Chariot Driving, but with a twist! And a flashback.
A Chariot, Oreos, and Keeping the Family Together
There are many things Penny is accustomed to as the only omega in her entire family. Being the impulsive and decisive one, not anywhere on that list!
Her father's impulsive, though he calls it 'instinctive.' Which means exactly the same thing.
Her mother is decisive. In the sense that she makes a decision and is so stubborn that everyone eventually comes around to her way of thinking.
Judy is both of those things. Usually.
"Getting stuck under the ice, almost running out of air, bound to inspire some cautiousness in anyone!" Penny reassured herself as she drove the Chariot over the snow covered mountains.
The adrenaline pumping through her veins was not unwarranted or unwanted.
This was, according to many misogynistic and alpha-preferred stereotypes, a very not-Penny job. Not that the ascribed herself to any of those stereotypes.
Her mother was an engineer!
Her mother was also an alpha and hadn't assigned Penny a single job of actual importance on her to do list. A fact she had *definitely not* noticed or taken to mean anything. Whatsoever. Nothing. Meant nothing.
Penny's grip on the steering wheel tightened as she turned to avoid a large outcropping of ice.
"I can do this," Penny told herself, reaching for an oreo with one hand.
Her hand was shaking.
"I can do this," she told herself firmly.
Humming around the oreo as the snow gave way to slick ice, Penny shifted the wheel to avoid skidding along the wetter surface and followed the map to the relative dry dirt.
"~Anything Judy can do, I can do better~" Penny sang, ignoring her own off pitch and very croaky voice as she entered the trees.
Once everyone was back on the Jupiter (or, better yet, the Resolute!) and Judy was feeling more herself, this was going to be a very braggable moment.
Absolutely lordable. Yup. She was going to lord this over Judy at Christmas on Alpha Centauri for years.
"Oh, I so hate this," Penny reached for another oreo.
-.-.-
"It'll be an adventure, Penny!" Maureen Robinson was grinning ear to ear, eyes all lit up with excitement, hands squeezing some imaginary ball as she gestured between them. "Alpha Centauri is a colony full of the best mankind has to offer, it's a paradise, a - a haven! for all of us."
Penny raised a brow. She was sitting on her bed, on Earth. The dust was banging at her window.
Judy and Will had already agreed to apply for the colony selection process.
"They're selecting mostly alphas mom, everyone says so," Penny reminded her, arms crossed over her knees.
Maureen waved her hand dismissively, "You're an exceptional student, Penny. Top marks. You're smart, resourceful. You can make it if you try."
That was not at all an answer to her concern. Omegas, betas, and alphas - they were all just as likely to qualify for the colony - there was no *real* difference between any of their capabilities. But alphas were getting accepted into the selection process at higher rates.
There were Omega Rights groups protesting, petitioning for transparency. They'd probably have better luck storming NASA.
And that wasn't even the only thing working against her.
Sure, she could make do in her science and math classes. She could succeed in any number of sought after career paths that the colony would find useful.
But Penny wanted to be a writer.
That was two strikes against her as far as Penny could see.
If Penny got accepted, she knew it was going to have a lot more to do with her last name than her actual qualifications.
"Our family could do well there, Penny," Maureen placed her hand over her daughter's, squeezing lightly. Penny looked up at her.
Her mother wanted this. More than either of her siblings even.
"Alright," Penny nodded, shrugging, "I'll try." Maureen's smile grew wider. "But!" Penny held up her finger, wiggling one finger back and forth, "I'll only go if the *whole* family is going."
Maureen agreed, "No one gets left behind."
Even dad.
She didn't say it. She thought it, of course, as her mother turned to leave. Probably to celebrate.
It wasn't worth the fight till they all actually qualified anyway.
-.-.-
Penny moved to the back of the Chariot and let her father take the wheel. More than happy to let him!
Her hands were still shaking even as her mother held up the oreo bag with a smile on her face. Penny laughed lightly, breathlessly.
The ride was no smoother with John at the wheel, but it was faster. Even stopping for the lady caught in the storm they made it back in less than half the time it took Penny to find them.
That was a-okay with her!
Even enveloped in Judy and Maureen's arms, Penny's heart rate was erratic. She was jumpy. Anxious.
It wasn't panic.
Panic, Penny could manage. Nope. This was much, much worse.
This was fear. Cold, sneaky, suffocating fear.
"Hey," John clasped her shoulder from behind as everyone filtered out of what Penny was fairly positive counted as a garage. He looked down at her, one brow arched, "You okay?"
"Yup," Penny lied through her teeth.
He squeezed her shoulder, "You did good out there."
"For me anyway," Penny snorted, eyes squeezing shut.
"No. For anyone. You pushed through your own fear to do what needed doing. That's the best *anyone* can do."
John smiled as Penny's eyes shot open, staring at him with her mouth hanging open.
Whether it was the shock or just being around her dad, the fear started to seep away. She didn't feel safe, but... she definitely felt safe-*er.*
"Thanks dad."
Reviews Always Appreciated! I am attempting to mimic the style of the show, with the flashbacks at least. Let me know if you like it!