I slept in the next day. By the time I got to the dining hall, everyone had finished breakfast. It was 9:00 a.m. Sentinel standard time.

I let out a loud yawn.

"Hey Neil!" Aisha called from her spot at the table. "Since you were asleep, no one wanted to bother you, so I ate your breakfast for you!"

"Gee thanks," I grunted. I yawned again. Then, I noticed that Melfina wasn't around here. The dishes were already neatly piled up in a cabinet.

"Thank you too, warden," I muttered to myself. I was sure what the warden said was still fresh in Mel's mind.

I made my way up to her quarters. Then, I knocked.

"Come in."

I walked in to see Mel sitting on her bed with her face resting in her hands, and her elbows resting on her legs. I sat next to her.

"Hey. What's up?" I asked.

Melfina then buried her face in my arm and began to cry softly. I gently pried her off.

"Come on, tell me what's wrong?" I said a touch bit impatient.

"Neil. Please tell me, what am I? Everyone treats me like some cyber-whore or something. The warden, Hazanko, Gene…"

"Gene?"

"Well, one night, I met him while he was in bed, and he wanted to have sex with me, but I refused, and…and…"

A new burst of tears came out.

"And?"

"He..he..yelled at me!"

"Ok. Well, Gene was like that, but Jim told me that you changed him, for the better of course. And the other two are a pair of assholes, so pay no attention to them."

I hugged her lovingly.

"Besides Melfina, I think you are not only very beautiful, but a good friend also." With that, she hugged me right back.

"I love you, Neil. I love Gene too." The sobs have lessened.

As I held her, I wanted to kiss her very much. I had to resist, otherwise that would negate what I said a second ago.

Then, I felt Mel's hand come up to my cheek. It made me jump as if I experienced an electric shock. Then, she kissed me on my mouth. She then held me like that. This was one of those times when I know how much I really love her. I then started stroking her hair. It felt like silk in my hands. She then released and rested her head on my arm.

"Please Neil, stay here. When you're around, I feel like protected."

I then kissed her gently on her forehead.

"Remember Melfina, I love you, Jim loves you, and so did Gene."

"And Harry MacDougall."

"Who's he?"

Melfina then explained that he was another construct. At first, it was just a selfish crush he had, but it turned to bona fide love when he died heroically to stop Hazanko from using her at the Galactic Leyline. Then while he was in a death state, he hacked the Leyline in order to delete the protection program and open the door for Gene to pass through.

"By the way, it appears so that Aisha really liked your eggs and potatoes."

"Oh! Your breakfast!"

"Never mind that. I'm not hungry. Just stay here and relax."

I just hugged her then. No matter what, nothing's harming my Melfina.