Nyxia

Nyxia
by Scott Reingten

Emmett is being recruited by the rich Babel Corporation.  They have offered him a large chunk of money, $50,000 a month to his family and free, good, healthcare for his family if he leaves and goes to a planet called Babel.  There he is told he will mine Nyxia.

After agreeing to go, he finds out that not everyone that agrees and signs the paperwork will be allowed to go.  He is to compete with others, he is told there are eight spots and ten competing.  The two losers will be sent home and will not be receiving the large compensation or healthcare.  They will still receive a large chunk of money, but it is nowhere near to what the others will be receiving.

That is such a huge chunk of money that they are offering to go on the trip.  Even if it's in the future and because of inflation it's really quite a bit less money than it sounds like.  It makes me suspicious of what the company is hiding.  Why pay so much? And then add in the healthcare to make it even more appealing, because here is a chance to help out their family.  

The kids are told that there are aliens on Nyxia and that the aliens are harmless to children as they love kids.  I'm thinking this is a lie and this is a very dangerous mission they are on.  That rich corporation is definitely hiding something, rich companies don't like to just hand out huge wads of money.We will see in the next book.