……
"Dad, I'm coming!"
He didn't respond.
"Dad, it's me, your daughter, Isamael!"
Another silent moment.
"Dad, are you okay?"
He didn't turn his face to me. The thing I only saw was his grey captain uniform and bright-brown hair.
After a while, he turned back. His face was dry, like a dried skull, with neither warmth nor emotion.
"Dad, are you okay?" it was the second time I called for him.
Suddenly, he roared like a monster. His eyes were as sharp as a Shudak (A kind of animal, similar to a lion) that was searching the next target to hunt. He looked so hungry that he couldn't wait for any moment and was going to toss me.
'Ahhhh…'
……
The surrounding turned back to normal, with a little bit sunshine projected through the window and spread on the floor. There was some noise, but it is familiar - don't worry, it comes from the walking crowd outside. Instead of standing in an empty, cold room, I was still on my sweet, warm bed.
It's just a nightmare; I thought and sighed.
"Wake up and get ready, my sakutu(sweetie). It's time for school,'" it was my mom or zakotu.
"Okay, mom, I will be there in a second."
I got up, put on my school uniform, brushed my teeth, and washed my face - nothing too different from my daily routine.
"It's so hard to see you get up without my help. Did you get a good rest last night?" Mom said. I nodded and smiled, though I knew the night was rough.
When I had my breakfast, I observed that my mom looks different today. Not from the appearance, but comes from her facial expression. It seems like she was going to have an important announcement.
"My sweetie, do you know what is the date today?"
I had no idea about that. Is that someone's birthday? Is that a significant event I missed? Or maybe some secret ceremonies I had no idea about?
"I know you're old enough to know that," she gasped. "Ten years ago, on the same day at the same time, your father was called to participate in a special mission, which was called Project Tan Chin."
"What was that project about?' I stopped eating and asked. I have not heard anything like this from my history class.
"I don't know much detail about that project. But I remember it was related to Zik Tek Group."
Zik Tek Group? It was the most massive planet developer of Clapadia, our federation. But my father is a chief officer of Federal Space Convoy. How was he involved in such an event?
"But where is my dad now? You used to tell me that he would be back soon."
"I don't know," she gasped again. This time, her volume became lower, as low as a whisper, 'Maybe-', she started to sob.
"Mom, are you okay?" I asked.
"I don't have any idea about where he is, but ... he is probably gone forever".
I was shocked. At this point, I completely lost my mind. How could this be possible, I gasped.
'But let's give him our best pray,' she raised the sticks and drew a diamond shape with a crossing in the center. 'Kashiwas a du puko zuto. Du zahili Zakote Ku Isamael zasak manuhi u yukia. (God listens to our prayers. We hope Isamael's father will have good luck.)'
After I finished my breakfast, I took my backpack and went to my school.
While on my way to the school, the fog within my mind was unable to be erased. Instead, it became thicker and darker as I raised more questions. Why did my mom keep hiding the truth? Why did she choose this time to tell me the story?
It was about ten minutes before the first period started. I was able to arrive at school on time.
"Good morning" - there was a friendly, cute voice came from my right side. I turned my sight to the right and realized it was Zumik- a Morcatonian Monster girl.
(Zumik is a real monster, with four short legs, two long ears and a huge tail. Maybe you think her face is a little bit scary with her two sharp teeth, but none of these appearances could change the fact that she is an energetic, positive girl.)
"Hi," I replied.
"It seems like you're down now. What's the matter with you?"
"Nothing," I replied. It would be too hard for her to understand the situation.
"It does not seem like that's what you would say normally," she was surprised, but that is true." Can we talk a bit about that later? I will keep this as a secret".
It's better not to tell others, I thought. How could I ruin Zumik's mood by pulling her into this void?
Then the bell rang, and everything was back to normal.
...
The class-over bell rang.
"Bye, Zumik," I said.
"Bye, Isamael. I hope you will feel better tomorrow."
After dismissing the class, I headed to the maglev station immediately. The maglev station was filled with people and conversations as usual. In fact, it is even worse when comes to peak time. Since Clapadia Federation had lowered the requirement of immigrants, the population of Galaxy City 1, the city I live and the capital city of Clapadia had seen an explosion. In order to create a fully survivable environment, there will be "scheduled" storms within our close environment in the universe. I had heard that there were thunderstorms take place on the east end of the city, therefore it was expected that the train would delay.
"The next train bound for Frankintec via Tumic Crossing will arrive in 2 minutes on Platform 2, please stand by for more boarding information."
Fortunately, this time, the train was not delayed. When the train stopped, I was pushed into the train by the crowd. After I while I found a good seat and sit down.
"Excuse me…Sorry about that…Give me way please…" I heard someone who wanted access to the front.
But when he saw me, he stopped. It looked like he is a typical high school student - a guy with a messy haircut, wearing black-framed glasses; while carrying a heavy backpack. Wait, he looks kind of familiar, but who is he?
"Excuse me, are you Isamael Akosa Milkaviki, the daughter of Mr. Keswher Milkaviki?"
How did he know both me and my father’s name? I doubted, he is so strange. "Yes, but who are you?"
"I’m the one who knows what happened to your father."
Does he know what happened to my father? It is hard for me to believe it. But why did he ask this question now?
"So can you tell me what happened to my father?"
He shook his head, "I can’t tell you now, because your dad involves in a secret mission. But don't worry about that, I will give you the whole story after we get off this train. By the way, can you tell your mother that you received an invitation from your classmate."
"Wait, are you my classmate? I must have met you before-"
"Zaminku Tusec Ukoh Muzek, you know me on the science class last semester."
He’s actually Tusec! How I messed him up with others?
"But why you still asked my name, even though you met me every day?"
"It's not because I don't know your name, but I was shocked when I saw your name on the list. Basically, when I was browsing my email, I found there was an email sent from one of my friends from my social media. The email said that he had some astonishing discovery about the ship disappeared ten years ago. At the end of the email, there was an attached file, with a list of name. I was shocked when I found my father’s name on the list. ‘Was that a coincidence?’, I doubted, but there was no other explanation.”
I asked him for more details: "Wait, why are you so certain that this is relevant to you, and what is the ship you are talking about?”305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzX6xE8LHU
“Because my father was also missing for ten years.”
“I remembered you said that your father is a biologist of the Federal Academy of Specie Research, right? Why did he called to board that spaceship? Was that an expedition project?”
“I don’t know much detail about it. What my mom told me was that he would be back when I am turning 17, which there was only a slim hope. However, what I had found more astonishing was that your father’s name was on the head of the list. That was why I asked you to confirm for that.”
I see, that’s why he asked that strange question.
“However, at the head of the email, the sender said she did not want the information to be leaked to the general public, since it was on one of the classified topic of the Federation. She said the consequence of the discovery would cause instability and even death of your closest.”
How could this be possible? From what I learned from the social-study class, our country is clearly ranked as one of the most transparent countries in the universe. While on the news, there are constant criticisms about how the government spent the budget. Despite all these questions, my clue is clear now, my mind told me. He was talking about missing spaceship my dad was on, which none of my classmate had heard about.
“The next station is Kokvistika, doors open on the right.”
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXok3LNhMh
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGirjiaP5a
ns 15.158.61.6da2
