Finding Time

Chapter 13 - Nova

It was a light filtering the darkness of darkly grey, green, and blue. It glowed. Her heart kept as she approached the planet. The pull of gravity seemed to be a pull on her own heart strings, as if destiny was pulling her towards the rest of her life.

"Will her majesty's forces please line up in their muster stations?"

She strapped herself in with the other girls. They chatted excitedly as she stared ahead about all their adventures to different planets.

The planet filled the viewer window as the individual docking ships heading towards it. She stared straight on.

When they finally got close enough, she didn't see green like she thought. Amid what she thought where green patches, she could make out factory and mining machines. Where she thought she saw water, she saw sediment from what had been drained and left behind.

They were led out into factories on multiple parts of the planet. Nova was led in a march with the other members of her crew. They marched out of the docking ship out onto the ground.

When they entered the factories, despondent workers suddenly pretended to be cheerful. They sung "God save the monarchy" and clapped when the announcer said they would be staying for a few months. After the workers were debriefed, the officers made their way to the dormitories. They were told that there would be a party, and that it is best to be prepared.

When Nova heard the girls getting ready for the party, she felt a little left out. She hadn't been to all the planets they had been too, so she didn't have as much to say about where she had been and where she was going. So, she slipped out of the dormitory quietly. She walked down the path, down to the ferry, where small boats waited in the harbor and some lone bars for workers stood.

When she entered, she was met with gruff looking men. Some were playing pool. The other stood at the bar talking to two men about the officers.

"And it seems like, no matter what the scientists say, the Queen's officers seem to have no respect for keeping the sustainability of the fish in the area."

They hardy noticed her walk in, until the bemused bartender attended to her.

"What would you like?" he asked, smiling at her refinery.

"A coke rum."

"My kind of girl" he said.

He brought out her drink. Then as she sipped, she looked over.

There sat a young man. His dark eyes peered at her.

...

His name was Draco. He welcomed Nova, telling her things about him, the inhabitants of the planet and his hopes for the future.

They discussed plans in management and, having agreed on a great deal of many things, were able to surmise how much they had in common and a mutual interest in one another.

Yet, it became obvious over a period of time, that Nova was beginning to enjoy their interaction more than he was.

When she expressed her interest in him, it was warranted nothing. He just did not see her that way because she was not one of them.

...

She tried to move on, but she could not help loving him and wishing he would love her back.

She began to hate going to work, but she would still enjoy thinking about him. One night, after the holiday festivities, she ended up seducing him after he got drunk.

It ended up with her inviting herself over and enjoying their time together.

Until it didn't, as he was offered a mercantile position in the Solar System of Sirius.