3. Aurelia

THREE

Woah. My eyes widened at the gleaming hull as we approached the docking station where the S.S. Paradise was currently docked.

The ship itself was sleek, all curved lines and white gleaming metal. During the last week, I'd inhaled every article and piece of information I could find about the ship, its floor-plans, and every spec or piece of technology they'd filled her up with. No expense had been spared. It had cutting edge technology sufficient enough to practically pilot itself through all the reaches of space. I'd been trained on a simulator version, but to be here—in front of the real thing—it took my breath away.

I still couldn't believe I was here.

As of tomorrow, I would officially be a UGSF Pilot. I'd be flying a starship, for crying out loud. I sucked in my squeal of excitement, not wanting to disturb the others surrounding me.

There were only twenty seats on the small craft, and there were a few small families on board, sending a jolt of envy through me. I'd begged my dad when I was younger to take me along, but back then, the ships weren't designed to house families. Everything was different now.

I shut my eyes, trying not to think about my father's last mission again. About how much I missed him. It's all for you, Dad, I thought, hoping he was here with me somehow. I felt closer to him up here, where I could see the stars glittering outside my window. If I pretended, it was almost like he was here with me.

Looking out the glass, I let my eyes drift over the space station. Earth was still barely visible behind it. I mentally bid farewell to my home, welcoming the next part of my life.

The shuttle landed, smoothly locking onto the station. Once they opened the loading ramp, I quickly grabbed my bags and hurried off, heading into the main part of the space station.

My future was waiting.

The cabinI'd live in for the next five yearsof interplanetary space travel wasn't as big as my apartment back home on earth, but I'd get used to the bunk, eventually. At least it was a room by myself.

I was here. A grin lit up my face. "This is it, Aurelia," I said to myself, giving one more sweeping glance over the room. "This is your life now. The one you've dreamed about."

There was a desk underneath my bunk and a small dresser where I'd stowed the little clothing and personal effects I'd brought on board. A brand new data pad and communicator, both top of the line devices, rested on the small table opposite my bed. The little cow plushie my dad bought me when I was five sat next to my pillow. Even though I was probably too old to still carry something like that around, its presence made me feel a little lighter.

My new uniforms were all waiting for me in the closet, pops of dark purple peeking through. They'd been starched and pressed, with the officer's logo stitched on the sleeve, and there was one for every day of the week. The familiar sight of the gray jumpsuits I'd worn in flight school as well as flight suits hanging in my closet made my heart race.

Shedding the rest of my civilian clothes, I donned my officer's uniform, appreciating the block of purple that indicated my position. Most of the crew members who worked on the bridge would bear the same color, and I finished the ensemble with my shiny new badge with the UGSF's logo on it. It was a silver shield-like shape with three shooting stars in gold in the middle, featuring three gold dots to show my rank as a lieutenant.

Normally, graduates started out at a lower rank, but I would wear this badge with pride.

I pulled my hair back in a low bun, making sure I looked the part.

My eyes looked bright, standing out in the mirror as I gave myself one last look-over. As a kid, I'd always been made fun of for my heterochromia—one green eye from my father and one blue from my mother—but I'd stopped letting those comments bother me a long time ago. I always liked that I was different. That I carried bits of my parents with me always.

While I'd still spent my childhood playing with dolls and dreaming up fairytales of a grand romance, I'd also been looking up at the stars, waiting for my father to come home from his latest mission. Learning all of their names. As if committing the information to memory would make me closer to him.

You have the stars in your eyes; my dad used to whisper to me when he caught me staring at them. Like he knew just how badly I wanted to be up here.

Aurelia Serena Callisto, destined for the stars. Words he whispered to me as we watched shuttles launch into space, or from the beach near our house as he heaved me up into his arms. Words I'd never forget.

"Here I am, Dad," I whispered out the circular window that showed the dark vastness of space, our ship still docked at the space station. "Right where you always knew I'd be." I rested my hand against the thick glass, as if he could feel me there. I hope you're proud of me. A shiver ran through my body as I sent the thought out into the world.

That was why I was here, after all. To feel closer to my dad. To follow the same path he had. My fingers brushed over the flash drive I'd brought on board before tucking it into a drawer to keep it safe. If there was anything left, any remaining clues… I'd find them.

"All officers to the bridge for a briefing from the Captain," came through the ship's speaker.

"Well, that's my cue." I took one last look out the window, letting a small smile slip over my face.

Thanks for believing in me, Dad,Ithought, pressing the button to open the electronic door. I couldn't have done this without you.

By the timeI'd made it to the bridge, a handful of other officers had also arrived, standing in straight rows but mingling amongst themselves. Everyone was wearing their dress uniforms as well, cementing that I'd made the right decision by putting mine on. I breathed out a sigh of relief at not being the odd one out.

My eyes wandered around as I remained stationary, taking in the bridge. This was the place where I'd be spending most of my days—and likely some nights, as well. In some ways, it didn't differ from the ones I'd run hundreds of hours of simulation in, but in others, it was completely different. Maybe it was the thrum under my feet, the subtle vibrations of electricity that came from a vessel this size. It practically hummed in my ear, filling me with nervous energy.

I pasted a smile on my face, hoping my assimilation process went well. That I'd find a group of friends to spend the next few years with. It wasn't like I had another option if I didn't get along with the rest of the officers. Not that I ever had problems making friends—I was outgoing, considered myself to be a pretty cheerful person with a positive outlook—it was just that sometimes I had problems keeping friends. Fionia and Eliza had both been my friends for years, but other than that, I'd bounced between friend groups, never really finding where I belonged. But I'd left my best friends and the only home I'd ever known behind.

Not letting that fact weigh on me—I slid into formation, crossing my arms behind my back so I wouldn't fidget. Thankfully, my hair was up so I couldn't mess with it. It was my nervous habit, especially when I was in a new situation and didn't know anyone.

I stood between a girl with bright blue hair, and a tall blond man who flashed me a flirty grin.

"Hi," the girl next to me whispered, leaning over slightly. "I'm Astrid." Her dress uniform was white, instead of black, with a white cross patch opposite her rank badge. Four dots—a commander. "Chief Medical Officer," she confirmed.

"Hey. Aurelia—I'm the Head Pilot." I gave her a warm smile. "It's nice to meet you."

She grinned back. "I'm glad to see this room isn't completely full of testosterone."

There were two other women here—a redheaded girl with a face full of freckles, and a medium-skinned girl with dark brown hair. They both had different colored uniforms, though I didn't spend too much time studying their appearances, not wanting to stare.

"Too true." I let out a small giggle.

We'd all learned about Earth's history—about a time when women didn't even have rights in most countries. Now, women were in positions of power all across the world as well—and the federation was pushing more and more women into joining programs like mine. Fields that even fifty years ago were often male-dominated. Engineers, pilots, captains—the sky was the limit. Or, in this case, the stars.

The man next to me's eyes snapped to mine. "Wait, you're the new pilot?" He was in a red uniform—engineering.

I frowned. "Yes?"

He muttered under his breath, something that sounded a lot like, he will not be thrilled about this.

"Who's not going to—" I started, but then the automatic door slid open, and then a man with dark brown hair entered the room, stealing my breath.

Somehow, before I even saw his badge or the color of his uniform, I knew what position he occupied. It was something about the cocky confidence, how he strolled in here like he owned the damn ship we stood on. In some ways, he basically did. From the way he commanded the space, it was clear who he was.

Sylas Kellar. Captain of the S.S. Paradise.

Also known as… my new boss.

And my God, the photos I'd seen hadn't lied. He was handsome. A short beard covered his sharp jaw and chin, and I couldn't pull my eyes away from him. Aurelia, I mentally scolded myself. Not the time. Do not salivate over your superior officer.

Sure, nothing would ever come of it—but at least he was nice to look at, right?

I sucked in a breath, standing taller as our Captain's eyes drifted over us. The data pad in his hand lit up as he swiped across the screen, coming to a stop in front of all of us.

A woman stood behind him with a dark head of hair, wearing an identical uniform. His first officer? She had to be.

He looked up for a moment and glanced at all of us. We still stood in two rows, no one having taken their positions on the bridge yet.

"Hello, everyone." Finally, he spoke, and his voice was deep. In other situations, I might have found it sexy, like the narrator of an audio book that I'd put on to lull myself to sleep. "As you may already know, my name is Sylas Kellar, and I'll be your captain for our voyage aboard the S.S. Paradise. I've spent the last few days onboard, and I'm confident you'll all find her just as welcoming as I did."

He glanced at the woman by his side. The two looked similar—not quite identical, but up close, the familial resemblance was clear. A sister, if I'd had to guess. "This is Commander Kayle Kellar, who will serve as my First Officer."

She stepped forward slightly, the light reflecting off her badge. The deep blue of the uniform perfectly complimented her dark hair that she wore up in a high ponytail and her bright blue eyes. "Hi, gang." Kayle gave a slight wave of her hand, a smile lighting up her face. "I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you during our time on board. If you need anything, let me know. My brother here—" He shot her a look, and she rolled her eyes. "Captain Kellar and I are happy to help you as you get settled in to life onboard the Paradise."

He dipped his head in agreement. "I'm going to go through the assignments list to help put faces to names, and allow us all to get to know each other. After all, we will spend a lot of time in close quarters."

A lot of time in close quarters with him? I tugged at the collar of my uniform, feeling suddenly hot.

The screen in his hands came to life once again, but he hardly gave it a second glance. "Lieutenant Violet Alastair. Communications officer."

The brunette woman on the other side of Astrid, also wearing a purple outfit like mine, took half a step forward. "Here, sir."

He dipped his head in acknowledgment. "Your credentials are quite impressive. It's only your… what? Third year with the federation?" I wondered when she'd joined—right out of college? She was probably the same age as me, if that was the case.

"That's right." Her hair was secured into two low buns behind her ears. "When I heard about this mission, I jumped at the chance for a transfer."

"Happy to have you." Captain Kellar didn't smile, tapping on his screen instead, as if familiarizing himself with all of us.

"Commander Astrid Loxley," He said, his eyes darting around the room before quickly landing on the girl beside me. "Chief Medical Officer."

She gave a small smile. "That's me." Her white uniform stood out amongst the gray and other colors, making her noticeable even without her bright hair color. I was a little obsessed with it, even though I loved my own russet locks. I'd always been too attached to my hair color to even think about changing it. Still, she rocked the blue.

"I understand you're one of the best doctors UGSF has."

She blushed a little, shaking her head. "Oh, I wouldn't say that, Captain."

"It's in your file," he mused, stating it all matter-of-fact. Like there was no way to dispute his claims, because they were true.

Standing in this room, surrounded by all these officers who were clearly the best of the best, I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated. Was this a mistake? Why had Rist chosen me? What did Sylas Kellar have about me on that manifest?

"Next is Commander Wren Navarro, our Chief of Security." The corner of his lips tilted up—almost a smile, but not quite. "I handpicked him to join our crew, and he'll also be serving as my Second."

Wren—a handsome man with tanned skin and tattoos that peeked out of his sleeves—gave us all a confident smirk. "Glad I could be of service, Cap."

Captain Kellar waved him off, continuing down his list. "Lieutenant Leo Sevyn is serving as our Chief Engineer, doing his best to repair the ship should anything happen."

"Yes, Captain." The handsome blond man beside me grinned, winking at the Captain's sister—who just rolled her eyes. "You can count on me."

"Who's left…" Another tap on the tablet, though there were only a few of us left who he hadn't already called. "Ah. Heading up our research department is Finley Cortez as Chief Science Officer. She's done quite remarkable work in her field of research already." He nodded. "Keep it up."

The freckled redhead with the green uniform wiggled her fingers. "Hey, everyone." Her Irish accent was noticeable as she spoke.

What Astrid had said to me before struck me again, and I really was glad this room had just as many women as men. We were five to four, not including the Ensigns and other, lower-ranked crew who would serve as replacements or backups, but I didn't feel like I'd have any issue with my voice being heard.

"Chief Navigator—Lieutenant Orion Hirsh." The dark-skinned man stood behind me, and I instantly gave him a small smile of acknowledgement, knowing we'd be sitting side by side. After all, our roles meant we would be working in tandem for the duration of the mission.

The Captain's face formed into a thin line as he looked down at his tablet. I looked around, noticing everyone else had been introduced. Which just left… me. The entire room went silent, and I couldn't help but think of Leo's words earlier. Was something wrong? Had he not been informed about the change in the position?

"You." His cold, barking voice called for attention as he took a step towards me. "What's your name?"

From this close, I could tell how tall he was, as every inch of his height towered over me. The way he was leering over me made me want to cower—back down, walk away—but I was my father's daughter. Straightening, I stood tall, proud.

"Captain." I gave him the sweetest smile I could muster up. "I'm Aurelia Callisto, sir." I jutted out my chin as my eyes met his, that smile not slipping.

His eyes were dark, unfeeling. His gaze seemed to settle over me, and I wondered if he was that displeased to be so cold with me. Would he find me unsatisfactory? I didn't know. Still, his eyes flickered in recognition, if only briefly.

"I'm the Head Pilot." Though that felt a little like stating the obvious, because how could he not know? "I got the call last week, and?—"

"Hm." He grunted, cutting me off before sharing a look with his First Officer. "What happened with Vitto?"

The name sounded familiar, a UGSF pilot that had been in the headlines recently. Him dropping out of this mission was the only reason I was here. Damn, I wished I could send him a thank you note.

Kayle cleared her throat. "I believe there's a note in the file from Rist."

I opened my mouth to say something else—but closed it as I watched the two who seemed to share some sort of silent communication.

A frown filled his face as he turned back to me. "You've piloted before?"

"Well…" Only if you counted flight school. Which, I was guessing, he would not. I dipped my head. "Not exactly. This is my first commission, sir."

He cursed. The rest of the room was quiet—so still you could have heard a pin drop.

The smile slipped from my face as I winced, trying to maintain my composure. "I just graduated, top of my class, and I earned my spot here?—"

One of his hands ran through his hair, messing up the perfect strands. And maybe I shouldn't have noticed how large his hands were, but I couldn't help myself.

"That doesn't change the fact that I'm about to embark on a five-year journey with someone with about as much experience as a toddler."

"Captain, I—" I opened my mouth to protest, because that wasn't fair. I had earned my spot here, hadn't I? Just like the rest of them, I had to believe I was here for a reason, too.

"Call the Vice Admiral," Captain Kellar instructed her, ignoring me. "Tell him to send someone else." He turned his eyes back to me. "Anyone else."

"But—" I started, not knowing how to fix this.

"You're dismissed. Everyone else, settle in tonight, we leave at 0800 sharp tomorrow. I'll see you all on the bridge in the morning."

And then he was gone, the doors closing behind him, leaving me open-mouthed like a fish.

That certainly hadn't gone the way I'd hoped.

Not at all.