Once Upon A Night’s Sky

Dawn Harrison pulled the material of her fur hood further into her cheeks as she tried to place her face from view. She had never had this problem before. She was good at staying in the background blending into the crowd, it had been her job. For as long as she could remember she had been taught to stand on the sidelines, to be the elegant daughter of her father. No more than a decorative object, she was never to voice her opinion, too talk. It was a role she had played well. Not anymore. She had never wanted nor accepted the life her father or mother had created for her. It was time for Dawn Harrison to step out of the shadows.

She stood at a good distance from the shuttle the rows of photographers clearly in her line of view. They were waiting for her. No one had ever just wanted Dawn’s photo, Dawn’s opinion. The only time anyone took notice of Dawn was if her farther was somehow included. Dawn supposed they expected her father to show today. To see his only daughter, only child off to the skies, but he hadn’t come. The country was too busy to spare a few minutes with the daughter he had never taken notice off till little under a month ago. Her mother well she was still in grieving for the only child she had ever really loved, her son. Dawn hadn’t wanted them to see her off anyway. They had never been her family. No, the only one who had ever cared for her growing up, who had treated Dawn like an equally had been her brother. Yet he was no longer here.

Her father Edward Harrison had always made a point in his campaigns as prime minister that he could relate to his country. Though he may have been the second youngest in his family and as a result never taken to the sky he had a son who would in time would do the exact opposite. His son would proudly take to the skies to fight for their country, for their worlds rights for freedom. Her father shared their pain, their fear he understood their emotion.

“He just couldn’t understand his own sons” Dawn thought bitterly

Joshua Harrison had always been the prefect son. Smart, strong, polite, he was a born leader, the perfect package. In their father’s eyes there had been no doubt that Joshua would grow up to become the captain of his team, to become a leader. Joshua had never wanted that life, just as Dawn had never wanted hers.

As twins there hadn’t been many things they did not share, but the love of their parents had been one of the biggest. Dawn had grown to expect her fate, Josh never had. In public he may have refused to speak a bad word against his father but with dawn he had been free to voice his views, his fears. Together the pair had always shared the freedom of speech, of trust. They had always been each other’s venting system and now Dawn wondered just how she was to cope.

As part of the second wealthy family in all of England Dawn had always longed to make a difference with her life, for as long as she could remember she had wanted to become a doctor. For a while her mother had let Dawn live in this fantasy, allowing her to attend private lessons with professional tutors. Yet Dawn had always lived under the forever changing hands of her mother, she had never had any control, not till a month ago. Joshua’s death had changed everything. Edward Harrison’s son would no longer be taking to the skies but his daughter was.

The last month had been the most hectic and eventful of Dawn’s life. With no objection from her controlling mother or father Dawn had been free to do what she had always longed for. She couldn’t think of a better place to make a difference. Managing to complete her studies Dawn had graduated with a doctorial of three years. She was nowhere near qualified to become a doctor but she knew she had enough knowledge to become a medic to the skies. Away from the judgmental eyes of her father, her mother, of the world, she could finally be herself.

Dawn had been in Victoria station for a few hours, standing in the shadows watching one by one as her follow recruits drifted towards their shared shuttle. She had watched them with eager eyes. They were all so very real, so very common. She couldn’t help but smile. Dawn had never met anyone remotely real. The only interaction she had ever had with society was at events her father had requested her present at. No one in attendance had ever been real. They had been all too beautiful, confident, friendly, and too fake.

Dawn closed her eyes for a brief moment as she took a step out of her hidden position into the open air. Tilting her suitcase onto its wheels she pulled it along softly. Her stomach clenching as her excitement collided with nerves. This was really it. Joshua had finally brought Dawn the escape he had always promised he would. She couldn’t help but let a small smile grace her nude lips as she through the fur of her hood back baring it across her shoulders. Shaking her fiery curls from where they had been pressed against her cheeks Dawn opened her green eyes brightly. She walked profoundly towards the gate as the reporters stirred hungrily. If it was one place Dawn had confidence it was before a camera.

“Miss Harrison!”

“Dawn!”

“Where is your father, mother?”

“How are you feeling in the light of your brothers resent death?”

Smiling tightly Dawn turned towards the reporters gracing them with a polite tilt of her head before handing her ticket to the extremely nervous female recruit stood before her gate. They couldn’t take this from her, Josh had set her free. This was the last time Dawn would be behind the camera as her father’s silent porcelain doll.

“I hope you will find the fight satisfactory Miss,” The older women stuttered, handing back her ticket with shaking fingertips. Dawn watched the women like she did with every other she encountered. Why were they always so nerves around her? Her father yes, Dawn no. They had nothing to fear from dawn, she felt more nervous than they ever could. Nodding warmly to the older women Dawn took one last glance at the flashing cameras, noting another male recruit approaching their gate before she took off on the long walk towards their shuttle.

With each step she took her excitement seemed to build. She could only imagine what her life could have been like if she had not grown up in the shadow of her family name, her father. That once dream was now within her reach and as much as she knew there was always the chance she would never make it back those few moments of freedom would always be worth it. Dawn understood Joshua’s choice even if no one else ever would. She now had the freedom he had sorted and Dawn knew she would never give this feeling up. Joining the skies was no burden for her like she knew it must be for most. For Dawn it was a choice, it was her saviour.

As much as the excitement was buzzing through her blood causing a continuous smile to grace her lips, Dawn still faltered as she neared the shuttle. From afar its size looked average but up close it was almost over bearing. It was as tall as an average house and the width of two. If this was just a recruitment ship bringing soldiers back and forth Dawn could not begin to imagine what their ship would look like when her team had finished training.

The ship before her was completely white from the front of its cockpit to its rear end where the powerful boosters were placed. On its tail the flag of Briton proudly marked it recruits country. As much as the world had reunited it still had it boarders. No one wanted to lose their country and to do this they had save their world. It was selfish logic.

As dawn approached the shuttle’s doors an official looking officer stepped out in greeting.

“Your father sends his apologies that he could not be here, he wishes you a safe flight” Dawn gave the officer a guarded smile as she titled her chin in recognition of his statement. Her father would say anything to keep up appearances. “If you leave your bag here it will be loaded onto the shuttle, please take a seat as we wait for the last three recruits to arrive” he instructed as his left arm reached out in the direction of the shuttles boarding steps. Dawn immediately stepped forward her fingertips tightly griping the cool railing as she ascended.

Walking through the door Dawn entered what seemed to be the staff area. To her left she could clearly see the pilot’s cabin marked off hidden from view towards the front of the ship. Smiling politely to a member of staff who had watched her enter cautiously she came to a hesitant pause. The young girl returned Dawn’s greeting before directing her right with a nervous flick of her wrist. Walking further into the shuttle Dawn noted that it had been painted a calming cream, decorated with colours all of a soothing nature, everything she supposed this moment wasn’t for most. Shaking her head letting her curls flutter once more Dawn continued to approach the doorway of the passenger area. As she neared she took in the sight of deep brown of seats lining its walls.

Three sets of eyes looked up at her entrance. Dawn had no idea if they recognised her. She supposed it depend if they kept up to date with politics. If they didn’t ask she wouldn’t tell. Dawn wanted to have a fresh start here if she could.

There was ten seats altogether, five either side. In the first seat on the other side of the shuttle sat a boy with hair the colour of light coffee. He wore a confident smirk as his dark eyes followed Dawn’s movements. He wore old tattered jeans and a heavy leather jacket. Yet even these couldn’t hide the strength of his figure beneath. Dawn swallowed thickly as she passed. Before today Dawn would have avoided anyone remotely like him at any chance. He scream trouble he screamed the streets. He screamed it proudly. She had never met anyone proud of growing up on the streets. It had always been part of her father’s campaign. The streets got you nowhere had been what her father had always said, clearly this boy thought otherwise. Dawn tore her eyes from his slouching form as she continued to make her way into the long room.

A few seats down from the first boy sat another. Taller than the first he smiled at Dawn politely. His long fingertips fixed the woollen of his hat as he swept the locks of his blonde hair from before his cloudy blue eyes before looking back down towards his lap in silent thought once more. Dawn at once fell calm within this boy’s presence away from the eyes of the first. Steadily she took a seat across from the two boys beside the shuttles last present recruit. She had always felt more comfortable around female company then male, not including Joshua of course.

The young girl smiled at Dawn comfortingly, her blue eyes pricing through Dawn’s before turning to face straight ahead once more. Unlike the first boy this girl looked far from confident. Though she had masked her face with a smile the taping of her fingertips against her dark jeans gave away her real emotions. Over time Dawn had become good at reading people. Years of just standing quietly in the background, watching had taught her some things. Never trust the emotion someone shows upon their facial features, it was all about their body language. People speak more with their body then they ever do in words.

Footsteps from the entrance brought Dawn and the rest of her fellow recruits gazes towards the door they had all at one point entered to be met with the sight of two other male recruits. The first had a mix of chocolate hair which swept perfectly across his ocean eyes framing them for the piece of mesmerising art work they were. Dawn felt her mouth dry as she watched him take in the free seats before him, hesitating for a moment, his taunt figure pausing slightly before he strode confidently towards the free seat opposite her. Catching his eyes as he sat Dawn gave him a soft smile in which he returned her a polite nod. He really was quite beautiful. Yet Dawn had grown up with beauty, she knew its distaste, its coldness, she doubted this boy could change her views.

The sound of movement by her feet sent Dawn’s eyes tearing away from the boy before her to another settling into the seat beside hers. Taking in his dark raven hair Dawn froze as she met his gaze. Dark eyes clashing against panicking green. He knew, it was clear behind his knowing eyes, he knew who Dawn was or at least who her father was. If any of the others had noticed she had been oblivious to their recognition but with this boy it was painfully clear. She prayed he wouldn’t ask, they always asked. Instead he watched Dawn silently heated anger filling his eyes as a tight line spread across his lips. Suddenly his eyes snapped, tearing from hers as he turned his heated gaze towards the entrance. Dawn felt her lips part in astonishment as breath rushed back to her lungs. This boy knew who she was yet he hadn’t stumbled on his word, he hadn’t become flustered, he hadn't been filled with nerves. In fact this boy had been angered at her present. This boy was someone who wasn’t scared by the name of her father, frightened by his power.

Adrenaline rushed through Dawn filling her with a sense of power, a sense of hope. She had finally found someone who just may have hated her father as much as she did and yet he seemed to despise of her just as much.