Page 17
She looked up. “Do you know what happened to the people remaining?”
“They were offered a chance to leave. Those who didn’t probably thought a deity was coming for them. That is a common response. Archaeologists are being scheduled for five hundred years from pickup day. They will annotate the fall of those who remained and celebrate those who left and survived.”
Aya listened to him speak and smiled. “I wonder what humans will be like by then.”
She tore her gaze away from the sky and walked around the display space. “Do the crew come up here often?” She looked at every colour, every span, and every clump of ice and rock skating through space.
“Not often. They are used to it.”
“How could you get used to this?”
She could hear the smile in his voice. “You just do.”
“I don’t think I could ever get tired of it. There is so much peace and ferocity moving together all at once.”
He touched both of her shoulders. “I am glad you can see it. Too many just see the beauty. There is horror and pain in those stars.”
“There is also joy and birth and rebirth, curiosity and discovery. Light makes the shadows. Nothing grows in darkness.”
“That is not true. I can show you what grows in darkness. Beauty has its place in darkness. It is just more difficult to see.” He pulled her back against him as they looked around together. “Beautiful predators are universal.”
“Right. Makes sense.” She leaned back and let him support her as she took it all in.
She didn’t know how long she had stared, but eventually, the protective shielding snugged back into place over the dome.
She exhaled. “No more?”
“No. Another day. The next time this opens, there will be new stars, new constellations, and new systems for you to enjoy.”
“Why not now?”
“You have taken in a lot of radiation today, and that is enough.” He chuckled. “Besides, it is time for your final meal today.”
“Wait. What?”
He chuckled. “You have been stargazing for six hours. Your body needs to remain on a schedule.”
“Why?”
“Because I have learned that recovering beings need structure. Structure is important to recovery.” He said it as if he had been taught it by someone with a short temper.
She slowly turned in his arms. “Okay. Food now?”
He stared at her and nodded. Rubbing her arms. She wanted to melt into him. She had missed the feeling of another body against hers. Only her fingertips had been in contact with another living being for the last four years.
“You are very tense.”
“I haven’t really been touched by anyone in a few years. I have missed it.” She shrugged. “My species is intensely social. The lack of contact was torture.”
He sounded angry. “No contact?”
“No. None. Even the medical exams were done with scanners. No contact.”
He hugged her. “I am very irritated.”
“You hug when irritated?”
“Apparently. Right. Food for you.”
