Graduation Ceremonies
13 Dec 2020Elkyri
Mawson Dock3305.08.06
Graduation ceremonies. I don't know why but they just seem to me to be so unnecessary. "Just give me the certificate and let me be on my way" is how I feel about it. I suppose it would be different if I had family there, whistling and calling my name as I walked across the stage. I guess that sort of thing is what makes it special for some people. Helps feed some sense of accomplishment, like you've made it to the big time or something. Never mind the hard part is still ahead -- you know, like actually finding someone to take you on as crew. I thought that was were I was headed next but it didn't turn out that way.
There was a message waiting for me on the comms terminal when I got back to my quarters. Much more than a message, actually. It was a pre-paid lease on a ship. Can you believe it? Fresh out of flight school and straight into my own ship. Yeah, I know -- it's just a Sidewinder, but it's my Sidewinder. Well, at least for as long as the lease lasts but the message said "indefinite." Unless they've changed the meaning of that word it's mine to keep.
I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It's right out of a B-movie plot -- "mysterious stranger gives you..." what? Something, but it's always something with a catch. "Where's the catch," I keep asking myself, but I haven't found one. Except for the uncertainty, that is. Without this I might have landed a berth crewing on a bulk freighter or something. Not glamorous but a steady and reliable paycheck with someone else figuring out how to put the money in the bank to back it. Now that's all on me and I'm not real sure where to start.
Oh, Child of Gaia is her name. I had to look that up on GalNet. Turns out Gaia is the name of the mother of all creation in one of the ancient myths. They say it's bad luck to change a ship's name but since it fits, whether you apply it to the ship or to me, I think I will keep it even without that old superstition.
