"I have to be perfect on my first real flight!" I said to myself, several times.

I went straight to the lodge, intending to rest. Arriving, I saw that Kerhnir was not there. I took a shower, ate and lay down thoughtfully. The desire was to train in virtual reality, but I held on to rest as much time as possible, the next day, to be as focused as possible.

"Micahilla!" I thought.

I had to take a break from the relationship with her, but for a moment I felt my heart sink. I was remembering all the moments we spent together. Deep down, I didn't want to leave, but if I persisted in that relationship, my dream of being an interstellar pilot would be compromised. I had to tell her what I didn't say until today, that this was my dream.

I didn't think she would forgive me because, for us to stay together, she would have to go on an interstellar mission with me, and that I was pretty sure she wouldn't want. Abandon the home planet and move on to a new primitive home.

After hours of thought, I slept well, as if I hadn't slept in years.

I woke up very early to the vibration of my digital bracelet. It silently woke me up. I looked to the side and saw my friend Kerhnir, sleeping. He was lying, released as if he had extinguished as soon as he lay down.

I did my morning hygiene, ate calmly, and followed the (Major Captain) Golgreen.

"Sir! Introducing me to my first non-simulated flight."

"Great day, Drinihian! Go to sector 31J01, and report to the sector official. What I've been able to do for you has already been done. Now it's up to you! Good flight!"

"Yes sir! Thank you!" I said, smiling.

(Major Captain) Golgreen was like an uncle to me. Although he is my superior, he always tried to help me as he could. He was my father's best friend and, unlike him, he wasn't so arrogan...

"Remember! Concentration above all. Do not rely only on your ability, which has been acquired through repetitive training. Focus, watch, and feel what needs to be done. Now go."

I nodded my thanks for the advice and headed to sector 31J01. I approached the officer who was giving guidance to other Aspirants.

"Permission, sir. I present myself for my first non-simulated flight."

Non-simulated beginner space flight supervisor, military officer (Major Captain) Yennir looked at me for a few seconds.

"Get information with the others," said (Major Captain) Yennir, looking serious. "Returning. You were selected to take your first non-simulated flight. Failures are not admitted. As much as the spaceships 'security systems are efficient so as not to let them make mistakes, there may be some situations in which even the spaceships' Artificial Intelligence is not as fast and efficient in calculating extreme dangerous situations. That is why you are trained to be a pilot. Any questions, Aspirants?"

A few seconds passed in silence.

"I will understand that as a no. Change your uniforms and show up in the courtyard of space rescue drones."

We changed quickly, putting on spacesuits. In a few minutes, we have formed again.

"You will go on drones, in teams of two. We are going to orbit the planet and then to the space station. We will get around and come back here. A simple mission, but one that requires attention. I'll tell you which pairs will be."

There were six of us and my partner was Aspirante Guinna. We boarded the drone.

"Who's going?" asked Guinna.

"I'll go!" I answered seriously.

"It's all right!" said Guinna, laughing.

Guinna had been selected from another team. I didn't see my rival, Aspirante Lairilon, who had been selected before. It was weird that he was not among us.

"Did he get eliminated even before his first flight?" I thought.

This would only be possible if he made a serious mistake, which was difficult because he was first in the ranking.

I thought of other possibilities for what could have happened to him, but I quickly got him out of my mind and concentrated exclusively on my first flight.

I started all procedures perfectly and waited for the order to get off the ground. In a viewfinder, we could see the other pairs flying, and also (Major Captain) Yennir who was going to guide us in his drone.

"We could just leave it on autopilot," Guinna said, laughing.

I didn't answer it.

"I heard, Aspirant Guinna. Activate the autopilot without authorization and you will be eliminated from the process. As easy as it seems, and as the drone's Artificial Intelligence can do everything by itself, they must go through this. There will be drones and larger spaceships waiting for you," said (Major Captain) Yennir.

The order was given to start the flight. I calmly flew the drone and soon we were flying very high. In minutes, we are out of the planet's atmosphere. Antigravity systems took any drone or spacecraft effortlessly off the surface of the planet.

"It's beautiful!" said Guinna, looking at our planet.

Soon we saw the huge space station. We get closer.

"This is the space maneuver controller for the Trivverr space station, official military officer (Captain Lieutenant) Fritters. Authorized for maneuver."

I maneuvered around the space station.

"Now it's up to me," Guinna said, taking control.

She, without so much care, almost stuck on (Major Captain) Yennir's space drone. I thought he was going to scold her, to be more careful, but he accelerated his drone and ordered me to accompany him.

"Where is (Major Captain) Yennir going? We are moving away from the station and even more from the planet."

Guinna ignored me and, along with the other drones, followed (Major Captain) Yennir's drone at high speed.

"Raise your shields and prepare for evasive maneuvers," ordered (Major Captain) Yennir

"What?" I said, startled.

(Major Captain) Yennir entered an area full of small rocks. Guinna dodged them, showing great skill. I trained these maneuvers a lot, but I didn't expect to use them here. (Major Captain) Yennir had said it would be a simple flight to the space station.

"Wow! I rock almost hit us…," said Guinna, looking excited.

A pair was hit. Their shields failed and they lost control of the drone. Communication between the drones was interrupted. We saw that (Major Captain) Yennir's drone moved away trying to get out of the disorderly rocks.

"Let's follow him!" I said, terrified.

The other drone followed (Major Captain) Yennir.

"What are you doing, Guinna? Let's go with them."

"We are going to rescue our stricken companions!" Guinna said seriously.

"They failed. (Major Captain) Yennir must have called a rescue team. Come on, because if not, we will be one more who will need to be rescued!" I said, startled.

Guinna ignored me and approached the hitted drone.

"Take control of the robotic arms! Hold their drone from behind!"

"What? Are you crazy? It will kill us!"

"Hurry up, because if not, I will!"

Desperate, I took control of the robotic arms and grabbed the hitted drone.

"There!" said Guinna confidently.

She took us skillfully out of the rocks, and soon we saw a spaceship. The order was given to attach ourselves to it and enter it. The two rescued Aspirants approached us and thanked us. (Major Captain) Yennir and the other pair that followed him approached.

"Very well! They accomplished what was expected."

I was going to question him why he had put us in danger, but...

"This was all done on purpose to test your preparation in unforeseen situations. For the pair that followed me, they will continue with drone flights until they are qualified in extreme situations. For the pair that completed the rescue, they will move on to the next phase and soon they will lead much larger ships," said (Major Captain) Yennir, looking at me and Guinna.

We went back to the planet and I was released. The morning seemed very long. It was mid-afternoon and I saw that there was a video call from Micahilla.

"Hello, Drih! I'm already better and going back to routine. I'm missing you! Let's see each other. I love you," Micahilla said, smiling.

She was beautiful! Her smile captivated me. Cruel thoughts were in my mind.

"Her or my goal?" I thought.

I had to be sincere. I texted her in reply.

We will meet at Flower Square in the early evening.

I was going, to be honest, but I was going to let her choose. I was going to talk about my goal of being an interstellar pilot and, if we wanted to maintain our relationship, if I were selected for the next interstellar trip, she would have to come with me. A selfish thought, but I had to prove to my father that I was capable of. I was going to get where he couldn’t.

Returning  to the accommodation

"Drinihian! How are you? How was your first non-simulated flight? asked Kerhnir."

"Everything was fine! I moved on to the next phase," I said, not wanting to be completely sincere.

"Wow! Very good! Then, you were selected for the Strenfether mission."

"Not yet. If so, I should know tomorrow. They did not give details of the next phase."

"I understand. The Strenfether mission should not belong in coming. They will test my Mining Drone system. I will follow everything from here on the planet. The Strenfether mission will be an asteroid mission."

"Asteroid," I thought.

It would be interesting.

"I'll go out. I need to meet a friend," said Kerhnir, looking excited.

"I'm going too! I will meet you at Micahilla."

"Cool, Drinihian! Let's go!"

We get ready and leave. We followed opposite paths. I arrived at Flower Square. It was already dark. It was a place of natural preservation, far from the big city, in an area of high relief. I sat on the lawn, next to a tree, and I was admiring the landscape that faced the big city that never seemed to stop.

A while passed and I saw that Micahilla was late. I was going to make a video call, but I just texted.

You are late. Are you ok?

Soon after, Micahilla made a video call. I answered.

"Hi, Drih! Forgive me. I just…"

"Alright Micah! I know you have a routine that is very committed to your work, and that's why I need to talk to you too," I said impatiently, interrupting her.

"Yes. These last periods have left me running out of time, but I'm going to ask for an extended break. You could ask too, so we can have more time for each other. I'm missing you. I love you…"

"It's all right. I am also out of time and I will be more absent. I started my first real flight and I'm going to…"

"One moment, baby, it’s my supervisor."

She put me on hold. I was out of patience, but I waited. Suddenly another video call.

"Sir! Some problem?"

"Come on! You were summoned to an emergency. Came here immediately," ordered (Major Captain) Yennir.

He hung up the call and I interrupted mine with Micahilla. I ran straight to the sector 31J01. As soon as I left Flower Square, Micahilla returned to me. I didn't answer and I sent audio converted to a text message.

Sorry, when I can, I'll call you. I had to go because I was just called on an emergency mission. Later!

Fought my way and nothing will be able to stop me.