Chapter 7 Part I

The following morning at 7 o'clock Dorato summoned them to the hangar from which the planes took off, warning that any delays would not be tolerated.

When the group of cadets arrived the lieutenant arranged them in a semicircle in front of him, the night before many of them had not slept due to tension while others had decided to withdraw due to the extreme pace imposed on them by the officer therefore there were fewer of them than there were in departure even though the training was only halfway done.

<< The weakest have suffered so you are the toughest, the fearless, the courageous who still aspire to challenge space but first you will have to successfully pass my course.

Today's exam will be individual and will have the following methods: you will get on the planes, you will arrive at 4500 meters above sea level and you will launch one at a time, landing correctly inside the circle with the X near the port.

Those of you who have successfully tackled this part will be able to enter the Magellan and will have to pass the water landing simulation individually.

Once this is done you will move on to the third and final phase or the dry part, whoever passes all three parts will be promoted but if you fail even just one of these three steps you will fail and you will be able to say goodbye to your dreams of becoming an astronaut.

Now let's not waste time talking and let's get moving, I don't have all day >> explained the officer as he started the exam.

The cadets rushed into the hangar wearing suits and harnesses necessary to parachute towards the port, which was not easy given that they started from an internal area of Lampedusa

<<Do you feel ready?>> Leonardo asked Orlando, recalling his past difficulties in jumping from a plane;

<< I think I have no choice and if I have to be honest I agree with Dorato, to go to the stars you must first overcome your limits here on the ground >> he replied with a confident tone.

They were divided into two groups after which they got on the planes and waited to take to the skies. Luckily for Leonardo, his lover Aurora had been included in the other team so he wouldn't have had her around.

<< Guys, this is our chance to demonstrate who we are. It's becoming an elimination race and I want us to get to the end all together >> Chiara began as the plane climbed;

<< I didn't waste all that time in the hospital to get rejected, if Dorato wants to kick me out he'll have to work hard. I want space and I will take it at any cost >> replied a combative Alice.

The aircraft quickly reached the fateful 4500 meters altitude, at which point the door began to open while an instructor signaled the cadets to get up and prepare for launch.

<< Whatever happens we give our best and we will have no regrets. Good luck to each of you, see you downstairs >> Chiara shouted to her friends.

The first to get up was Orlando, followed closely by Leonardo and in a few seconds the sky was dotted with a series of black dots gliding at ever greater speed towards the ground.

The circle with the

Suddenly they began to see a circular dot with a strange sign inside, that was the sign everyone was looking for.

<< Here we are >> thought Leonardo, directing his body towards the target.

At 800 meters he opened the parachute, immediately taking the control straps in his hands and moving them with firm delicacy he began to glide towards the X but there was a reason why Dorato had chosen to position the landing point precisely in that area.

It was the windiest part of the island and strong gusts of wind were forecast that day which could make skydiving impossible, in fact as soon as the boys opened their parachutes, a gust of wind tossed them left and right.

"What the hell is going on? >> thought Leonardo overwhelmed by a gust of wind.

The parachute didn't want to go where he commanded it and had to make a tremendous effort to keep it in the direction of the circle. Looking around he saw several cadets in great difficulty caught off guard by the adverse weather conditions.

<< Chiara was right, today will be a war >> he said to himself without losing heart.

He had to give his best and inside himself he knew he could do it, he was aware that he possessed all the qualities to become a great astronaut but now was the moment to prove it so he grabbed the laces and yanked them with all the strength he had in his body, managing to carry the parachute to his left.

She was rapidly losing altitude and yet she saw the circle with the examination.

<< I won't let her beat me >> thought Leonardo, flying closer to the X.

By now he was only a few dozen meters away from solid ground, finally he felt it under his feet and, looking down, he noticed that he had landed in the center of the circle.

<< Okay, phase one passed. Now let's think about number two >> he said to himself, quickly unfastening his parachute and related harnesses and quickly heading to the port where his Magellan was waiting for him.

Orlando and Lucia had little difficulty in completing the test while Alice, perhaps due to the head problems that were still bothering her, found it very difficult to land and the strong wind didn't help her at all.

He managed to get through that step by the skin of his teeth by gliding to the inner edge of the circle, another twenty or thirty centimeters and goodbye to the exam.

<<It went well but I have to be more careful>> she thought as she went towards the Magellan.

For the occasion, Dorato had a "mockup" installed in the sea for each student, so much so that that morning the port seemed invaded by an alien species and the fishermen complained to the local authorities about the suspension of fishing activity.

Leonardo entered the spacecraft intended for him knowing what to expect, in fact as soon as the door closed the Magellan began to oscillate from all sides in an even more violent manner than in the training simulations, furthermore there was a holographic timer, a countdown which he left as soon as he entered the aircraft.

If he had not completed the exercise before the time was up he would have failed, it may have seemed trivial but in reality it added a further element of psychological pressure on those under examination, after all Dorato had a specialization in psychology therefore he knew well how to push his students to the limit of physical and mental endurance.

The water began to enter from the nozzles much faster and with greater force compared to the training they had done. Furthermore, Pandora had been deactivated and the emergency kit was hidden in a place other than the control room.

Leonardo began to take off the intravehicular suit worn in the stand in front of the pier before entering the spacecraft but that operation was not easy to complete with the water entering from all sides.

Having put on his survival suit he launched himself in search of the kit, without Pandora to guide him it was much more difficult to find it and the shocks that were given to the spacecraft from the outside did not help him move inside the Magellan.

<<Where could dame have put it? Think Leonardo, if you were a bastard like Dorato where would hide her? It must be place on the spacecraft don't usually go during exercises>> he thought but at the moment nothing came to mind.

<< Of course, it's in the bathroom! >> he exclaimed heading towards the toilets and he was right.

Grabbing the kit he flew towards the exit but the emergency doors blocked him forcing him to dismantle the control panel and cut the wires but to his surprise the doors remained closed.

He panicked, he didn't know what to do since in training that move had always worked but now it was useless, meanwhile the timer continued to run and the water had already reached his hips.

<< I have to remember what the theory manual says about it, only in this way will I be able to get out of this bad situation >> he thought, closing his eyes, entering his mental palace.

It was a technique he had used since he was a child and consisted of remembering information by associating it with known physical places. In this way he had managed to pass many university exams with minimal effort but now he needed all the concentration possible.

He remembered that on page 567 of the book "Magellan Systems" there was talk of a manual procedure that could be started from the control room with which to disable the emergency doors but it was very risky and yet he had to try at all costs.

<<It's my only chance>> he said to himself.

Luckily for him, the road to the control room was not blocked and once he arrived he turned on the main panel by entering protocol n° 7.98.76.034 with which he deactivated the entire emergency system while the water touched his neck.

The doors opened but since the Magellan was completely flooded he grabbed the survival kit and swam inside the spacecraft until the exit door which, due to the pressure exerted by the water, refused to open.

<< I have to get moving, I'm already late >> he thought, looking at the timer hologram in which time continued to flow undaunted.

He pushed with all the strength he had in his body but the door remained blocked and yet it was his only escape route so he tried a second and a third time failing miserably.

<<Okay, I'll give it one last try, Make or break>> he thought.

He swam backwards to give himself greater momentum and then with all his strength he threw himself against the door which, with that umpteenth blow, suddenly gave way, releasing the water which also took Leonardo with it.

With a flash of his kidneys he threw the emergency kit into the sea just before he ended up in it.

He breathed deeply as a rescue team immediately ran towards him to retrieve him and take him to the stand where he could change before facing the third and final phase of the exam, the dry test.

The moment he got into the life raft the timer went to zero, if he had waited another twenty seconds he would have failed, he had made it by the skin of his teeth.

<< Is everything okay? >> asked one of Dorato's assistants seeing him upset;

<<A fairy tale>> he replied with a slight smile;

<< Now go to the stand, change and take the golf cart heading to the point where you carried out the dry training. There you will receive instructions for the last phase of the exam, is everything clear? >> explained the assistant with a peremptory tone and the air of someone who is delivering a fundamental message. He was a boy in his twenties, brown hair and eyes, unkempt beard, diamond earrings, nose ring and a showy tattoo of a scorpion on his neck.

<<I understand>> Leonardo replied, still gasping.

As soon as he touched the ground he headed to the stand, giving himself a quick clean up and then off in the golf cart towards the area where the other "mockups" had been installed in which to carry out the dry test.

In this case there were only two Magellanos available so those who arrived if they had to wait did so in a tent wearing headphones over their ears and a virtual reality viewer over their eyes so as not to know what the exam consisted of.

Leonardo was the fifth to arrive at the "mockup" so he had to sit in the stand waiting for his turn, waiting for him inside he found Dorato's elderly assistant who he knew well and as soon as she saw him she congratulated him for having arrived there.

<< Some withdrew after the skydiving test and others gave up after the second step so congratulations for reaching this point but don't relax, the exam isn't over yet >> he said handing him the headphones and the visor.

He would have liked to ask him if there were any of his friends among the retreatants but he desisted, he didn't have time to think about such a thing and perhaps he didn't even want to do it, he was sure that none of them had given up.

<< I will find them all in the end, I'm sure of it. Now I have to think about ending on a high note >> he said to himself while putting on the visor.

While he was waiting for his turn in the stand, Chiara successfully completed the last phase of the exam, passing with full marks and was waiting for the other promoted cadets in a second stand, separate from Leonardo's. Instead, Lucia, Orlando and Alice were still struggling with the second test in water.

Orlando was the most in difficulty while the girls handled it rather easily even if Alice didn't have an easy life in the part where the doors didn't open, suffering especially from a mental point of view, it was clear that she had missed some exercises.

Finally Leonardo's turn came to start the third phase of the exam and as he left the stand to enter the "mockup" he met the three friends who were arriving at the tent at that moment.

Their eyes met for a few moments, they were all very concentrated and absorbed in what they still had to do.

<< Good luck >> Orlando told him.

Leonardo didn't respond to that incitement, perhaps he didn't even hear it, he saw his friend's lips move as if in slow motion but his mind was focused only on the test.

He put on the intravehicular suit and entered the "mockup" starting the last phase of his exam. First he had to take off his suit and put on the survival suit. This operation could take up to two hours but in the meantime the temperature inside the aircraft increased very quickly as it simulated the loss of the heat shield by the spacecraft during a return to the 'atmosphere.

He began to sweat noticeably but he couldn't afford to lose excessive fluids otherwise he would have been left without strength and would not have finished the exam.

Every now and then he went to the air vents to get some relief from the heat but as the minutes passed the greater the risk of dehydration, his skin began to dry out and it was a problem because undressing and getting dressed in those conditions became more and more complicated and yet he had no choice, he had to do it.

<< Come on Leonardo, you have to get a move on >> he thought as he began to put on his typical orange survival suit.

Everything was going well when suddenly a lock got stuck, it didn't want to fix itself and it was a big problem because Dorato demanded that the exam be completed perfectly otherwise no promotion.

Meanwhile, time was running out, he had half the time available compared to the test in the water, any impediment could cause him to fail and the officer certainly wouldn't give him any discounts.

<< Come on, get up, damn you! >> he shouted at the suit but it was completely useless.

<< What can I do? >> he asked himself and once again went back to his mental palace to see if the manuals explained how to resolve that type of situation.

Apparently there was nothing, the suit should have been closed as usual and yet in that situation it wasn't working so what could he do? Dorato would have rejected it if he had left the "mockup" without having properly arranged it.

<< There must be a solution, I just have to find it >> he thought looking around.

Perhaps Dorato had deliberately tampered with it by hiding some gadget to be able to fix it so he searched everywhere but it was a dead end, nothing suggested that he had to fix it himself.

The temperature rose so much that he was forced to stay near the air vents otherwise he would have fainted, he tried to yank the closure one last time in the hope that it would go into place but he failed.

<< I'm screwed! Maybe it's faulty, that's why it doesn't work. I will fail and goodbye space >> he said to himself, falling into total panic.

His heart rate skyrocketed, his sweating increased even more, his pupils dilated and his stomach suddenly became heavy as if there was a giant boulder inside it.

The fear of failure was paralyzing him, tugging him in its coils just like an anaconda does when it captures prey, first wrapping it and then crushing it mercilessly.

<< I must not give up, I can overcome this difficulty too. If I let myself get discouraged now, how will I look at myself in the mirror in the future? I would see a coward reflected in it, a man who runs away from life's obstacles but I'm not like that >> he thought trying to regain a modicum of concentration and self-esteem but it wasn't easy at all.

If he didn't solve the problem with the suit, he was done for and yet the kit was in place, he had so little left to finish the exam, could it be that he had to stop right at the best moment?

<<Think >> he said to himself but his mind seemed incapable of developing a solution to the problem.

He was cooling himself at the air vents and a few tears of desperation began to roll down his cheeks when he noticed that a small blue object was fluttering from his suit but at the time he couldn't understand what it was.

<< What are you doing here? >> he asked himself, grabbing the object.

Looking closer he realized that it was a paper clip inserted right in the point where the suit did not close, he had not noticed it at first as it had been positioned so well that it was impossible to see it without a careful eye.

He grabbed it with his right hand while with his left he pulled it away with all the delicacy he could be capable of in that situation, he was seized by strong nervous excitement, shaking like a leaf at the idea of having solved the problem with the suit.

<< Make it or break it >> he said to himself.

He grabbed the clasp and pulled but this time, unlike previous failed attempts, it closed without problems.

He took the survival kit and without thinking twice he flew towards the exit door which opened instantly taking him by surprise as he expected further problems but Dorato had decided that they were enough for that day.

As soon as he stepped out of the ship the holographic timer reset, he hadn't realized it but when he was overcome by panic he had lost a lot of time even though it seemed to him that it had stopped.

Realizing that he had made it, he was overwhelmed by a violent rush of adrenaline, collapsing to the ground from exhaustion and starting to vomit. He was immediately joined by some of Dorato's collaborators who took him by the arms and took him to the promoted stand.

When Chiara saw him arrive she ran to meet him, helping the assistants to place him on a chair and giving him some water while Aurora, who had also already been promoted, began to take off his suit.

<<I'm fine girls>> Leonardo repeated with his face as white as a sheet, contorted by physical and mental fatigue;

<< Don't worry, we'll take care of him >> Aurora said to the assistants;

<< You got away by the skin of your teeth, another five seconds and you would have failed >> said Chiara, handing him a bottle of water;

<< I know well, the suit was stuck and only by chance did I notice the paperclip. It was hell >> he explained to her, drinking it all in one gulp;

<<The important thing is that you made it>> added Aurora;

<< I was lucky, that's the truth. By the way, is it just the two of you here? Where did the others go? >> asked Leonardo noticing the absence of many students;

<< Some have to take the third step while others stopped before and were rejected. This exam will be a massacre >> explained Chiara;

<< Dorato is making a massacre >> stated Aurora, promoted a few minutes after Chiara;

<< This test turned out to be much more difficult than expected, the lieutenant organized a Russian roulette >> Leonardo said as he finished drinking the water, seeing four other cadets enter the stand exhausted from the fatigue of the exam.

He and Chiara anxiously awaited the arrival of their friends but time passed and they didn't see each other, looking at each other they thought they had failed, above all she feared not being able to continue the training with her beloved Alice.

Another twenty minutes passed before Lucia and Orlando entered the stand dehydrated, the latter in particular could not stand up, was in much worse condition than Leonardo and was barely breathing.

<< He barely made it but when he came out of the "mockup" he was reduced to this state >> the assistants said, reviving him with salts;

<< Dorato is a criminal, he should be reported >> Lucia added while drinking some water.

Meanwhile other kids entered the tent, time was running out and yet there was no sign of Alice so much so that more than once Chiara looked out of the stand to see if she was coming but she seemed to have disappeared into thin air, this was because she had been the last to enter the "mockup" to take the third phase of the exam and was struggling both with the difficulties of the test and with the headache that had returned to make itself felt that very day.

That incandescent environment reminded her of the day she lost consciousness, causing agitation that she couldn't control, preventing her from thinking about what to do.

She hadn't noticed the paper clip inserted into the suit so she didn't understand how to close it correctly and the temperature inside the "mockup" had become so hot that not even the ventilation vents gave her any relief.

<< If Dorato thinks he's going to make me give in, he's sadly mistaken >> he thought, bending down on his knees.

She became so dizzy that she couldn't stand, her head began to spin like a top, her vision became blurred and an unbearable tiredness took over her.

Only thanks to a stroke of luck did he notice something blue inside the suit, seeing the paperclip he immediately removed it, closed the uniform and exited the spacecraft.

Once outside he lay down on the ground breathing deeply.

<<I did it, in spite of Dorato>> she thought as she was rescued by the assistants and taken to the promotion stand.

When she saw her enter Chiara immediately ran towards her, hugging her so tightly that she almost strangled her.

<< I'm happy to see you too but if you keep holding me like this you'll end up suffocating me >> said Alice;

<<Sorry, you're right>> Chiara replied, wiping the tears from her eyes.

<<Now we're all here>> said Orlando who in the meantime had recovered;

<< We did it, our team is indestructible >> added Leonardo smiling.

After a few minutes, Dorato entered the pass holders' stand with the entire plethora of assistants at his side who had worked day and night to set up all those "mockups" allowing the exam to proceed smoothly.

Their effort in bringing the boys to safety throughout the day, both those who passed and those who failed, was commendable.

<< I offer you my most sincere congratulations, the best are present in this tent, those who had the courage and strength of mind not to give up in the face of difficulties.

Today you demonstrated that you know how to maintain clarity even in situations of extreme psychological stress, a fundamental characteristic for an astronaut.

Give yourselves a big round of applause because only a select few have had the privilege of being where you are now so I wish you the best of luck in the continuation of your training >> explained the officer clapping his hands, imitated by all the staff.

When he left the stand it was late afternoon so the cadets, after having changed and refreshed themselves, returned to the dormitories of the Headquarters to rest in view of the start of the survival course which would begin the next day due to the delays that occurred in Dorato.

<< Guys, I don't know about you but I need a nice meal at "Atlantide" and then a good sleep >> Orlando began;

<<I'm okay, I have to rest my poor head>> Alice added;

<<If we all agree can meet at the restaurant 9pm and have a nice evening after so much trouble>> Orlando added, receiving the approval of his friends.

The "Delfi" in Leonardo's pocket vibrated more than once and when he put it on to understand who it was he saw a message from Sofia projected in his eyes in which she congratulated him on his promotion and apologized for not being able to meet him.

<< Is everything okay? >> Alice asked him;

<< Absolutely yes, we will make a splash at "Atlantis" >> he replied, smiling at her but his voice betrayed a hint of melancholy.

Since Lucrezia had been appointed director of the fifth level, she had not seen Sofia even once.

<<Give her time and you'll see that recover, also in December we should have twenty days off so to hold out a little longer>> Lucia said suddenly entering the conversation;

<<You're right>> Leonardo retorted with the look of a beaten dog.

He knew well that once he became an astronaut he would spend months or perhaps years in space and the more the training went on the more those absences bothered him because he and Sofia had less and less time available to be together.

He was aware of it but pretended to ignore it, maybe he shouldn't have rang the bell that evening, maybe Aurora was the right woman for him since she would become an astronaut and maybe they would be part of the same crew for deep space but Sofia couldn't follow him on a mission.

<< Would it be right to leave her on Earth to await my return? >> he asked himself without answering.

The evening passed very quickly and was much less chaotic than imagined. Tiredness prevailed and yet the desire for a good meal pushed everyone to participate in the dinner organized by Orlando.

The following morning those who had passed Dorato's exam found themselves in the theory class, ready to begin a new phase of training even if some were already thinking about the Christmas holidays when they could return home.

<<It's fantastic here but I need to unplug for a few weeks>> Orlando said while they were waiting for the new teacher;

<<What will you do once the holidays arrive?>> Lucia asked Leonardo;

<< I won't go back home, maybe I'll go to Turin where some of my former teachers want me to speak to the freshmen about training to become astronauts but it's just a hypothesis, at the moment I haven't decided yet >> he replied;

<<I will go to my house instead and I can't wait gorge myself on sweets>> Orlando replied who could already taste them in his mouth.

Due to the failures their class had been decimated and since the same fate had also befallen the other two, a single large group was created in view of the second part of basic training.

To the great disappointment of Lucia and Alice, the girl with the eagle tattoo on her neck had been promoted, that morning she looked at them with a grim look, mindful of what had happened some time ago but luckily none of the three had the desire to start a new fight.

<< I don't like it at all >> Lucia began, staring at her from afar;

<< Let's think about the lessons, let's not get distracted >> Orlando told her, trying to calm her down;

<<If he comes closer will get what deserves>> Alice added in a threatening tone.

When the new teacher entered the classroom everyone understood that perhaps Dorato wasn't so bad, in fact Major Armando Prescotti was called to guide them during the survival training, a man in his forties with blue eyes, shaved hair, a grim look and scar on his left cheek highlighted by a large jaw that made him look like a movie villain.

Tall and slender, unlike the other teachers he did not wear the typical blue astronaut suit but rather military camouflage with black boots on his feet and a green cap.

<< Good morning everyone, I'm Major Prescotti and I will be your teacher during the survival course which, as you may know, will have a break during the Christmas holidays.

This course will be divided into various phases: winter survival, in mountainous areas, in the forest, and at the bottom of the sea thanks to one of our programs called SEEMO or "Space Extreme Environment Mission Operations" therefore I invite you to pay attention to the theory part that we will begin today because we will not use Atlas but we will go directly to practice.

If you don't have any questions I'd say let's start >> explained the officer.

" I have one, sir. Since there are so many different parts, what will the final exam consist of? I believe it is difficult if not impossible to go from the forest to the bottom of the sea in a single day >> Alice asked;

<< There will not be a final exam, successfully completing each part of the course will in itself constitute sufficient proof of having correctly learned what is taught.

This will be a group exam and not an individual one because surviving in hostile environments requires a team effort, you can't go anywhere alone so the practical part will also act as an exam.

There will be no simulations and you will only have one chance to get promoted so get busy.

From now until the Christmas break we will do theory while upon returning in 2071 we will immediately begin field exams.

Now let's not get lost in idle chatter and let's get started >> replied the officer putting on the visor.

"We really didn't need this one," Orlando whispered.

Prescotti's lesson proved to be particularly boring and long, lasting until midday when the cadets were given an hour's break for lunch.

<< At this rate I'll fall asleep >> said Orlando;

<< I don't understand why we have to do so much theory, furthermore we are reviewing some manuals already studied such as "Structure and composition of orbiting space stations" or "Magellan and Pigafetta: discovering them, knowing them", why do we have to review them? >> Chiara asked annoyed.

Even though she appreciated studying manuals, she preferred action and adventure, she wasn't made to hang around a school desk with a visor on her face that projected thousands of pages and pages with hundreds of schemes she'd already seen into her eyes.

<< If there is, it means that it will also be of some use, as the Latins said, "repeating is beneficial" >> replied Leonardo who didn't mind a bit of tranquility after the course with Dorato.

They spent the rest of the day reading some manuals written by Prescotti himself who, as they discovered, was an army officer who specialized in survival in extreme environments and was considered a luminary in his field.

His skill was such that it also took him abroad, working with various space agencies to train astronauts for deep space missions and his methods had aroused enthusiastic reactions from all those involved.

They finished the lesson around 8pm and went straight back to the dormitories to rest. The next day another day of long explanations of Prescotti's masterpiece "The environment is not hostile, your mind is", a work of over 1500 pages, awaited them. in which he detailed all the techniques to survive in any circumstance.

<< I can't do it, I thought Dorato was the worst but Prescotti beats him brilliantly. In my opinion he wants to wear us out with chatter, how are we going to spend a month and a half with him? It's just too much! >> Lucia exclaimed returning to the dormitories.

<< Give us back Dorato >> Orlando joked, sparking the laughter of the others.

If the kids had to face a very pedantic teacher, Sofia also had her problems to solve because, despite the herculean effort made by Andrea with his new deciphering algorithm, she was unable to make progress in stealing the secrets of Pandora's code. she and Andrea were left alone because Lucrezia, once she became director, had to spend all her time on paperwork, withdrawing from the company.

<< Girls, I trust in you, unfortunately between a meeting and a convention I am not able to help you with the code >> he announced to them, summoning them to his office;

<<But you can't abandon us now that we're on the verge of deciphering it>> Andrea protested, understanding that she would be due for further extra work;

<< You are the most brilliant scientists at this level, only you two can succeed in this undertaking and you have my full support therefore there is no longer any need for you to work at Sofia's house, you can do it very well here in the office.

I only ask you to keep it to yourself and not to talk about it with others, I don't want to cause panic >> replied Lucrezia to whom it didn't seem true that she could unload such a burdensome and burdensome task on her friends;

<<He abandoned us, what do we now? It becomes almost impossible for two to make it>> Andrea began after returning to Sofia's office;

<< Where are you at with your new algorithm? >> the latter asked her;

<<It's not long now, it's actually almost ready>> he replied.

Initially Andrea had thought of keeping it hidden, deciphering the Pandora code herself and then announcing the results publicly, but when she realized that she was further behind than expected in writing the algorithm she was forced to reveal its existence to her colleagues.

<<Now we are at that point in life where it would be too easy to lose heart, but instead have persist, it's like being on the steepest stretch of a climb, sooner or later will flatten out>> Sofia retorted, trying to motivate her.

Andrea had initially been the most enthusiastic at the idea of being able to steal the secrets of Pandora which in the meantime had become so intelligent as to make the Pandora Lab almost useless.

It managed every update and improvement on itself in total autonomy, in fact some scientists and programmers wondered how long they would be useful to the Agency.

Some of them had even started looking for work at private technology companies and given their CV they were very tempting therefore, although it remained by far the most prestigious and coveted job, the Pandora Lab needed a jolt of adrenaline and could only give it great news like code deciphering.

<< Maybe you're right, I'll finish the new algorithm and we'll apply it to the code hoping that this will be the right time. Ultimately my "Tardigrade Theory" turned out to be correct and allowed us to understand why Pandora updates itself and what pattern it follows >> said Andrea.

The weeks flew by and the Christmas holidays got closer and closer, there was a very festive atmosphere at the Headquarters, so much so that the building was embellished with holograms depicting the classic Christmas decorations.

Pandora herself began to wish everyone happy holidays even though December had just arrived and the cadets couldn't wait to ditch Prescotti's boring theory lessons to go home and relax.

<< Where will you go during the holidays? Will we all spend them together or will we split up and meet back here for the practical part of the survival course? >> Orlando asked at the end of yet another interminable theory lesson;

<< To tell the truth, I haven't thought about it yet, now I'm one hundred percent concentrated on studying Prescotti's manuals.

I don't want to be unprepared when the practical exam comes, let's not forget that we won't have the chance to do simulations so we have to be impeccable, furthermore Prescotti seems to be the typical meticulous teacher, ready to punish the slightest mistake >> he explained Leonardo very worried.

He hadn't been able to see Sofia again and his irritation over that situation was increasing day by day, why did his girlfriend continue to ignore him? The friend had settled in some time ago so there would be no danger in meeting and yet she insisted on preaching patience.

<< Alice and I will spend the holidays together, we deserve it after so much suffering >> Chiara replied walking along the corridor that led to the lifts in the direction of the dormitories;

<< Apparently we will separate during these holidays, personally I will go with Orlando >> added Lucia giving a kiss on her boyfriend's neck.

Leonardo realized that he was the only one without a plan but it didn't matter, he could return to Turin and seriously give those lessons to the young students that the rector had proposed him to do some time ago or he would have remained in Palermo learning every syllable of the manuals of Prescotti who fascinated him greatly.

<<Okay guys, I'll see you tomorrow in the classroom>> he said to his friends as he entered the room.

<< Merry Christmas in advance! Did you think I forgot about you? >> began Sofia who was on his bed dressed as sexy Santa Claus, leaving him speechless.

At first he was shocked because he didn't expect to find her there, in fact he jumped backwards, leaning with his hands on the door to avoid falling.

<< Wow I wasn't expecting you here..., ... well..., ... I... >> stammered Leonardo;

<< Close the door so you can unwrap your gift early >> she replied;

<< Immediately, madam >> he replied, obeying instantly.

They spent the whole night together which proved to be excellent, the distance had made them both understand how important they were to each other and Sofia decided to make him an important proposal while the stars still blanketed the celestial vault.

He wanted to take their relationship to the next level and make up for his long absence due to the hard work he was doing with Andrea on the Pandora code.

<< Do you have any plans for these holidays? >> he asked him;

<< At the moment I'm the only one of my friends who doesn't have any, why do you ask such a question? >> he replied with a curious tone;

<< Maybe we could be together, in this way we would make up for lost time, what do you think? Pandora's code can wait >> he proposed.

Leonardo was taken aback by that offer, on the one hand he had hoped to spend the Christmas holidays with her but on the other he hadn't had too many illusions about it so he was taken by surprise by that invitation.

"Why don't you say anything? Do not you agree? >> added Sofia;

<< I think it's a wonderful idea. What do you have in mind? Go back to the lighthouse? >> said Leonardo;

<< I was actually thinking of staying here in Palermo, just the two of us in my apartment and never mind if someone from the Head Office were to see us. By now you're halfway through the training and I've already talked to Lucrezia about our situation, so she approves if it's okay with you... >> Sofia said, her face blushing.

Ever since she was a child she dreamed of spending a very traditional Christmas holiday decorating the tree, making a nativity scene and preparing typical sweets, all together with the love of her life and since she had the opportunity she intended to take it but not knowing what Leonardo wanted she had been undecided until the very end whether to ask him or not.

Before that evening he thought very carefully about how to explain his plan to him and prepare everything for it to succeed.

First he spoke to Lucrezia, clarifying things and her friend was very understanding, so much so that she told him << Go for it girl >>, she had been established for some time now so any criticism would not have undermined her authority.

Having done this he had to convince Leonardo of the validity of his proposal and the best way he could think of was to dress up as a winking Santa Claus hoping to make him capitulate.

<< Don't say anything else, I'm in >> he replied;

<<Are you serious? You're not joking, right?>> she asked him to make sure he wasn't making fun of her;

<< I'm very serious, in a certain sense it will be like going back to the past so it's fine with me >> he replied looking into her eyes to reassure her.

Sofia's hands trembled with emotion, a great wish of hers had just come true and it would be exactly as she had imagined it so her face blushed even more while her stomach began to hurt from agitation.

<< Are you okay? >> Leonardo asked her, seeing her in an altered state;

<< I've never been better, this night you made me the happiest woman in the world >> she replied.

Sofia wasn't the only one to see her dream come true, in fact after a long marathon Andrea managed to complete the algorithm he had been working on for some time and was eager to apply it to the Pandora code hoping to reap the benefits.

First he had to understand if it worked and see what results it led to, therefore, wanting to make sure that what he had achieved was effective, he decided to carry out a test using the algorithm on a guinea pig which was used to interpret and predict people's behavior starting from the previous experiences that they they had matured during their lives.

If Pandora's code really represented the AI's experience, its historical memory in which it stored everything it had learned, then its algorithm would have worked but to be sure it wanted to use it on a real human being.

The first person on whom he thought of testing the algorithm was himself, therefore he inserted among the parameters everything that could be used by the machine to predict his behavior starting from what he had done in the past.

The objective was to correctly interpret the past behaviors of the subject under examination and then, starting from this, try to analyze and predict future ones as precisely as possible using a series of complex mathematical equations.

<< Let's see if it really works >> he thought, entering his parameters.

She placed her finger on the "Enter" key but stopped before pushing it, reflecting on the possible consequences. Was she really sure she wanted to allow an algorithm to predict her future actions? What if it had become some sort of prophecy about his destiny?

The chances that those results could change their attitudes were high. Furthermore, not knowing if the algorithm was valid, it would have had to act as a living guinea pig, it would have become a human experiment and he began to not like it.

Was it right for a quantum artificial intelligence to decide what it could do and what it couldn't? She wanted to be free to make mistakes and live her life without having that sword of Damocles over her head but by pushing "Enter" she would have lost her free will.

On the other hand, if it had worked, it would have solved the problem of Pandora's secret code by interpreting its most intimate essence and understanding how it learned, memorized and above all how it self-updated.

<< Maybe I can use the parameters of another person, I don't necessarily have to enter mine and yet whose past I know so well and in such depth as to make him a reliable guinea pig for the algorithm? >> he asked himself, wanting to avoid ending up a victim of his own work.

He thought for over an hour about some public figure he knew the most information about but no one came to mind, then, mulling over the people he had worked side by side with, he had an epiphany.

<< Martoprete is perfect >> he said to himself.

He was one of the most famous scientists of all time, his private life had been searched so well that in the metaverse very detailed information was found about him such as his habits during childhood, what his favorite dishes and colors were , his hobbies, the way he approached logical reasoning, and so on.