But yesterday they had left the system and were readying to begin warp flight to distant space. This was something they had all been anticipating. They had taken onboard their full crew, tested all the ships systems. Yet one more thing remained before they could set off on their voyage. The ships shuttle craft. 

"The damned thing is smaller then my horse back in Camelot" Alexandra protested, before quickly remembering her rank and adding "...Captain". Kim chose to ignore Her momentary lack of protocol. "I understand your concerns Alexandra, however we have to test it sometime and I would rather do so before we leave all support behind".

"Captain, ensign Lovejoy reporting for duty". Kim turned with a smile. The young Ensign had graduated from Blackthorn Academy only a few months ago and yet already she was joining them to leave the system. "Welcome to the Wish-seeker ensign. I'm sorry that I hadn't been able to greet you earlier".

She kept a super straight back and shook her head "quite alright sir. What time will we be taking off" she nodded to the shuttle. Kim glanced to it "in two hours ensign. Ensure the shuttle is prepped and ready for take off. If you need anything, Alexandra here will assist you". As the captain left the room Alexandra offered her hand "you can call me Alexandra, what should I call you?" The ensign visibly relaxed taking her hand "my name is Fizzy. Fizzy Lovejoy".

Two hours later...

"This is the bridge to main shuttle bay" came the voice of commander Sarina Lee, second in command and brother to Kim. "The bay doors are now opened and you are set to depart. There is a small asteroid field nearby, one of them fairly large. You should be able to test land and return. I'm sending co-ordinates". 

Inside the shuttle, Fizzy sat in close proximity to her new captain. The cramped space of the shuttles cockpit was in contrast to the Wish-Seekers spacious environment. "With all due respect captain, why do we even need this shuttle? We have matter transporters that can beam us to a planets surface".

Kim lifted back the controls of the shuttle, raising it from the shuttle bay floor and guiding it out through the bay doors. "Transporters are highly experimental. This isn't a magical mode of transport like the Kiera Bridge or the Mirrors used by the Hattress back in Camelot. It's science and machinery. It can break or malfunction". He turned with a smile "besides Ensign Fizzy, half the fun is in the journey".

Back on board the Wish-Seeker, Sarina Lee glanced over the transfer files of Ensign Fizzy Lovejoy. Her face contorted into concern she accessed her computer systems. "Computer, put me through to this number" she requested typing in a code. After a few rings the screen flickered to life with the face of a young man, rubbing his eyes.

"Sorry if I woke you sir" she added quickly.

The young man smiled "I don't even have an official rank yet Sarina, I think it's okay just to call me Cal".

The shuttle circled around the asteroid belt looking to find one large enough to land on. The look of excitement on Kim's face was clear. "So Ensign Fizzy, what made you request to come onboard the Wish-Seeker? I know we are the first ship out here but I have seen some of the other ships that will be looking for crews soon. Some with people you would know very well".

She winced a little but kept her composure. "I wished to make new friends and new opportunities". She pointed to a large asteroid on the scanner "there is one captain". 

Kim nodded and instigated automatic landing. The craft silently but with a physical 'thud' landed. He turned towards her "are you sure your not running away rather than towards?" She seemed more unsettled and fidgety. 

"I read your file Fizzy. It was only a few months ago you discovered that Mizzy Temp'elar was your sister. That Vena who helped our enemies was your mother, resurrected. If I was you I could understand the need to run away, all the way out of the solar system". He looked towards her as she burst into tears.

Calcifer mulled over the question. "If your asking my opinion I think she is a great girl. A lot like Mizzy herself but a little more... Erratic"

Sarina Lee didn't look comforted "no offence Cal but our dear Mizzy is pretty erratic herself! Her sister seems to be a lot less stable from these records and whilst she has clearly buried herself in her studies to pass as Ensign level so quickly but finding out that she had lived alone for so long whilst her sister she didn't even remember was living in our estate. Not to mention that her mother was a zombie that died all over again in the recent war..."

Cal nodded "I know what your saying. Look, I haven't got any position in this fleet yet. But your asking me because I'm family..." He sighed "she is a good kid. But she couldn't make peace with Mizzy. She wanted to escape. But that isn't your problem. I'll tell dad to expect a call from you. We can have her returned and relocated to a ship that won't be so isolated".

The shuttle sat silently in the dead emptiness of space. Inside however Fizzy sat on the floor curled up in a ball and trembling in tears. "Your right Captain I'm a coward! It's no wonder I was left to rot on the streets". He sat with his arm around her.

"Mizzy was being a hero while I lived a stupid fantasy life pretending not to hate what a waste of space I have become!" She bashed her head against the wall of the shuttle in frustration.

"Look Ensign..." Kim went to speak but suddenly the craft shifted, twisting over. From the shelf behind a steel crate fell smashing into the back of Kim's  head. He fell to the floor fading out if consciousness.

"Oh god no, what have I done" Fizzy screamed rubbing the back of her head. "Oh god I did this!" She reached down trying to revive him.

Kim groggily opened his eyes "you have to fly us back..." He fainted.

She ran to the controls "shuttle pod to Wish-Seeker" yet nothing but static.

"Computer, can we use automatic pilot?"

The systems computer announced in its emotionless voice "negative: autopilot down".

She burst out into tears. "I come all this way and I'm still a failure! And now I'm going to get Kim killed". She looked out of the window as space spun around her. In the distance she could see Free World. Technically her home and yet she had never really had a home.   

She felt hopelessness fill her. She banged her fists on the computer system which started flicking through various files. Slowly the damaged system stuttered between two files. Her eyes widened. One was the Wish-Seeker itself. The other she could hardly believe. It was Vena Lovejoy. Her mother. The two images blurred into one and she whispered to herself "...home". She took the controls in her hands, a look of determination in her face. And pulled.

Onboard the Wish-Seeker the crew scanned the area in desperation. The couldn't locate the crafts beacon, let alone transport the two back. They had been overdue by an hour and Lt. Sarina-Lee was concerned. 

"Lieutenant, we have the craft on scanners. It's coming in at a break neck speed it's auto pilot must be down from the hit". Sarina nodded to the officer and turned back to him "beam them both to the bridge then tractor the shuttle on board for repairs.

Later, medical bay.

"Ensign Lovejoy, thank you for your courage. You saved the captain and this mission with your bravery piloting the shuttle through an asteroid belt unaided".

Fizzy barely made eye contact with Sarina-Lee as she spoke. Then finally she whispered: "it was my fault. I banged my head and the shuttle..."

"The shuttle was hit by another asteroid. Whatever happened onboard had nothing to do with it". Fizzy's eyes lit up with relief. 

Kim slowly sat up smiling "seems you got us both home eh Ensign?" He nodded "good work".

Fizzy smiled and whispered to herself "home..."

Across the room a beeping signalled a call from Free World. Sarina answered it seeing the face of Seven. "Hello Sarina, it's good to see you. Cal told me you had something to report?"

Sarina glanced over to Fizzy, smiling as she tended to her captain. "Yes sir just to report... The test flight was a success. I think the shuttle craft will be right at home"

The End.