"What is the job of a first mate?"
She starts in an almost casual tone, as if repeating the question to herself for the hundredth time, but there's a spark in her eyes that reveals the depth of her feelings.
"To take care of the crew when the captain is unavailable? To calm the crew when it seems like the captain has lost their mind? To protect the weaker members of the crew?"
She pauses, crossing her arms and tilting her head slightly to the side.
"All of those answers are correct, but for me, it's always been so much more than that. Itâs always been⊠personal."
Rougeâs eyes, normally filled with sharp confidence, soften as she lets the past rise to the surface of her mind.
"I guess it all started right after I was released from the capsule. I didnât fully understand what I was⊠or what my purpose was. All I knew back then was that I was called by a number: 396. They said I was in 'good condition,' whatever that meant to them. It didnât mean anything to me."
She sighs lightly, remembering the cold and calculated words of the scientists and guards.
"Right after they put me in a gray gown, they led me to another room. Inside that room, there was a girl. She had long hair that fell halfway down her back, and eyes that seemed⊠beautiful. Faded pink, I thought. And she had a smileâone of those soft, delicate smiles that didnât fit in that cold, sterile place."
Rouge rubs her chin, thoughtful, as if trying to recapture the exact feeling of that moment.
"They were probably seeing if weâd attack each other, testing our reactions. Because fear and aggression were what they expected from us. And for a while, we just stood there, staring at each other, not knowing what the other was. I didnât know what to say, but⊠somehow, I felt the need to break the silence. Maybe it was stupidity, or just curiosity."
She gives a slight smile, which quickly fades.
"I looked at her directly and said, âYour eyes are pretty, you know? Like a faded pink flower.â Her expression changed immediately. I think she was surprised. But to me, it was just the truth. Thatâs when everything⊠fell apart."
Rouge closes her eyes for a moment, the pain of old memories still fresh.
"Because her eyes werenât pink. They were golden. A bright, noble gold, like the shine of a coin. And I couldnât see it. And they noticed. Right after they put me back in the cell, I was dragged into another round of needles and chemicals. They wanted to know what was 'wrong' with me. Color blindness. A defect⊠an imperfection, to them."
Her voice takes on a bitter tone, but her expression softens.
"After that, they isolated me even more, like I was a problem they wanted to get rid of. One night, after another long day of silence and solitude, I heard footsteps outside. They werenât from anyone I knew. The guards walked with more force, the scientists with disdain. But these steps⊠were calm, almost hesitant."
Rouge looks upward, as if watching the scene play out in front of her again.
"And there she was. The same girl from before. The girl with the golden eyes. She had a small plate in her hands, with something simpleâjust enough to keep me from getting sick. She knelt down and placed the plate on the floor outside my door, without saying a word."
Rouge shakes her head slowly, as if she still canât believe what happened next.
"But what really stuck with me was what she did after. She sat down outside my cell. Closed her eyes and stayed there, in silence, for hours. She didnât look at me, didnât say anything. But she⊠stayed. And I donât know why, but that meant everything to me."
She laughs softly, the sound empty of humor, almost sad.
"That was the first step. Who wouldâve thought that, in the future, my loyalty would belong entirely to her, right? Back then, I didnât have a name. I didnât know what it meant to fight for someone⊠but she showed me what it meant to be more than just a number."
Her gaze shifts to the present, her usual sternness returning, but with a glint of genuine emotion.
"And here we are, after all this time. I still follow her, even when she throws herself into battle like she has nothing to lose. I take care of her, because⊠who else would? Who else would stop the great Dråcule Haruna from destroying herself before reaching the next port?"
She tilts her head, her smile now edged with a hint of challenge.
"I know sheâs strong. I know she doesnât need me the way I needed her. But even so, from that moment she simply⊠stayed with me, I decided that, no matter what happens, Iâll never leave her alone."
Rouge takes a step forward, as if reaffirming her silent vow.
"Because for me, being a first mate was never just about taking care of the crew or protecting the ship. Itâs about ensuring that the heart of this shipâthe person who gave me a sense of purpose, a dream, and a reasonânever loses sight of who she truly is. I was the first to follow her, and if necessary, Iâll be the last to fall beside her."
She lifts her chin, her eyes blazing with intensity.
"So, keep giving me work, Haruna. You might not need to admit it, but I know⊠I know that without me, youâd lose much more than the next battle."
" And finally after so long I met my parents and got a name, a real name. Nice to meet you readers, my name is... Backman D. Rouge in honor of my grandmother"
