The Road So Far [2/4]

Posted on 18 Aug 2022 @ 6:14pm by Lieutenant Aria Rice
Edited on 27 Aug 2022 @ 6:22pm

1,442 words; about a 7 minute read

2381 – Selene City, Luna

Would you mind if I hurt you?
Understand that I need to
Wish that I had other choices
than to harm the one I love - Within Tempation, ‘What Have You Done’

“It’s not often someone tries to run away from Luna. But because of her father, we’ve kept this unofficial.”

The cell’s forcefield shimmered as Aria watched her mother and the constable talk. Aria sighed as she lay down, stretching her legs, looking down at her favourite pair of boots. Her pink wig was lying in a corner, alongside her jacket. Of course, they had taken everything she had been carrying. Her bar of gold pressed latinum. Her bag, with her stuff. Everything.

“We found four bottles of moonshine on her as well, a phaser, a laser knife, a bar of gold pressed latinum, two pairs of boots, various clothes. Pretty sure the bag was bigger than she was, Mrs Rice. And not entirely sure what she was doing with the alcohol, or how she got a hold of it. And of course, she ended up blocking our constables from going to investigate an un-authorised shuttle departure.”

“Snitches end up in ditches!” Aria called out, shifting to sit up. At least Aaron got away, she wondered how long it would take before he would be declared missing. Long enough to be away from the Sol system, considering his uncle wasn’t exactly all there when on the drink.

The constable rubbed his forehead tiredly, looking over at Jasmina Rice, Aria’s mother, before giving her a small smile. “Of course, we won’t put this on her record, or make a big deal of it. But get your house in order.” He lowered the forcefield, and Aria stood and stretched.

“Aria, what were you thinking?” Jasmina said with disbelief, reaching to grab her daughter’s arm. She sighed when Aria pulled away, turning her face away. “Stupid little girl, running away? What was your plan?”

“Who says this wasn’t the plan?” Aria said lightly, putting her jacket on before she walked through. She took her bag, lifting it, before she looked at the constable. “Hey, where did my stuff go?”

“Evidence,” the constable said lightly, giving a small shrug. “Illegally obtained items of a restricted nature. Sorry sunshine.”

Aria groaned, tipping her head back. “I traded those fair and square! That is just…nope…” she shook her head, taking a deeper breath.

“Well, you could tell me who you are covering for and have it all back,” he said lightly, looking over at Aria’s mother, meeting her eyes.

“No one, it was all me,” Aria said quickly, before she made a face. “Teenage angst, our greatest foe…” she tapped his arm and turned to face her mother. “So. What are we talking…grounding? Extra chores? Wear pink for a year?”

Jasmina looked at her, holding her eyes before swallowing. “Your father would have been so disappointed in you,” she said, before she turned and walked away from her.

Aria frowned, looking down, her hand pushing into her coat pocket, feeling the commbadge there. “No, he wouldn’t,” she whispered to herself.




2383 – Selene City, Luna

I point my finger, take the blame
And this time I will only name
Because nobody is going to ruin me
If I have to, I will ruin myself
And it will be my ruin… - My Ruin, ‘Terror’

Taking another sip of coffee, in her usual hiding place, Aria pulled her coat closer around her. She could see her breath in the cold, but despite it picked up another PADD. Studying, away from everything. She was meant to be on a school trip, but a quick forgery had let her off. So she could study.

Because Aria Rice had six months until the entrance exam for Starfleet Academy. And there was a lot of studying to do, to try and make things work. Her mother was trying to get her toa Ballet Academy, and the last months had been filled with auditions. Dancing until her feet bled, hiding behind a smile. No. She wouldn’t be restricted to being the background dancer of Swan Lake. She wanted the stars. She wanted freedom.

And freedom had a price. It was called Starfleet, with rules and regulations. Something Aria had never been good at, following rules. But she was memorising them now. Rules and regs, she could totally do it. Totally. She drank more of her coffee down, closing her eyes for a moment. She could do this. She just had to make sure her mother never found out.




2384 – Selene City, Luna

No one knows what its like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you
No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through - The Who, ‘Behind Blue Eyes’

“How could you? I stood there, waiting, for hours! Hours! I never had this chance, Aria, and you selfishly threw it away on what? A bender? Shoplifting? Pickpocketing?”

Aria looked at her mother for a moment, taking a breath before she shook her head. “I mean, I’ve never been caught stealing so…did it ever actually happen?” she asked, giving a shrug before she reached for her bag. “I had a different plan. Wasn’t sure if it would work but…”

“A different plan? What? Going to run away again, try your luck in the universe? Aria, you are a child! You are my child, you have such a gift, and you have just thrown it away!” Jasmina shouted with disbelief, watching her before finally noticing. “Why is your hair black? Did you dye your hair?”

“Like it?” Aria smiled, flicking her hair. “I should have done it years ago. It feels so much more me! Also, I totally have a plan. I’ll use my skills for good. I’ll do something proper, like Papa did.”

“You tried the Marine fitness test when you were sixteen, you failed miserably,” Jasmina said, shaking her head with annoyance. “You will never have the physicality for it. Never.”

“And whose fault is that?” Aria asked, looking at her with disbelief. “The dancing since I could stand, the diets? Besides, it’s fine, Mum. It’s not a big deal, I was disappointed but I know I could never be a Marine.” She gave a small shrug, before taking a breath and offering a PADD to her. “I’ve been accepted to Starfleet Academy. Security. I aced my tests.”

Jasmina looked at the PADD, taking it before reading it. It slipped from her fingers and she met her daughter’s eyes, holding them. “No. No, I forbid it…I lost a husband to Starfleet, I am not losing my daughter to it.”

Aria swallowed, seeing the fear in her eyes. She let out a breath before she moved closer, touching her hands, before she took them. “Mama,” she said, her voice soft. “I know dancing was your dream. I know you gave it up when you and Papa decided to have me. And I am sorry. But it was never my dream. I want to make a difference. I know I have been a screw up. And I’m sorry for it, for being…a tough teenager to deal with. But this? This is something I can do, Mama. I can do this.”

Jasmina looked at her before taking her hands, lifting them to kiss. She finally nodded, holding her eyes. “Yes. But you are doing it on your own. Once you leave, you are always welcome back home. But not in that uniform.”

Aria pulled her hands back as if burned, her eyes wide before she shook her head. “What is wrong with you?” she breathed before she turned to finish packing her bags. She grabbed the stuffed rabbit, pushing it inside of her backpack. “You know what, never mind. Never, ever mind. I love you, Mama, but it isn’t my fault that Papa died. And it was a long time ago.” She put the backpack on and grabbed her bag, turning to watch her. “I am a Rice. Good or bad, I am meant to make a difference. Maybe I haven’t always done it the right way, but I have helped people. I just wish you could see it the way I do.” She walked to her, giving her a hug, closing her eyes tightly. “I love you. Goodbye.” She pulled back and walked away, jaw clenched tight to stop the tears.

[TBC]

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