By David C. Daoust
4of7
“He’s my brother,” the brown eyed girl continued. “I came out to surprise him. I didn’t think it would cause any problems officer, really.”
Colin couldn’t help but smirk as the scared girl gave him a sidelong look to play along from behind the two soldiers’ backs.
“Yeah she gave me a good start at that,” Colin lied with a good natured laugh. Deciding to just play along with the girl was the best course of action. “I sent her off at a run back home.”
“Well, you know she shouldn’t even be on the landing without clearance,” one soldier said seeming to accept the explanation. “We can’t have people just wandering in and out of this facility. She’s going to have to stay with you, until you leave.”
“Yeah, I’ll stay here with you!” she said smiling, obviously relieved that Colin had played along with her ploy.
“We don’t want to see you here again.” The other guard said to her as he released her arm roughly, then turned to Colin, “Make sure of it.”
Colin only nodded as the two soldiers walked off, returning to their patrol rounds.
The girl smiled a huge smile as he looked her up and down. Colin didn’t say a word, he just turned and walked back to the ship to finish unloading the cargo bay. The young girl skipped along behind him.
Colin got right back to work loading the line with boxes. The line beeped as it scanned each individual box. He ignored the young girl who had flopped down to one side of the bay, as Colin plowed through his work.
“Aren’t you even guna‘ask me where I came from?” the girl said leaning back against the wall.
Colin ignored her and she sighed.
“I’m Margo,” she tried again to no avail, “What’s your name?”
Again, no reply.
“How’d you get such a silly job?” she asked as she rose to her feet and lifted one of the smaller boxes. “Don’t they have droids here?”
The line suddenly started bleeping all crazy, as the girl set the box down on the line in an attempt to help.
Colin had to stop what he was doing to flip the barcode facing up on the conveyor, so the Servitor could do its bit, and gave her a stern look.
“Just sit,” Colin said simply. “I’ll be done soon enough, then you can disappear into Grady.”
“You’re kind of grump,” she said as she attempted to lift a bigger box, one much heavier. She barely got it off the ground but did manage to drag it to the front of the line. “I’m not too surprised… considering you’re doing droid work.”
She heaved with all her might, though was unable lift the box high enough to get it on the line. She shrugged as she decided leaving it there for him to do, was help enough. She returned to pull another box from the bay.
Colin turned with his next box, and almost tripped over the box she had left in front of the line.
She noticed the stumble from the corner of her eye, and ignored the grim look Colin gave her as he lifted the box to put it on the line.
“You’re just sooo quiet,” she continued, “Aren’t you the slightest bit curious how a 12 year old girl, stows away in an automated ship?”
Colin didn’t care. He’d always favored the golden rule; to treat others as you would have them treat you. He didn’t bother people because he didn’t want people bothering him. Plenty of folk found this offensive at times, but only people that wanted to create problems. Those types were a waste of space anyhow.
“An automated ship…” the girl restated with emphasis, “Without any life support?”
Colin’s pace slowed, as the girls words sank in.
