led to many complications during my childhood. I was weaker than the others in my age group, and I was picked on by those who wanted me to give up. I think they were afraid of me but I'm not sure. It's impossible to know why children do the things they do to each other. Anyway, I was one of three in my family, the oldest with the most to prove, but being the oldest meant I had to be strong for the others. No one wanted to give me any slack. I was the one who took the brunt of the anger from my parents because of my weakness."
"Dale, I know I'm interrupting, but you said you were weak when you were young." She touched his arm. "You aren’t weak, and your mind is strong. What happened to change that?"
Dale let out a sigh, "I got tough. I gave up on being the nice one and I picked on the other kids. Soon, I was the one the others ran to their parents about. My life became one of terror and fear."
"Fear for yourself?"
"No, fear for those around me." He shook his head, "I kept turning and turning, not knowing where to go. And then I heard about the expansion programs: These things that kept popping up all over, claiming to have the technology to colonize the deep space zones and the other planets and moons. I thought to myself: 'This is the only way the others can be free. I must leave, or live with the burden of knowing that every day I hurt more people.' The story after that is best summed up quickly: I joined an expedition to the moons of our most distant planets, finding my place in the darkness and the silence until the day when I was given the chance to reach out and touch that ancient object. The only thing I remember after that was waking up to the unpleasant face of that Robby character."
Seven laughed. "Well, your story definitely has more kick than mine. I was born in a rapid cell replication machine in the space of about thirty seconds. Kudos to you I guess for having a real life."
Dale reached back and took her hand, "It’s not about where you came from that's important. It's what you do with what you've got that makes the difference."
"That's true." Seven said.
Seven stepped back and pretended to brush something off of her shoulder. "I'm done for now Dale, thanks for talking. It means a lot to me." She left.
Dale felt her leave just as suddenly as she'd come. He turned to the dresser and sighed before picking up his spacesuit and shoving it in one of the drawers. He searched the room quickly and went back up to the bridge. Seven was there again, almost as if she'd never left. Her smile was bright when he sat down in the command chair.
"Good news." Seven said. "We're almost home."
Dale shook his head, "Wow that was quick. Does it normally take this much time to travel across the universe?"
"No actually, it usually takes less time, but there are a lot of obstacles in our way."
"I can't wrap my head around that." Dale said. "How much longer will it take from now until we get there?"
"Maybe enough time to eat. Not much longer than that."
"Sounds like a plan." Dale patted his hands against the arm rests. "Seven, there are so many places and things I want to share with you when we get back home. Just think about it: You can see what it's like on the world we're going to raise our children on. Doesn't that make you happy just to think about it?"
Seven's smile was soft. "I'm excited." She thought for a moment. "Do you think we'll be able to make the children?"
Dale frowned, "I'm not sure."
"I know that in truth we're biologically compatible, but there are doubts at the back of my mind that I can't shake. It's eating a hole in me."
"Seven, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Dale asked.
"I didn't want to bother you. You seemed so happy. That was more important to me than my worries."
"Come here." Dale said.
Seven came and sat on his lap.
"Everything is going to be fine." He said, hugging her tightly. Just don't worry too much. If we're supposed to have children we're going to have them. Everything will work out the way it's supposed to."
"Thanks Dale. That means a lot to me." Seven nestled into Dale's chest. Dale kept her close, content not to move her.
After a while, Dale put his hand on the console, wondering where they were. The map came up again, blocking out his view of the table surface. Their ship was slowly making its way through a cluster of stars. Dale looked up. The stars were visible above. He counted three, circling about one another in a ballet that would take millions of years to reach its end. He set his chin on Seven's head before snuffing his face into her hair. She smelled like no one he'd ever known before, almost as if the smell she carried was made just for him. He took a deep breath, content to stay in the warmth of her embrace forever. Her hair was brown, the same color as her eyes, and the reason why he was so taken with her. She was complete in ways no other girl was complete, both in body and in mind. A fresh spurt of love filled his chest, causing him to squeeze her gently. She looked up, her eyes droopy, but her smile just as bright as it had ever been. He kissed her on the forehead.
"So what now, Seven?" Dale asked.
"I need to get back to my seat." She sounded regretful, but she stood up and went to her chair, resuming her intricate fingerings and drawings on the table surface.
Dale sat for a moment, frowning in contemplation. "Seven, do you like warmer climates or colder climates? Which do you prefer?"
"Warmer. There's more chance for me to be confident in myself if I can wear attractive clothing. Brown skin is also something I want. I'm sure that's something you want too."
"That's true. I'm not sure could live a wife who was deathly pale all the time."
Seven laughed. "Well, you'll get your wish if that's what you want."
"Does this mean having a sun tanned skin is attractive to the overseers?"
"I guess so. But, like all things, it depends on who you ask."
Dale nodded and thought some more. "Seven, I think I need to be honest with you."
Seven stopped what she was doing and gave Dale her full attention. "What's in your head right now Dale?"
"I wanted to tell you why I'm so very opposed to having relations before marriage."
Seven looked sympathetic and Dale continued. "I don't want to mess everything up you know? Doing that stuff changes things and I don't know if I could be okay with that. I just don't really know how to love someone either. I cringe at the thought of physical contact with most people and this is no different. Can you help me figure out why these things are the way they are?"
Seven thought for a moment before responding. "Dale, I think what you need is a reminder of what's important. I share what I love with you because I know you can handle it. If you couldn't handle it then I'd be right here to help you through whatever emotional turmoil you might have. Don't worry about the things you've done or may one day do. Instead, choose to remember, and don't forget. These things are more important than worry. They will prepare you for the future, just don't lose sight of what you think and how you feel. If you can do that, you'll always end up where you want to be."
They both waited in silence. Dale's eyes were on the ground, admiring some kind of speck that was slowly moving across the floor. Seven's hands were placed on the console, hunched over, with her eyes set on Dale.
"Seven, you mentioned breakfast earlier?"
"Yeah. You want to go eat something before we land?"
Dale smiled, "That sounds great."
There was a small mess hall just off to the left of the living quarters. A single table sat in the center. The only other defining feature was the wall plate in the back, similar to the console surface on the bridge.
"Just touch that." Seven said, pointing to the square plate on the wall. "The computer will analyze what you're hungry for. It'll dish it out of this slot here."
Dale put his hand against the plate. Nothing seemed to happen.
"Am I supposed to know when it's done?" Dale asked.
"Don't worry, just wait a second. It'll be done in a moment."
Seven put her hand against the plate as well, clos
ing her eyes for a moment in pleasant contemplation.
"Where are you thinking about?" Dale asked.
"I'm thinking about how wonderful it will be to eat my first meal." She opened her eyes and smiled at Dale. "Isn't that something worth being happy about?"
Dale laughed. "Yes, I guess that really is something worth being happy about."
"You really think so? You're not just saying that to agree with me?"
"Yeah, personally I dig food. It's one of my favorite things ever."
"I'm really excited. My memories tell me that food is something really enjoyable. Do you think it will be as good as you say it is?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's just as good as you think it will be. This thing makes the food exactly the way you want it to be, right? I doubt it could mess anything up bad enough to make you hate eating." Dale thought for a moment. "Do you have some kind of alternative to eating? Is that something that exists?"
"Yes, but right now I want to focus on the possibility of eating for the first time."
"Right." Dale conceded. He sat down at the table and set his head down. "How much longer is this going to take? I'm starving right now."
"Just a moment longer." A bowl of warm mush popped out of the table, startling Dale. He eyed it suspiciously before poking it with his finger.
"Is this supposed to make me want to eat it?" Dale asked.
"I'm not sure. I'm probably the wrong person to ask.
"Seven, you practically know everything the universe has to offer. How can you not know if it's supposed to look like this or not?"
"Well, I don't