I suppose it should have hurt when he informed me I was barren,  unable to bring new life into the world.  There was a subtle twinge of regret,  but,  it was just another attribute of normal humanity that was denied to me.  I simply would never think about it again,  it would be useless for me to worry about something that was already set in stone.<br/><br/>The commander asked me his question,  I heard the subtle disapproval in his voice.  Yet, there was always a difference between orders and personal opinion.  I looked at him for a long while I drew in a deep breath feeling it fill my chest, and relax me ever so slightly.  “<strong>The choice is up to you Sir,  my opinions are of little consequence.” </strong>I looked down at the empty board and almost compulsively I began to set it up again.<br/>