Ender Wiggin's Last Game

His Soldier

Penelope didn't need to deal with time lag. For most people on the ship, it was a serious problem. People from all over the world who had not been on Florida's time, well, they were having trouble getting used to it. She had tried to waste the four or so hours until dinner by walking down the length of the ship, trying to get "a lay of the land". And as she did, she noticed how close to none had come out of their rooms. Most likely sleeping off the time lag.
The ship itself looked like it had come right off of the side of Battle School. Only, without the conveniently placed strips that lead you back to your room. There were pads that came with every door, so you could palm in whenever you needed to. She guessed that if she were to try to get into someone else's room, she wouldn't be able to. Wether it be locked or not.
She found herself wandering down corridors, coming into open areas, then back down another corridor. There were so many rooms, she was surprised that they had space for it all. But the ship was huge... and quiet. It was so quiet. The last time it had been that quiet was before her time in Battle School, when it could be quiet.
Just then, she saw a familiar face coming down the opposite end of the hall. She almost gasped. It had been so long since she last saw him that she almost forgot what he looked like. But as soon as she saw him, she knew.
It was Ender. The only Ender that anyone had ever heard of. His face was different, but he was the same. The baby fat seemed to have slipped away, leaving a more handsome face. His eyes held a sadness to them that she could not possibly understand, but it was him. He stood proud in front of her. Eyes cast downward, yet he still held an air of authority.
She looked away as she drew nearer. She didn't want to talk to him just yet. It's not like he would remember her, she had only been in a few of his free time practices. It's not like she had been his best friend. She had never really spoken to him outside of practice. But even she knew, the way he held himself was the same.
She fiddled with her fingers as she passed, not giving him a single glance.
"Penelope," she whipped around, looking at him in complete shock, though she tried to hide it. If he noticed, he gave no sign.
"Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes. Be there." He said. His voice was stone cold, but she could swear she saw something else in his expression.
When she didn't answer, he turned to leave. She looked at him incredulously, had he really remembered her?
"Ender," he stopped in his tracks, turning to face her.
"How do you remember me?" She said with the voice of a soldier. She wasn't going to back down just because they were out of school.
"To be a good leader, you have to know your soldiers. You may have not been in my army, but you were still my soldier." He said, turning back around. As he walked away, she could swear she felt tears prick the back of her eyes.
His soldier.
He had called her his soldier. They all looked up to him, Penelope included. After he stopped coming to practice during free time, everyone assumed that he didn't care. Now however, she knew that they were wrong. That she was wrong.
She turned away. She couldn't face him now. Not while there were hot tears running down her cheeks. All she ever wanted was to be his soldier. In his forces, with him by her side. After years of ignoring, now it came out in quiet sobs. She put a hand over her mouth as she rushed away. She would not let him know that she was crying over something so simple.

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After the drama with Ender, Penelope had made it back to her room. Her eyes were puffy and her face was red, but she held resolve. She would not show how his words had effected her. To anyone.
She sat on the edge of her bed. Dinner was held in about ten minutes and she still looked like shit. She couldn't bring herself to face him again is such a weak state, but then...
"Be there."
There was no way she could ignore a command like that. She knew of course, that this was stupid. They were out of Battle School, the war was over. He wasn't her commander.
Even so, part of her knew that he would always be her commander. No matter how many battles had been fought. Hell, he was everyone's commander. If they had been under his authority in any way, he was still their commander. No doubt in her mind. It's just the kind of effect he had on people.
She let out a small sigh, standing up. No matter who told her to, she had to go. Her body was getting thinner, and she didn't like it. Weeks of no training had been taking its toll. She had, what, two years of free time? Might as well make the most of it.

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So, here is another chapter. Sorry for the wait. It's just that high school is hard and I don't have much of a work ethic.
...
I wish I could tell you that the next chapter will be here soon, but you might as well settle in because it ain't gonna be here any time soon.
Have a lovely day, friends.