“This time I’ll order food myself,” said the young man taking a seat. His hand swiped the sensor panel making a holographic menu appear over the table.
“Now choosing as if touching the names of the desired dishes…”
Derek was precisely repeating the instructions given by Lora during their first lunch together.
The young lady nodded contentedly when her companion easily completed the set task. After a few seconds, the central part of the table moved apart and two metal holders lifted a tray with two white food containers.
“Here you are, help yourself! But what did I choose?” Derek hesitated a little.
“Hm…” with pretentious seriousness Lora peeked under the round lids. “There’s an omelette with meat and an apple pie with raisins.” She moved the containers, which now looked more like plates, closer to her companion. “Here you are.”
“A typical omelette. Where do people keep the chickens that make these eggs?”
“Nowhere,” Lora shrugged, “The majority of the groceries are artificially produced from proteins, fats and carbohydrates…”
Derek was about to swallow a bite. He paused, not sure whether to continue with the meal.
“It’s just named like that!” hastily Lora calmed him down, “The taste, the texture, and nutritional value correspond to those of the natural products. You should be convinced by now!”
The young man finished chewing and gave her a cunning grin.
“Just kidding.”
“We only grow fruit and vegetables. There are several plantations on Titanium.”
“How old are you, Lora?” suddenly asked Derek, moving his glance hidden behind the dark glasses away from the meal to Lora.
“Twenty-two.”
He slightly moved his head away.
“I didn’t mean to ask personal questions… The doctor said the tests have shown that my biological age is about twenty-seven years old. But I don’t remember even one year of my past life. Do you have parents?”
“Of course, I do,” affirmatively nodded Lora. “Unlike eggs, people are born naturally here. My parents live on the Epsilon, one of the five satellite ships of Titanium. They spend most of their time in scientific expeditions. They are astrophysicists. We don’t see each other very often.”
“What about when you were a kid?”
“Parents care for their children until they are five years of age on Titanium. After that the young generation enters the educational programme. There are guides and teachers of different subjects, who pass the knowledge accumulated by the past generations to the young citizens.”
“It must be hard to get separated from your parents at such a young age.”
“Why would you think that?”
“On Earth the bonds between children and parents are unbreakable. They stay together and show their love and affection.”
“I love my parents,” agreed Lora, “And they love me too. Certainly, the strength of our feelings doesn’t depend on distance.
“Are you forced to send your children away?”
“Of course, not!” Lora was shocked, “Everything we do is done of our own free will. We have no laws.”
“No laws…” with more seriousness stated Derek, totally losing his appetite.
“Hello! I see you are having a lively discussion here!” Paul appeared next to their table. “May I?”
“Of course,” nodded the girl. “Derek, this is Paul, the shuttle captain who has brought the rescue unit to Titanium. He was in your ward when you regained consciousness.”
“I remember this voice,” Derek nodded watching Paul greet him with a small bow, his palms together in front of him.
