“Luna”, I called as I knocked on the young girls’ door. The metallic sound the door made resounded through an otherwise quiet corridor in the space station. I entered as the muffled reply to do so reached my ears. As I walked in, and squinted through the dim lighting, I could make out the shape of Luna sitting on the edge of her bed. I found the light switch, flipped it on, and then waited for my eyes to adjust to the brighter light. Luna was sitting on the edge of her bed, her eyes were downcast as she stared absentmindedly at the floor, all the while she was toying with the sliver, heart shaped locket her mother had given her before she had passed away. I didn’t know Luna well, as she’s only been with Lyon for a few months now, but I knew well enough that she only toyed with her locket when she was nervous. She finally looked up at me with her large, round, silver eyes. A strand of her long blond hair fell in front of one eye and she quickly pushed it behind one ear. She usually kept the hair pulled back, as per regulations.
“Hello, Ma’am. Anything I can do for you”, She asked and gave me a small smile. I grimaced inside. I hate being called, ‘Ma’am’. I am only about two years older than Luna, it just doesn’t sound right. Plus, it kind of separates me from the rest of the soldiers and scientists on the base, something I try to avoid.
“You can lose the ‘Ma’am’ stuff and call me Cheza”, I said and smiled back at the girl.
“Yes, Ma-, Cheza.” ‘There she goes, staring at the floor and fiddling with the locket again’, I thought.
“Something wrong?”
She glanced at me, then asked, “How soon will the enemy ships arrive, Ma-, I mean, Cheza?”
“In a week or two. That what’s bothering you?” She nodded. It was no secret that the Darcians were on their way. We had struggled with several plans before deciding to let them come to us, home field advantage and all that. It also gave us a little more time to prepare ships and such for their arrival. Our ships our smaller and faster than those used by the Darcians, so their journey is a long, slow one. Lucky us.
“I bet you weren’t this afraid when you joined Lyon. Look at me, I’m almost shaking.” I did look at her, and saw that she spoke the truth. Now, I don’t mind making fun of myself to cheer someone else up, especially when I’m making fun of myself and what I say is completely true. Here goes.
“I wasn’t scared when I joined Lyon…………I…was…terrified.” See, a slight smile, score.
“Hello, Ma’am. Anything I can do for you”, She asked and gave me a small smile. I grimaced inside. I hate being called, ‘Ma’am’. I am only about two years older than Luna, it just doesn’t sound right. Plus, it kind of separates me from the rest of the soldiers and scientists on the base, something I try to avoid.
“You can lose the ‘Ma’am’ stuff and call me Cheza”, I said and smiled back at the girl.
“Yes, Ma-, Cheza.” ‘There she goes, staring at the floor and fiddling with the locket again’, I thought.
“Something wrong?”
She glanced at me, then asked, “How soon will the enemy ships arrive, Ma-, I mean, Cheza?”
“In a week or two. That what’s bothering you?” She nodded. It was no secret that the Darcians were on their way. We had struggled with several plans before deciding to let them come to us, home field advantage and all that. It also gave us a little more time to prepare ships and such for their arrival. Our ships our smaller and faster than those used by the Darcians, so their journey is a long, slow one. Lucky us.
“I bet you weren’t this afraid when you joined Lyon. Look at me, I’m almost shaking.” I did look at her, and saw that she spoke the truth. Now, I don’t mind making fun of myself to cheer someone else up, especially when I’m making fun of myself and what I say is completely true. Here goes.
“I wasn’t scared when I joined Lyon…………I…was…terrified.” See, a slight smile, score.
