Destined From the Start
Chapter Twenty-six - Goal Met
2282-2285
Jilly found the research station to be much different from a starship. There were not nearly so many people there, and only five children in the whole school. Her parents had increased responsibilities, and had even less time to spend with her. But she knew how to use the comlink well by now, and how to search the newsfeed to find the things she was interested in. And she began to think of her future, and what she wanted to do, when she was old enough. And so she embarked on extra lessons, much as she remembered Grayson doing, except that she did not have anyone to customize them for her. She used the computer guided lessons available through the education department, convincing the teacher to allow her to access them from her own comlink, as well as from the schoolroom. Her parents offered no objections, glad that there was something that kept her entertained and quiet.
Her life was quiet, and uneventful, and she grew slowly, changing from a child to a young woman. But she was lonely again, having no other girl to talk to now. Friends would be so nice. She watched images of teenagers on Earth and other places, seeing the things they did, and wished she could have some of those experiences herself. But it was not in her nature to pine over what she couldn't have, and so she kept herself busy, and learned as much as she could.
They stayed on the research station for three years, and then they transferred again. She wasn't sure where they were going, but that was nothing new. They changed transport twice, and then were at StarBase 6. Her parents told her she could walk about, as long as she didn't go out of sight. She sighed. There wasn't really that much to see. But the chance to be somewhat by herself after being in with them for the last three days traveling, was nice, and so she drifted off, idling wandering about the transient area, looking blankly in shop windows.
She began to feel strange, as though someone was watching her. She looked over her shoulder, but there was no one there. She walked on a bit further, and the feeling was even stronger. She stopped, and looked all around, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to her at all. Maybe it would be better, though, if she moved back closer to where her parents were. She turned and started back toward the rows of benches by the departure gates, and saw them, running, two tall boys, one blond, one dark, both in StarFleet Academy cadet uniforms. It couldn't be! It just couldn't!
She hurried then, following after them. When she saw them stop beside the bulky green reptilian also wearing a cadet uniform, she knew she wasn't imagining things. It was them! She hurried now, dodging around people, trying to catch up, but she was too far behind. And then he looked up, straight at her, and his eyes locked on hers. She stopped, her heart pounding furiously, and felt something very strange. Almost like she could hear his voice inside her head. Jilly.
And then Joey and Shu!ss were pulling and tugging at him, hurrying him toward the ensign at the gate, shoving him down the passageway. But she could still feel the echoes of him in her mind. She found an empty bench, and sat down, dizzy. Grayson was on his way to the Academy! And there was no way he would fail. He would be there the next four years. She was filled with joy. All her hard work was most definitely going to pay off!
When her parents came to find her, she really paid no attention. It wasn't until they were on the transport, in their small room, that she realized that they weren't on a starship. She looked around, confused, as her parents took their duffels and pulled out civilian clothing, changing quickly in the small bathroom. They were smiling widely, so happy, and she didn't know why. What was going on?
It was not until they got to the colony planet where her aunt and uncle lived three days later that she realized that her parents had retired from StarFleet. With the help of her aunt and uncle, they had purchased a farm, and were ready to begin the life that they had been working for ever since they had married. Apparently, the only reason they had joined StarFleet was because the salary was so high that they would be able to save the money needed to immigrate. She was stunned. Why had they never discussed this with her? She was lost, in a strange place, in a life she knew nothing about. The chores they assigned to her were strange as well. The only familiar thing in her life was school.
And now school involved so many more children! There were thirty-five teenagers in the school that was closest to their farm. She had never known so many people her own age in her whole life. And the very first day of the school year, the teacher stood up at the front of the class and told them about the qualifying exams, that StarFleet administered in every school in the Federation, every year. And she heaved a great sigh of relief. Her plans were not entirely ruined, after all.