School's Out

Posted on 29 Sep 2017 @ 3:52pm by Commander Scarlet Blake

502 words; about a 3 minute read

"I hadn't realised that teachers are just as excited about the end of semester as the students are..."

Scarlet shook her head with a soft chuckle as she sipped her wine, glancing over the rim to the computer screen that was recording her log. It had been a long day and Lily was tucked up in bed. For once, it hadn't been a fight. The young girl's eyes has been drooping before her head had even hit the pillow.

"Well, instructors. Same difference," she shrugged lightly, sighing gently as she leant back in her chair, a thoughtful expression playing on her features.

"No, I've enjoyed it actually," she admitted softly, looking into her glass rather than the screen. "It's been...rewarding, to teach at the Academy. Trying to help young future officers be the best they can be, and prepare them for what's ahead. As much as possible anyway. Nothing really prepares you for what's out there. The dilemmas. The discipline it takes. The toll it takes. It's easier to prepare them for the fact it's all worth it," she added the last with a soft smile, glancing back to the screen. "It's not for everyone, but it's worth it for those who were made for it."

"As satisfying as teaching has been though, I'm glad to be getting back out onto a ship. I'm going slightly stir crazy stuck here," she sighed, shaking her head with a faint frown. "I guess I'm just a spacer through and through. It feels stranger being on Earth."

Scarlet looked away, towards the door out of shot of the recording, a small, half smile pulling at her lips. "I don't think it's just me. Lily's been literally jumping with joy since I told her we're going to be sent back to a ship. I'd have thought she'd prefer it on a planet...more space and variety. She's missed life on a ship though. I'm...not sure if that's good or bad for such a young girl, but either way, it's how it is. There's more important things to worry about."

Scarlet took a generous mouthful of wine at that, closing her eyes for a moment. Setting the glass down with careful movements, she ran her hands through her long, dark hair, easing her head back a little with the movement to try and relax her neck.

"I don't know, I just..." she paused, the words stuck in her throat as she looked back to Lily's room, holding her breath tightly in her chest with the thought playing on her mind.

"...never mind," Scarlet finally shut the thought down, her features returning to the usual inscrutable expression as the moment passed and she locked the feelings away, her guard falling back into place.

Scarlet drained the last of her wine, straightening back up into her usual militaristic posture, her features cool and calm. "It won't take long to be packed and ready to leave. All we need now is a ship, and we're ready to go."

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