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"Mother," said Alessandra "I' with you"

"Yes you are"

"I'm sixteen," said Alessandra "The law says I can decide for myself whether to join a colony"

"Nonsense"

"It's true Valentine Wiggin joined this colony when she was only fifteen Her parents didn't want her to, but she did it"

"Is that the lie she told you? It may seem romantic and brave, but you'll just be lonely all the time"

"Mother," said Alessandra "I'm lonely all the time anyway"

Mother recoiled frorateful little brat," she said "I'm with you You're never lonely"

"I'm always lonely," said Alessandra "And you're never withchild And that's not me"

Alessandra turned away and headed back down the ramp

She heard Mother's footsteps No, she felt thehtly under the impact of her feet

Then she felt Mother shove her from behind, a brutal shove that threw her completely off balance "Go, then, you little bitch!" Mother screamed

Alessandra struggled to get her feet under her, but her upper body wasfar faster than her feet couldso steep, she was going to hit so hard and her hands wouldn't be able to hold her up--

All of those thoughts in a split second, and then she felt her ar the raain and it wasn't Mother who caught her, Mother was still a few steps ahere she had been when she shoved her This was Ensign Akbar, and his face looked so concerned, so kind

"Are you all right?" he said, once he had her standing up