NaNoWriMo Oct.11 2025

Contest entry Protagonist interviews.

My name is Dr. Molly Bravestone, psychiatrist. I prepared myself inside my office for one of the five most important interviews of my career. I was tasked with the job of assessing the mental readiness of five teenagers who are about to quantum jump half way across the milky way. They and one diplomat parent will meet alien diplomats fifty thousand light years from Earth. This was no easy task to place upon the shoulders of teenagers; who would be ready for such a mission? The children had already seen other psychiatrists but Earth's newly unified government does not want to take any chances. A few minutes each was not enough time to make a proper assessment so I decided to focus my questions on how they personally feel about the mission and if they believe they can remain focused and composed under pressure. The first to enter was Crystal Spring. She was slightly below average in height for her age of thirteen with doll like features and petite figure with green eyes and blond, mid back hair. Crystal was as composed as one would expect for a thirteen year old. Everyone on Earth recently had their entire world turned upside down around them. The pressure of becoming a junior diplomat added to this but her relaxed posture spoke volumes. She was holding herself well.

Crystal sat down in a comfortable chair opposite of my own. "You wished to see me, doctor Bravestone?"

I gave a patient smile. "Please, just Molly. How are you coping with the upcoming mission?"

Crystal shrugged though she crossed her arms in a nervous gesture. "It's a big deal. Everyone is talking about it and hoping for a good outcome. No pressure, right?"

I nodded. "Do you feel you are ready for it?"

Again, Crystal shrugged. It was likely a defense mechanism. "The junior diplomat's role is really just ceremonial to honor the Council's customs so I will not be discussing politics. They don't pay us enough for that mess."

I did well to hide a smile. "What are your parents thoughts on your participation in these talks?"

Crystal rolled her eyes. "My parents are ecstatic I am on the diplomatic team. Mom, an expert in Earth history and cultures will be Earth's culture exchange liaison, Dad, a researcher in ‘New Earth’ history, made me promise him to make detailed notes for him to study later."

I took a few notes on a data pad. "I see what you mean by ‘no pressure’. What do you hope to gain from this mission, Crystal?"

Crystal sighed. "Well, when everything changed for us, I realized that we had cultures far older than our earliest recordings. It caused me to question, well, everything. I am hoping to find some answers. Why did ancient humanity leave Earth and why did some stay behind to start over? I want to find out why so many traditions had been abandoned or forgotten."

I again nodded. "I hope you find the answers you seek. Thank you for your time, Crystal."

Crystal smiled, though she was understandably nervous, and left Molly's office.


The next person to enter was Sonny Summer. He casually walked in, not in any hurry, and slowly sat down in the chair. He was tall and muscular for his age of fifteen with blue eyes and sand blond hair. Sonny held himself a little better than most but he also dealt with cattle; he could have better coping mechanisms to fall back upon. Sonny It was Molly's job to ensure all of the junior diplomats felt ready for the historic mission ahead of them.

Sonny made himself comfortable and sighed. "Have I not already seen enough doctors to last me a while?"

I gave a patient smile. “This will not take long. How are you coping with the upcoming mission?”

Sonny gave the ghost of a smile. “My father is a seasoned Earth diplomat and my mother is a Storm Chaser operative. I think I can handle it.”

I did well to hide a smile. The Storm Chasers was a once secret organization that investigated extraterrestrial occurrences. It was through this organizations and similar entities around the world that made the upcoming mission possible.

I nodded at Sonny’s response. “What do your parents think of your participation in this mission?”

Sonny let out a short laugh. “My parents are the ones who signed me up for this, not that I’m complaining.”

I added a few notes to my data pad. “What are you hoping to get out of this mission, Sonny?”

Sonny shrugged. “Other than the opportunity to meet folks from ‘way’ out of town, I am hoping to get a few answers.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What sort of answers?”

Sonny sighed. “The global telepathic link did more than connect humanity with each other. It connected us with animals as well; just not on the same level. The closer the bond between animal and man, the stronger the telepathic connection. As a rancher, I need to understand this link and how to work with it.”

I nodded. “That is all the questions I have, Sonny. Thank you for your time.”

Sonny nodded and quietly left the room.

The next person to enter my office was Auburn Autumn. She was tall for her age of fourteen, slender, with shoulder length black hair and hazel eyes. She quietly took a seat and waited, her eyes never leaving mine. This spoke of a quiet confidence but it could also be a coping mechanism.

Auburn made herself comfortable. “Another psyche assessment?”

I shook my head. “Readiness assessment. How are you coping with the upcoming mission?”

Auburn politely smiled. “As well as any other about to fly in an ancient, untested spacecraft through an unmapped space lane.”

I had to suppress a reactive giggle. “Well put. Do you feel ready for the mission?”

Auburn shrugged. “I guess no one can be too prepared for something this big. If the talks are successful, it could mean a boom for global economy and foothold in the galactic community. No pressure there.”

I nodded. “What do your parents think of your participation?”

Auburn smiled. “My parents are very proud and I am grateful for the opportunity. My dad wants me to try to bring back a souvenir though I do not think they have gift shops where we’re going.”

I nodded. “What are you hopping to gain from this mission?”

Auburn became quiet for a moment. “I am hoping to find better, more efficient means to deal with the tons upon tons of trash and waste we had accumulated over the centuries.”

I nodded. “that is all the questions I have, Auburn. Thank you for your time.”

The next person to enter my office was Gale Winters who arrived with an armed escort that waited outside the door. He was of average height for his age of sixteen with short black hair and piercing blue eyes. He walked with military precision which was not surprising as his father was an admiral in the new Earth defense fleet.


Gale quietly took a seat and prompted me to begin. I cleared my throat, not expecting such directness. “How are you coping with the upcoming mission?”

Gale nodded, acknowledging the question. “My parents trained me on the necessary protocols and the United Earth government has briefed me on the mission.”

I nodded back. “Do you feel you are ready?”

Gale again nodded. “As I stated, I have been trained and briefed by my parents and the United Earth government.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What do your parents think of your participation in these historic talks?”

Gale frowned. “Classified.”

I was taken aback but I did not press. “I see. What do you hope to gain from this mission?”

Gale sighed. “Pride for Earth, pride for Mother Russia and perhaps meeting a few entities of legend humanity recently discovered were always real.”

The door then opened and the guard peered in. “Time is up; this interview is concluded.”

Gale stood up without a word and left the office.

The last person to enter my office for the interviews was Luna Solstice. She entered with an armed escort who waited outside the door. This did not surprise me as Luna’s mother was another admiral in the new Earth’s defense fleet. Luna was very short for her age of thirteen with short brown hair and green eyes. She quietly took a seat and quietly waited.

I took her silence as a cue she was ready to begin. “How are you coping with the upcoming mission?”

Luna shrugged. “My parents and the United Earth government has taken many steps to ensure I cope with the mission well.”

I nodded. “Do you feel you are ready for this mission?”

Luna nodded. “As I said, my parents and the United Earth government has taken many steps to ensure I am ready.”

I typed some notes onto my data pad. “What do your parents think of your participation?

Luna pressed her lips together as if choosing her words very carefully. “My parents are proud but I cannot say more on the subject.”

I again nodded. “What do you hope to gain from this mission?”

Luna smiled. “I am hoping to find answers on how our technology had grown so rapidly without us even realizing how advanced we truly had become.

I nodded. “That is all the questions I have, Luna. Thank you for your time.