Chapter 2: Geordi
"...born completely blind, I heard."
"Is that why he wears that weird thing over his eyes?"
"Should he be going into Starfleet..."
The whispers ended abruptly as a short young man walked by the group's table. He had dark skin, curly short black hair, and indeed, a "weird thing" over his eyes.
"Oh-hey Geordi."
"Hi guys! Mind if I join you?"
The other first-year students exchanged glances.
"Er, someone else is sitting there. Sorry."
"Okay. That's—that's fine."
Geordi sighed as he walked away.
Everywhere I go, this happens. If they aren't teasing me, they're treating me like I'm invisible.
He sighed again. It would be best if he could get out of the cafeteria before-
"Now what is wrong with YOU?"
In front of Geordi stood a tall blond wearing a smirk. Seth Cooper.
The most popular guy in Starfleet Academy.
Great. If HE starts giving me a hard time, then everyone's going to bother me!
"Well..."
"Dumb AND blind? Honestly, what are you doing in the academy? Did their standards fall?"
The people at the surrounding tables snickered. Geordi gritted his teeth and turned to find an empty table, when something caught his eye. A humanoid figure, slight and slim, was walking behind Seth. In Geordi's VISOR, it appeared to be glowing.
What the...? Only machines that glow like that!
Seth turned to see what Geordi was staring at. His grin widened.
"Isn't this pleasant? It's my favorite walking toaster!" Everyone roared with laughter.
"What are you doing in the cafeteria? Shouldn't you be in storage with the other computers?"
The strange creature took a step back. "I simply wanted to... mingle."
"An android." Geordi whispered in shock.
They hate him even more than they hate me...
Geordi just stood there for a moment, thinking. Then he plastered a mocking smile in his face.
"I'm sorry, but we don't associate with kitchen appliances."
Seth snapped his head around and stared at Geordi. Then he laughed.
"Geordi, my friend, you took the words right out of my mouth! Beat it, Data!"
"What should I be beating?"
"GET OUT!"
As laughter became even louder, the android wasted no time in running out of the room.
Seth turned to Geordi.
"You know, for a blind guy, you're not bad. Wanna hang with me and the gang after class?"
"Sure."
"Catch ya later!"
Geordi grinned, but his smile slipped when he felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He couldn't help remembering how...franticly Data had ran out of the cafeteria.
Oh, what am I thinking? He's an android! It's not like he has feelings!
With that, Geordi sauntered out of the cafeteria. Things were finally looking up.