Laura Thompson's POV (December 23rd, 2023)

In all my days, years even, working and living alongside Elon, I would think it would be safe to say I've never seen him this aggravated - to the point of anger, almost.

The entire way home, he'd been absolutely consumed by the news we both had received regarding the addition of a fifth crewmember.

But as he explained to me, amidst many other things that had arose during the discussion prompted by a singular email, it's not that he was annoyed at the addition.

No, rather, he's bothered by the lack of communication, along with the nature of the way this sudden, completely unannounced and unseen shift of events had played out.

"The minute we decide to leave JSC for a few days! Just a few!" He had muttered, running a stressed hand through his hair and sighing heavily, a weary gaze settling on me. "And that's when NASA decides to pull a fast one on us. Of course."

All I'd been able to do was to echo his sigh of frustration, leaning my head back into the cushioned plane seat, eyes closing in a vain attempt to come up with something to say.

Only to fail entirely and instead simply shake my head.

"There's nothing we can do right now, anyways," Elon grumbled, settling back into his own seat with a rather dramatic huff, crossing his arms across his chest. "But believe me, the minute this plane touches down, I'm headed straight to speak with Mr. Jim Bridenstine. Maybe we can figure out what the hell this is all about."

I had just nodded, cracking my eyes open to cast my gaze out the window, the moonlit skies calming my stressed mood slightly.

"I'll be right with you, if you want."

The man sitting across from me just blinked in acknowledgement, wordlessly giving me his thanks.

So, that's where we are now, strolling back into the Crew Quarters' through Mary's 'top secret' entrance, the clack of suitcase wheels and weary, heavy footsteps becoming muffled by the familiar salt and peppered carpet.

It's early - earlier than what I'd usually be up, but yet, an odd feeling of awareness is running through me, almost like trying to figure out this matter of a fifth Crewmember is some sort of do or die type mission.

"Do you think the other two are up yet?" I muse aloud, my voice sounding much too loud in comparison to the relatively silent hall we're practically sprinting down.

"Likely not," My Partner replies as we round the corner towards the Common Area. "But you never know. Maybe they're just as aggravated as we are about all of this."

Nodding in silent agreement, I adjust the backpack straps on my shoulders and pick up the pace slightly.

"They should be back sooner or later," A distantly familiar male voice mutters from ahead, the sound of something being rather aggressively set down on a table reaching my ears.

"Yeah," A quieter, much more reserved sounding tone I'd recognize from anywhere agrees, her voice once more reaching my senses. "I just hope we can figure this all out. You've gotta admit, it seems sort of odd that NASA'd add a fifth crew member with only 158 days to spare!"

"That's the nice way of putting it, Vivi."

A thick silence fills the air of the Common Area that we're now less than ten metres from, but the very second Elon and I stride into the familiar surroundings that have become home since the beginning of our training, Mark and Vivian's faces both light up in relief, greeting us with soft grins.

"Well, well, well!" The young man standing idly beside where the younger woman is sitting at the dining room table starts, a much broader, less forced smile playing on his lips. "The two lovebirds are back from their break!"

"To which was your idea," My Partner reminds, a slight tone of warning falling into his voice as I hastily make my way past him, beelining towards the couches, tossing off my backpack and flopping down with a contented sigh.

"And a fantastic one at that," I chime in, sitting up slightly to meet my best friend's gaze, giving her a thumbs up and a silent thanks.

"You're welcome," She chuckles, leaving her seat at the table behind and heading towards the rest of us and the small circle we'd somehow managed to form. "But let's get down to business."

Mark nods tensely, turning toward Elon, who just sighs with a shake of his head, not needing to hear the man's question aloud to understand.

"Yes. It's true," He confirms, to which our other two Crew members sigh, almost visually deflating. "I have no idea why they would do this now, unless they aren't completely satisfied with the way we've been performing against their standards."

I frown slightly, now fully sitting up, gaze flicking towards my Partner.

"But you would've thought that someone would've told us prior to that email about the changes, right?"

"You would've thought so, but apparently that's not how NASA works."

"So what do we do, Boss?" Mark muses, echoing the same question that's been bothering me since last night.

It's not like we can just defy direct instruction from the Administrator! That would be a fantastic way to have our entire program scrubbed!

At this, my boyfriend shrugs, sighing once more.

"The only thing we can do: meet this so-called Alan Turner and see what's so special about him."

****

Apparently, the Administrator had the same idea as Elon.

Following hot on the heels of our Commander and into the familiarly large room housing the full sized Starship sim, surprise choruses through me.

Jim Bridenstine is standing in front of the rolling ladder leading to the simulator, folder in hand, arms crossed over his chest, a slightly smug look appearing on his features, though it quickly vanishes as we approach.

"Ah yes! The Crew has arrived!" He greets, what sounds like feigned appraisal ringing in his tone meeting my ears.

"Why the shake up?" My Partner demands, dodging the Administrator's attempt at a handshake with seemingly practiced ease.

"It's just for extra Mission assurance," He explains as I share a look with Mark and Vivian, noticing the opening Elon gave us to get to the Sim.

"What? We're not assurance enough to you and your Government trick ponies?" The young engineer jeers on his way past, a chuckle escaping me on the way up the ladder.

"Well, it is understandable that the White House is skeptical about an entirely civilian Crew being sent on the seven month journey to Mars."

I can just picture my Partner's frown, a heavy sigh no likely escaping his lips.

"Listen, we played your games - completed all the same training... we're ready. Far more ready than any other Crew you'd possibly pull together," Elon's firm tone meets my ears as I duck inside the familiar Starship sim, my other two Crew members close behind.

"Then show me what you motley crew can do, huh?" A new, solely American voice drawls from the rear of the simulated cockpit.

Letting out a gasp of surprise, I raise my head to meet the source of the newcomer's voice.

It's an older looking man - a pair of glasses sitting low on his nose, a pencil in his ear, clipboard in hand.

"Are you supposed to be our fifth Crew member?" Vivian chimes in from my side, a still fuming Mark practically glaring daggers at the man standing before us.

"Indeed I am!" Comes the reply, a genuine smile playing on his features, his eyes dancing with enthusiasm. "But say, where's your Bossman? He doesn't happen to be-"

"Alan Turner?"

I instantly turn to face the more familiar tone, finding comfort simply in its presence alone.

Something about this newcomer's voice doesn't sit right with me...

The older man tucks the clipboard beneath his arm, extending out a hand, which is met halfway by Elon, who's now at my side.

"And you must be the one folks 'round here can't stop chattering about," Alan Turner grins as the pair shake hands.

"Hopefully it's all good things."

"Give or take..." Alan trails off, a questioning glance being sent my way by Mark. "Now, I've heard you all are quite the team."

"Something like that," I nod stiffly, greeting this fifth Crew member with a guarded approach, still feeling him out.

"Not quite good enough, apparently," Mark grumbles rather dramatically, arms crossing over his chest.

"Mr. Turner's addition is simply a precaution, I assure you!" Bridenstine chimes in from the door to the simulator, a reassuring grin on his features.

"That's right," Alan nods, turning to face me with a look that feels eerily familiar. "I've been instructed to simply be here to guide you all in any areas you may need guiding in! Sorta like a walking and talking instruction manual, but I've got something the books don't have."

"And what might that be?" The youngest man in the room questions dryly, clearly unimpressed.

"Experience, Mr... Myers, is it?"

"Yeah, that's me," comes the grumble of a response.

"So he's here simply because he has the edge of experience and seniority?" I muse aloud, confusion etching my features as I turn to face the Administrator behind me.

"That would be correct, Ms. Thompson," Jim nods simply before gesturing to the all too familiar flight seats in front of us. "But why don't you all get back to what you were doing before Mr. Turner and I interrupted, hm?"

"Novel idea," Elon's annoyed tone sounds from my side, barely audible, as we all make our way deeper into the simulator, beginning the pre-launch sequence for what seems to be the millionth time.

Slipping into my seat and beginning to fasten the harness, a sudden awareness of just how close we are to launch day resonates with me.

And as my gaze wanders over my other Crew members, my mind is set at ease slightly.

Regardless of fifth Crew member...

Regardless of whatever may happen in the coming days...

We're all together and we've got each other.

And whatever happens, we'll face it head on -

Like we always have.

Solving one problem and working our way to the next.

Together.