curtana's drabble request

[secret_history]

curtana requested something from our old Perseity game featuring my character Margot, just to put things in context for those readers who might not be aware of the campaign. The drabble doesn't need much by way of context, though.

She was late. Again. Her gym bag thumping awkwardly against her leg, Margot sprinted as fast as she could down the hallway, dodging other students and nearly colliding with an impossibly large man she recognised as one of the coaches. She skidded around him, the crepe soles of her shoes sliding easily on the polished floors, and half-stammered an apology in his general direction before tearing off again. With any luck, she'd make it before the doors closed.

"Wait! Don't shut that yet!" she yelled, spotting one of her classmates pulling the door to the docking port shut.

Obediently, the girl, tall with hair that had been modded bubblegum pink, pushed the door open again, and Margot slipped in, collapsing against the wall to catch her breath. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"Ah, Ms. Villikko, how good of you to join us," her coach raised his voice so that everyone might hear him, his expression wry. The rest of her classmates, eight in all, turned to stare at her a bit reproachfully. This was a big day for them all, and they resented anything that might upset the event.

"Sorry, sir," she felt her face flame red. This was hardly the entrance she'd wanted to make, but gymnastics practice had gone over again, even though she'd told the coach repeatedly that today was her flight exam.

"Since we're going in reverse alphabetical order, that puts you first. Go right ahead."

Oh, shit. "Splash," she said uncertainly, feeling suddenly as though she'd never taken a flying class in her life. She wasn't sure that she would even recognize a shuttle if it landed on her.

She dropped her gym bag in a corner, willed herself to breathe regularly, and headed over to the small craft. This was the first solo run she'd ever make, with only a computerized safeguard on board to pull the ship back if she made a truly critical error. Otherwise, she was on her own. She yanked nervously on the zipper of her flight suit, and settled into the cockpit, her mind still a blank. She stared at the controls, trying to remember what the hell she was doing.

"I don't believe this," she muttered under her breath. Maybe that stim last night hadn't been such a good idea after all. Could one stim really erase all your memories in one shot? She hadn't thought it possible, but now she suddenly wasn't so sure.

Then, in a rush, it all came back to her. A smile spread over her face, and she reached for the controls, feeling the ship whirr into life underneath her, the engines humming as they began to warm up. Without thinking about it she went through the motions of her flight check, double-checked her charts and flight plan, and switched on her com system. If only her mother could see her now, she thought cheerfully.

"This is the Rising Sun, requesting clearance for takeoff. Code zero-zero-seven-four-seven-six-eight-one."

The answer was almost immediate. "Code validated. You are cleared for takeoff, Rising Sun. Oh, and Margot? Good luck."

She grinned happily. "Copy that, and thank you."

Moments later, she was soaring into the vast expanse before her.

Comments

[elanya.livejournal.com]

The *Rising* Sun? Who owns this ship now? :D

Also I am going to pretend that was Apo on the other side of the com, even though that is probably quite unlikely, because it entertains me, and I miss him ^-^

Okay, maybe Nary would also be awesome ^-^

[secret-history.livejournal.com]

Hee! I never even made the connection in my head, but it would be pretty splash if it was Nary's ship. :D

We can totally pretend it was Apo on the other side of the com. I miss him too. :)

[curtana.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Thank you for writing it :)