The Road So Far: Aria Rice [2/4]
Posted on Fri Jun 7th, 2024 @ 10:37pm by Lieutenant JG Aria Rice
Edited on Fri Jun 7th, 2024 @ 10:39pm
2,451 words; about a 12 minute read
Place: Selene City, Luna, Sol System
Year: 2383
I point my finger, take the blame
And this time I will only name
Because nobody is going to ruin me
If I have to, I will ruin myself
And it will be my ruin… - My Ruin, ‘Terror’
Taking another sip of coffee, in her usual hiding place, Aria pulled her coat closer around her. She could see her breath in the cold, but despite it picked up another PADD. Studying, away from everything. She was meant to be on a school trip, but a quick forgery had let her off. So she could study.
Because Aria Rice had six months until the entrance exam for Starfleet Academy. And there was a lot of studying to do, to try and make things work. Her mother was trying to get her to a Ballet Academy on Earth, and the last months had been filled with auditions. Dancing until her feet bled, hiding behind a smile. No. She wouldn’t be restricted to being the background dancer of Swan Lake. She wanted the stars. She wanted freedom.
And freedom had a price. It was called Starfleet, with rules and regulations. Something Aria had never been good at, following rules. But she was memorising them now. Rules and regs, she could totally do it. Totally. But more was what it stood for. This was the Starfleet and the Federation her father had joined when he was 18, that he had died for. Not the dark, twisted things. But truth, peace, helping others. Exploration. To seek out new life and new civilisations. To do good.
She drank more of her coffee down, closing her eyes for a moment. She could do this. She just had to make sure her mother never found out.
She was doing okay though. The mock tests she had gotten a decent score at, she now needed to ace them. She bit her bit, worrying it with her teeth as she pressed the PADD again. She would never be the strongest. Her built and years of dancing and diet had left her, even at the age of 17, a little slender thing. She would never drag a Klingon out of the line of fire. But she was fast and her movements were controlled. Dancing had done that. Martial arts too. Her feet were calloused enough for her to walk on glass and not feel it, or be cut. She fast fast, had good core and balance. Her aim was good too. She had started throwing knives too. To improve her aim. She was getting better.
She would get better. She might never be the next Kirk but maybe she could be the best version of herself? Maybe she could one day be more than just a dancer, a trouble, a terror. She would not be a victim of her life, of her circumstances. She could do this.
She could be strong.
Place: Selene City, Luna
Year: 2384
No one knows what it’s like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you
No one bites back as hard
On their anger - The Who, ‘Behind Blue Eyes’
“How could you? I stood there, waiting, for hours! Hours! I never had this chance, Aria, and you selfishly threw it away on what? A bender? Shoplifting? Pickpocketing?”
Aria looked at her mother for a moment, taking a breath before she shook her head. “I mean, I’ve never been caught stealing so…did it ever actually happen?” she asked, giving a shrug before she reached for her bag. “I had a different plan. Wasn’t sure if it would work but…”
“A different plan? What? Going to run away again, try your luck in the universe? Aria, you are a child! You are my child, you have such a gift, and you have just thrown it away!” Jasmina shouted with disbelief, watching her before finally noticing. “Why is your hair black? Did you dye your hair?”
“Like it?” Aria smiled, flicking her hair. “I should have done it years ago. It feels so much more me! Also, I totally have a plan. I’ll use my skills for good. I’ll do something proper, like Papa did.”
“You tried the Marine fitness test when you were sixteen, you failed miserably,” Jasmina said, shaking her head with annoyance. “You will never have the physicality for it. Never.”
“And whose fault is that?” Aria asked, looking at her with disbelief. “The dancing since I could stand, the diets. Besides, it’s fine, Mum. It’s not a big deal, I was disappointed, but I know I could never be a Marine.” She gave a small shrug, before taking a breath and offering a PADD to her. “I’ve been accepted to Starfleet Academy. Security. I aced my tests.”
Jasmina looked at the PADD, taking it before reading it. It slipped from her fingers, and she met her daughter’s eyes, holding them. “No. No, I forbid it…I lost a husband to Starfleet, I am not losing my daughter to it.”
Aria swallowed, seeing the fear in her eyes. She let out a breath before she moved closer, touching her hands, before she took them. “Mama,” she said, her voice soft. “I know dancing was your dream. I know you gave it up when you and Papa decided to have me. And I am sorry. But it was never my dream. I want to make a difference. I know I have been a screw up. And I’m sorry for it, for being…a tough teenager to deal with. But this? This is something I can do, Mama. I can do this.”
Jasmina looked at her before taking her hands, lifting them to kiss. She finally nodded, holding her eyes. “Yes. But you are doing it on your own. Once you leave, you are always welcome back home. But not in that uniform.”
Aria pulled her hands back as if burned, her eyes wide before she shook her head. “What is wrong with you?” she breathed before she turned to finish packing her bags. She grabbed the stuffed rabbit, pushing it inside of her backpack. “You know what, never mind. Never, ever mind. I love you, Mama, but it isn’t my fault that Papa died. And it was a long time ago.” She put the backpack on and grabbed her bag, turning to watch her. “I am a Rice. Good or bad, I am meant to make a difference. Maybe I haven’t always done it the right way, but I have helped people. I just wish you could see it the way I do.” She walked to her, giving her a hug, closing her eyes tightly. “I love you. Goodbye.” She pulled back and walked away, jaw clenched tight to stop the tears.
Place:San Franscisco, Earth, Sol System
Year:2386
Blame the whiskey on the beer
Blame the beer on the whiskey
Blame the mornin' on the night
For whose lyin' here with me
Blame the bar for the band
Blame the band for the song
Blame the song for the party that went all night long - Brothers Osborne, ‘It Ain’t My Fault’
“Please Sir, may I have some beverage?” Aria fluttered her lashes at the barkeep, who rolled his eyes before refilling her glass. Aria giggled with glee and tapped her fingers in a fast thumb against the bar, then picked up the glass and knocked back the contents.
“What about him?” the Orion cadet next to Aria asked, her dark green hair falling over her shoulders, caressing her skin. Like her fellow cadet, she was in her party outfit, in this case a little black dress.
Aria put down her shotglass, looking over at the man watching them with a smile. He waved at them, and Aria turned her face away. “Noo…no, when God was handing out brains, he took a second you-know-what,” she said, bluntly, before she grimaced. “Besides, he went bow-chica-bow-wow with Em in Medical last week. Broke her little heart into itty bitty pieces.”
“Oh…” Nava sighed, shaking her head before she leant on her elbow against the bar. “You know everything about everyone, Aria. I mean, maybe I should like slow down, take it nice and easy and keep my own bed warm with myself…maybe read some self-help PADDs.”
Aria looked at her, her eyes widening at that. “Hello, wonder-snatch…have we met?” she motioned between them before laughing when the woman hit her shoulder. “Owie! Anyway, we can find you some darn handsome man-meat here…” she looked around, noticing the two men at a table. The dark haired kept looking over at them, checking Nava out, the tall curly-haired one just kept on the conversation. Alright, so Nava had a handsome man there checking her out, but most likely kept being seated out of some friendship stuff. She could relate. But if she had to hear Nava go on for another evening about the lack of bed-action, Aria might snap and improvise a weapon out of stuffed toys. And Mister Snuffles would really hate being shoved down someone’s throat. “I gots this,” she pushed herself off the barstool, taking a deep breath. She loved her boots, all high heeled to give her a few more inches. The tight, tight trousers and the corseted top were part of her party-outfit. As were the streaks in her hair, green today. She tugged her fingerless gloves before she winked at Nava.
She walked over to the table, leaning forward, her hands planted flat on the surface. “Alright, listen…” she said, managing to keep her voice even despite the tequila. Proper alcohol too here, not synthahol. This place was an open secret at the Academy, where officers turned a blind eye to what the Cadets did as long as no one got hurt. She had to respect that. “My friend over there, Nava, she’s like…all types of amazing and smart. And I had to twist her arm to come out…” she looked at the dark-haired man, looking into his eyes. “But I don’t think she is enjoying my company as much as she would yours, you know?”
“I…” he swallowed, looking at Aria nervously and then back at the Orion who was currently eating an olive. “I mean, you think she’d…talk to me?”
“Totally,” Aria said and pushed herself up. “She’d talk to you. And you know, she could really need a sweet, sweet guy taking an interest. Just…” she sighed dramatically. “Like, she is ever so sweet. And on my babushka’s grave, she has a heart of gold. Go and talk to her, strike up a conversation…ask about her, don’t make assumptions based on her heritage.”
He looked at Aria before over at his friend, before he got up and walked over. Aria smirked, reaching for the now abandoned glass, lifting it to sniff before she grimaced and put it down. “Want a drink?” the curly-hair man asked, watching her with an easy smile.
Aria looked at him before she slid into the chair, watching him. “Your friend, he a good guy? Not going to break my friend’s heart?” she demanded as she stretched her legs out and then positively curled up in the chair to watch him.
He looked over at the bar, where Nava had started talking to the man. “Harry? No, no he is a good guy. A bit of a fumbling mess sometimes, but a steady guy. Won’t hurt her, might just fall in love and marry her,” he said, before he leant closer to her. “Somehow, I don’t think you’re a local.”
She watched him, before she motioned for a drink from the bar. “I’m not. I’m an Aria, we come from the stars and just visit down here to spread good cheer and bad ideas. I’m like a bad idea bear,” she said, watching him for a long moment. “You got a name? A rap sheet? More replicated leather in your wardrobe?”
He laughed quietly, looking down at his outfit. “I’m Aleksei,” he said, shaking his head. “And you somehow disapprove of my outfit there, Aria?” he asked, taking his beer to take a sip.
“No, not disapproving. I sort of like the fetish noir look,” she waved her hand over him, her eyes shining as her drink arrived. She took it, sipping it as she watched him. “Besides, we all got different styles, Aleksei.”
Aleksei nodded, watching her for a long moment. “I’m a professor. 20th and 21st Century history and culture. So…I like the old look.”
“Shut up!” Aria laughed, her eyes wide. “Is that even a job? I love 21st Century! I mean, there’s this whole subculture that gets inspiration for it. It’s where I replicated these boots from,” she swung her legs, to show him.
Aleksei smiled, watching with appreciation. “I can see the influence,” he said, thoughtfully. He looked over at Harry and Nava at the bar. “So are you the distraction? Making sure he doesn’t feel guilty of ditching me for your friend?”
Aria gave him a friendly smile. “A good wingman does all they need to ensure that all parties are happy,” she said lightly, knocking her drink back. “And Nava, she deserves it. Also, she needs this. Tough exams and all that.”
“And what do you need?” Aleksei asked, leaning closer, his hand touching her boot, studying her. “Aria?”
She looked at him, surprised, taking a deeper breath before she chuckled. “Oh, I’m not looking for a hook up. I am strictly here on sidekick business…and watchdog. And making sure that everyone plays safely. Besides, some of us have to work harder than others to, you know…graduate.”
“Hm,” he nodded, sipping his beer for a moment before he shook his head. “Why? Why can’t you be the hero of this story?”
She thought about it before she reached to pat his hand. “Because, my handsome new friend…I just don’t do that. I know my limits, and trust me, hitting the fun and games and all that is not really what I am about. I got enough going on.”
“Won’t you have any regrets?” Aleksei asked, his voice deep as he held her eyes, searching them for a long moment.
“Regret is for suckers,” Aria countered, shaking her head as she stretched out in her seat. “Me, I am just living my life right now.”
[TBC]
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