Serenity

Chapter 1 - Mira

"You don't have to go." I whined. "They can send someone else." My father turned around took look me in the eye.

"No, they can't. I have to go," and he turned back to putting on his armor.My father is an Achilles, the most elite military group in the universe. He is one of the best in the group, too.

"Skarlette Cora Amalya, leave your father alone and go help your sisters." My mother's soft voice floated down to us.

"Yes Mother."

I gently put his helmet on the desk and walked up the staircase to the main floor. Just before I turned rto corner, I got a glimpse of Father and smiled to myself. He was going to be back. I went out back to see Sara and Maggie dancing. I shook my head and walked up to them.

"You're doing it wrong."

"How so, Skar?" asked Sara.

"You lunge forward then roll."

"Ha! Told you!" Maggie yelled at her twin.

"Whatever." Sara flipped her long, red hair over her shoulder. "When is he leaving?"

"Soon." I heard Maggie sigh and watched as she started to fiddle with her red hair. "He's going to come back, Mag."

"You always say that, Skar." Her sweet voice said and she looked down.

"And he always does."

"I want to say good-bye."

"Then go do it.

I stood on the porch as the twins went to see Father. Being the oldest was difficult because the twins were so naive and immature. I looked up at the sky and sighed. I couldn't wait to leave Mira and travel to all the other worlds. I wanted to see what life was like out there, away from the military planet.

The war was close. Father was being called out more and more. Mother and the twins thought that the war wasn't going to happen, but I know better. It was going to come when we would least expect it. Mother said that we would be safe on Mira because of all the soldiers and power, but Father thought differently. He believed that Mira would be attacked first. Honestly, I didn't know what to think, Everyone had different opinions.

Father joined me on the porch and I didn't realize it until he ran an ungloved hand through my honey colored hair. I continued to stare at the flowers and grass of the backyard.

"Cora, take care of them. I will be back home sooner than you will know." His usually gruff voice was soft.

"Father, it's going to start soon. Don't try to lie. I know the truth."

"Yes, Cora. When it does, I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"Protect your mother and sisters."

"Of course." I looked down at my bare feet. "Where are you going this time?"

"Syra."

"That's the farthest you've been yet!" I exclaimed.

"Yes, it is. I have to leave now. Learn, love protect."

"Yes, sir."

"Be a good daughter."

"Be an even better Achilles and tell the guys that I say hello and to come back in one piece."

"I will." Father touched my cheek on more time, put on his glove then walked away.

"I love you."

"Too." He replied without looking back.

That night as I lay in my bed, I thought about what I learned about Syra. Cold, barren, lots of blizzards, the Russians who are now called Syrans occupy the ice planet. That's all I knew about it. It was one of the minor planets, but rumor had it that the people had acquired something that made them a major planet.