Brett stepped off of the high speed train onto the bustling platform. Atos, the planet’s main sun, shown low in the afternoon sky, but the distant red sun, Molar, was still high overhead. The combination of the two suns created glowing, pinkish sky.
As Brett scanned the row of signs, each one directing passengers to a different destination, a distant rumble, like thunder echoed through the train station. The traveling boy lifted his eyes to the pink sky to find the white vapor trail of a rocket ship. No doubt, it was a Quantum 7 ground-to-space interceptor launched from the nearby base. In seconds the spaceship pierced through the upper atmosphere, and the vapor trail disappeared.
Brett shifted the weight of his duffle bag on his shoulders, and headed to the gate that read “Space Base X-Ray”. There, he shuffled into the autobus among a group of Space Force personnel. The uniformed military crew chatted among themselves, paying no attention to Brett. Once on the bus, he heaved his bag up into the overhead bin, and then dropped into an empty seat near the back of the automatic transport vehicle.
“Welcome aboard, passengers. Please take your seat. The transport will depart in 5 minutes.” A pleasant female voice greeted the travelers.
Brett ignored the rest of the automated announcement that instructed the passengers on a long list of safety rules and procedures. His mind focused on the three months that awaited him. An entire summer of junior cadet school.
For the first time in his life, Brett was on his own. It was the first time away from the only life he knew, surrounded by familiar family and friends.
Years ago, before Brett was born, his father had been in the Dracon Space Force. Brett recalled stories of that difficult and uncertain time, when the planet was under attack, and nearly overtaken by a gang of hostile space pirates. The nomads were raiders that attacked and pillaged entire planets. When they had taken everything that they could carry aboard their odd collection of spacecraft, they moved on in search of another planet to plunder.
Brett’s father had fought bravely for two years, until the raiders were driven off. “Son,” he would say, “I’m old now, so it’s up to you and your generation to defend our precious home.”
For now, the people of Dracon lived in peace, but no one knew when an enemy from another solar system might show up, and threaten the planet. For that reason, the Space Force looked for talented young boys and girls for its training program.
At twelve-years-old, Brett was now able to join the space cadet school. He would train for three months every summer until he was eighteen. Then he could join the Space Force as a mechanic, weapon specialist, or any number of jobs. If he showed the proper skill and abilities, he might even be selected for the best job of all, a Quantum 7 pilot.
However, that was all in the distant future. For now, Brett worried about just being away from home. As the transport vehicle left the terminal, an intense wave of anxiety gripped the young cadet. “What if I fail, and disappoint my father? What if I can’t make new friends? What if the instructors don’t like me? I don’t know if I can do this,” he told himself. He missed his family terribly, and he hadn’t even reached the base.
“Lord, help me, and please take away my fears and worries. Your word tells us to ‘be anxious about nothing’, I want to believe. Please help me!” Brett repeated the prayer that he had prayed hundreds of times over the years, but still he could not keep the endless stream of “what if’s” from popping into his head.
Most boys his age were excited about cadet school, and with good reason. It was a time to get up close to the Quantum 7 ships, learn about space flight, and at the end of the summer training, they would be rewarded with a ride on an actual space mission!
Brett tried to swallow, but his dry throat felt tight. His anxiety was like a heavy weight, spoiling what should have been a fun adventure. He knew Philippians 4:6 by heart, and believed God answered prayers. But he couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t shake off the burden of anxiety and fear.
After a half hour ride, the driver-less bus rolled past a large sign with a white logo of a rocket ship in flight. The sign read, “Space Base X-Ray, General Maria Roberts, Commander.” The vehicle coasted to a stop at the base entrance gate, stationed with armed security police.
Brett joined the flow of passengers toward the security station. When it was his turn, he gave his full name and identification number, then stood in front of the facial scanner.
“You’re clear. Go ahead,” said the security office, without taking his eyes off of the electronic display.
At the next station, Brett was greeted by another officer. “Cadet Wallace?”
“Yes,” Brett answered.
“Welcome to X-Ray. You’ve been assigned to barrack 116,” the officer pointed to his right. “Follow the signs. They are expecting you.”
“Thank you,” Brett shouldered his duffle bag and waited for the automatic security doors to open.
On his way to the barracks, the young cadet took in the signs and sound of the space base. Since it was late in the day, and the planet was at peace, X-Ray was fairly quiet. A few uniformed personnel shuffled past, while an occasional military vehicle rumbled down the street. The walk to 116 was about half of a mile, but Brett was glad to be on his feet. Being up, and moving, seemed to calm his nerves a bit. It sure beat the long hours sitting on the train.
Brett wondered who is roommate would be. He hoped it would be someone from the north, like himself. The city-dwellers of the south usually looked down on the northerners, and the people who lived on the far side of Capricorn Sea spoke with an accent that was difficult to understand.
Then, Boom! A ground-shaking explosion rocked the entire base. The scene before Brett’s eyes was unreal, as if he was dreaming. What he assumed was a refueling hanger belched thick, black smoke a short distance ahead. The stunned cadet attempted to whisper a prayer, but all he could say was, “Oh God… help!”
Dropping his bag, Brett raced to the burning pile of twisted metal that, seconds ago, had been a spacecraft hanger. There, shouts and cries for help sent military men and women running in all directions.
“Help me! Someone, please help!” came the cry of a wounded man just inside the massive structure. An enormous metal door, ripped from its hinges, now laid flat on the ground in front of the open hanger.
In the distance, sirens blared from rescue trucks racing to the scene. They would arrive in minutes, but the poor man inside did not have minutes. Brett waited for someone to responded to the man’s call, but in the confusion of the explosion, no one came to his aid. That’s when Brett reacted. Without a thought of the danger he was putting himself in, he rushed ahead to find the helpless military man’s arm on fire, and his legs pinned under a steel shelving unit that had collapsed from the explosion.
Brett ripped off his jacket and smothered the flames on the man’s arm. Next, he grabbed the steel shelf to free the man’s legs, but immediately let go of the blistering hot metal that instantly seared the palms of his hands.
In spite of the painful burns, Brett managed to keep calm. Once again, he made use of his jacket. Wrapping it around his hands, he again attempted to lift the shelf. With the thick smoke choking his lungs, Brett groaned with all of his strength. The metal unit rose only an inch, but that was enough for the man to drag his injured himself out from underneath. With both legs broken he was unable to walk, but Brett dragged the man to safety.
The giant wheels of a speeding firetruck came to a stop just feet from where Brett and the man laid. Two members of the rescue team dropped down to attend to the man, while the rest of the team rushed to extinguish the burning building.
“Where are you hurt?” the medic asked the groaning man.
“His legs are pretty bad, and his arm is burnt,” Brett informed the medic.
Minutes later, the injured man was loaded into an ambulance and taken away.
The burning pain in Brett’s hands reminded him that he was hurting as well. The chief medic examined his blistered hands, and then, ordered him to be taken to the hospital.
Later that night Brett sat, with his hands wrapped in thick bandages, at the video call station with a friendly doctor named Dr. Night.
“Honey, are you okay?” Brett watched his mother’s tear-filled eyes over the video call.
Dr. Night spoke up before Brett could answer. “He has second degree burns on both hands, but otherwise, he’s fine. Brett is free to return home, or he may stay, and continue with the program. With the medicines we have now, his hands should be healed in a week.” Dr. Night turned to Brett and continued. “It’s up to you. You are welcome to stay, or go home.”
Brett paused. He wondered about his arrival on the base, and the explosion. It was certainly an unusual start to cadet school. He wondered why God allowed all these events to happen the way it did. Suddenly, he realized his anxiety was completely gone. Even more than that, he felt a little silly that he let worry and fear get to him. Perhaps The Lord was trying to teach him something. One thing he knew for sure, he was not going home.
To be continued.
Other Stories You Might Enjoy
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What were some of the things Brett worried about?
Have you ever been in a situation where you struggled with “What if’s?” How did you feel?
Read Philippians 4:4-7. What does God tell us about about worry?
What should we do when we are anxious?
Notice in the story, Brett prayed, but still had trouble with his fears. It’s not always easy to conquer your fears. What are some things you can do if your prayer isn’t answered right away?