"Fila!" her scream rings out, every echo fading in volume but still just as painful.

I try to reach for her, but every time I do, Zing keeps pulling me back.

"Zing, let me go! We have to help her!" I yell, but Zing just shakes his head.

I watch back helplessly as the life drains out of her brown eyes glazed over.

"NO!!" I yell, sitting up.

I look around and see I'm in our cabin, and nothing seems torn apart.

Oh, that was a dream...

"Fi-" Zing springs up by my side, making me yell even more.

"Why were you yelling??" he asks me after I calm down.

"Bad dream."

"Well, it's nearly waking time anyway, and we have to head out to the DSR, so get up and get ready..." he says and walks away.

He's right; today is the day the four shortlisted pairs become two.

I might as well get ready and get pumped up now...

I get up and go to the cleaning chamber in our cabin.

I strip and stand still as the jets of cleansing fluid cover my body in foam and then the jets of highly purified hydrogen oxide clean out the fluid.

Then I go out and don my outfit.

These are specialised outfits, made to remain untorn even after several uses. 

Each Zorgian is provided with two such outfits.

We've grown up with scarcity of materials staring right in our face, all of us.

This is all we have...

I walk out to main assemblance point, dragging my oxygen tank along with me.

Spotting Zing, I sprint up to him.

We then head out to the nutritional cabin where we're each given our share of nutritional blocks.

These blocks have all the nutrients we need, which are synthesised in the nutritional production cabins.

Popping the blocks into my mouth, I wait for Zing to finish up.

We then put our tanks into place and head out to the Department of Space Research cabin.

When we reach there, we discover we are the first to arrive.

We stand out by the nearest assembly point until everyone shows up.

Wick Zippin summons us to come inside the cabin.

We are informed of the tests set for us, which will determine which two pairs will be deemed least suitable to be selected.

"That's going to be you." someone from another pair points at us and says.

"Fi, ignore them..." Zing tells me.

The first series of tests determine if we are knowledgeable enough.

Sure Zing and I are the youngest here, but we have invested a lot of time in this, so we ace the tests, not unlike all the other teams.

It's clear we are all at intellectual par...

The second series of tests determine our ability to apply our knowledge in real- life situations, which we might face if we are selected.

Two teams go before us and both end up doing well.

"Fi, give it your all." Zing tells me, me nodding in response.

Next we're called to test.

In my opinion, we do quite well on the test.

Zing, however feels we may have missed something.

The last team goes in, but aren't able to finish the tests because they get stuck in one test that, to be frank, isn't even midway through.

They come out, their faces crestfallen.

Wick Zippin tells them that they may still have a chance if they aced the final series.

The third and final series determine if we are actually equipped to handle any situations we might encounter if we are selected.

For this series, we are asked to move outside and assemble in the neighbouring cabin.

One by one, each pair is called to another cabin, whence the first two pairs return, looking dejected. One of them is the pair that didn't complete the second series, who now look devastated.

Next, the team that initially mocked us is called. They return, looking a bit worse for the wear, but a bit happy nonetheless.

Soon, we're called.

Zing looks terrified.

"Zing, look, the previous pair seemed like they did good. Besides, we've aced the previous series as well. So don't worry..." I tell Zing.

We do a lot of tests quite easily.

Then, we stand waiting for the 'big' test that everyone struggled with.

We are informed that there is only one test remaining.

Zing tenses next to me, realizing that this is what could make or break us. I reassure him by squeezing his hand.

When we face the test, it is tough, but not too much for us. We finish it up with finesse and stand waiting until we're dismissed.

"We're good?" I ask Zing, who replies with "We're good."

We walk back to the cabin where the others are with a faint smile etched on our faces.

The other teams look at us with disbelief.

While we await further instructions, I stare up through the translucent barrier.

As usual, I sit and wonder about the stars and the possibility of life elsewhere until someone nudges me.

I look down to see that it's the same person who mocked us at the start. She smirks at me and says, "You don't stand a chance, you know?"

I just ignore her and go back to staring upwards.

She trash talks me some more time, but I still take no note.

Fed up, she stops after a while.

Soon, one of Zippin's minions walks in and informs us to be ready to hear the results.

The tension in the room increases as everyone starts to speculate about the results.

I look around the cabin for a while before turning to Zing, who's looking at me with an intense expression on his face.

"No point in speculating, Zing." I say.

Zing nods in agreement.

We sit wordlessly, Zing looking at the others while I look at the sky.

Soon, Zippin's minions arrive and herald his arrival, but I don't look down. I keep looking up at the sky, much to their dismay.

"Fi, stop!!" Zing tells me.

But I still keep looking up.

Because something's caught my eye. Left me fascinated.

The whole sky starts to light up, bit by bit.

Soon, I realise what's happening and terror overtakes my fascination.

Because that is a meteoroid stream headed our way.

- - - - - - -

This was the first cover for Utopia:

I created it with the Wattpad cover creator...

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