Chapter 11 Part I

After a few minutes two eVTOLs picked them up from the summit of Kilimanjaro and within fifty minutes they were back in Dodoma where Trivolsi ran to meet them as soon as they landed at the airport and then they were transported to the Agency headquarters where there was an excellent medical department where the boys carried out all the necessary medical tests.

<<Fortunately you are well, at this point all I have to do is renew my congratulations for having correctly passed the test and send back Palermo, in regard am going hypersonic jet prepared>> said Trivolsi, absenting himself.

The medical department consisted of a large room within which there were eight beds and a series of high-tech equipment capable of carrying out complex surgical operations, should the need arise.

<< This too is done >> Orlando began, recovering from the effort made;

<<We hope to have a few days of rest, we deserve it>> Alice added;

<< Before starting the next course we should have a week's holiday and then dive back into training >> Lucia added, always very well informed about the internal dynamics of the Agency;

<< How's your shoulder? Goes better? >> Leonardo asked her;

<<Here they can take care of me properly but I think a little rest will do good>> the girl retorted, happy to have gotten that big problem away from her.

Trivolsi returned to the room announcing that the jet was ready to take off, when they felt ready they could return to Italy.

<< This is farewell but it was a real pleasure to meet you, in recent days I have seen you in action and I am sure that you will do great things making the entire Agency proud so now go >> Trivolsi told them with shining eyes .

Despite his gruff appearance, he had a heart of gold, he was moved very easily, especially when he saw cadets pass the survival exam in the high mountains, which he said was the most difficult because it was the last one in time and the one in which the tiredness accumulated in the previous tests was felt on the shoulders of the aspiring astronauts.

The boys stayed another hour in their respective beds, they wanted to see what the sunrise was like from Dodoma and when the sun finally rose they admired its rays illuminating the city in all its splendor, it was a megalopolis that in the previous two decades had seen an unparalleled development together with a demographic explosion without equal in the history of Africa.

<<I think it's best to go>> said Orlando, getting up from bed.

The friends followed him closely, said goodbye to Trivolsi once again, after which they got into a robot taxi heading to the airport and from there they got on the hypersonic jet which took them back to Italy within a few hours.

When they landed at Palermo airport, they found the colonel waiting for them with the young assistant at his side who had cheered for them from the first moment because she saw in those five boys what the Agency expected from aspiring astronauts: a team capable of to successfully undertake deep space missions.

The way in which they had passed the exams had left the Agency's managers speechless and despite missing some training they were already being pointed out as the new "golden generation" whose leader was Leonardo.

<< Welcome back to Palermo and congratulations for having successfully passed the survival course, now seven days of rest await you during which I highly recommend you relax because you will have to face a very demanding last part >> Tariconi began;

<< Thank you sir, we will try not to disappoint you >> Leonardo replied.

When they returned to the Astronautical Headquarters they were stopped by several employees who wanted to have their autograph on the monthly copy of "AD ASTRA", the digital magazine that the Agency published every 30 days with which it kept all space fans updated.

With a circulation of around 15 million digital copies it was by far the most read newspaper in the entire nation and at the end of each year it awarded the prestigious "Pillars of Creation" prize reserved for the best scientific discovery of the year.

On the digital cover of that month there were their five faces with the writing "New golden generation" underneath, in the center there was Leonardo's face and on the sides Lucia and Orlando stood out on the left, Chiara and Alice on the right.

<< We have become stars, who would have thought? >> said Lucia as she placed her digital signature on a copy of the magazine belonging to the daughter of a third level employee;

<< Let's keep our feet on the ground and let's not forget that we haven't done anything >> Leonardo replied while giving autographs;

<< You're right but it's nice that people recognize our work, we deserve it >> added Orlando, taking a "selfie".

When they had finished they could finally go back to their rooms to relax and have a good sleep since they had spent the whole night sleepless but that same evening they all gathered at the "Atlantis", including Sofia.

<<You are now celebrities, at the fifth level we only talk about you>> Sofia began;

<<What do you want to do?! It happens when work hard and get results>> replied Orlando who loved wallowing in that type of situation.

They were also recognized at the restaurant and many asked them for their autograph so the dinner lasted longer than expected but after finishing they separated into three small groups and Leonardo was finally able to spend a whole night between Sofia's sheets.

They hadn't been intimate for too long, mostly because of the training.

<< I missed you >> Leonardo began after having sex.

<< You moreover, by the way how did it go on Kilimanjaro? From what I know, the one in the high mountains is considered one of the most difficult tests to face >> Sofia replied, caressing the scar on his cheek;

<< It wasn't easy at all and we had to support each other to get through it but in the end we were promoted rather how is it going with Pandora? Is there any news on this? >> the churches;

<< Both Apollo and Andrea's algorithm are working at full power, the real problem is that Pandora continues to make updates after updates and this slows down the decoding process because it increases the workload of the algorithms however we hope to finish as soon as possible or at least we hope so >> he explained to him;

<< Lucrezia must have been very scared when she saw all those alien symbols produced by Pandora, she must have had a stroke >> thought Leonardo, laughing about it;

<< Not only to her, personally my blood froze in my veins. Changing the subject, how do you intend to spend these days of rest? >> he asked him;

<< In the exact same place where I am now, if that's okay with you >> he replied slyly;

"I was hoping you'd say that," she told him.

The following morning while Leonardo slept Sofia went to work, it was a very important day because in the previous months the Agency had launched three additional modules for the space stations orbiting the Moon, Mars and Jupiter.

All three were equipped with the EM Drive technology perfected in the laboratories by Carla and her team, it had been a very big gamble because since it was an innovative propulsion system they risked losing the modules in space but instead it seemed to work.

The lunar one had connected correctly and now it was the turn of the Martian and Jovian ones.

In this way the Agency would have hosted as many as six astronauts on each of the orbiting stations at the same time instead of the three initially planned. Furthermore, the aforementioned modules were equipped not only with an innovative propulsion system but could also act as a real factory in which the astronauts could produce objects using 4D printing.

A similar module had already been attached to the space station orbiting the Earth but was not equipped with EM Drive because it did not have to cover large distances.

The three modules were equipped with the most updated version of Pandora and an autonomous 10G connection with which to connect to the metaverse thanks to a complex network of satellites equipped with laser communications technology, set up by the Agency on the moons of Jupiter and Mars as well as on various asteroids orbiting between the red planet and the gas giant.

In the event of failures or other problems, the six astronauts would have been able to communicate much faster with the Earth. Furthermore, the project was to extend the 10G connection to all the gas giants and their moons in view of future human expeditions so as to colonize that last one. portion of the solar system.

The modules were already in position when Sofia arrived in the meeting room where Lucrezia and the other directors were, the Martian one had been orbiting the planet for some time while the Jovian one was right in sight of the gas giant.

<< Here we are, start the docking procedure >> Lucrezia ordered.

In the space station orbiting around Mars the three astronauts present inside were anxiously waiting while the Jovian one had been empty for a few days, the previous tenants had finished their work and were now in the Martian outpost on the ground therefore the Jovian module would have performed an automatic docking using Pandora.

They began to approach the stations, the Martian one locked on immediately, however the young one missed the target more than once, raising fears of a repeat of what happened with the Earth one and Sofia got shivers down her back.

<< We can't afford any more setbacks, try again >> ordered Lucrezia, increasingly irritated by all the problems the Agency was having since she was director.

On the third attempt the docking was successful, the Jovian station stabilized on the correct orbit and everything seemed to proceed normally if it hadn't been for an object that was heading at great speed towards the gas giant.

<<We have identified an unidentified body that has just entered the same orbit as our Jovian station>> they communicated from the control room;

<< What is it about? >> asked Lucrezia;

<< We don't know, Pandora is carrying out a screening to understand it, however we can tell you that it most likely comes from outside the solar system, we are almost certain of it >> the technicians replied;

<< We could use the station's robotic arm to attach it and examine it better, it's a shame we don't have astronauts on board however there is Pandora and we should have some images soon >> Carla told her.

Lucrezia didn't answer her, on the one hand that proposal seemed sensible but what would happen if the object turned out to be larger than expected? Grabbing it could mean destabilizing the space station, taking it out of orbit or leading it to drift beyond Jupiter and given how much the Agency cared about that outpost it had to carefully weigh the pros and cons.

<< How big is the object in question? Do we have any images available? >> Lucrezia asked the control room;

<< It seems to be one of our probes but it's not very big, grabbing it with the robotic arm won't cause big problems for the station but if we want photos we have to take it >> the technicians replied.

At those words the various directors were petrified because no mission beyond Jupiter had ever returned, it would have been the first time and Lucrezia had the chance to write the history of the Agency.

<< Grab it but be careful, at the first hint of the space station giving way, let go, am I clear? >> ordered Lucrezia;

<< Very good then let's proceed, as soon as we receive the images we will have them on the screen >> replied the technicians.

They were minutes of anxious waiting during which the laboratory directors remained in religious silence as if by speaking they feared disturbing the work of those from Earth who were about to intercept that probe that could write a new chapter in the history of the Agency.

Sofia had her heart in her mouth and prayed that Pandora wouldn't play any more pranks, it had to work perfectly because within the Agency someone was starting to demand her head given the numerous AI malfunctions, after all she was the director of the Pandora Lab so they didn't have all the wrongs.

<< Here we are, we grabbed it. We are about to send you the images we have collected >> communicated the technicians.

Those were the most interminable seconds the directors could remember but finally the screen turned on showing them something absolutely disconcerting and leaving them speechless.

The probe captured by the robotic arm of the Jovian station was the communications probe belonging to the Magellan with which Leonardo's parents had left for their last mission before disappearing into thin air.

It was usually attached to the spacecraft and contained a quantum memory capable of memorizing everything that happened during the mission.

It was intact as if it had just left the factory and if it was there perhaps Leonardo's parents' Magellan was not far away.

<< I can't believe it, it's...?! >> said Carla, recognizing her immediately;

<<Have you discovered which mission it belongs to?>> asked Lucrezia who at the time didn't understand its importance and value;

<< This is the communications probe of the XTR 560 mission that disappeared years ago >> the technicians replied.

Sofia didn't recognize it immediately but she noticed the sticker attached to the right side that Leonardo's mother used to stick on all the probes of the deep space missions she took part in, it was a green four-leaf clover that was born in the middle of the concrete.

<<Life can be found in any place, even the most unexpected ones>> Sofia whispered, repeating aloud what Leonardo's mother always told her.

He repeated it to her over and over again, to the point of exhaustion, and in the end those words were burned into his mind.

<< Who was leading the mission? >> asked Lucrezia.

The technicians didn't respond at first because they had to search the archives but they took a few seconds to confirm Sofia's fears who didn't know whether to be happy or sad about that discovery.

H ow to tell Leonardo? How would he take it? She began to sweat profusely and Andrea, sitting behind her, asked her if she was okay or if she was having a heart attack.

<< Can we obtain information from the probe's quantum memory or is it too damaged? >> asked Lucrezia;

<< We will try but it will take weeks, as we don't have astronauts on board we will have to do everything remotely >> replied the technicians;

<< Go ahead and let me know if there's any news, I want to be updated at any time >> the woman replied;

<< It will be done, we'll get to work straight away >> concluded the technical manager.

Lucrezia closed the connection by turning towards the laboratory directors, looked them straight in the eyes one after the other, focusing in particular on Sofia, breathed a big sigh of relief and began to speak.

<< The news must remain secret until we know more, I don't want to raise unnecessary alarms without having certain proof in my hands and I know that some of you will not agree with this choice but I will not accept objections. We'll do it like this, period," he ordered and once again his gaze rested on Sofia.

The girl understood that she had to keep the news secret, leaving even Leonardo in the dark, she hated telling lies to the people she loved but she agreed with Lucrezia, she couldn't alarm her boyfriend and if it turned out to be a dead end it would hurt him uselessly.

<< Very good, you can go. If we have news you will know >> concluded Lucrezia, dismissing them.

Sofia jumped up and ran into her office, being joined shortly afterwards by Andrea, Lucrezia and Carla who wanted to support her in that difficult moment.

<<How do you feel? It can't be an easy situation>> Andrea told her;

<<Orders are orders and it could also be a flop, we'll see>> Sofia replied, wiping her forehead;

<<I hope you understand why I decided this way, we have responsibilities>> Lucrezia reminded her as she sat down on one of the chairs in front of the desk;

<< She knows it and she won't let it slip >> Carla defended her, having always had a soft spot for Sofia's sharp and brilliant mind;

<< I will respect the orders and then what do you want it to be a few weeks? Let's wait for the results and see >> cut the director of the Pandora Lab short.

Left alone, she thought back to the moments spent with Leonardo's mother and that phrase that she always repeated resounded loudly in her brain like an echo in a valley, she had buried her under a pile of memories but the sticker awakened something deep and profound in her. painful.

She had always been linked to that woman with whom she had established a relationship of profound friendship and complicity, therefore his disappearance had hurt her greatly, leaving an enormous void inside her that not even Leonardo could fill.

In the following days Sofia carried that atrocious weight in her heart, she spent a lot of time with Leonardo and the other boys and yet every time she caught her boyfriend's gaze she couldn't bear to look away from him after a few seconds.

Luckily for her, Leonardo's week of vacation passed quickly and he was busy again with the last part of the training while she was still waiting for the results on the probe recovered from the Jovian station.

It was really difficult for Sofia to continue to hide something like this from Leonardo and yet Lucrezia had been peremptory about it, if she wanted to continue seeing him she had to keep her mouth shut therefore she began to exert constant pressure on the various technicians to hurry up and extract the data from the probe quantum memory.

Once Sofia was so insistent with a technician that the director of the laboratory was forced to throw her out otherwise the two would have come to blows and following the incident a formal complaint landed on Lucrezia's table.

Photonic quantum memories were the basis of quantum computers, performing the same functions that RAM memory or hard disks performed in classical computers, i.e. they allowed data to be stored and retrieved.

Space Agency researchers had created quantum memory by trapping billions of rubidium atoms in a space comparable to that of the thickness of a hair.

They had managed to invent an intelligent way to distinguish the single photon from the "noisy" background light by cooling the atoms to the minimum possible temperature i.e. absolute zero using lasers and magnetic fields by encoding a "flying qubit" on the polarization of a single photon by storing it in the atoms laser-cooled, paving the way for the creation of the "universal" quantum computer.

These memories were able to store an enormous amount of data and were therefore used by the Agency for deep space missions in which disproportionate quantities of data could be collected and stored in a very small space.

One late spring morning Leonardo and the other boys found themselves once again on the benches of the theory classroom where they would begin the last part of the training which would prove to be much more difficult than imagined.

<< Who knows what we will do >> Orlando began, sitting in his place;

<<We're about to find out>> Lucia replied, indicating the teacher who was entering through the door.

He was Colonel General Mario Astolfi, one of the Agency's most famous astronauts, companion of Leonardo's parents on many missions and absolute idol of Alice, Lucia and Chiara who considered him like a movie star.

<<I can't believe it, it's a joke>> said Alice, her eyes widening;

<< It's all true, we will spend the next few months with him >> added Lucia full of happiness;

<< Finally some good news >> concluded Chiara.

Tall and slender in his sixties, long and straight gray hair, a very well-kept white beard, blue eyes and Hollywood star features, he was wearing the classic blue tracksuit with wings on the shoulders and when he saw Leonardo it took him five seconds to recognize him.

On his face he had a frowning expression as if he was carrying a heavy weight on his shoulders and he seemed on the verge of chastising himself, he was considered one of the best astronauts the Agency had ever had and according to some he was the best ever.

<< Good morning and welcome to this training course in which you will learn everything you need to know about extra vehicular activities (EVA), you will first face a month of theory then two in the Atlas and finally four of practice at the end of which you will take two exams, if you are promoted you will obtain the qualified astronaut diploma.

To prepare to carry out extra vehicular activities (EVA) you will train in the largest indoor swimming pool in the world, the "Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL)" located on the island of Lampedusa where you will face the practical part of the course.

The pressurized and non-pressurized modules of the orbiting space stations are positioned in the bottom of the pool where you will get used to carrying out the choreographies of the extra-vehicular activities by simulating the microgravity environment of space in neutral buoyancy while wearing the EMU suit.

Since one of your primary tasks will be to perform EVAs on orbiting space stations in order to install modules and station elements, you will spend a lot of time in the NBL performing EVAs specifically for these purposes.

You will also have to train for emergency EVAs, that is, you will be prepared in a general way for the replacement of key components of the station systems. Furthermore, in the specific training of the mission you will train to carry out these tasks once the objectives of the "Expedition" have been defined, knowing whether you will have to carry out them or not. one or more EVAs during shipping.

In general you will stay about ten hours underwater for every hour you spend in EVA in space, usually each EVA lasts eight hours and in addition to training in water it is common practice for you to also use virtual reality.

I am referring to Atlas in which you will simulate the paths you will have to follow along the outside of the stations during an EVA and you will train to use the SAFER of the EMU suit in the event of an accident.

The "Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue (SAFER)" is a small self-sufficient jet pack to be carried on the back worn by astronauts during extra-vehicular activities, it is a simplified version of the "Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU)".

The SAFER was designed as a self-rescue device to be used in the event that, despite the use of safety devices such as cables and the robotic arm, an astronaut participating in an extra-vehicular activity finds himself completely isolated and no vehicle can provide for its recovery.

Is everything clear or do you have any questions? Please ask them, I'm here to clarify all your doubts>> asked the officer but no one answered.

<< During this course you will have to get used to the systems of the extra vehicular suit, the safety procedures and the fundamental tasks that are carried out in all EVAs such as working with cable ties, connectors, safety cables and carrying bulky loads along the external panels of the orbiting stations.

During each EVA exercise, an emergency situation is simulated, for example the case in which one of the astronauts is unable to move and the others have to save him.

One of the most important rules during an EVA is to move only one of the two safety cables at a time and these must always be attached to two different handrails, in this way the astronaut will always have the other cable to keep him anchored to the station in the in the event that a cable becomes damaged or a handrail comes loose from the external panels.

Before a space mission, astronauts assigned to some EVAs of an expedition train to carry out the complete EVA or parts of it in the pool so as not to have misunderstandings once in space.

To simulate the microgravity present in orbit during training there are divers who have the task of keeping the suit and the astronaut inside it in neutral buoyancy. Furthermore, the astronauts also train to modify the suit, in fact knowing how to change the length of the legs and sleeves to adapt them to each person is essential to best carry out precision work during EVA.

In addition to the preparation of extra-vehicular activities in the pool, the following also take place:

1. Operations in depressurized modules;

2. Maintenance of station modules;

3. In-orbit assembly and disassembly procedures;

4. Movement of cargo;

5. Experimental operations.

Inside the building where the swimming pool is located there is a second one of cylindrical shape with a platform equipped with a lifting mechanism on which a real-sized "mockup" of the orbiting station module used for the simulated EVAs.

In the walls of the pool there are 45 windows from which the Agency's technicians and doctors monitor the work and state of health of the astronauts or cadets during the simulated EVA. Finally, around the pool there are cranes used to move the astronauts wearing extra vehicular suits.

Since not all activities can be carried out inside the swimming pool, you will have to simulate some of them with Atlante including:

1. Control and adjustment of suits;

2. Airtight chamber sealing procedures;

3. Knowledge of extravehicular suit systems;

4. Knowledge of the vital systems of the airlock;

5. Recognize and resolve emergency situations of the airlock and extravehicular suit;

6. Opening and closing of the hatch;

7. Safety procedures after opening the hatch;

8. Manual attachment and release of satellites.

During this training there is sometimes also another crew member who helps the astronauts both in entering and exiting the suits and in the hatch seal checks during EVAs in space.

The Atlas simulator is also used to test your practical skills in the days following the landing of a long-duration space mission, for example by simulating a journey to Mars, in this case the operations carried out by the astronauts are:

1. Space suit systems management;

2. Carry out a series of movements;

3. Go up and down stairs;

4. Installation and removal of some antennas.

This is all you will have to do in the next seven months of the course at the end of which you will take the two final exams. Do you have any questions about this? >> asked the officer when he had finished the explanation but none of the five boys raised their hand.

<< Very well, wear your visors so we can start these first thirty days in which we will focus on theory >> the teacher urged them.

Just as with Prescotti, the explanations partly concerned topics already addressed previously, however a large part of the program was new and also very complex.

The boys had an hour to have lunch after which they resumed the lesson, finishing at 8pm.

<< I'm dead tired, this is undoubtedly the toughest teacher >> Orlando began, yawning as they returned to the dormitories;

<< I immediately understood from his look that he was going to torment us >> added Leonardo.

The three girls on the team did not share their opinion, having always been infatuated with the prestige and fame of Astolfi as a great astronaut.

<<I found him simply fabulous, the way he speaks is exceptional>> said Alice;

<< You can say it out loud, when I was a child I dreamed of having his autograph, if I'm here it's also thanks to him >> Chiara commented;

<< To me he just seems like an inflated balloon, he was a great astronaut but as far as I know he hasn't flown for several years >> Orlando tried to say, receiving a harsh rebuke from his girlfriend who doted on the officer;

<<What do you understand, can explain it to me? You're just envious, that's all>> Lucia replied making him blush and also a little angry so it was up to Leonardo to act as peacemaker;

<< Never come between a woman and her darling >> he said to Orlando to cheer him up, patting him on the shoulder.

What really worried Leonardo was the sudden change in attitude that Sofia was having towards him, for some time now they had no longer been in tune and sometimes she even seemed to ignore him.

He thought it was his fault, maybe he had done something bad to her and she was offended but she didn't tell him instead she didn't know she was innocent as the secret about her parents was affecting their relationship.

A few weeks passed during which Sofia anxiously awaited the technicians' response regarding the probe's quantum memory while he concentrated on Colonel General Astolfi's theory lessons which gradually became more difficult.

The material to learn increased day by day, forcing him to stay locked in his room studying despite the spring temperatures encouraging him to go out.

The result was that he and Sofia didn't see each other for a while, until the laboratory sent the data extracted from the quantum memory to Lucrezia, the director of the fifth level scanned them thoroughly and then called a meeting of the directors, also notifying Carigge.

Sofia couldn't wait any longer, she absolutely wanted to know what the Agency had managed to discover about that first, historic return mission.

<< Good morning everyone, today we are gathered here to celebrate an event that will change the history of the Italian Space Agency forever, as you know the technicians have recovered many data from the probe's quantum memory including this short video.

You could have an emotional shock so I advise you to stay calm >> said Lucrezia, starting the video on the screen.

At the beginning you couldn't see anything, then slowly the lens of the person filming framed the interior of the Magellano, revealing the identity of the cameraman, that is, Leonardo's father, who pointed with the finger of his left hand to his electronic watch, showing the time and date. in which he was filming the film, i.e. 6 weeks after the last contact with Earth.

Behind him, Leonardo's mother could be seen alive and well together with two other members of the mission, also safe and sound.

<< I am shooting this film when we are close to passing Neptune towards Pluto where the presence of a possible, enormous Helium-3 deposit that the whole world aspires to has been reported.

While we were making this journey we realized that we had entered the gravitational field of a very large object, according to an initial analysis by Pandora it could have a mass 10 times greater than that of Jupiter however the AI itself seems to be going crazy so we can't be sure but we sense it and even though it is very distant, it begins to attract us towards it with increasing strength.

We don't know how long we will be able to resist it but it could be the greatest discovery in the history of astronomy.

I don't know what it is but the crew unanimously decided to go beyond Pluto to understand where this strong gravitational force comes from.

Most likely we won't go back, at least not while alive since the food supplies are only enough to reach Pluto but they are not enough for such a long round trip, however we will try for the good of humanity.

Before closing I want to leave a message to my son Leonardo: your mother and I love you, you are the best thing that could have happened to us and for this we thank God every single day.

I don't know if you will become an astronaut like the two of us but we wish you the best, know that we will always watch over you. We love you, son >> explained Leonardo's father.

A dead silence fell in the room, not even in the most sacred and liturgical funeral celebrations would it have been possible to find one as profound and Sofia seemed paralyzed, unable to react to what she heard.

<< So..., ... in practice..., ... now..., ... yes... >> Carigge tried to say but couldn't get out half a word

Lucrezia was not impressed because she had already seen the video but the first time she watched it she was so impressed that she had to sit on the office chair in the throes of a mixture of fear, excitement and other feelings so strong that she was unable to to explain them.

<< Very good gentlemen, I will now brief you on the situation. From what was possible to obtain from the quantum memory it seems that the probe was released from the spacecraft three months after the filming and the data contained seems to confirm the hypothesis according to which beyond Pluto there could be a body whose mass is ten times Jupiter's.

I want to underline the use of the conditional because, as already said in the video, Pandora did not seem to work at its best so it is likely that some of this data is incorrect >> explained Lucrezia;

<<But what if they weren't? What would that mean?>> asked Andrea sitting behind Sofia.

Her spirit jumped in her throat, it could have been a discovery she had never made before and its implications surpassed any imagination.

<< If they were, well then..., ... you are intelligent enough to understand it on your own, there is no need for me to explain it to you >> Lucrezia replied to her.

Even though she had had a few days to prepare a well-crafted speech, in the end she wasn't even able to pronounce certain words, she didn't have the courage, she felt she was faced with something so big that she couldn't utter a word.

<<Leonardo has to see this video, it's probably his parents' farewell>> Sofia proposed;

<< I agree, we can't hide it from him any longer, we owe it to the memory of those two heroes who fell in space >> Carla added with tears in her eyes, when she saw her old friend again her heart stopped with emotion .

Sofia no longer wanted to keep that secret that was distancing her from Leonardo but she didn't know how he would take it, something like that would have been shocking for anyone.

<< I agree, it deserves to know. Summon him to your office as soon as possible and do what you have to do, as far as the rest of us are concerned the meeting is over, you can go >> Lucrezia dismissed them, replying to Sofia.

The latter jumped up followed closely by Andrea, they locked themselves in the former's office and with a message on the "Delfi" she invited Leonardo to join her at the fifth level but since he was in class he didn't answer her so they sent for him.

Sofia entrusted the task to Jason and when he knocked on the door of the theory room everyone found it irregular because they were usually not disturbed so those present immediately understood that it was something very important.

<< I apologize sir, I have to get Mr. Leonardo and take him with me to the fifth level, there is an urgent communication for him >> Jason began as he entered the classroom;

<<Okay, you can go>> said the officer.

Leonardo got up from his seat while his friends looked at him, to Orlando's amazement and Alice's concern, who immediately sensed that bad news was about to arrive.

<<Did something happen?>> Leonardo asked once in the elevator;

<< I only know that I have to escort you to Miss Sofia's office, you will find out the rest there >> Jason replied in a dry and icy tone.

Leonardo wanted to ask him more questions, to understand, to know as much as possible, however he realized that his interlocutor would not give him any further rope so he gave up but his intuition told him to prepare for the impact with something very painful and usually he was not wrong .

Once they reached the fifth level Jason escorted him to the door of Sofia's office where she and Andrea were waiting for him inside, the first sitting and the second standing, both behind the desk as if to create a sort of barrier between them and him.

<<Hi love, what's happening?>> he asked Sofia but looking at her face he immediately noticed her gloomy expression understanding that his intuition had not betrayed him;

<< I'm Andrea, your assistant. I congratulate you on Apollo, it's a truly impressive quantum interface, I've never seen anything like it >> began the girl in an attempt to break the ice;

<< Thank you, you're very good too >> he replied;

<< Please take a seat, I have to show you something and you won't like it >> Sofia said with a broken voice betraying an emotion that was barely suffocated.

When the boyfriend sat down the lights went out and the holographic projector appeared in the center of the room which transmitted the video recovered in the probe's quantum memory.

It lasted two minutes but the first five seconds were enough to make Leonardo's heart jump into his throat and he immediately recognized his parents.

He didn't understand what was happening but he started to feel lost, he lost orientation, his heart rate and sweating accelerated while his vision became blurred .

When the video ended he was speechless, he had noticed the time and date in which it had been filmed, therefore long after the presumed disappearance of his parents but he still couldn't understand why he was only now becoming aware of that information.

His eyes were wide open and he didn't know whether to cry or despair, what should he do? How to behave in the face of such a revelation?

<<Are you feeling well?>> Andrea asked him, seeing him silent but neither she nor Sofia could understand what he was feeling;

<< How long have you known this? >> asked Leonardo.

He carefully scanned every single letter but pronouncing them cost him enormous effort, his tongue seemed tied to an enormous boulder;

<< A few minutes ago, we called you immediately afterwards >> Sofia replied, explaining to him the story of the recovery of the probe and everything else;

<< You knew there was something and you didn't tell me? Is this why you were avoiding me in the past weeks?! Now everything is clear >> he replied with a voice so full of anger and frustration that it didn't bode well for the future;

<< Yes but... >> Sofia was about to answer him when he jumped up from his chair and left his office without asking her any further questions.

Jason saw him pass and tried to ask him what had happened, being unaware of everything, but he was pushed aside rather abruptly by Leonardo who, without thinking twice, returned to his quarters and remained there for the rest of the day.

He lay on the bed feeling like a boxer who had been knocked out in the ring after receiving a deadly series of hooks to the chin.

His friends didn't see him return to the classroom, sensing the gravity of the situation, whatever had happened had shocked him so it wasn't good news.

<< I should go and see how he is >> Orlando said to the girls returning to the dormitories of the Astronautical Headquarters;

<< I don't recommend it, in a moment like this it's better to leave him alone with his thoughts, he has to get through this moment without our help >> Alice stopped him.

The evening arrived quickly and after several hours spent in bed Leonardo left his room heading towards the old marina from which you could see a fabulous starry sky, it was the ideal place to let off some anger and bad feelings.

As soon as he arrived he rested his arms on the fence while the spring sea breeze blew calmly and silently, caressing his face and drying the tears that ran down his face.

He raised his gaze to the sky several times, observing the celestial vault, as beautiful as it was cruel, which had taken away both his parents and was now also claiming his life.

It seemed that his family had some sort of curse on their shoulders from which they could not escape, they all seemed destined to find their death among the stars.

Sofia knew his habits and knew he would go there so, after leaving work, she didn't return to her apartment but headed to the old marina where she was sure she would find him, also warning her friends after explaining what had happened.

<< A crazy story! >> Orlando exclaimed;

<< The possible implications of this discovery are colossal, you know that right? >> Alice asked after having listened carefully to the story;

<<We are aware of it but now we have to think about Leo>> Sofia replied.

They all went together to the pier where they found him contemplating the stars, at first he didn't realize that they were surrounding him but when Sofia put her hand on his shoulder he woke up from the torpor of his thoughts.

<<How do you feel? We found out and don't know how sorry we are>> said Alice;

<< Friend, brother, we are close to you >> added Orlando;

<< Thank you, it is important for me to know that I have people who support me next to me, I am grateful for that >> Leonardo replied, shaking the hand offered to him by the woman who, more than anyone else, would have done anything for him.

They took a short walk on the beach during which they talked about how to proceed with the training course but above all about what to do next, whether to go into deep space or limit themselves to the Moon and Mars.

<< Until now we have only concentrated on training but soon the time will come to decide our future >> Chiara began;

<< As much as I like Earth I have never had any doubts about it, I will ask to become an astronaut for deep space, I will go to Jupiter and beyond, I will find out what happened to my parents and I will reveal the mystery of the gravitational field they discovered during their last mission >> Leonardo replied.

Sofia had a pang in her heart when she heard those words, she knew her dream and yet she had never stopped hoping that he would change his mind once the training was finished, heading as far as Mars, whose journey from Earth was considered safe, whereas going beyond Jupiter meant risking the life.