Here's the next chapter of Little Girl Lost. All the stuff is under the cut. unbeta'd so all the grammar, spelling and other errors are my own.

Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made.

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A/N: Yet another plot bunny that hit me when I should be writing my other stuff. I can't help it. I get to a point where I'm struggling with one of my plot lines and another will rear it's head. This is an Alternate Universe story.

What would have happened if River hadn't attended the Academy. This is my idea.

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Little Girl Lost

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Chapter Two

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River boarded the ferry and looked around. The ship was packed with travelers. Even on a prosperous core world like Osiris, there were people who were less than wealthy. No one actually called them poor. But they were.

Most were young families and some, like her were young people trying to get away. Creating a new life, somewhere else.

Pausing on the promenade deck, River felt the rumble of the ship's engines increase. An overhead call on the public address system informed everyone that the ship was lifting in one minute and passengers and crew should prepare for takeoff.

River quickly found an open seat near the view port. Settling her luggage at her feet.

In short order, the engine's tempo increased and slowly, the transport lifted into the early morning, sunshine.

The vibration began to build as the vessel increased speed. Gaining altitude, the sky began to darken and with a last lurch, the ship broke atmo and found itself in the black.

Upon the PA call that it was okay to move about again. River made her way towards the small cabin she had been assigned.

Reaching the assigned cabin, River swiped her key card and the locked beeped as it released the latch. She slid the panel open.

“Who are you?” said a blonde haired older woman who was busily unpacking.

River froze. She hadn't expected to be assigned a roommate for the voyage, “I'm River... River Simmons.”

The woman look