This is a short chapter of a science fiction blog novel. In this chapter, we meet Ashley a young girl who is traveling on the space ship with her father. I hope you enjoy it.
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CHAPTER 4
ASHLEY
Ashley sprawled herself in the padded chair. The lounge was one of the few carpeted areas on the ship. It was a cut out area in one of the corridors that circled the huge vessel. A glass wall at the far back exposed stars of space, on either side, were restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Pedestrians and small vehicles moved back and forth in the corridor.
She spent her time gazing out the window at the stars or watching the people walking by. She hoped to see some of the boys her age; she was interested but she had yet to make friends with any. Several were handsome and she was interested but Ashley was too shy to flirt or do anything but look at a distance.
Ashley was lonely.
"Hi, Darling. What are you doing here?"
She did not see her dad walk up. He sat down in the chair next to her. "I was passing by and I saw you here. Is everything OK?"
"I'm fine. I told you don't worry about me."
"I can't help it, Darling. It is what Dads do."
Ashley looked at her father. He was a handsome man but sad since mom left. "Why are you carrying that thing?" She pointed at his blaster gun which moved from his hip to his thigh as he sat down.
"A new general order, all the ship's crew, and rangers are to keep their arms with them at all times. You know, Darling, about the revolutionaries who want to break away. We just have to be ready for anything, and I'm in the force."
Ashley heaved her shoulders at the mention of the space force. The army ruined her life and drove her mother away. She hated what it had done to her family.
Dad saw her reaction. He truly loved his daughter and was torn between duty and family, when duty won his family came apart. "Darling, you know my terms of service to the force will be over soon and we can find a little farm or home at the colonies where we can settle down. You can find a handsome man, have a bunch of babies, and take care of your old man.
"Dad! How can you say that?" Glancing around, "Someone might hear you."
"Ha! Now that's my girl. Don't stay out too late. Remember you have homework."
"Did you have to remind me. I don't know why I have to do homework anyway when I am just going to be an old maid on a potato farm on some moon colony."
"Darling, you are a beautiful and bright young lady, you will be able to do anything you want, but you need an education so you can take the opportunities that come."
"OK. Dad. Don't you have to report to duty or something?"
He got up and kissed her on the forehead. "OK, Darling, Don't wait up for me." His pulse blaster moved back to the place on his hip.
Ashley quickly forgave the embarrassment as she watched her handsome father in his white space ranger uniform walk away. She was lonely but so was he and they had each other.
She turned back to the poly-glass window and looked at the stars.
(c) Adron
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