Basically, guys, I had a crazy dream, that gave me an idea, and I’m not sure if I want to go through with the idea, but I at least have to put something out there about it.
The world has been attacked by aliens once, and it will probably get attacked again. In order to prevent this from happening, top colleges have an added a space training program, where students are tested for mental and physical acuity. If they can pass those tests (all go through them) then they have the choice to go to official training and commit to being one of those on the front lines of fighting back against these aliens.
Deployment consists of deep space exploration (in teams of two or so) and gathering reconnaissance. Probably some fighting, I'm not sure. But it definitely involves leaving everyone and everything behind for the duration of it, and survival is not guaranteed. But that's the fun part, right? What you get in the end is a group of people who are all at the end of their rope for one reason or another.
Anyways, here's a peek. Just... what started all of it.
Barry and Cisco stand in front of what many of the cadets had come to call The Door of No Return, named so for that which all of them knew: once you crossed the threshold, you’d had committed to the program, both the training, the deployment, and whatever lay in between. Space exploration alone was scary business. Add in hostile aliens that wanted you dead into the mix with obtaining reconnaissance intelligence of said aliens as a requirement, and walking across that threshold was quite the commitment.
“Seven years,” Barry says, “That’s a long time.”
“Don’t forget about the three years of training beforehand.” Cisco reminds him.
“They don’t count, they’re in the Temporal Zone.”
“It’s going to count to you.”
“Okay, fine. Ten years. That’s a long time.” Barry looks at the man in front of him. “Happy now?”
“You could use the break,” Cisco reassures.
“You’re going too, aren’t you?”
Cisco gives him a look of incredulity. “Dude, why wouldn’t I go? Everything on this planet sucks right now, and frankly, I wouldn’t mind running off fighting aliens and protecting the Earth while it rebuilds from the last attack.”
Barry smiles, giving him a knowing look, “There’s nothing left for me here.”
“That’s not true.”
“Well the only person I really care about is leaving the planet.” Barry punches him playfully in the shoulder, “For seven—no ten—years no less!”
“It would technically be seven if you stayed behind!” Cisco shouts and runs when Barry chases after him to punch him again. Barry catches up to him, and Cisco laughs, punches back, and then the two of them devolve into a childish punching fight that ends with Cisco hiding behind a pillar. He calls for a truce, and Barry reluctantly agrees as a saddened expression falls over his face.
“You’re actually second guessing yourself,” Cisco says.
“Seven years is a long time Cisco. When I’d come back the world would be a different place, and honestly, Iris would probably kill me if she found out I was going.”
“Barry, you get to go to space!” Cisco grabs him by the shoulders.
“But I might die while I’m there!” The other argues.
“You might survive, too.”
Barry shakes his head, contemplating, then nods.
“Let’s go,” Barry says.
“You sure?”
“Like I said earlier, there’s nothing left for me here.”
The two of them pass through The Door of No Return, and it shuts behind them soundlessly.
