It had been strange, saying goodbye to her friends standing in the hallway of a Corps ship again.
There were no unsure moments or awkward hugs like she'd expected. It was nice and finally felt normal.
Aria, Hannah, Toby and Spencer had all met Emily before de boarding, to make sure she was okay and to make plans to meet up on their time off.
"Thanks for checking up on me guys but I'll be okay." Emily said to the group standing in front of her.
"Yeah yeah, we know but maybe we're not so tough." Spencer said smiling up from the wheelchair she was sitting in. Her arm still encased in the rectangular metal box now resting on a small table attached to the chair.
Emily smiled back then frowned a little when she realised someone was missing.
"Where's Caleb?" She directed the question towards Hannah.
The blonde girl sighed "Oh he came into my room ranting something about needing to find Captain McCullers, grabbed his bag and left. Knowing those two their probably off saving someone's day." She finished rolling her eyes.
"Oh, Paige isn't coming either?" Emily said, the disappointment in her voice obvious.
The group shrugged and Emily began scanning the crowds of people making their way towards the exit bay. The massive doors were open and she could see glimpses of people waiting outside in the docking area. She stood on her tip toes to see over everyone, a familiar face flashed between the heads and oversized bags sitting on shoulders and Emily felt her stomach flip. It wasn't who she was looking for but the face made her forget anything else and made her way towards it.
Mr and Mrs Fields were standing with their arms around each other, their faces filled with nervous excitement.
Emily forgot everything as she dropped her bag and disappeared into their open arms.
"Paige will stop for a second and talk to me?" Caleb stood beside the Captain as she shoved her personal belongings into a bag.
"I've already told you everything." She didn't look at him as she spoke.
Caleb shook his head in confusion "What exactly do you mean, you're no longer Captain?"
Paige paused for second, controlling the surge of emotions that threatened to take her over, her eyes burned from wanting to cry and her muscles ached from the built up tension but she refused to give in to them.
"I was relieved of my duties, I am no longer Captain of the Mako, or any other ship, I'm an officer stationed at Curo until further notice," She gave the room a last look before closing her bag and walking into the hall.
Caleb was getting impatient with her demeanour and a little nervous. He put his hand on her shoulder to stop her from leaving.
"No longer Captain? Paige, what happened?".His voice was full of care and worry and it took all Paige was not to break down.
She looked at him for the first time in their conversation and he saw how tried she was.
"Just leave me alone Caleb." She shrugged off his hand and walked away leaving the technician alone in the hall.
The small room Paige had been assigned was grey and almost bare, apart from the bed, sink a table and a solitary chair the room was empty. It suited her mood perfectly and she tried to ignore the rooms only saving grace, a magnificent view of one of the citadels parks. Although most of its trees were holographic they still looked nice. Paige picked up a control pad from the table and pressed the necessary button to make a dark blind slowly roll over the window to block out the view and more importantly, the rest of the world.
She commanded the lights to switch on and was immediately blinded by their white light.
"Agh, dim!" Paige called out as she squeezed her eyes shut but the light penetrating through her eyelids barely changed.
"Dimmer." She said in a tone almost as if she were talking to a child. The light did dull but not enough, she sighed.
"Dimmest." The lights went to a safe level and she opened her eyes to let a tear fall. She felt very silly at that point in time for missing a certain AI's voice.
Swiping at the tear she picked up her bag and dumped it's contents on the bed. Besides sleepwear and stuff she wore to exercise in the only other clothes in there belonged to the Corps. They all had Captain colours and would have to be returned in exchange for officer sets. She pushed them and that thought aside for now. Placing her few belongings away made Paige realise how little she actually owned outside of the Mako and more forebodingly how desperately she needed to go shopping.
She glanced around for a catalogue that would enable her to order everything she needed without having to leave the room. After looking through empty draws and shelves she resigned to the fact she would have to go to the commerce area eventually. There was a small foods hamper next to the sink with a Corps symbol on it but it would only last her a few days at best.
The hamper did confuse her a little, were they congratulating her on being demoted?
A beep from the door announced a visitor and Paige had every intention of ignoring it, until it beeped a second and third time.
She hit the open button without checking the screen to see who it was and the door slid open to a grinning teenage boy.
"Hey newbie!" He slapped her on the shoulder then took a step back.
"Whoa you're a tall one!"
Paige raised her eyebrow "Excuse me?".
His pale face began to colour under her scrutiny.
"Uh, I just mean you don't look like a recruit".
Paige blinked, "Why would I look like a recruit?".
He gave her a quizzical look, "This is a recruit dormitory", he said it almost sounding like a question.
"Most of us on this hall are second years but this room has been vacant for a while and when I saw someone moved in I just assumed sorry."
He looked away now embarrassed for his initial frankness.
Paige leaned out of her doorway and looked up and down the hall.
"A recruit dormitory." She said aloud to herself as if she should have known when she first entered the the building.
The boy snapped his attention back to her, making the black floppy hair on his head bounce around.
"Yeah are you sure you're in the right place?"
Paige tried to keep the bitterness from her voice.
"Yes I'm sure." She stepped back into the room.
"Hey wait," The boy called after her, "My name is Xane anyway," he held out his hand.
Paige looked at his hand then back to him, even in her bad mood she couldn't take it out on him.
She clasped his hand "Cap..." She paused and frowned, "Uh Paige, I'm Paige," she quickly dropped his hand.
"Hi Paige!" He smiled, "Well if you need help with anything just let me know, I've been on this hall since I started and know it pretty well."
Paige nodded and watched a group of young recruits walk past in their uniforms. She subconsciously stood up straight and started to make a mental list of all the loose shirts and unpolished shoes.
Xane looked at her strangely as she starred.
"Well, I guess I'll see you around." He turned to leave.
Paige nodded again and added "Get your hair cut recruit."
He immediately responded with a "Yes ma'am" and almost stood to attention.
They shared a confused look before turning away from each other.
Paige leaned against the closed door and sighed.
She wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at what had just happened. Eyeing the supply basket on the bench she walked over and pulled out a small card.
She read the printed words.
'Welcome to the Corps!'.
She smiled bitterly before slamming the basket into the bin.
Emily stood and looked out of the window in front of her.
The night sky was dark except for a slight blue glow shinning over the roof tops of the other houses coming from the distant city district.
She wrapped her arms around herself even though the room she was in was quite warm.
She leaned against the wall and wondered what was going on in the houses around her. Were the families settling in for the night, sharing 'good nights' and 'sweet dreams'?
It hadn't been like that for her. Emily's parents had not left her side since she had arrived.
She had expected that of course but what she hadn't was the over whelming need to be alone. Her mother had asked reassurance at every moment and Emily smiled and agreed to the things they had planned.
After a quiet dinner Emily excused herself and closed herself away in her old room. Her old belongings had been packed away in boxes that were stacked against the wall. A few of them were opened, the tape ripped back and some items poking out, as if someone had remembered something and needed it suddenly.
She ignored them for now, the tape holding back more than just forgotten possessions.
The wallpaper and carpet were all that was left of her old room, the only furniture in the room, a bed and a small lamp table were new and looked like they'd never been used. In fact it felt like the room had been packed up and forgotten, it smelt like a motel room.
Emily was relived the room had not been left the same, it was something she had been fearing since she found out she was going home.
It would have felt wrong sleeping in that room, she wasn't that girl any more and never would be, something her parents were still trying to figure out.
A soft knock lifted Emily from her thoughts and she opened the door to her mother's smiling face.
"Emily, are you comfortable?" She glanced to the boxes "I'm sorry about those...we just didn't know what to do..."
Emily shook her head "It's okay, I'm fine...this is nice."
Pam took Emily's hand and smiled, "You just let me know if you need anything OK, this must be a lot to take in."
"Yeah it's a little surreal but I'm alright," she squeezed her hand "Thanks to you."
Pam sighed happily as tears gathered in her eyes, she pulled Emily into a tight hug.
"See you in the morning, are we still on for some shopping?"
Emily smiled and nodded.
Pam walked away as Wayne approached, he kissed Emily on the forehead and whispered,
"Goodnight baby."
Emily closed the door and moved over to sit on the window seat and looked back out to the other houses. Maybe her night had been just like theirs.
Paige swiped the black band on her wrist over the screen on the counter effectively paying for the items that were now on their way to her room. She had travelled to the commercial district as early as she could, hoping to miss the crowds and anyone she might know.
She thanked the synthetic clerk who replied with a recorded advertisement. Turning away she quickly made her way to the exit as other shoppers began to trickle in.
As she stood waiting for a public transport car she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Captain McCuller's?"
Paige turned around and faced the shorter woman standing beside her.
"Mrs Fields, hello."
Pam smiled. "Yes, I thought that was you." She looked at Paige and it was obvious she was fighting the urge to pull her into a hug.
"I haven't had the chance to speak with you since...everything happened, to thank you."
Paige crossed her arms, "That's not necessary, I just did my job."
"Uh.." Pam faltered at the younger girls demeanour. "Well I would really love to thank you personally, I know you went far beyond what you job requires and now we have Emily back", Pam began to tear up "And I know she would love to have you over, perhaps for dinner some time?"
Paige's eyes flicked to the other woman at the mention of Emily's name.
"How is she?," She asked quietly.
Mrs. Fields grabbed Paige's hand, "I think she is doing okay." She smiled sadly.
Paige swallowed and tried to sort though all the things swirling in her head.
"Mum?"
Paige's thoughts froze.
Pam turned around "Emily honey, look who I found!"
As Emily looked at her, Paige considered diving into the nearest car and demanding it drive without stopping.
"Paige", Emily now stood in front of her, "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Paige crossed her arms again, "Are you settling in OK?"
Emily nodded "Yeah."
Pam watched as the girls awkwardly spoke to each other.
"I'll go start some shopping, I'll just be over there." She pointed to a store close by .
Emily smiled and watched her Mother walk away.
"Paige.." she stepped closer to the taller girl but Paige kept her distance.
"Hey uh, I have to go, tell your Mum I said bye." She turned towards the cars.
"Paige wait" Paige stopped but didn't turn around, "Can we talk please, I haven't seen you since..." She pulled on Paige's arm in an attempt to get her to turn around.
"Hey, what's going on with you? Why aren't you talking to me?"
Paige glanced over her shoulder, "I just really have to go," a car hovered down from above and opened it's door. "I'm sorry." She said quietly glancing at the brunette.
Emily watched the car drift up and disappear into the traffic.
Paige placed the last of her shopping away and fell onto the small bed. The room was quiet and dark and she tried to ignore the blinking light on the communication console that had been flashing at her since she got back.
Sighing she got up and read the message as it scrolled onto the screen.
'Paige, please contact me at your nearest convenience, Lt. General McCullers'.
She pressed the return call button and prepared herself. After a few moments her Father's face flicked onto the screen.
"Paige, hello."
Paige nodded "What can I help you with Lt. General?." She didn't expect to exchange pleasantries.
Her Father pursed his lips as if stealing himself for a moment.
"How are you?"
Paige almost laughed at hearing that question for the third time that morning.
"I'm fine," she shrugged.
Nick knew his daughter was lying, there was no possible way she was fine with what had transpired over the last few days. It had been so long since he'd had to deal with emotional issues with her and he was unsure on how to continue.
"Have you heard from The Board?"
Paige turned away and walked over to the small table"I think they've said all they need to say to me."
Her Father's eyes followed her across the room "Where are you right now?"
"In my room?"
"Are you in official lodgings?"
"Yes, I've already made friends with my fellow recruits." She said with a forced smiled.
"They've put you in a recruit dormitory?" He said almost to himself and looking away.
Paige spread her arms as if presenting the room to an audience.
Nick frowned in thought for a moment, "Contact me if you need anything." He said before ending the communication.
Paige leaned on the table seething, her fists pressed against it in anger. She grimaced as the pressure became painful and the empty conversation she had just had played in her mind.
"What the fuck would I need from you Dad? Kindness? Honesty? A glimmer of emotion?" she said out loud, the bitterness in her voice echoing thought out the room.
She breathed deeply trying to expel her anger just as the door tone sounded.
She sighed in frustration and punched the button to open the door, fully expecting Xane to be her visitor.
Paige blinked in surprise as Emily stood on the other side of the doorway.
"Emily, what are you doing here?" She said before she could sensor her harsh tone.
"I wanted to see you."
"How did you know where I was?"
"I asked Caleb to help me find you, why haven't you spoken to anyone since we got back? They are worried about you, Caleb especially."
"He had no right to tell you that and you shouldn't have come."
"Paige, why are you being like this? Are you okay?"
There it was again, that meaningless question.
"What do you want from me Emily? I can't be your friend, I've just lost The Mako and everything I've worked for and now your here to what? Talk about your feelings? I can't do that. I should never have gotten so close to you, I should never have kissed you, I should never have fallen in...I wish I could take it all back."
Emily stared at the other girl speechless as the words settled in her mind. Unable to respond she turned away, hiding the hurt.
Paige pressed her forehead against the door as it slid shut. Her shoulders slumped down and as she spoke. The hoarseness of her voice making it sound almost like a whisper "I'm sorry."