“There are times when I believe I am a stranger to myself.” Sori murmured, dutifully swabbing the dishes with the smelly dish towel. She hated dishes. Hated having to work for people she knew nothing about. And hated being left at the mercy of herself.

A stream of angry words floated out from the dining room, wincing, she gently set the heavy bowl down and yelled back a reply of her own. She was hitch-hiking, sort of. She would find an odd job and work for a few days, then collect her dues and buy a ticket to the next station, and perhaps a few necessities. Not exactly the most efficient way to travel, but Sori didn’t exactly have much of a chance.

She’d been happily completing finals at the prestigious international academy when the school master had received notice of her father having died. Leaving her, classically with nothing, and having been several payments behind in supporting her. The kindly headmaster had allowed her to graduate, paying for her expenses himself, then wishing her luck in future endeavours.

An old duffel, and a half-sheet of paper were the only things left to her name. The duffel belonging to her father-and the paper, strangely enough, belonging to her mother. It was a small, crudely drawn map, outlining the systems with a path marked carefully along it. The map itself being quite old, as several new planets and stations had been added and discovered.

Despite that, Sori felt drawn to finish the journey. At one point there was a tiny message scribbled, reading: “stopped here. Cannot continue.” Well, she would just have to finish the trip-on her own. Maybe there was a fortune on the other end.

She snickered, hefting up the last of the dishes and shoving them into the empty cupboard. That would be a joke.