Zack landed on Earth with a thump. The seat belt pressed against his chest, and he felt cold sweat on his forehead. It had been a long and exhausting journey, full of turbulence and shocks. The Prometheus transport ship had entered the Earth's atmosphere with difficulty, passing through the layers of air and resisting heat and friction. Zack had watched out the window as the sky changed color, from the deep black of space to the light blue of day. He had also seen the landscape grow larger and more detailed, showing mountains, rivers, forests, and cities. It was an impressive sight, but also terrifying. Zack felt like an intruder in a foreign world.
The ship stopped on a landing pad, surrounded by other ships of different shapes and sizes. Zack unbuckled his seatbelt and got up from his seat. He picked up his backpack, where he kept his most important belongings: his laptop, his communicator, his identification, and some photos of his family and friends. He headed to the exit, following the crew's instructions. As he exited the ship, he felt a rush of hot, humid air that made him cough. The sun blinded his eyes, and he had to put on dark glasses that had been given to him before the trip. He looked around, and saw an overwhelming panorama. He was in a big city, full of tall, modern buildings, bright colors and geometric shapes. There were illuminated billboards, giant screens and holograms advertising products and services. There were flying vehicles, which crossed the sky quickly and noisily. There were people, many people, of all races and cultures, dressed in varied and extravagant clothing. Some had cybernetic implants, others sported tattoos or piercings. Everyone was walking in a hurry, talking on their communicators or looking at their devices. Zack was overwhelmed by the noise, movement, and smell of the city. It was chaos, a fascinating and terrifying chaos.
Zack looked around for the sign indicating transportation to the United Space Fleet Academy. It was a magnetic bus, which slid along an elevated rail. Zack approached the platform, where there were other passengers waiting. Some were young people like him, who also came to study at the Academy. Others were adults, who worked or visited the city. Zack looked at their faces, trying to guess their origins and their stories. Some looked back at him, with curiosity or indifference. Others ignored him, or looked at him with disdain. Zack felt uncomfortable, and lowered his head. He knew that his appearance gave him away as a Martian, and that would bring him problems. He didn't want to attract attention or cause conflict. He just wanted to get to the Academy, and start his new life.