Somewhere in Virginia, a high school student was spending his very last moment at the military boarding school he had been living in for a few years. The young man was looking at a classroom, from the doorway, remembering the good moments he had shared with his fellows and teachers. He knew by heart the planets of the solar system that were hanging from the ceiling: their names and their key characteristics. He knew by heart the names of the galaxies that appeared on the map taped to a wall. Space was very mysterious and exciting. He would never get tired of reading books about this topic and watching the skies with the telescope standing in a corner of the room. And that poster representing the periodic table of elements on the wall, he would never forget the hard time he had trying to learn that table to win a bet he had made with a friend, which he won.
The boy was leaving this place he had considered a second home for a new thrilling adventure he was waiting for. Nobody really got surprised by this direction. Some people in his family had chosen the same path before and had been doing quite well. The boy was proud to keep the tradition, and a bit stressed as well.
The young adult heard people walking in the corridor. He turned to the left and saw three familiar faces coming towards him. A girl and two boys around her. All had just finished their second year in middle school.
The girl started the discussion when she approached the young adult, "I was sure we would find you here, Bryan."
"You know me too well, young lady."
Bryan noticed the three students looked sad. He questioned them, "Hey, what's up, guys?"
The girl glanced at the two boys. As none of them seemed to have the courage to speak, she explained, "Well, you're leaving."
"I know. But you know I can't really stay, even if I wanted to?"
"Things won't be the same without you. Who's gonna help us with our science classes?"
The two silent boys nodded, to show they shared this distress.
Bryan reassured the group, "You're gonna be fine. Damian and Claire will be there next year. You know, I'm not going at the very end of the galaxy but to Colorado. It's not as if we're not gonna see each other again."
"End of the galaxy, Colorado, pretty much the same." the girl said, raising her eyebrows, not convinced. "Let's be honest, you'll be busy at the Air Force Academy, you won't have time to come back here."
The two silent boys nodded again. The girl'd got a point. Bryan wouldn't be able to come back as much as he'd like. However, he didn't lose faith.
"Look" Bryan started, approaching the girl and the boys. "You're right, we may not be able to meet as often as before, but it doesn't mean we won't keep in touch. We're lucky we have many means to do it today. I don't know what's in store for us, but I know the ties - Bryan put his right hand on his heart - we have between us will always be there. So, please, guys, don't be sad, it's not a farewell. We'll find a way to keep in touch. I promise."
The girl hugged Bryan tightly, so did the two other boys. The young adult did the same. He would miss them a lot. No doubt.
A young lady coming from the end of the corridor, behind the future Air Force cadet, interrupted the warm goodbye, "Here you are, Bryan! We've been waiting for you!"
Bryan turned around. A tall athletic looking girl with a pony tail, slightly older than him, was smiling at the group. People could tell she wasn't a student of the boarding school, based on her civilian clothes. Indeed, Bryan and the three young teenagers were still wearing the school uniform, Air Force like shirt and pants. Bryan raised his left hand to inform the girl he was coming.
He turned to the kids afterwards, to say, "My sister's calling. You remember her?"
One of the boys, obviously impressed by Bryan's sister, commented, "She's pretty."
The girl and the other boy stared at him, astonished to hear that sentence coming out of the blue. Bryan smiled.
The second young boy warned his friend, "But dangerous."
Bryan tried not to laugh and retorted, "No, she's not. Don't be silly."
"My uncle says they are machines."
"Ok, guys, I think it's time to go."
Bryan motioned the kids to his sister. He looked at the classroom a last time and followed the kids. He heard the boy keep on sharing scary details provided by his uncle such as "They can kill with their hands". Bryan wondered how an adult could tell such stories to children. Some people had strange ideas... Hopefully, the Direction of the boarding school had chosen to communicate more positive messages about the Air Force, through the posters on the walls in the corridor promoting exciting and rewarding careers in several areas. Aviation, geospatial intelligence, or space exploration with the Stargate Program, to name a few. The poster for the Stargate Program displayed a big circle of metal and space ships.
Bryan was of course interested in the Stargate Program. Because it involved the US Air Force, space exploration, and international cooperation. Yes, Bryan was attracted by this program. Certainly like many people. But unlike many people, he already had a connection with this program. He knew it didn't mean anything and he didn't want to use that to his own advantage either. He would have to prove he deserved such an amazing assignment. That was easier said than done, considering the legacy that was weighting on his shoulders... No pressure...
He didn't know his interaction with the Stargate Program would become much stronger before he actually starts the Academy.