I walk out the last store carrying two baskets of my favorite food, peanut butter chocolate protein bars. As the treats were falling out of my control, I bump into the glass window of a car, to be more specific, my father's classic car.

"Isla Runa Patterson, what are you doing out here, you are to be at the Garrison at all times."

I stare up to his towering figure, "Yes father, but I was given special permission to leave the Garrison for a short while."

"I suppose that is fine then, but what is all this food for?", he asks gesturing to my purple bike full to the brim with snacks.

"It's for the Garrison, they want me to bring them for something, I have no idea what for though," I say through clenched teeth.

He rolls his eyes at my antics and brushes past me, entering the store. I jump onto my bike and hover to the Arizona desert. I look around at the same scenery I've known for years but never gotten used to.

I ripped open the letter from the marine corps. I made it! I made it! My door creaks open, my father rushing inside, "Isla, I just received a letter from the Galaxy Garrison, they accepted you!"

"Father, I never applied for the Garrison, but I did apply for the Canadian Atlantic Division Marine Corps, and made it in." I held up the letter for him to see.

"I know that's what you wanted, but at fifteen, I can still tell you what to do and this is it. I have already accepted a job at the Garrison as a communications instructor for junior cadets, which you will be."

I could feel the tears well up in my eyes, as my dreams were crushed by the one who is supposed to help me accomplish them. My father stares through them and scoffs, "We're leaving for Arizona tomorrow, you better get ready."

He leaves my room, and I rushed up to the door slamming it with all my strength. I finally explode the pent up anger and distress, screaming into the hands covering my mouth. The tears spring out of my eyes, dripping to the floor. I take out my four colour coded suitcases and begin to pack up my room. When I finished I escaped my small house and into the main part of St. Johns, Newfoundland. I headed towards my favorite shop, The Shell and Segoods Import, I walk in, the automatic doors swinging wide open for me.

My best friend Anna runs up to me, "Isla, I missed you so much!", her younger brother Jacob close behind her. "I suppose that's gonna be normal now,'' I mumble.

"Did you get into the Canadan Atlantic Division Marine Corps?" Jacob yelled excitedly. "Yes, but I was also accepted into the Galaxy Garrison."

Jacob's mouth drops, "That's amazing, you are the best communications student after all those years in the lighthouse, but which did you"-"I thought you only wanted to join the marine corps, not the Garrison," Anna interrupts.

I look up to them, "I don't want to move to Arizona for the Garrison, but…"

Anna begins to cry, "but, but I'll miss you, will I see you again?!" She wraps her arms around me, trembling, I smiled patting her back hoping to comfort her. Jacob also hugs both of us, trying to seem strong masking his grief.

"Well, it's almost time for me to get back home, you know my father", I pry them off of me.

"Wait!", Anna screams running to the back of the shop, the customers staring at us while me and Jacob deadpanned. When she finally made it back to us I saw her holding something behind her back. "Close your eyes Isla," I did as she commanded, an upset Anna is quite a scary sight. She placed two items in my hand, one felt very flat, smooth, and cold, while the other item seemed to be a ring, with a large centerpiece. "Open now!", I gasped as I saw a beautiful picture of my mother, Anna, Jacob, and myself my father had taken before she passed. I looked at the other item, a silver ring with a center made of a large teardrop shaped blue goldstone surrounded by multiple small circular larimar stones.

"Wow, Anna where is it from, it looks like a galaxy surrounded by the ocean, my two favorite things.."

"Well, it was for your eighteenth birthday, but this is a special occasion," I wrapped my arms around her again, almost crying. "I also got a hug out of it so that's a bonus," I punched her arm. "We're going to miss you so much Isla, right Jacob?"

"Of course we'll miss her, I'm going to get mom and dad to say goodbye too." while he did that me and Anna spoke about our plans for the future, although she was crying for the majority of that time. Anna and Jacob's parents came over to me saying how proud they were and how much they'll miss me, surrounding me with more hugs.

When I finally left the shop, I ran to the caverns on the coast. I crawled inside one large cave jumping down to the bottom hopping from one ledge to another until I reach a shiny silver and black ship. Her eyes light up yellow when I get to her, "Good evening Silver, I'm sorry I haven't been able to see you until now."

'It's fine young friend, you are here now, but what is troubling you?'

"I can't hide anything from you can I, well my father is making us move and I have no idea how to bring you with me to the U.S. Desert Division."

'Do you remember that device I helped you to build?'

"Well you did most of the work Silver, but I think I know what you're thinking, we can camouflage you and create a portal to the new house."

I texted my father, 'What's the full address of our new house so Anna can send me letters?' He replies almost instantly, 'It's 1452, Corona Ave and Savona Street, U.S. Desert Division'

"Ok Silver, I got the address," she opened her large mouth and I crawled inside. I seated myself in the black and white seat and typed in the address, turning on invisible mode. Silver took off into the sky, not a soul aware. We opened a blue portal in the sky to my new home, that would no doubt make it news globally. We flew into the desert, dodging pillars of stone in our way until we reached the address my father had given me. It's ok, I suppose. We went to some caves near the house , finding one the perfect size to hold Silver. We landed and I walked out of her mouth carrying a material replicator that Silver helped me to build. I set it up near the entrance of the cave, making sure that there was a switch accessible on either side of the entrance. "I suppose this is a farewell until tomorrow," I patted Silver's right hind leg.

'Ok my friend, I will create another small portal to your house and we will see each other tomorrow.' I switched on the material replicator, causing it to make a rock wall blocking the entrance and Silver from the world's view. A human sized dark blue portal opened up in front of me and I walked through it into my room.

I finished packing up my four suitcases for the plane and began to put everything else inside boxes for the mover to take in the morning. I'm amazed he hasn't gotten drunk yet today, maybe he'll change with this new job. Nah, I'm kidding myself, the stress will practically force him to do it again. At least I'll be at the Garrison and not with him I guess. I should probably go to sleep, I have no idea when he'll wake me up. I change into a purple pajama top and silver shorts and crawl into my bed

"Wake up you lazy brute, we are gonna be late!", he screams at me from downstairs. Ugh, what time is it? 4:30am, he just had to put us on an early plane. I better get ready or risk it all. I put on a lavender short sleeved shirt, black skinny jeans, black combat boots, and a black cropped jacket with a detachable hood and a lavender stripe on the arms. I tie my hair up in a braided ponytail. Grabbed my suitcases and boxes, bringing them downstairs to the entrance, taking several trips. I helped to load the moving van and the taxi, we hit the road at5:23am.

We reached the airport at 5:46am, went through security and waited for the plane to be ready. I plugged in my earbuds, trying to avoid my father's glances and enjoy my last minutes in Newfoundland. "Rows twelve through to twenty on plane seventy-one to Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S. Mountain District please board," a stewardess calls out over the intercom to the waiting groups of people. My father motions for me to join him in the line and we got our papers out, ready to show her. We walk up to the desk and my father unsuccessfully tried to flirt with her.

"Hey there, my daughter made it into the Galaxy Garrison."

She turns to me, "Good job, uh, I'll be watching the news for your name sweetie." I inwardly groan. Ugh, ew, she called me sweetie. I tried my best to smile at her and walked into the terminal after she handed me back my papers.

I walked to my seat, row fifteen, seat B, there was a tall old lady with long gray hair and two green marks under her eyes sitting right next to the window. Great, just perfect, right in between a weird old lady and my abusive father, oh well, that's just my life. I took my seat, putting my purple bag under the seat in front of me. When everyone in the plane is seated, a stewardess and steward stand in the middle aisle demonstrating the safety precautions in both English and Quebecois French, me understanding both. Guess those French lessons sorta paid off…

I looked down at my hands in my lap, fiddling with the ring Anna had given to me on my pointer finger. When I got bored of that I moved the fiddling to the antique black velvet choker with a brass pendant holding an amethyst around my neck. It was passed down from my mother's family, her great grandmother's birthstone was an amethyst.

"This is your pilot speaking, it is now 6:31am Newfoundland time, today our altitude will be about 9034 kilometers, we will be landing in about four hours at around 7:01 mountain daylight time. In Cheyenne, Wyoming." the click signalling he was done speaking sounded and I popped a couple pieces of mint gum in my mouth, preparing for the altitude change.

The lady next to me still hadn't showed any signs of noticing I was there. She could be blind, but nowadays there are so many ways to be healed from all ailments, so I don't know why she would still be blind. "Child, I know you're wondering why I have not taken the eye surgery." how can she know this? "There is much evil in this technology, I wish that you do not fall into the trap." I looked towards my father, who was visibly angered. I wonder what she means by all this, what could she know. Maybe she's one of those old people who are against new technology, I thought they were all gone though.

"Don't put those stupid ideas in my daughter's head, we are on our way to the Galaxy Garrison." the old lady sighed, turning to face the plane window. The light for the seatbelt clicks off and I quickly undo the restraint. I took out my lavender backpack and opened, it taking out a pair of black earbuds and a phone out of their case. I turn on the device, plug in my earbuds and play a list of some of my favorite songs. The first one to play was Broken by Lund, I hum along while closing my eyes.

"Isla Runa Patterson, get up now we have to go for the next security check, now!". Well, he almost just broke my right eardrum.

"Yes father, I'm up", I jumped to my feet gathering our bags and rushing out the terminal and towards the security area.

"Place your bags on this examining table please", my father and I put our bags on it. The officer goes through them, deciding that there wasn't anything to be concerned about gestured for us to continue on. My father drags me to a food court and buys us some breakfast at a fast food place. He hands over a breakfast wrap to me and digs into his own.

"Isla, it's time for us to go, or we'll be late for the third time today", father complains angrily. I nod and follow him to the next terminal.

"This is your pilot speaking", a young female voice floods through the aircraft. "It is currently 9:47am mountain daylight time, our altitude will reach 6745 miles, we will be arriving At Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. Desert District around 11:57am mountain standard time." I look out the window on my left side surveying the cloud filled sky, at some points I could see the ground far below. I opened my backpack to get my music, but spot a folded folded piece of paper that hadn't been there before. I pull it and my music out of my bag, stuffing it back under the seat. I play Savages by Marina and open up the paper, seeing a name and phone number, 'Gabra Zilcarn: 345 009 8767'. Is this that old lady from the other plane? I place it back in my bag before my father sees it, making a mental note to phone her later. I close my eyes and let my mind go blank as I listen to Marina's soothing voice calm my nerves.

My right earbud is violently ripped from my ear, jogging me awake and away from the blissful peace of music. "Isla, you need to study for the Garrison." He shoves a glass book shaped object onto my lap. I look up at him highly confused. He sighs, "This what the textbooks at the Garrison are like."

I give him the answer he desires, "Thank you father, I will do it right now." I put my earbud back inside my ear, clicking open the textbook and started to read it.

He pulls it out again, "Music will only distract you, now turn it off." I sigh, doing as commanded. The plane begins its slow descent to the Arizona desert. I stow away the textbook and pop some gum in my mouth.

We receive our luggage and are given a hover vehicle to use during our stay with the Garrison. My father drives us to the house I had been to only hours before. He pulls into the gray driveway, we drag our bags into the house. We stare surprised at the items from our old house that somehow already already arrived and been set up. I walk down a hallway, looking into each room until I find one with my stuff in it. "Don't forget to pack everything everything because we are going to the Garrison tomorrow!"

"Yes father", I yell back at him. How am I gonna see Silver during this? Thankfully I'm on the ground level floor. I hurriedly prepare my items for the next day. When I finish I walk over to a window, popped out the screen and jumped out of it, nearly missing a huge cactus that was in my way. Just how did I not see that before I jumped? I landed on my feet like a cat, and open an unlocked door in the garage. I bring out my purple bike and ride it to the cave I put Silver in.

I found the material replicator and switched it off, going inside and turning it back on. 'I'm so glad that you came to see me today my friend, I have heard your worries and wish to speak about them with you.'

"Wow, our connection is that strong, amazing."

'Well, you are my paladin young one.'

"P-paladin? What's that Silver?"

'It's basically what we are right now, a paladin is one I grow a bond with and allow to pilot me.'

"Oh, I think I understand now, thanks Silver." "What are we gonna do, I won't be able to see you every day, what if someone finds you o-or." Tears threatened to fall as I contemplated that one of like two friends I have might leave too.

'It's okay, I believe our bond will allow us to communicate from a far distance.'

I thought about that for a moment, "I guess we can try that and see if it works." "I should probably go home, I fear that father bought some more bottles today."

I heard Silver growl a bit when I mentioned the drink. Cannot wait until you get away from that man Isla, hopefully we will see each other soon.

"I hope so too Silver, hopefully no one finds you either, I don't know what they'd do." I exited the cave, turning the material replicator off and on again. I hopped onto the bike and raced home. I quietly replaced the vehicle and climbed into my room through the open window. I looked down at my watch, 9:43pm. I should probably get my rest, it'll be a long day tomorrow. I change into a pale lavender lace nightgown. Crawled into my bare bed and pulled a thin blanket over myself.

"Issa! Get vere nou!" I jumped up from the bed running out of my room as fast as humanly possible. I found the living room, looking at my father slumped on a couch.

"Father?", I received no response, "you called me?"

"Oh, si", he smirked at me. I gulped, anticipating what would come to me. He stood up saying nothing, but staring at me with a strange, but sadly familiar look in his eyes. He takes off his boot from his left foot, chucking it at me with a strong drunken force. It hits me in the middle of my face, hitting both my nose and inner right eye. I hiss, sinking to the ground clutching my face, wishing the burning sensation away. He laughs, choking on his own saliva, walks over towards me mumbling. Is this what he wants? For me to scream? I can do that. "You're too much like her, I must stomp that out before you become her."

What the heck is that supposed to mean, I can't and won't become like my mother. He lifts up his right leg, bringing it down to crush my right shoulder. I scream, the pain ripping through me. It seemed to sober him up slightly. His eyes seemed to register the damage and he turned around, stumbling to his room.

I tried to make my way back to my room, the pain searing through my shoulder and face. I somehow made it back, and took out a first aid kit, applying some medications to the affected areas. This'll be a pain to hide for my first time meeting the Garrison. I covered myself up again with the blanket and drifted into a fitful slumber.