Chapter 41: A Growing Issue

02 January 2035 – Baffin Bay Spaceport, Kenedy County, Texas

Sabrina and Tom’s plane touched down with a quick screech of protesting rubber, the small sport jet decelerating smoothly as it rolled toward the FBO at Baffin Bay Spaceport. The excitement building in Sabrina’s chest since they took off from Langley was tempered by a faint sense of dread. Leaving the Air Force had been more challenging than she had anticipated. The adjustment to civilian life, to a company as dynamic and different as Ad Astra, was daunting.

“I can’t believe we’re here...” Sabrina muttered, fingers still gripping the throttle as she completed the shutdown procedure.

“End of an era,” Tom replied, unbuckling his harness.

His voice was confident and final. Sabrina could sense the undertone of relief mixed with a tinge of uncertainty. They were leaving behind one chapter to start another, but as with all changes, the future was hazy. Tom turned to her.

“And the start of a new one,” Tom added. “Alex and Adriana have done well here, and both say Ad Astra is a great company to work for. It already feels more like a family business than some huge, faceless corporation, and we haven’t even started yet.”

Sabrina nodded, but the weight of the transition still hung over her. The idea of fitting into a new environment and navigating a new routine while trying to heal the wounds of her departure from the Air Force ... it felt like a lot to ask. Still, she couldn’t deny the excitement that surged when she thought about the future.

“I’m excited to see the quarters they’ve assigned us tomorrow. You can only get so much from real estate photos, but it looks like a nice place to live.”

“Hopefully, it’s not too humid. I was getting used to the lack of humidity at the desert bases. Langley was a little different. This is something else.”

Sabrina laughed, grateful for the small moment of lightness.

“Thank you for not saying, ‘but it was a dry heat.’ I would have hurt you.”

“Noted. And I know better than to mess with a black belt,” Tom grinned, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement.

Sabrina had a way of getting the last laugh in their relationship, but he wasn’t afraid to push her buttons – especially when she was already on edge.

As they disembarked and made their way toward the FBO, Sabrina glanced around, taking in the stark, open expanse of the spaceport. The place was bustling with activity. In the background, a giant Atlas rocket sat, its black-and-white form starkly contrasted against the endless Texas sky.

Ad Astra’s ambitious plans to expand private space exploration brought a new wave of business and innovation to the area. The sprawling facilities lining the horizon, with the occasional launch or landing of a rocket or space-bound vehicle, were a testament to that.

“We might be in the middle of nowhere, but this place feels like it’s on the cutting edge of something big,” Sabrina remarked as they stepped into the FBO’s hangar.

The polished floors reflected the industrial light. She took in the smell of fresh paint and aviation fuel, and the hum of machinery in the background was a steady reminder that she was about to be part of something monumental.

“It’s strange how quickly everything’s shifting,” Tom agreed, running a hand through his hair. “I just hope the heat doesn’t get to me. But I’ve got my eyes on the prize. I know you do, too.”

Sabrina smiled, a rare moment of confidence flickering behind her eyes. She felt a sense of possibility for the first time in a while.

“Let’s make this work.”

As they entered the guesthouse lobby, Sabrina felt as if she were entering a different world. The decor wasn’t the typical tired-furniture-and-carpet feel that Sabrina had become accustomed to during her military career. Instead, the place felt homier and warmer. Wood accents and leather chairs lined the sitting area, and all screamed ‘Texas Ranch Chic’ without trying too hard.

“Beth must have a few nickels to rub together...” Tom quietly remarked, clearly impressed.

“I’ll say,” Sabrina replied, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.

It was hard not to be impressed with the careful thought that had gone into the space. Everything from the oversized chandeliers to the soft leather chairs spoke of money and a deep understanding of comfort. Ad Astra had money, but they also clearly cared about the people they employed.

The front desk clerk greeted them with a warm, southern drawl.

“Y’all checking in? Y’all’ll be here for a week, I suppose?”

“Yes,” Sabrina confirmed, a little caught off guard. She had thought they were just there for a few nights until they settled into their new home. “But I thought we were just here for a few nights or so?”

The clerk smiled gently.

“Don’t y’all worry about that. Company policy. We give y’all a week just in case there’s some hiccup with the housing, and that way, we can get it sorted without y’all having to rebook.”

Tom raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Sabrina, too, felt the lingering question on her mind – why did it seem like Ad Astra already knew them better than they knew themselves?

Sabrina said, “we’ll take the week. I’m sure we can find things to keep ourselves busy.”

The next few days passed in a blur of adjustment and unease. Sabrina felt her stomach churn more often than not. At first, she dismissed it as nerves. Starting a new job always brings its share of stress. But when the queasiness lingered and worsened, she began to wonder. By the third day, it was clear: something was wrong.

Sabrina sat at her new desk, surrounded by the hum of activity from the other engineers and administrators. She had thought the most challenging part of this transition would be adjusting to the slower pace of corporate life and the lack of military structure and camaraderie. Instead, the persistent, nagging feeling in her stomach consumed her.

Nausea and dizziness swept over her like waves, hitting her in an irregular rhythm that made it hard to focus on anything else. She tried to push through, telling herself it was stress or maybe adjusting to the heat. But as the morning wore on, she realized she was barely keeping it together.

Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, Sabrina rushed to the bathroom, her hand clasped over her mouth to stop herself from vomiting. But when she reached the stall, it was already too late. The rest of the day was a blur. She couldn’t focus, couldn’t stop the nausea from taking over. Every trip to the bathroom reminded her how out of place she felt at this new job she’d worked so hard to land.

Later that evening, when Sabrina finally dragged herself home, it wasn’t just the exhaustion from her failed attempts to be productive that weighed on her – it was the gnawing worry about what was happening inside her body. She collapsed onto the couch, her head heavy, her body drained.

Just as she was about to drift off, her phone rang. It was Adriana, her sister-in-law. Adriana had been working part-time in the physics department at Ad Astra for the past few months, and Sabrina had always turned to her for advice. She picked up the phone, her voice weary.

“Hey, Sabrina! How’s the new job?” Adriana’s voice sounded cheerful, but Sabrina could hear the concern underneath. Sabrina hesitated, her stomach twisting painfully as she sat up.

“It’s been a rough start...” she admitted, squeezing her eyes shut. “I was throwing up nonstop all morning.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Adriana spoke again, her voice calm but serious.

“Sabrina, I think I might know what’s going on. Can I come over and talk about it?”

Sabrina’s eyebrows furrowed. What could Adriana know about this? She agreed, though, the curiosity gnawing at her even as she tried to process the sudden wave of unease. Adriana arrived twenty minutes later, carrying a small bag. Sabrina stood at the door, eyebrows raised.