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 Valerie trust her new friends?
Valerie left her secure home and began her journey. She acknowledged the working staff at the farm station and continued walking. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of something outside a window and took a few steps back in amazement. The view outside the window was breathtaking. Earth, with all its magnificence.
Valerie 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 incredibly beautiful. The oceans had a striking blue hue, while the continents shone a vibrant green. Valerie could see the clouds swirling in intricate patterns around the globe, occasionally illuminated by lightning strikes. As she thought about her life as Pattie, Valerie 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. Valerie wondered how to find out if this was the same world she had left behind.
"Oy. That's our spot!" Valerie heard a boy's voice and turned to see where it came from. She was surprised to find two young boys staring at her with annoyance. One was an Asian boy with 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?" Valerie asked, looking at the boys with curiosity. One of the boys stepped towards her, hands on his hips. His face grew a frown.
"It's first come, first served!" the boy said. Valerie 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 Valerie, hitting Jasper with his elbow when Jasper scowled at Valerie.
"Valerie, if this is your space, then I won't intrude, sorry." Valerie looked at her clock and realised she was about to be late for class. "Shit!" Valerie took off running from the boys. Jasper and Monty exchanged a confused gaze. "What's intrude?" Jasper asked. Montey just shrugged. And the boys sat down by the window, disregarding that they also had class.
Valerie 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!" The boy shouted. Valerie and the boy stared at each other. The boy seemed annoyed and impatient to get on with his day. "Sorry," Valerie said in a hurry with eyes wide, her face flushed a crimson red from the embarrassment. The boy looked at her, growing a sympathetic face. "it's okay, I'm Bellamy. What's your name red?"
"I'm Valerie." Laura looked at him sheepishly. "Do you need help to get home? Where are your parents?" Bellamy asked her. Valerie realised he was nice to her because of her age. As Valerie was about to answer him, she heard footsteps heading her way. Valerie and Bellamy looked up at a woman approaching them. Bellamy's back straightened. Valerie looked at the woman. She radiated authority. She was in her thirties, with blonde hair and light eyes. Valerie had never seen her before.
"Blake, it's okay. I can take it from here." Bellamy nodded and hurried away. Valerie looked at the boy before she let her eyes rest on the woman. The woman sat down at eyesight to Valerie and smiled at her.
"I'm Diana Sydney. What is such a little girl doing here by herself?" Diana looked at the little girl; she seemed to scan for injuries.
"I'm okay; I was headed to grade one but lost my way." Valerie scratched her head, smiling. Diana helped Valerie to her feet.
"Please walk with me, girl," Diana instructed; Valerie wouldn't dare to refuse her.
"I'm Valerie Johnson," Valerie said out of respect for the woman. She realised this woman had to be someone important on the ark.
"So, Valerie, where do you live?" Diana looked at Valerie with a friendly smile. Valerie 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 Valerie again.
"You seem like a brilliant girl, Valerie. The Smiths did an outstanding job raising you. How old are you again?" Diana smiled at Valerie, who looked up at Diana.
"I'm six years old. Clara says I'm very mature," Valerie told Diana proudly, feeling the need to impress the woman.
"That you are indeed..." Diana and Valerie reached the classroom and stopped by the entrance. Diana looked at Valerie with a strange expression and smiled.
"Valerie, I think you're a very smart girl, and I like smart girls. Let's be friends; if you ever need help with something, you can come to me, and I'll help." Diana told the young girl. Valerie looked at Diana and nodded with a smile. Diana handed Valerie over to her teacher and explained why she was late. Valerie sat at an empty seat, gaining a few curious looks from her classmates. But everybody was too bored to care. Diana waved goodbye to Valerie and stepped out of the classroom. Valerie looked back and watched as Diana met two guards and walked away with them. Valerie turned her attention to the teacher, and her eyes soon glazed over when she realised the topic was about learning to write.
When the break started, six classmates surrounded Valerie. Valerie looked up at them, eyes widening, and a cold shiver ran down her spine.
"Hey, I'm Melissa." One of the girls smiled confidently. She was probably eight and one of the oldest in grade 1.
"I'm Valerie." She smiled nervously at the group of girls.
"Why were you with Miss Sydney?" Melissa and the other girls looked at Valerie with questioning stares.
"I got confused on the way here and ran into Sydney. She showed me the way to class." Valerie explained. The girls accepted her explanation and started chatting around Valerie. Valerie felt her breath getting shallow and hurriedly went to the bathroom. When she locked the door, she went to the bathroom sink and held herself up while looking in the mirror. She didn't understand why that interaction made her nervous. None of the bullies in her past life were here anymore. No one on this strange lifeboat knew her like Pattie.
"Okay, calm down; that was nothing," Valerie said. When Valerie returned to class, no one even cared that she went to the bathroom. Valerie smiled to herself; this time, it would be better. Valerie relaxed into the school chair and observed everyone around her; everyone was bored. School never changes. The day ended without any surprises, especially with her classmates. As she already knew how to read and write, the teacher asked Valerie to help the others. Soon, Valerie was treated with respect from the others and gained a few friends.
- One year later..
"Please state your name and age. "A male voice told her. Valerie sat in a small, empty room. There was a table and four chairs. It looked like an interrogation room. Valerie's eyes were red and swollen. She had no more tears left; she had already cried enough to fill buckets.
"Valerie Johnson. Seven years." Valerie answered with a monotone voice. A knock came at the door. The pair turned their heads to the door. The door opened, and Diana entered, her face evident with worry for the little girl.
"Oh, sweet Val, I'm so sorry for your loss." Diana walked over to Valerie's seat and embraced her in a comforting hug. Valerie's eyes teared up, and she started crying in Diana's embrace. After a few minutes, Diana stepped back and sat beside her, giving her a comforting smile.
"Valerie, I want you to come with me to a meeting. Can you trust me?" Diana looked at Valerie with a serious expression. She opened her mouth but closed it to recollect her thoughts. Her doubts about Diana vanished when she thought about how Diana had treated Valerie since their first meeting. Valerie could confidently say that Diana was the only one on the ark she could trust.
"After you saved me, I trust you with my life, Miss Sydney," Valerie said with a small smile.
"Oh, when it's just me and you, call me Diana." Diana smiled softly at her. Diana and Valerie walked towards a dark hallway a few minutes from the other room. Valerie looked at Diana with a curious face. Diana looked up at the vent placed up high. Some boxes stacked would make it possible to climb up on the vent. And because of her small size, she would have no problem climbing 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, Valerie. Again, do you trust me?" Diana asked.
"Yes!" She answered without hesitation. Diana made sure to let Valerie climb without getting caught by anyone. Because of her 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 Valerie climbed up the vent, she started to make her way to the marked location. Valerie kept quiet; she didn't want to end up in juvenile lockup. When Valerie 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, aka 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 Valerie 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 Valerie walked through the hallways together. Valerie was deep in thought after the council's decision. Diana noticed her expression and placed her hand on Valerie's shoulders. She stopped and stared up at Diana.
"Aren't you happy? You finally have your independence now, kid." Diana smiled and started to walk. Valerie 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 her.
"But I'm seven; isn't that weird still?" She continued, her brows furrowing. Diana stopped in her tracks, making Valerie turn around. Diana placed her hands on her hip.
"Valerie, my child, don't you trust me?" Diana asked her.
"Well, yeah, of-" Valerie started.
"Then you trust me to know I wouldn't have made this decision without knowing you would be safe, right? We're family, Valerie; I'll always care for you." Diana started walking again, with Valerie 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 her. Diana said her goodbyes and let the girl have some space. Her eyes scanned the room. A bed, nightstand, desk, and a chair. To her right was a door to the bathroom. She sat down on the bed, eyes closing.
Flashback incoming
"Valerie, can you check on the Stanleys if they have that book on flowers?" Clara asked Valerie with a smile. Valerie looked up from her book on the bed in the corner and turned her head down.
"Valerie..." Clara asked with a warning tone and a sweet smile that she knew she couldn't refuse.
"Okay, okay." Valerie stepped up and walked towards the door. "See ya!" She waved and headed to get Clara's book. When Valerie 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 she realised they were running towards her home, her heart jumped for a second. Could it be? Valerie started running to make sure it wasn't her home. She 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? 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 Valerie 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, Valerie 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!" She shouted, tears running from her eyes. Valerie tried to fight off the man. Sinclair kept tapping Valerie back in a calm motion. She 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 important.