At one of the many viewing platforms placed all around the Spire, a woman sat watching the ocean of stars. Doctor Achieng Chima had spent nearly ten galactic-standard years in space, but the endless, glittering vastness of the cosmos never failed to awe her. It was strange – space was so much like the ocean, vast and rich and dark and full of promise. At the same time, it was so different, so foreign to her that it made her almost sick for home.

Almost. 

The day she had left her home and her planet, barely an adult, she’d vowed to never return to the house that had borne her so much pain. That young Achieng had been full of rage and sorrow. That young Achieng was a bit of a fool, but what young being wasn’t? Sometimes all she dreamed of at night was the scent of the sea, sweet-spiced fish and fresh wine, and her cousin. He and his mate probably had a dozen children by now, doing the dutiful thing and extending their clan line. While she had done things that were…

Well, “dutiful” was a rather subjective term, wasn’t it?

“…you’re stalling.” Achieng murmured to her star-speckled reflection in the glass. “The Monroe will have windows. You will see new stars as they pass.” She lifted a small, worn pendant from her chest and pressed her lips to it, murmuring a brief prayer against the stone. Then she maneuvered her tank down from the platform and got on the way to her new home. 

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[url]https://youtu.be/0xhLUAgVlck[/url]

Several minutes later, she stalled again, staring at the dock labeled Monroe and seeing the ship just beyond. It wasn’t a pretty ship. Even she could see that much. Instead, it was like an old warrior’s blade, nicked and worn and used. The wear in it told stories, spoke of battles and victories and losses and promises. Her breath caught just thinking of it, but she shook her head. “You’ve been in worse and you know it – are you a little fat fry all over again, begging to hold mother's hand? Onward, Achieng, ride the wake or fight the current.” With that, she brought her tank forward, waiting in line behind those who were already waiting to be checked.