– CHAPTER TWO–

Alexander was right, his crew were less than impressed to find that Amelia was coming aboard and there were various mutterings all round. The older members already knew, however Captain Smollet informed all of the new cadets, that the first to complain about Amelia would be confined to the brig; else find themselves chopping onions for dinner.

He wanted no fall-ups onboard for his last journey. It was not the best adventure: carrying cargos of ammunition to the base of Cannerdia, a few planets away, but it was his last and he intended for it to be a grand one.

Amelia stood behind Mr. Arrow as the ship launched. Arrow was a spacer with her father and the two had been best friends during their navy days, though Arrow was younger than Alexander by many years.

Arrow was Amelia's second father, an old friend of the family; the two of them were as thick as thieves, though she was (of course) closer to her father.

"Hello ma'am," he would say every time he saw her. "What grand adventure will we be about today?"

She loved the launch, and last time she had even been able to stand without Arrow, though admittedly she was unsettled by the anti-gravity.

Until lunchtime, Amelia accompanied her father about the ship; he insisted that it was given a thorough inspection for stowaways and the like. Amelia had never actually seen a stowaway, though she wished she could see what the punishment for them was.

Captain Smollet's quarters were off-limits to everyone onboard except Mr. Arrow and if there was ever a dire emergency. Amelia set up her small hammock, which was placed in another small room, like a little study, beside her fathers.

Mr. Rottieirre, the old cook, brought Amelia her dinner. She usually dined alone, her father off to do his duty aboard. When he was gone, Mr. Arrow would play games with her, generally cards and teach her combat skills.

Contrary to all her father had said, Amelia was not willing to learn to fight and she would only tap the training sacks lightly. Occasionally, oblivious to everyone but Arrow, she would have a whiff of temper (such as one of the crewmembers insulted her), and lash out at the targets with such force; they would almost fall from the rafters upon which they hung.

Mr. Arrow was careful to keep these observations to himself, he knew that with her father trying to make her more masculine, and her mother attempting to teach her etiquette, Amelia would have to choose her own path, though which way she would be drawn to was unclear to him.

After a few weeks in space, Amelia was sad to leave the Legacy. She knew that since she was Alexander's only child, she would one day inherit the ship. Unfortunately, if she had no husband who could sail it, or she had no interest in renting it out to spacers, the Legacy would need to be reduced for fire wood.

It broke Amelia's heart to know that her father's pride and joy, should one day be keeping her warm during winters. For although she loved sailing, women would not ever become captains and even if they did, no crew would sail under a woman's command.

Alexander knew this also, and was noticeably subdued. He was aging fast and nearing his 50th birthday, he had no son and Flamy Amy would not be permitted to own a ship. The week had been and gone so fast, he willed for one last mission, but the RNRH (Royal Navy Retirement Home) had made it clear there were to be no more voyages for him.

He usually never listened to his doctors, believing them to be mindless old pricks, willing nothing but persistence and money, but he was admittedly not as young as he once was and never would be again, his days of mooning old ladies with Arrow and painting Admiral Orotund's study fluorescent green were over.

Though he willed the Legacy to live, years in the Inter Steller Navy had taught him that he could never changer Amelia's personality. Only she had the will power to do that.

Amelia collected her small bag of things and watched the crew prepare to dock. She wanted to get home, just to avoid her fathers stare. She knew he was sad, this had after all, been his last journey on the Legacy.

Though he had said not word, nor whisper, all on board knew that he would retire and

As Alexander docked the ship, Amelia was the first off board, running up the hill to her house, trying to hide her tears.

However, more tragedy was to strike, fast, unexpected tragedy, that would change Amelia's life forever, forcing her to make a drastic choice between left and right.

As she smelled the stench of smoke on the breeze and she gaped in sudden horror as she saw her house.

Blazing and burning, it was evident there was nothing left. Though there were no bodies, it was with dawning terror that Amelia knew her mother had perished or been taken hostage by whomever had done this.

Mr. Arrow, who had been told by Alexander, to follow Amelia home, froze in shock as he saw first the house, then Amelia upon the ground, crying to her home that was now a blazing fireball, smoking into oblivion.

Not the Amelia everyone knows aye? Constructive criticism plz. Dunno if I shud change it or not, but R&R so I can edit it. More soon & remember… if u c sum 1 without a smile, give them 1 of urs!

– Amelia Johnsonn–

XXX