Dark Matter

19

 Seven and the crew are all gathered in the mess, going over the supplies they gathered from the space station they just departed from. Five and Seven had gone together... she would have gone with Six, but ever since he came back, he's been different. As Seven waits, she sits on the table, part of her can't believe the rest of the crew don't realize what's missing. She's waiting until they do.

"Ok, let's go over the new supplies." Two turns to Five, "Did you and Seven find the part you were looking for?"

"They didn't have a compatible regenerator assembly, so I thought we might go with these lithium oxide canisters instead," Five replies, showing Two the canisters.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes... Also, I got these welding goggles," Five says pulling the goggles from her head over her eyes. "That are both practical and cool."

"If you say so."

Seven smiles, and giggles slightly. The goggles do look funny on Five, but like she said, they're both practical and cool. Five and Seven share a look, and Two continues with the supply check. Seven spaces out as she thinks of Four, but quickly pays attention to the conversation happening when the crew finally realize what's missing.

"Four where are you?" Two asks over comms.

Soon everyone gets up from their places and heads out to find him. They check his room, the training room, everywhere and anywhere they could think of. When they can't find him, the go to the bridge. Through out this search, Two would periodically steal glances at Seven to see if she knows anything, or shows signs of knowing where he is. Each time she's look at her, Seven would just smile. 

Now, they are all gathered in on the bridge. 

"Most of the time, he just blends into the background. You don't notice him until he speaks up or takes the last of the carrots. Maybe next time we should implement some sort of buddy system," One says out loud.

"It wasn't an oversight. I remember him coming back from the station," Two says.

"So do I," Six agrees. "He was here."

"Well he's not anymore unless he's hiding somewhere," Three says crossing his arms.

"Why would he be hiding?" One asks Three, as if it was the stupidest thing he could have said.

"Well, sometimes I hide in the vents when I need a place to think," Five says coming to Four's defense.

Then the Android speaks, "I'm tracking the location of his comm." There is a buzzing noise before the computer screen reveals his location. "It's here."

"Onboard the ship?" Two clarifies.

"On the bridge," the Android replies.

For a few moments everyone stops and looks around. Five looks over at the console Seven is sitting on. She looks over and quickly sees his comm. Seven smiles warmly at her, knowing it was there the whole time. Five picks it up, "Found it!"

"He left his comm, he packed up his gear. Guys, I think it's pretty obvious, he wanted us to leave without him," Six tells them.

"But why, he seemed happy here," Five asks.

"He seemed nothing," Three says. "That guy was harder to read than that book he gave me."

"That book is a classic," One says, getting off topic.

"Whatever. The pig's a wimp and that spider's a know-it-all."

"We should go back for him," Two says, looking at the remaining members of the crew.