I had a lot of fun writing this story! Here's the final part, I found it hard putting this down when I started it. I won't talk for long about it, but I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! If you haven't read the previous parts here is a link to part 1 of Loeta's journey.
@killerwot/assignment-day-part-1
Loeta couldn't remember getting back home immediately after waking up, she stayed in her bed for a few minutes and thought back over the night. Hanging out with Brima had been fun, the two of them had bonded more and more as the years went on, she could remember the relationship they once had. It had been on and off, neither of them had ever taken it too seriously, on purpose. They both knew that the chances of their paths going in the same direction was slim, yesterdays ceremony proved that. It was sad to lay it to rest for good, but it had to be done. She wouldn't be able to dedicate herself fully to the pursuit of knowledge if it continued, neither would he. But, what a way to end it. She couldn't help but smile.
She took a glance around her room, nothing would be coming with her on the journey all except her clothes, well what she could afford to bring. No way am I lumping some of those tattered rags around with me, she thought to herself. She got up and began to pack an outfit for the cold and one for the heat. Some as well for temperatures in between. Soon she was ready, the commune she lived on had often seen people come and go and she was just one more to add to the list of people who used to live here. Loeta was going to have breakfast but thought it better to slink out. She was sad to be leaving and figured she would save herself the trouble.
The one in charge of the place was Hemina. She had become something of a mother to Loeta over the years, quick with an answer, or to dispense some advice and even a scolding when Loeta needed that too. "Someone who loves you doesn't just give you praise." One of Hemina's catchphrases. When Loeta was younger she never understood it, but as she matured she could only agree more and more with it.
Sneaking was easy, one step in front of the other. Slow and steady. She tried to encourage herself as she threaded lightly up the hall. "Loeta! Are you trying to slink away without saying goodbye!" Hemina exclaimed with good humour. Caught. Loeta could feel her eyes welling up already. She turned slowly to face Hemina. "I. I just. Didn't want to say anything." Loeta choked on her words as she tried to get them out. "Oh come here." Hemina's eyes begin to sparkle in the light as she raced to Loeta. Hemina wrapped her arms around Loeta and the pressure was like a weighted blanket. The dam broke then and Loeta couldn't stop it, she hugged Hemina as tight as she could. "Sorry." Loeta's voice was muffled, through Hemina's jacket. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Come on, I've cooked you something to eat. I have a gift for you too, be a shame if I couldn't give it to you."
Loeta felt small, as she did when she first arrived here, it almost felt like she had been carried to the table. Maybe it was that she couldn't see past her tears, guided the entire way in a haze of emotion.
Sitting in front of her was a plate of food on the table. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to avoid this, I'm supposed to be starting a new chapter in my life. How am I supposed to go out into the galaxy if I can't even say goodbye to someone without crying." "Don't be silly, you're never too old to cry or feel sad. It's better you did cry, rather than going out there regretting not letting me give you a small send-off. And if you didn't regret it, I would of. Imagine me with a dodgy hip trapesing after you around Free Space." Loeta started to laugh. "There you see. Here, I got you this." Loeta looked at a small present which was produced and slid over the table to her.
"What is it?" She opened it as she spoke. A data-pad. "I can't accept this, it's too expensive." Loeta looked at Hemina who shook her head. "You're taking it. I have no use for the thing and it cost me nothing, so don't feel bad about it. Someone gave it to me as a gift and it's sat around for years. I barely know how to use the thing, but I tried it yesterday. It still works, I put some money on it for you too." Loeta shook her head. "It's not a lot, 350 FST's to help get yourself settled. I spoke to one of the elders too, you're being sent to Jex." Loeta thought about that for a moment, she knew it. "The Free Space capital planet?" Hemina nodded. "I've been there before, long before the war though. But, I heard it's changed a lot since then. You'll have accommodation for your first three months, in that time you need to find work to support yourself. After the three months are up you'll be on your own." Loeta nodded thinking about it, but her mind was filled with the idea of this new planet, wondering what it would look like. "Have you thought of what you want to learn?" Loeta shook her head. "Not yet. It's all happening so fast." "Don't worry you'll have time."
Time passed quickly after her food, she gathered her things. She was about to walk out when she turned back around. "I want to say thank you, your guidance over these past years has meant so much to me, I appreciate everything you've done." She said with conviction. "Go before you cry again or miss your ship." Loeta was expecting something a bit more heartfelt, but thinking about it Hemina was right.
The journey was quick as Loeta made her way briskly to the shipyard, then she saw it. A Doshan Cargo Hauler, it was immense. The heat from its engines was so hot Loeta felt like she would melt if she stood next to it for too long. Wondering to herself how many people it must take to fly it, at least Ten.
She walked to join a line of other Doshans, presumably other Stems. Although mixed in were other older Doshan passengers, even the odd Off-Worlder, which she thought was cool. Then she saw Sengy, she skipped a few people in the line to talk to her. "Sengy. Where'd you go last night?" "I just wanted to clear my head." "Me and Brima were worried about you. This is exciting, right? Going Off-World. I hear we're going to Jex."
Sengy turned sharply to Loeta. "Loeta. We're supposed to be doing this alone." Loeta was confused but the venom in Sengy's tone let her know it wasn't a joke. "Are we?" "I thought about it during the ceremony. At first, I was afraid and then I accepted it. Then I heard your name being called. I wondered what it would be like, the two of us going out there. But, after I went off to think some more about it. I decided. I'm doing this alone. If I'm going far from Dosha I don't want someone tagging along with me." Loeta's blood ran cold. She had thought that the two of them doing this together would be fun and a good way of supporting each other. Guess not. Loeta turned slowly and walked to the back of the line.
She was given her room onboard the ship, it looked cold and the sound took some getting used to. The hums, bangs and mechanical churning of the ship, had slowly faded to background noise. At least she had her Data-pad to pre-occupy herself with. Then she saw it. A pre-written message. "Loeta. You've always been someone with a strong will and sense of purpose. You've always been a trouble maker, but I could never truly punish you for that because you always reminded me so much of myself at your age. Most people who had to endure what you did would have completely gone off the rails, but, you have always stayed true to yourself and those around you. You're going out into a galaxy you don't know, the books you've read on it are from an age that is over, shadows of those pages remain out there, but who knows what it's like now. I do know you'll get on well where ever you end up. I'm proud of you, your mother would be proud, so would your father and brothers. I'm glad I was able to take care of you and see you reach your assignment day. The rest is up to you now, I can already tell you'll do well. - Hemina."
Loeta couldn't do anything other than hold the data-pad to her chest and close her eyes, she felt herself floating as she drifted to sleep.
End
If you liked this you might like the next persons chapter I wrote, Chiv. Here's a link to part 1 of his story Bounty Hunt.
@killerwot/bounty-hunt-part-1
