Yo, I've struggled with this chapter this last week. But I think I got to a good place with it. Oh boy, things are getting heated, my friends. Can Laura trust her new friends? Also, I realised I made a mistake; I wrote Laura's name as Valerie. It's not her name. Mc's name is Laura Johnson. I'm sorry, guys, haha.
Laura left her secure home and began her journey. She acknowledged the working staff at the farm station and continued walking. Suddenly, she saw something outside a window and took a few steps back in amazement. The view outside the window was breathtaking—Earth's magnificence.
Laura was filled with wonder as she gazed out of the window. Despite being aware of her location in space, she had never taken the time to appreciate the view. Looking down at Earth, she was struck by how small it appeared. Yet, it was stunning. The oceans had a striking blue hue, while the continents shone a vibrant green. Laura could see the clouds swirling in intricate patterns around the globe, occasionally illuminated by lightning strikes. As she thought about her life as Pattie, Laura realised that she had never had the chance to witness the Earth from this unique perspective, just as her old friends and family never had. Her eyes then drifted towards the numerous stars surrounding the ark station and Earth. Laura wondered how to find out if this was the same world she had left behind.
"Oy. That's our spot!" Laura heard a boy's voice and turned her head to see where it was coming from. She was surprised to find two young boys staring at her with annoyance. One boy had black hair, and the other had brown hair. Although she was mentally older, these boys might have been a couple of years older than her. She smirked inwardly, knowing that she was taller than both.
"Your spot?" Laura asked, looking at the boys with curiosity. One of the boys stepped towards her with his hands on his hips. His face grew a frown.
"it's first come served!" The boy said. Laura smirked. " You mean first come, first served?"
The boy blushed and started stammering. The other boy stepped forward to rescue him.
"Hey, I'm Monty, and this is Jasper; what's your name?" Monty asked Laura, hitting Jasper with his elbow when Jasper scowled at Laura.
"I'm Laura. Sorry if this is your space; I won't intrude," Laura said. She looked at her clock, realising she was about to be late for class. "Oh no!" Laura exclaimed and ran away from the boys. Jasper asked Monty, "What does 'intrude' mean?" The boys sat down by the window, knowing they also had class.
Laura ran across the hallway, her mind growing confused about where she was. 'Damn, where am I. I was so sure it was this way.' As she ran, her head turned to a blonde woman standing and talking with two guards. She, however, didn't realise when she bolted straight into a teen boy, both crashing into the ground.
"Watch where you're going!" shouted the boy. Laura and the boy stared at each other. The boy seemed annoyed and impatient to continue his day. "Sorry," Laura said hurriedly, her eyes wide and face flushed crimson with embarrassment. The boy looked at her with a sympathetic expression and said, "It's okay, I'm Bellamy. What's your name, Red?"
"I'm Laura," Laura said sheepishly, looking up at Bellamy. He asked, "Do you need help getting home? Where are your parents?" Laura realised that Bellamy was being kind to her because of her young age. As she was about to answer, they both heard footsteps approaching them. They looked up and saw a woman coming to them. Bellamy straightened his back while Laura gazed at the woman with curiosity. The woman exuded power and authority. She had blonde hair and light eyes and seemed to be in her thirties. Laura had never seen her before.
"Blake, don't worry. I can handle it now." Bellamy nodded and quickly left the scene. Laura turned her gaze towards the boy and shifted her focus to the woman. The woman sat down within Laura's line of vision and gave her a warm smile.
Upon seeing the little girl, Diana asked, "What are you doing here all by yourself, sweetie? Are you okay?" as she scanned the child for any injuries.
"I'm okay; I was headed to grade one but lost my way." Laura scratched her head, smiling. Diana helped Laura to her feet.
"Please walk with me, girl," Diana instructed; Laura wouldn't dare to refuse her.
"I'm Laura Johnson," Laura said out of respect for the woman. She realised this woman had to be someone important on the ark.
"So, Laura, where do you live?" Diana looked at Laura with a friendly smile. Laura lowered her guard and smiled back.
"I live at Agro station with Harry and Clara Smith." Diana's face flashed with recognition.
"Ahh, that's right, I heard about your placement in the farm station." Diana looked away in thought before she turned to Laura again.
"You seem like a brilliant girl, Laura. The Smiths did an outstanding job in raising you. How old are you again?" Diana smiled at Laura. Laura looked up at Diana.
"I'm six years old. Clara says I'm very mature," Laura told Diana proudly, feeling the need to impress the woman.
"That you are indeed..." Diana and Laura reached the classroom and stopped by the entrance. Diana looked at Laura with a strange expression and smiled.
"Laura, I think you're a very smart girl, and I like smart girls. Let's be friends; if you ever need help, you can come to me, and I'll help." Diana told the young girl Laura and Diana had arrived at school, but Diana was late. She handed Laura over to her teacher and explained their delay.
Laura sat at an empty desk and received a few curious looks from her classmates, but nobody paid much attention. After saying goodbye to Laura, Diana exited the classroom and met two guards outside. Meanwhile, Laura turned her attention to the teacher but soon became disinterested as the topic was about learning how to write. When the break started, six classmates surrounded Laura. Laura looked up at them, eyes widening and a cold shiver shaking.
"Hey, I'm Melissa." One of the girls smiled confidently. She was probably eight and one of the oldest in grade 1.
"I'm Laura." Laura smiled nervously at the group of girls.
"Why were you with Miss Sydney?" Melissa and the other girls looked at Laura with questioning stares.
"I got lost on my way to class and bumped into Sydney. She showed me the way to the classroom," Laura explained to the girls. They accepted her explanation and started chatting. However, Laura felt a sudden wave of anxiety and quickly excused herself to go to the bathroom. Once inside, she leaned over the sink and looked at herself in the mirror, wondering why the interaction made her nervous.
"Okay, calm down; that was nothing," Laura assured herself. She returned to class after a trip to the bathroom and realised that no one even noticed she was gone. Laura felt relieved and happy, hoping things would be better this time. She sat back on her chair, observing her bored classmates. School, as usual, seemed dull and uneventful. Since Laura already knew how to read and write, the teacher asked her to help her classmates. Laura was happy to assist and soon gained respect from her peers, making a few friends along the way.
One year later...
A male voice asked Laura to state her name and age. Laura was sitting in a small, empty room that resembled an interrogation room. The room consisted of a table and four chairs. Laura's eyes were red and swollen; she had already cried enough to fill buckets and had no more tears left."
"Laura Johnson. Seven years." Laura answered with a monotone voice. A knock sounded at the door. Laura and the man turned to face it. Diana entered, her face etched with worry for the little girl.
"Oh, Laura, I'm so sorry for your loss." Diana walked over to where Laura was sitting and embraced her in a comforting hug. Laura's eyes filled with tears, and she started crying in Diana's embrace. After a few minutes, Diana stepped back and sat beside Laura, giving her a comforting smile.
"Laura, I want you to come with me to a meeting. Can you trust me?" Diana looked at Laura with a serious expression. Laura opened her mouth but closed it to recollect her thoughts. Her doubts about Diana vanished when she thought about how Diana had treated Laura since their first meeting. Laura could confidently say that Diana was the only one on the ark she could trust.
"I trust you with my life, Miss Sydney," Laura said with a small smile.
"Oh, when it's just me and you, call me Diana." Diana smiled softly at Laura. Diana and Laura walked towards a dark hallway a few minutes from the other room. Laura looked at Diana curiously while Diana looked up at the vent placed high above. She noticed some boxes stacked nearby, making climbing onto the vent possible. Given Laura's small size, she would have no problem climbing up there.
"This meeting is about your future. Some council members feel that they don't have the time to discuss this matter. I, however, arranged it for you. I could take you under my wing if you want, but I need your complete trust, Laura. Again, do you trust me?" Diana asked.
"Yes!" Laura answered without hesitation. Diana made sure to let Laura climb without getting caught by anyone. Because of Laura's age, some of the council's members felt it necessary to exclude her. Diana had also given her a drawn map of where she was headed. After Laura climbed up the vent, she started to make her way to the marked location.
Laura kept quiet; she didn't want to end up in juvenile lockup. When Laura reached the right vent, she saw some council members. There were five people in total in the room. There were five men and one woman currently sitting in each chair. One of the more oversized chairs was a middle-aged Asian man. The door opened, and Diana walked in as the last council member.
The presumed chancellor, the Asian man, began by nodding towards Diana and waiting for her to sit on the last available chair.
"Date December 12. 2138. The topic of the day is Laura Johnson. All council members participating, please state your name. Starting with the least to the most senior council member." The chancellor began in a bored voice.
"Chris Cottingham, present."
"Gina Lyons, present."
"John Desmond, present."
"Marcus Kane present."
"Thelonious Jaha present."
"Diana Sydney present."
"Chancellor Kenji Lee, present."
After the meeting, Diana and Laura walked through the hallways together. Laura was deep in thought after the council's decision. Diana noticed Laura's expression and placed her hand on Laura's shoulders. Laura stopped and stared up at Diana.
"Aren't you happy? You finally have your independence now, kid." Diana smiled and started to walk. Laura followed her.
"Well, yes, of course. But it doesn't make any sense. Why would the council vote for me to live alone? Only Kane and Jaha opposed the decision."
"You won't be completely alone; I'll have to check up on you, of course, from time to time. And the ark values strong and independent citizens who can contribute." Diana told Laura.
"But I'm seven; isn't that weird still?" Laura continued, her brows furrowing. Diana stopped in her tracks, making Laura turn around. Diana placed her hands on her hip.
"Laura, my child, don't you trust me?" Diana asked Laura.
"Well, yeah, of- "Laura started.
"Then you trust me to know I wouldn't have made this decision without knowing you would be safe, right? We're family, Laura; I'll always care for you." Diana started walking again, with Laura not long behind her. Soon, they came to a door in the alpha station. Not far from the cafeteria and the living quarters in that section. Diana brought a key and unlocked the door.
"Now, I had one of the engineers check the room for any weaknesses. And there won't be any problems in the future." Diana reassured Laura. Diana said her goodbyes and let the girl have some space. Laura's eyes scanned the room. A bed, nightstand, desk, and a chair. To her right was a door to the bathroom. Laura sat down on the bed, eyes closing.
Flashback incoming
"Laura, can you check on the Stanleys if they have that book on flowers?" Clara asked Laura with a smile. Laura looked up from her book on the bed in the corner and turned her head down.
"Laura..." Clara asked with a warning tone and a smile so sweet Laura knew she couldn't refuse.
"Okay, okay." Laura stepped up and walked towards the door. "See ya!" Laura waved and headed to get Clara's book. When Laura got her book and started walking back to the living quarters, the alarms began wailing: a gas leak. Several guards and men in hazmat suits ran past her. When Laura realised they were running towards her home, her heart jumped for a second. Could it be? Laura started running to make sure it wasn't her home. Laura was wrong. She froze when she saw the guards surrounding her home.
"Everybody, please go home; we have the situation under control." One of the guards told in a commanding voice. A younger man in his twenties stepped forward, clearly anxious.
"Under control? Please, how do we know the gas hasn't spread? We need answers now!" The crowd seemed to agree with the man. The door opened from the apartment, and Laura caught a glimpse of a body lying under a white sheet on the ground before it was closed. A man in a hazmat suit stepped forward and took off his helmet. His hair was curly black with brown eyes.
"Hi everyone, I'm Sinclair—one of the engineers. I just checked, and luckily, the gas didn't spread anywhere. We neutralised it but must keep the room sealed for security measures. Now, go home, everyone." The man finished. When the crowd dispersed, Laura needed to get inside the room. She looked for when the guards were distracted before she took the first leap. Her attempt was ruined by Sinclair embracing her.
"No! Stop. Let me go. I need to see them!" Laura shouted, tears running from her eyes. Laura tried to fight off the man. Sinclair kept tapping Laura back in a calm motion. Laura eventually calmed down and sank to the floor, released by Sinclair. Sinclair sat on the floor beside her and rested his back against the wall. Saying nothing but kept her company.
Authors note.
Alright. That's chapter three wrapped up. Things will finally get going. I've purposefully made a long introduction; I've always wanted to write a character you could get to know before the story and drama started. As I have said, some things will change, and some must stay the same in the story. I'm open to suggestions. Please tell me if there's something you think is essential.
About the chancellor: I imagine the ark imitating the USA presidents' election terms. A chancellor has a vote every four years. And if they stay in power, staying there for longer than four years would be challenging. I found no records on chancellors beyond Jaha and Sydney. Therefore, I decided to make one myself.
I have some questions as well. Thanks for the reviews. 1. Honestly, I haven't decided about the MC's sexuality. She's too busy to have a love story right now, and remember that this is a 20-30-year-old woman inside a child's body... So, no romances until it's proper. But I'm open to Laura experiencing both genders.
2. Why isn't the story on the ground? Well, this is just chapter three... I won't reveal everything, but you know how the saying goes? What goes up must come down. As I said, I will follow the main story to some extent. :)