Standing in front of the full-length mirror, Lieutenant Belle Harper studied her reflection. The creature staring back was a far cry from the caramel beauty she once was. Her skin had a grey-ish hue now instead of the mocha tones she had inherited from her father. Instead of the long straight black locks that had always hung down past her waist, there wasn’t a single hair on her body anywhere. Her chocolate eyes, once sparkling and alive, were replaced with a cold metallic steel grey. Previously she had been rarely seen without her infectious bright smile. This new face had never smiled once.

Belle didn’t give two shits. Trivial matters like appearance no longer mattered.

Leaving her quarters Harper made her way to her XO’s office without the aid of maps or directional beacons. She had the specs memorized. These days information just appeared in her head. She wondered if the XO would know of her history with the Dresden’s captain and Colonel Harris. She doubted it. She doubted whether the pair had even given her a second thought after she had died, let alone talked about her to members of the crew. Abandoned. She told herself.

Having arrived at the office door in a matter of moments, she activated the door chime.

-Lt. Belle Harper, CIO