Docking
1152 Words
Once in our quarters I turn to Jorman. "I can't believe you bonded yourself to me."
He laughs. "What else was I going to do? Stay here with Celka, or by myself if she had still volunteered? Volunteer alone, and be stuck with no family, and having to pick for myself where I would live?"
I shake my head. He's right. He's only 13 space years old. It might be the official age of choosing, but teens aren't exactly known for making good decisions. They're the most likely to be tricked into a slave ship.
"Well, I'm still going to need your input. If my decision is going to be yours too, I can't make it alone." I tell him sternly, then smile.
"What should we pack?" He asks.
"That's easy." I reply, "Everything you don't want to leave behind."
Celka walks in, with three guys who didn't volunteer for the exchange. She takes them to her space to start packing her things. She stops briefly on her way, turning towards us she says, "May your choice be wise, and your life all that you dream."
"You as well." Jorman and I state together.
Then we get to work packing our own stuff while Celka starts ordering the guys around.
There isn't much beyond necessities that I want to keep. I grab my cuddle bear, a gift received as a child. My mom's necklace, given to her by the man who helped make me, a watch that was my grandpa's, a bracelet that was my grandma's. I give Jorman grandma's wedding ring, from before vows involved exchanging of blood, so if he ever finds someone who he wants to spend his life with he has options. He's too young for that right now, but it's important to plan for someday. I also give Jorman grandpa's hat, our other brother took grandpa's belt when he left.
Celka long ago claimed grandpa's wedding ring for herself, saying that she would mark her man, not the other way around.
Jorman chooses a small painting that mom made as his remembrance item for her. I grab one for myself, and another to give to my brother, Skit, if I ever run into him again. Jorman and I each have a toy space vehicle from Skit's childhood toy collection, that he gave to us when he left.
Shortly after we finish packing Celka walks out of her space. The men are each carrying two large bags for her, and a small one is in her hands. She looks at our bags. Jorman and I each have one big necessities bag, and one small, just because we want it, bag. She asks, "How can you be happy with so little?"
I laugh and reply, "How can you want so much?"
Celka doesn't answer, choosing instead to storm out.
I look into her space and see that she left a small hand held mirror behind, having taken the larger one that used to be mom's. I throw it in my small bag to remember her with, sensing our paths won't be crossing once this space week is over.
Jorman spots an old hair brush and adds it to his small bag.
Then we grab each other's hand and walk to the large docking center. A room just to the side of the docking doors for attaching to the docking station.
Everything we left behind will be gathered by the cleaning crew, and put in the give away bay for anyone who is in need of the items. Most of it came from there anyway. Our quarters will be cleaned and reassigned by the end of the space week.
When we get to the docking center we spot Celka at the front of the line, her bags are sitting on a carrier, an escort has been assigned to make sure it's returned once she is brought to her temporary quarters.
We hear the familiar sounds of docking. The clamps, the air balancing, and eventually the doors opening. Then the doors to the docking center open as well. Captain Ton is standing there, with his top officers behind him, to say goodbye to each of the volunteers.
Jorman and I hang back. Although I'm as excited as everyone else to get to my future, I want a chance to have a real discussion with the captain, and that can't happen if there's a line behind me.
When there's no one else but us, we walk up to the captain. He grabs my hand. "I wish you were putting all that knowledge you've gained from my crew to use on my ship, but I understand your need to leave."
I smile at him. I've often wished he was my dad, but he didn't help make me, and he never liked my mom that way. I couldn't blame him. I state, "Everything I've learned I take with me. May it help me choose the path that's right, and make me useful to my new crew."
Captain Ton shakes my hand again, slipping a medallion into it. "May you never forget your days among my population."
It's the standard goodbye. The medallion in my hand isn't. I don't acknowledge it, and simply put it in my pocket as I reply, "May you never forget my days among your population."
A few of the crew chuckle.
Captain Ton turns to Jorman. "I would have taken you into my household, had you stayed. However, in your sister's care is the right place for you. She's done a fine job raising you so far."
Jorman nods his head and admits, "I can't imagine not having her in my life."
"May you never forget your days among my population." Captain Ton recites.
Jorman states, "May you never forget my days among your population."
The crew chuckles again.
Captain Ton assures him, "You and your sister are the least forgettable, who have never become crew."
We shake each of the crew's hand. The chief medical officer hands me a field medic bag. "May you never need to use it, but if you do, may it save lives."
I nod my head and reply, "May you find another to learn as I have been blessed to do."
The chief engineer gives Jorman a travel tool kit. "May your education continue, and the tools be useful."
Jorman smiles. "May you teach another as eager as I."
We grab our bags and walk off the Phennox, onto Hu-Genar space dock, and into our unknown future.
The lighting is much brighter on the space dock than on our ship. It takes a few moments for my eyes to adjust.
Behind me I hear Captain Ton announce, "All population exchange volunteers have excited the ship. We are available for two hundred population, and requests for visitors can also be processed."
A few moments later a deep voice calls out, "V, is that really you?"
- Writer
