head expecting the black stillness of the cosmos, but instead, it is replaced by a white shifting gradient. Right, we're moving at light speed. I wonder how I hadn't disintegrated the second I stepped. It was to be explained by some strange science. One false move could have me sent into the blinding white chasm and utterly obliterated. The thought chills me. If I die who would know? Who would care?

The bridge is roughly seventy meters long and two and a half feet wide. I notice that there is no gravity and make sure that the tether is secured tightly to my suit. I wouldn't dare to attempt anything that could loosen the cord from its connection. Even with the tether, I carefully slide my hands across the railings of the space bridge. I move one hand over the other and make occasionally look behind me to make sure no one is looking. The movement of the ship caused the bridge to flex and sway slightly. A slight buffer in the ship causes the bridge to vibrate rapidly for a moment. I freeze and brace against the movement. After a long second, I continue and I move a little faster.

I finally reach the other side of the bridge and lo and behold, another ID scanner. D*mn, the key better work or I'll have to break this one too. I press the key card against the scanner and . . .

Yes, it works! I watch as the hatch slowly opens and enter the pressurization chamber. Once the door fully closes, I plug in my suit to the instruction panel and listen to an automated instructor that directs the re- pressurization process. A momentary fog obscures the visor of my helmet as the chamber fills with air.

I proceed into the suit room and take off my own. I make sure that it hangs on an empty rack so that it isn't noticeable that I took it.

As I near the door my heart races. I am about to open the door, then I hear voices. Machinery? No, it is the unmistakable pattern of human speech. But what language, even though it is muffled by the door, the voices still flow at a different cadence than both English and Japanese. This must definitely be a different Unit.

The voices start to get closer. I scramble for a place to hide and ducked behind a nearby locker. The voices pass. I must be careful security must be tighter in this Unit. I move towards the door again and open it.

The first thing I notice is that the air is far more humid and warmer than the previous Unit. Unit B was set to simulate the temperature of the mid-springtime of the North American Vernal Equinox. The sign says, " There is a sign that reads, "Unidad C - Replicación ambiental: Sur América' I can't read the language, but I see a word that looks like South America, so I assume this unit was meant to simulate the typical South or Central American climate. It is still day in the Unit and people are still walking around.

The buildings were of Hispanic contemporary design and made of cream colored plaster steel and sleek metallic roofing.. The main avenue was lined with exotic shrubbery and trees. The majority of people ranged from slightly tanned to dark ebony. Everyone had dark brown eyes and mostly black and brown hair. They averaged at about five one to five seven and had shorter builds ranging from slim to grossly overweight.

My complexion is mix of American and Japanese traits. I have ashy brown hair, dark brown eyes, and lightly tanned ivory skin. I am not very tall at five-eleven, but I have a tight- wired build. My hair is casually combed back and slightly messy. I realize that I do not fit in with the general population and pull the hood of my sweater up.

The exit is still a mile away and just barely visible on the other side of the unit. I start making a plan to get to the next unit, but I take into consideration that it is still day and I will have to wait an unknown amount of hours until the simulated night fall. Until then, I will just explore and get some food.

"Welcome to Unit C," I tell myself, "You did it."