Meanwhile, it was another level of chaos in the medical sector. Madam Elsa was nowhere to be found, and people who entered the office were confused to find Madam Browns there instead. Madam Browns tried to explain that Madam Elsa had been away for a while and that she was there to assist anyone willing to join the expedition team. Unfortunately, she found none; everyone who entered the room was there for work purposes. It didn't take long for Madam Browns to realize that finding voyagers for the expedition wouldn't be easy.

  After returning from the office a senior doctor walked to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) looking for her friend, desperately wanting to know where Madam Elsa was. There was something else written on her face—a mischievous smile. She found Tara in the CICU room, checking on a six-year-old child.

  "Hey, Tara," she called, standing at the door and waiting for her to come over. Tara tickled the child's chin, smiled, patted the girl's head, and then leaned to greet her friend at the door.

  "Hey, Barbie. What's up?" she asked with a playful grin.

  "I told you to stop calling me that," Barbara replied, feigning annoyance, but a smile lingered on her lips.

  "Isac is the one to blame for that cute name. Anyway, what's wrong?" Tara asked, switching to a concerned mood.

  "Have you seen Madam Elsa?" Barbara asked, her tone lowered to a whisper.

  "No, I haven't. Why? Is something wrong?" Tara asked, her brow furrowing in concern.

  "Well, you see, Madam Browns is in the office, claiming that Madam Elsa has been away for a while and that she’s here to assist anyone willing to join the expedition team," Barbara explained, her eyes widening slightly.

  Tara's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Expedition team? That Bermuda expedition team? Barbara, don't tell me you're stupid enough to think of joining!" she said in a high-pitched voice, her tone laced with confusion. A few patients glanced over, drawn by Tara's outburst.

  Barbara shushed her. "Shhh, you're too loud. It's a hospital," she murmured. Tara looked around, realizing her friend was right. She smiled gently at the few patients staring at her before turning back to Barbara, her hazel eyes filled with warnings.

  "Don't look at me like that. I'm not an idiot. I was looking for Elsa to talk about switching my cardiology specialization to neurology. Cardiology is not for me. I'm half a day off today, so I just wanted to find Elsa first. Do you have any idea where she is?" Barbara asked, curious.

  Tara sighed. "I didn't see her after the meeting, but why are you being so mean to cardiology?" she asked, switching back to a playful tone.

  "Mm, not my type of degree, but I see you love it. Anyway, any idea where Elsa could be?" Barbara pressed.

  "Mm, no," Tara replied, shaking her head.

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  "Ugh! I thought you were her favourite student!" Barbara said, her tone unimpressed.

  "That doesn’t mean I know where she is," Tara replied, smiling.

  "By the way, Isac might know. I saw him earlier, walking into the pathology lab. It's still his training time," Tara said, glancing at her wristwatch.

  "Ah! I forgot there's another half of Madam Elsa's best student," Barbara joked.

  "Good luck finding Issac," Tara said, turning back with a bright smile to check on the patients.

  But Barbara suddenly turned around as she remembered something important.

  "By the way, Tar," she said, causing Tara to pause.

  "Remember Marcus? The proposal you rejected last month?" Barbara said teasingly. Tara's face flushed, but she didn't turn back.

  "Yeah, what about my old friend?" Tara asked, trying to shake off the discomfort.

  "I heard he signed up for the expedition," Barbara said, smiling. But the smile vanished from Tara's lips. Barbara, staring at Tara's back, continued without realizing the impact of her words.

  "Remember last time you told him you wished for a saviour, not for a pathetic old friend? Guess he will prove himself a hero by winning an honour medal—what an idiot!" she chuckled. All colour drained from Tara’s face. Her lip trembled. She waited a moment to process what she heard, then snapped around with a pale face.

  "Where is he now? Is there a way to resign from the expedition?" Tara asked, her breath uneven. Barbara gazed at her, confused.

  "So you really care for him," she said, bewildered.

  "He's my childhood friend; how could I not care? I have to stop him before he gets hurt over a stupid talk," Tara said, emotional and nervous. Barbara stared at her for a moment, bewildered.

  Desperate to know, Tara grabbed Barbara's hand, pleading. "Please, tell me, is there a way to resign?" she implored, almost in tears.

  Barbara hesitated, unsure how to handle the situation. "Um... I don't think he'll be able to resign. Technically, he can if another senior scientist volunteers, but... who would be that stupid? You know Jupiter's cruel. I'm so sorry, Tara," Barbara said, understanding the weight of Tara's situation.

  Tara bit her lip for a moment, then tried to leave. "I have to stop him," she said, but Barbara grabbed her hand, stopping her immediately.

  "You can't leave in the middle of your training. It's your cardiology practice, and you can't stop Marcus now. It's too late. He's already in Jupiter's office. All voyagers will be sent directly to training, then into restricted quarters until—"

  Barbara paused, not wanting to finish the sentence. She knew that once the voyagers were in restricted quarters, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to reach them or stop them from leaving.

  Tara's face fell, the realization dawning on her. She felt helpless, knowing her childhood friend was about to embark on a dangerous mission that could cost him his life. Tears welled in as she looked at Barbara, silently pleading for a solution.

  "I... I can't just let him go," Tara whispered, her voice shaking. "There has to be something I can do."

  Barbara pulled Tara into a comforting hug, trying to offer solace in the face of this impossible situation. Tara stayed still for a moment before pulling away and walking toward the doctor in charge of the training. Barbara saw Tara saying something, and the doctor nodded his face serious. Then Barbera saw Tara starting to walk towards the door.

  Barbara immediately followed her. "Where are you going, Tara?" she asked nervously.

  "To meet Madam Browns," Tara answered, causing Barbara's face to pale.

  "Why?" she whispered, the realization dawning on her.

  "I have to fix this," Tara murmured, walking forward with determination.

  Barbara grabbed Tara's arm, trying to stop her. "Don't be an idiot!" she yelled, but Tara stubbornly snapped her hand away and ran down the corridor.

  Barbara stood there, frozen, staring at her friend's figure disappearing into the elevator. She knew what Tara was planning, and the mere thought made her heart race with fear.

  "Tara, no, you can't do this!" Barbara shouted, but it was too late. The elevator doors had already closed, cutting off any chance of stopping her friend.