The sun, just bursting over the mountains, cast golden streaks of light across the lowlands. The mountains of the Great Range stretched long, dark shadows. That's when lights in the hallway flash awake, followed by quite a few people headed down the corridor. The sound of their footsteps awoke Bill, who was buried under his blanket. Not feeling like getting up yet, he turned to his other side. The alarm clock suddenly began making its obnoxious waking call. Not able to sleep, Bill finally silenced the clock and rose out of bed.
He took a quick shower and combed his hair, making himself look presentable. He was about to pull into his uniform when a sudden knock on the door surprised him. He put down the uniform and asked, "Who is it?"
From the other side of the door, a man's voice said, "It's Gene. May I come in?"
"Not yet, I'm still dressing." Bill said back. Quickly he grabbed his uniform and got into it, scrambling to clip on his badges and mission patches. Dressed, he opened the door. Gene didn't hesitate a moment to step into the room.
"Ah! Good morning Bill!" he greeted and smiled.
"Good morning, sir!" he saluted, smiling back.
"Now, now," Gene remarked, "let's not be so formal now. Here, sit down." He motioned to the bed. Bill understood, and the two of them sat on the edge of the bed side by side, face to face.
"I have a busy day ahead, so I'll have to make this meeting brief. But I have some very important information you have to hear." Gene started up again.
"Yes?" Bill's voice grew in a more curious tone.
"The reason I want to see you is about all the testing you've been doing."
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no, quite the opposite. You see, the administrators and I have been thoroughly examining all of your test scores, and I would like to bring to your attention that only you and two others have passed."
Bill was surprised. "Three? I would've expected at least four or five passers."
Gene shook his head. "Nope. It is just you, Jebediah and Bob Kerman.
"That's great, Gene, but what does that mean?" Bob urged.
"What that means is," Gene paused for a moment, suddenly beginning to smile, "well, you three are going on the Kerbin One mission."
Bill's eyes lit up. Instantly he took Gene's hand, shaking it. "Really?"
"Well, of course it is your decision if you'd like to go or not but…"
"Oh yes!" Bill insisted, "I would be honored to be part of this mission!"
"In that case, Bill, you will go on this mission. Congratulations!"
Excitement seemed to flow through every bone in Bill's body. The dreams on being part of this historic mission had finally come true. All the testing, the studying, the simulations, all of it had been worth it. Bill found himself speechless in front of Gene. There was only one question he could ask.
"Gene, when does the Kerbin One take off?"
Gene chuckled. "Not for a while I'm afraid. Not for a while."
"Why?"
"The spacecraft you will depart on, Kerbin One, has yet to be constructed. But we do have the individual modules here in the Assembly building, in case you were wondering."
"Got it. Is there anything you'd like me to do now?" Bill asked.
In response, Gene said, "I'm glad you asked. We are going to have having a meeting at Mission Control in an hour. We'd like you to come. We'll be discussing some more arrangements for the mission."
Bill nodded. "Don't worry. I'll be there, sir"
Gene nodded too. "Well, I've got to run. I'll be going now." He rose from the bed, and began to head for the door. Just before leaving the room, he turned to Bill and said, "Congratulations again, Bill. You're a fine Kerbonaut."
He shut the door, leaving Bill to himself. He continued to sit there on the bed's edge, daydreaming about the Kerbin One mission. The questions swarmed his head.
What will interstellar warp be like? What will the Kerbin One spacecraft look like? Will their mission to find life succeed? In good time, he knew, these questions would answer themselves.
It was growing quiet on Laythian One. The few dozen Kerbonauts living at the base were tired from an exciting day of tending to the shuttles. But now the sun was setting on the grey horizon, Jool sitting in the sky like an emerald gem. The Kerbals, one by one, fell into deep sleep, the lights shutting off to preserve energy. Sitting in the main gathering room was Bob Kerman, who hardly felt a single drowsy twinge in his eyes. All the jet lag from being transferred around the Joolian moons had set his body's clock all off. So, to sit out the time, he sat alone in the room, looking out the windows and towards the lightly-twinkling stars.
Bob's eyelids just barely began growing heavier when the sounds of upcoming footsteps gained his attention. He wheeled around in his seat. It was Gerrim, and he had a surprised look on his face.
"Ah Bob, glad I found you. I have some big news." He took a seat beside Bob. Something in Gerrim's eyes told him this was important.
"What it is Gerrim?" Bob urged.
"To start off with, we got a laser transmission from the space center on Kerbin." Gerrim paused, "They told me to let you know about the news as soon as possible."
"What did they say? Tell me Gerrim!"
"Well, Bob, apparently you have passed the test."
"You mean the simulation?"
"Yes, that and everything else you've been tested on."
Bob was surprised the results of his simulation had come in so soon. But a smile began to form on the twos' faces. "Does that mean I'm going to be on the Kerbin One mission?" Bob asked after a moment of silence.
Gerrim nodded. "Exactly." Another silent moment passed between them. That's when Gerrim spoke up again. "Oh I almost forgot one thing." He said.
"Yes?" Bob replied
"The guys at the space center want you down there on Kerbin as soon as possible. I'd like you to know that we've sent for a shuttle to land here tonight. You'll head back to Kerbin in the morning."
"Already? I've only been here for a few hours. Why so soon?"
Gerrim shrugged. "I don't know, they didn't tell." He put a hand on Bob's shoulder. "I know you love this place, and that we're great friends, but I'm sorry. I have to follow orders." Bob nodded in silent understanding. What Gerrim had said was true. Laythian One was a beautiful place. A marvel of technology, and a place where he felt as if he were truly part of the universe. Furthermore, seeing his best friend Gerrim again had been a pleasure. It was an awful shame to say goodbye so soon.
It was a strange feeling. Feeling a sort of despair and great honor at the same time. His name would undoubtedly go down in history as part of the first interstellar space mission. But did the fame matter? So far from home, would he feel loneliness? Fear? Hope? It was something Bob couldn't grasp.
Noticing the look on Bob's face, Gerrim spoke up and said, "Bob, are you alright?"
Bob nodded slowly. "Yeah, I'm fine. A little shock, I guess." He forces a small nervous smile. Somehow Gerrim could feel as Bob did. But they both sat next to each other, their arms wrapped around their shoulders. Once again Bob's eyes felt heavier. He let the feeling overcome him. And, within a minute, Gerrim looked over at Bob's eyes. He was fast asleep. Gerrim smiled towards Bob's sleeping face. All he did was lean back into the seat, staring out into the stars. Like Bob, sleepiness overcame him, and the two sat together, minds dozed off into dreamland.
The sky was clear, and the sun beat down heavily. The traffic had been murder on Jebediah. Nearly two hours just to travel a measly fifteen kilometers form the hotel. It was, what, nearly noon now, and he had left the hotel at around seven that morning. He knew he should've waited until the early morning traffic had died down before his departure, but, oh well, at least he knew that for the next time he had to travel home from the space center.
He found himself in the suburbs of Kerbin City. He turned onto a street or two, then finally pulled into the driveway of the third house from the corner. Sitting in that house window was five-year-old Jerlong Kerman, who stared intensely at the street. It was a boring passion, but when the sleek grey car came pulling into the driveway, his spirits rose. He jumped from the window ledge, running to his mother crying "Daddy's home!"
But before opening the car door, Jeb leaned back, closed his eyes and let out a relieving sigh. Finally, he thought, he was home. He opened his eyes, took the keys out of the ignition and approached the front door. Before he could even get in his first knock the door flung open, and there stood the two most important people in his life.
"Jeb!"
"Lyta!" the two found themselves with their arms wrapped around each other. After a moment of embracing each other, Lyta faced Jebediah. "Oh Jebediah, Jerlong and I have missed you so much since they called you up there."
"I missed you two as well." He smiled. Jerlong was beside his mother, bouncing up and down and wearing a broad grin on his face. Jeb opened his mouth to say more, but instead he gave his family for another round of hugs. It's good to be home, he thought, smiling.
The day kept Jebediah busy, but in a good way. Jerlong had insisted they play at the park down the street, and who was he to say no? As the small family of three walked down the sidewalks to the park playground, Jerlong did nothing but babble excitedly. His son loved him more than anything in the whole world, Jebediah had forgotten over the seven months at the space center. The feeling of love for his family wouldn't fade away. Instead, the sense had actually grown.
At the park, Jerlong grabbed Jebediah's hand and quickly ran off to the playground. Though he almost fell over, Jeb tried to keep up with his rambunctiously excited son as they ran off to the field.
"Daddy, let's play rocket ball!" Jerlong exclaimed.
"Sure thing, Jerlong!" Jebediah replied. He grabbed the small cotton ball he had brought along. "Rocket ball" was a silly game played by trainee Kerbonauts at the space center in which they would shout all sort of random terms from their Orbital Mechanics classes. But despite the fact he was only five years old, Jerlong had learned enough from his father about orbital mechanics to play the game properly.
Jebediah reeled back, paused for a moment, and then threw the ball into the air. Jerlong watched the ball unblinkingly as it soared. Jebediah and his son simultaneously cried out "Apoapsis!" as it reached its highest point, just before it began falling back to the ground. Jerlong ran beneath the cotton ball and caught it just before it hit the dirt. Before throwing it back, he cried out "Ascending!" He whirled around, turning to face the relative vicinity of the North Pole. The ball flew in the complete opposite direction of Jebediah. Jebediah ran to catch it, but the ball hit the ground long before he could reach it. He found himself laughing at himself. His son too was laughing. He knew this was one of the amazing father-son bonding moments. He cherished it.
That night, nearing Jerlong's bedtime, Jebediah, Lyta and Jerlong were just wrapping up dinner. Like a good boy, Jerlong picked up his plates and utensils and put them in the sink. Jebediah and Lyta looked towards each other. They were so proud to have a son like Jerlong.
"Jerlong," Lyta smiled, "don't you think it's time to get ready for bed?"
"Yes, mommy." He replied. Lyta rose from the dinner table to follow Jerlong upstairs. Just before reaching the top stair, a knock on the door caught the family's attention. There was a small button on the table. Jebediah leaned over and held it down as he spoke into it.
"Hello, this is Jebediah." He spoke with a tint of questioning in his voice.
In the speaker, a voice replied. "This is Gene Kerman. May I come in?" Jebediah was surprised. What was he doing here, he thought. But he brushed the thought away and answered as quickly as possible. Lyta and Jerlong were still on the stairs.
"Yes, sir. I'll open the door in a second." He rose and headed for the door. "It's Gene." He told them. They, too, were surprised He opened the front door, and standing on the ledge was indeed Gene. Jebediah motioned for him to come in. Gene stood in the living room.
"Sir, may I take your coat?" Jebediah asked courteously.
"Please, don't bother." Gene answered, "I'll only be here for a moment." Jebediah nodded in understanding, though he was awfully confused. He wondered why a busy leader of the space program like Gene would drive for hours just to spend a few minutes with him. Something didn't feel right, and he wasn't sure if that was a bad thing or not. A moment of silence passed amongst the four. Then Jeb spoke up, wanting to speak his mind.
"Gene, may I ask why you have come down here to Kerbin City?"
"I can see where you're confused, Jeb. Here let's sit." They sat on the couch. "Before I tell you the big news, for the – what - eighteen years you have been a Kerbonaut at the Kerbal Space Program, you have undoubtedly been one of our most talented Kerbonauts." What was Gene getting at? He wasn't being fired, was he? No, his entire family was here. Gene may be serious about his work, but he's not cruel.
"Continue, sir." Jebediah could only say.
"Well, I can only get it out straight: how would you feel about a promotion?" Now he almost fell out his seat.
"A promotion?"
"Yes, to Mission Commander." Lyta and Jerlong had approached closer during their discussion, and they were equally as confused.
"Why, sir?"
"You have been chosen, Jebediah, out of our only three canadates for the Kerbin One mission, to be the leader."
"Why me?" he noticed he was getting redundant.
"Because you're brilliant." Gene said in louder voice. "The three of you going on this mission are all brilliant. But you not only show exceptional performance and adaptability in the field, but you know how to work a team to their peak efficiency. Even facing forty-eight individual units you still could get them together into one whole. We monitored your heart rate during the simulation. It showed that you didn't pull off what you did just by an adrenaline rush, no, you can performed with utmost clarity."
Gene's little speech made Jebediah and his family silent. But then a smile began growing on Jebediah's face. Quite the compliment, yes, but all he had said was true. He was a natural leader, one of the best the space program had ever trained. He was honored to know that such a proud moment in their civilization's history would be led by himself. Yes, I can do this, he thought.
He grabbed Gene's hand and shook it. With a proud smile on his face, Jeb replied, "Gene, you've got your Commander."