Captain Lena Wood

Chapter 5

The day has come. Today is the day where all of the graduates are assigned their careers, based on their scores. They stand on a large stage, in front of the audience of over a thousand people. Must be intimidating. "Soon that will be us." Omega says, next to me. "I can't wait to see what career I get."

"Me neither." I say without much excitement. I'm really not looking forward to it. I just take it one day at a time to make sure that I don't get caught.

The Council then walks out onto the stage and they sit down in their seats. Once the Council is settled, the Sorter comes out onto the stage. He stands in front of a microphone. He taps it and says, "Welcome students and guests. Before I give out careers, the Commissioner would like to say a few words."

The Sorter moves away from the microphone and the Commissioner takes his place. He clears his throat and says, "These graduate students have worked hard in their last four years. They studied hard for their classes and trained hard for their final test. I very much appreciate the hard work these students have committed themselves to. I tell my students this every year, 'You have been chosen carefully for your career. You may have worked hard and you may not have, but none of that matters. It just means that you are successful in your own way.'"

He pauses, then says, "Thank you everyone for your patience. Sorter, you may begin."

He steps away from the microphone and sits down. The Sorter walks up to it and says, "When I call out your name, come on up and receive your badge and mark."

He goes through the list of names. It takes about an hour. "...Car Ventro, and last but not least Lena Wood."

What! I'm not a graduate! This must be a mistake. Omega looks at me and says, "Go."

"But I'm not a graduate."

"Just go. You deserve it."

I swallow hard. I stand up and walk toward the stage. The Sorter watches me walk up to him. He says, "This may seem like a mistake, but in fact, it is not. Miss Lena Wood has worked hard this past year. She shows great possibilities not just for her future, but also for her kind. Her intelligence, bravery, strength, and also for the way she cares for others before herself gives the qualities of a Princeps or a leader."

He turns to me and says as he places the badge onto my clothing, "Congratulations Miss Wood. You have become a captain of The Starship Explorer Corporation."

He then places the mark, of a starship, on my arm and I shake his hand. "Would you like to say a few words?" He asks as he leans closer to me and whispers, "I'd tell the truth now if I were you."

He makes the microphone shorter for me then steps away. I touch the permanent mark on my arm. What do I say? Do I really want to do this? Should I tell them my secret? What would Artha say? What would she do? I'm terrified.

I take a deep breath and say, "All my life I've been hiding. Hiding from the world, the galaxy even. What would you do for yourself and the one's you love? Would you tell lies, keep secrets, not make yourself known? Well I've done all of those things. I've told lies, I've kept secrets, and I've tried to be invisible. Without those things, I wouldn't be here today."

I look up at the audience. I scan them. They're listening. I look at Omega. She gestures me to keep going. "Say it." She keeps mouthing the words to me.

I take another deep breath and stand straight with confidence. They need to know. "My parents were brave, strong, and kind. They sacrificed everything for me. They were tortured, beaten, and killed. All because they were human."

I stop and scan the room. No one looks mad, but they're surprised. I keep going. "A week after my parents died, a woman found me. Her name was Artha Grodden and she was a Nartial. For fifteen years, she took care of me. She fed me, she clothed me, and gave me the love that a mother would give."

I feel a knot in my throat and begin to cry. "She's always told me not to trust anyone, don't talk to anyone, and especially never tell anyone my secret. I always followed her advice and believed everything she said, but I will always remember her last words, 'You're destined for great things.' I also say to myself, 'I may be human, but I believe that anything is possible.'"

I finish my speech and no one claps. Omega stands, claps, and shouts, "What's wrong with you people? She just told her whole story and no one appreciates that. That takes a lot of guts to do something like that. I think she deserves some respect."

She claps. Then another person claps, then another, and another until everyone in the room is clapping. The Sorter rests his hand on my shoulder and says, "I knew you would make it."