A/N: I'm having a heck of a time researching the delinquents and the setup of the Skybox, please bear with me.
The girl paced her room, scowling all the while. Twelve steps to the door another twelve steps back. With an exasperated roar, she flung the books that had been so carefully stacked on a small side table next to her bunk. The books landed with their pages bared, spines almost broken. A sob escaped from the girl as she sank to her knees carefully closing her only friends.
'It isn't fair!' she thought. 'It just isn't fair!' Why should she be punished when he was the one that provoked her? 'Stupid Dax, always having to prove he's better than everyone.'
A tear ran down her cheek, leaving a trail of salt on her olive skin. At least she only had to spend three weeks in solitary. Of course, in three weeks she'd turn 18 and would be floated, what a silver lining. What was the point of Pike talking Kane into letting her keep her books if she'd never get to use her newfound knowledge? Valerian root couldn't keep her breathing in deep space, but it could help her sleep. Quickly checking that she wasn't being watched from the narrow window in her cell's door, she slipped the bag full of root from her sleeve and popped a piece in her mouth. Slowly she climbed onto her bunk, putting the bag back in its hiding place. Her head hit the pillow and soon she was asleep.
"Prisoner 117. Louisa Durgan."
Louisa startled awake when the guard spoke he name from the door. She still felt groggy from the Valerian root but she managed to sit up and shuffle towards him. The guard grabbed her upper arm and led her from her cell towards the exit of the level they were on. Shouts from other kids being led out rung in Louisa's ears but she couldn't grasp the words' meanings. As they marched her along, she became more aware that the direction they were headed lead to the Skybox's infirmary.
"I'm not sick."
Her statement was met with silence, with all the commotion it was possible they hadn't heard her.
"I said, 'I'm not sick,'" she repeated louder.
Again, the guards ignored her. As they reached the infirmary, a brisk woman met them and took Louisa's other arm leading her to a table.
"You seem tired, Louisa. Have been sleeping well?"
"Not really, Dr. Griffen."
"Hmm…," she replied, shining a pen light in her patient's eyes.
"I want you to use these to document what you find. May we meet again," she concluded giving Louisa a dark blue jacket. She felt two objects in the lower pocket, they felt like a book and what could be a pen.
"Let's go."
The guards returned to collect Louisa and continue their way. They took a right down a corridor she hadn't seen in almost 3 years. Normally, the delinquents that turned 18 would take their final walk down this corridor before being floated.
"Wait! I still have 3 weeks!"
Louisa struggled to escape the guards' strong grip. As silly as it seemed, three weeks of solitary confinement was something to fight for. Three more weeks to dream of green trees and purple sunsets with the boy that had the purest of blue eyes. Three more weeks to pretend that her adopted brother would approve. Three more weeks to imagine a mercy that would never come.
Louisa thought about all she was losing as she kicked and wiggled, trying to get away. The second guard grabbed her other arm, helping his partner drag the struggling girl to a drop ship portal.
"What the hell? Let me go!"
"I got her from here, guys," a third guard said approaching.
"Are you sure? She bit me on the way here."
"I did not! But now that you mention it, that's a great idea!" she growled, taking a snap at him.
"Hey now! Calm down, no one's going to hurt you or float you."
She looked skeptically at the joiner and slowly stopped thrashing. His brown eyes shown with understanding. Louisa stood still, waiting for him to make his move. He offered his hand to her nodding and whispering encouragement. The two guards holding Louisa release her to their comrade.
"See?"
They stepped into the drop ship and to an empty seat next to a boy in a green beanie. The guard strapped her in and left to check on the other kids onboard. The boy turned his head to look at Louisa, a grin forming.
"Well look at what the Skybox puked up!"
"Finn!"
