The return

The world she returned to was not the same. Sure the neon lights were there. The venders. The cooks. The alcoves and tunnels. But the people were different. Attitudes were different. She was different. Meyno watched the young cadets run through the crowd laughing and through the Chocoberries away. She understood now why most of the veterans and instructors ate nutrition packs. They didn't remind you of sitting in a circle with your best mates, sharing favorite unhealthy treats. Nutrition packs didn't hold the flavor of laughter, of a life before pain and loss.
"Leonara. Help me" Meyno whispered for strength. Reckless Leonara. Strong, defiant Leonara. Meyno walked through the bizarre. Leonara's home. The cook fire Leonara's family unit tended hissed and spat at Meyno as if it knew. It felt to hot and the smoke and smell of cooking meant made Meyno sick. She shouldn't have eaten those few Chocoberries.
"What can we get you, you officer?" Meyno had only met Leonara's family unit that once. That week of break before.
"I am Meyno Cabrelli"
Blank stares.
"I was classmates and comrades with Leonara."
Still no reaction.
"I just wanted to tell you in person that I am so sorry for your loss."
"Well that's very kind of you. Would you like to order."
The cook wasn't reaction. She just stood there looking as if Meyno had said nothing more then 'the fire is hot'.
"Excuse me but I have customers."
Meyno walked away. She knew the fatality reports had just gone out. Maybe the cook didn't understand. She turned back to her.
"I am not sure you understood me. Leonara is dead."
"Oh I understood. But after all what other out come was there."
"What?"
"Well she joined up. Its not like she was going to survive. And even if she did, she wouldn't be staying around here. Not like we need any soldiers here."
Meyno acted before her brain kicked in. Her arm snapped out and her hand snapped around the cooks head. She slammed her face into the grill then shoved the cook to the ground.
"HOW DARE YOU? Leonara is dead. You were her family."
An old man rushed to the cook's side and looked up at Meyno.
"And for what? Yes, Leonara is dead. For what? Ever year we send our young to you and yours. Why? We know they will not come back. If they do, they are like you. So full of pain and rage, you can no longer live here. Leonara watched 5 siblings go off. One came back only to end his life in a back room. She left US. She chose her path."
Meyno backed away from the old man and the staring crowd. She had no answers. She didn't know. She didn't know why they had been sent to any of those places. Why the scientists had taken Leonara's body instead of letting the stars have it. Why Kelf had been taken into the off limits part of the ship while he choked on his blood and his insides tumbled out of him. She could hear his voice. "Meyno. Meyno. Stay with me. Please. please."
These people didn't know. Didn't care. But also, they didn't want to know. She did.