The last

Three.

Monday, October 1st 3010

I wake up to birds chirping cheerily. Nature is so beautiful and birds are man's natural alarm-clock and-

"LET ME SLEEP!" I bellow at the foul, annoying disturbance.

Next to me is a page from a multicoloured notepad - one of Linda's notepads - that has been scrawled over and signed.

Dear Azura,
Thank you. I'm appreciative of you sorting out my knee - impressive work actually. I didn't take what I came for- I couldn't bring myself to do it. So, yeah.

I did take a wooden thing to help me not put too much weight on my knee, though. That wasn't in spite.

I know you are a  volunteer low-ranked member of the army sector and I beg of you: please don't mention any of what occurred. If you don't tell, I owe you a favour.

-Tukiko 🌙

Goodbye, stranger. You are forgiven and somewhat forgotten. Also, thanks for not taking it.

I groggily wipe the sleep from my eyes and clamber out of my soft bed reluctantly. I cannot be bothered to go to work.

Today I'm going on a practise mission. We're going into a forest on Earth for three days and we have to train or something. I'm included in the army type sector of the police where everybody is huge and tower over me.

In fact, most people tower over me... I mean, I'm not even that short for a girl from Rubidus but I've only ever been taller than children here. I have quite a slender build which allows me to slink around- which is always fun. My waist-length, black hair and my eyes that are a dull blue make me completely stand out. Literally everybody from this area has blonde hair and green eyes. I don't wear makeup because I don't give a damn about my appearance - I have nobody to impress, anyway.

Enough about the way I look; I need to change into my uniform: a tight, khaki green crop-top with baggy, sand-coloured trousers with black combat boots that start just past my ankle.

Yes. I did just say I'd stop talking about the way I look and proceed in describing my outfit.

Yes. They did glamorise the compulsory uniform.

I tie my long hair back into a ponytail and tighten my belt because the sheer weight of my trousers pulls them down to my hips. I leave a note on the table for Linda before sprinting down the stairs (three at a time).

When I get to one floor above the ground level, I jump over the railings that contain the people climbing the stairs. I land next to the glass doors, surprising the person who was just about to walk through.

"Good Morning, Mrs Smalls." I hold the door open politely.

"Good grief, Miss Belle! You're going to break your legs one day - or scare somebody to death." She walks through the door and walks to the first step before turning and smiling. "Have a good day."

"You too." I say, not even facing her. I sprint to the nearest train station that can get me to the East Province, but I miss it by a minute.

If only I wasn't polite.

I continue running and make it to the East Province with twenty minutes to spare.

I look at the small aircraft that will take us to the only remaining natural forest on the original human planet. Usually, only high-ranked people get to venture inside, but volunteering has its benefits.