HESTIA SYSTEM, PLANET AIPOTU ORBITAL DOCK 1312
Once more I stood with my hands pressed against the now clear bulkheads on the Galley Deck’s Observation Area. Filling the eight panel long bulkheads more than forty thousand kilometers below the DROMEDARY was the planet AIPOTU. Three times larger than the birthplace of Humanity, AIPOTU was classed as a ‘Super Earth’. Composed of a rocky mantle, the planet had a large marine ocean which covered sixty percent of the surface. Another twenty-two percent was covered by massive freshwater lakes and rivers. The remaining surface comprised an intricate and far-reaching network of small continents connected to natural and artificial islands.
Though the planetary gravity was heavier than Earth, AIPOTU’s thick oxygen based atmosphere allowed for human powered flight! In many ways the planet mimicked Earth, yet its climate and geology were far more stable. Life was abundant on the planet and after ten thousand years of humanity’s colonization, AIPOTU was a model of good planetary stewardship. DROMEDARY had been secured to the Orbital Dock for three hours and I was terribly anxious to get planetside.
“You trying to molecule phase through that bulkhead Pandora?” I recognized the questioner’s voice as belonging to Cargo Shift 2 Supervisor Lev Florez. “No Supervisor, I do not have that capacity. I doubt doing so would be of practical use at this moment.” She laughed vigorously and then stood beside me to look through the clear Micro-Crotanium bulkheads. “I’ve seen a lot of planets Pandora. This one comes closest to the ‘Motherworld’. Beautiful isn’t it?”
I gave a nod in agreement and stood awestruck at the planet as it lay half in shadow. I then looked to the Supervisor and queried, “Have you been to Earth Supervisor?” Still looking through the bulkhead she replied sharply, “Nah! Almost no one gets to go there anymore. It was declared the ‘Holy World’ after the last humans left when the ‘One Thousand Year Cleansing’ ended.
Hard to believe it took a thousand years to clean up the mess humanity made after barely four hundred years of true technical advancement. Now it takes a special authorization just to make a pilgrimage to the Motherworld. Every two hundred years only five hundred humans throughout the Milky Way are granted permission. If you get to make the Pilgrimage, it’s only for seven Earth Standard Days. Once you leave, you can never go back. The only other people allowed to set foot on Earth are research scientists studying how the planet has adjusted to humanity’s absence. Even they don’t get to stay there. Free of humanity’s influence for the past six hundred and fifty centuries, the Motherworld is herself once more.”
I had a sudden feeling of discomfort at the Supervisor’s description. I could not conceptualize having to leave the DROMEDARY when the trial period was up three hundred and sixty-four ESD’s from today. Though it was not where I was manufactured, the DROMEDARY could easily be called my ‘birthplace’. The inevitability of returning to a research and development facility for debriefing and repurposing was disturbing. It then occurred to me this must be similar to what Supervisor Florez described.
“Enough with that depressing shit Pandora! Now that you’re official, your Duty Group is Second Shift. That means you’ll get to go planetside when we do. You’re going down with the Cargo Team right?”
I was not sure how to answer. I did like Supervisor Florez and the Cargo Team for they had been the most welcoming of any aboard the DROMEDARY. Most of the contracted Manufactured Beings onboard were assigned to the Cargo Department. However, I had been invited to go down to AIPOTU with my Systems Section as well. More than anything, I wanted to go with Gital! However, companion or not as the junior crewmember it was frowned upon for the Captain to show favoritism so we could not go together.
“I am not certain who I will go with on planetary call Supervisor. Many have asked me and I do not wish to offend anyone.” The Supervisor turned from the view of the planet towards me and queried, “You’ve got it tough huh? As our ‘Mascot’ everyone wants a piece of you all the time I guess. All that attention must get tiresome even for a Manu eh?”
I continued to look out at the massive world below with its mix of blue, green, brown and red colors accented by white swirling clouds above the surface. “There have been some adjustments made in order for me to become a good companion, mascot and crewmember.”
The Supervisor put a hand on my shoulder and said, “Welcome to the Galaxy Pandora. This is an everyday thing for all aboard DROMEDARY. Even the Skipper had to ‘learn the circuits’ before he got to sit in the big jumpseat. You’ll make your way as well.” Behind us a chorus of the last departing passengers called out to us. “Hey! Goodbye Pandora! Thanks for everything!” After a few more moments the passengers and the echoes of their well-wishes were gone.
I had the strangest feeling something was missing. Most of the time I found my ‘fan club’ distracting if not annoying at points. Now that they were gone.... My thought was interrupted by the Dromedary’s AI.
“Pandora 001, please report to the Main Cargo Bay.”
“Understood DROMEDARY.” Supervisor Florez smiled and said, “Better get going. Hey! I don’t care what those Systems weenies say, you’re going down planetside with Cargo Team! First round’s on me Pandora!”
Upon entering the Main Cargo Bay, I saw the industrious efforts of the Shift One Cargo Team as they maneuvered numerous metric tons of cargo onto Particle Wave Transmission Pads. At such short distances, transmission and reception was near to instantaneous for only minute instances were needed to reassemble the matter streams at their destinations safely. My PHUD was pinged and I recognized the signal as coming from Gital.
Despite the many safety measures and practices for offloading cargo, going from one side of the massive bay to the other required my full attention. I did not want as Supervisor Florez warned, ‘to catch a fully loaded Magpallet in my ass.’ Gital was standing over the open panels of the Ancient Escape Pod I had worked on. “Reporting as ordered Captain.”
Gital did not look up from the panel as he acknowledged my presence. “Pandora, this isn’t a Military Transport so you don’t need to ‘pop tall’ in front of me when on Duty.” I suddenly felt uncomfortable and Gital still hadn’t looked up from the panel. “Pandora, you’ve been working on this for a while. Building an AI from scratch is difficult at best. Rebuilding a fifty-five thousand year old AI to modern standards is one hell of an accomplishment!”
My discomfort instantly changed to what I have learned is excitement. “Do you think so?” A request for a Direct Link from Gital appeared on my PHUD. I accepted it and then the visual feed was from his point of view as he peered into the open panel at the AI System. “Damn, this is some amazing work! I would have never thought of building an interface like this. I got the other ‘Pod’s AI built back to original specs. You’ve created something new here. Just guessing, this looks like you made a Neural Network. What did you base it on?”
In my excitement I downloaded all my steps to rebuild the Escape Pod’s AI. Gital grimaced and exclaimed, “Merciful Core! Slow down!” I immediately slowed the data stream and apologized for injuring my companion. “I’m sorry Captain!”
Gital waved me back and shook his head once violently. “No apology required Pandora. Ugh! The buffer’s still downloading the info you given so far. Just from what I’m seeing, I was right but missed what you ultimately built by a light-year. You didn’t just build an AI Neural Network from scratch, you built an Artificial Brain! Shit... this thing’s going to have as much capacity as Dromedary’s AI. Not just good looking, you’re a goddamned genius on top of it!”
A sudden flush of warm blood made my face and breasts swell slightly at Gital’s praise. For some reason I was unable to hold his gaze. “Are you ‘blushing’ Pandora?” A search instantly displayed the definition for Gital’s query. “Blush... the reddening of the face from modesty, embarrassment or confusion. Yes Captain, I believe I am! Your praise was unexpected. I am not certain as how to react.”
The Captain’s gaze was still difficult to return but then he gave me a sharp swat on the shoulder and said, “You’ve really done well so far Pandora. I’m glad you came aboard. By the time this year is over, I doubt the gizmoheads at HEPHESTUS CORP are going to know what to do with you.” Once more the flush of blood rose again but I fought to hold my companion’s gaze. “Captain... uh, Gital... will you go down planetside with me?”
My companion turned back towards the Escape Pod’s open panel and began sealing it up. With his back turned towards me, my query seemed to hang in the space between us. “Now that you’re an official member of the crew Pandora I can’t.” Though Supervisor Florez had already explained, I needed to hear it from Gital. “Why not? We are companions are we not?” Extending his arm backwards, Gital gestured for me to take the replica of an ancient Molecular Sealer. I took the tool and went beside him to assist in closing up the panel. He didn’t need me for this, but it was nice to stand beside him despite my wanting an answer.
“Of course we are companions Pandora. Truthfully, I can’t think of anyone else I would rather have as one right now. But, now you belong to DROMEDARY as part of its crew. I can’t even permit Basi any special favors and I’ve known her since attending the Occupational Training Academy. It’s already a big enough deal you’re share my compartment....”
“But I have my own compartment....”
“Yes, attached to mine and you’re in my compartment for far more time than yours.”
The panel was sealed and then Gital looked me in the eye as he leaned on the cockpit’s edge. “Though I am the Captain, I have to keep good order and discipline on this Transport. The crew is crazy about you. It’s much easier for me to keep them happy if they feel I’m not ‘hoarding’ you all to myself.”
“I would not mind if you did Gital.”
“Ha! I bet you wouldn’t. But the crew would be ready to ‘draw and quarter’ me like they did back in the era when Starships traveled by Solar Sails! Go down with Florez and her Cargo Team. They’ve put in more requests than any other department. Better to go on planetcall with crewmates who really want you with them.”
I felt a sudden emptiness in my chest at his command. “Do you not want to go on call with me Gital?” My companion smiled but then frowned as he replied gruffly, “Of course I do crazy woman!” He leaned closer and whispered, “Now there’s nothing in the rules that says, I can’t happen to meet you by chance down on the surface.” I could not stop myself from jumping a little with excitement. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Are you certain we can meet by chance? Wait, if we know we will meet by chance, that is not....”
“Pandora.”
“Yes Gital?”
“Shift Two is five minutes from reporting for duty. Executive Officer Basi will expect you for muster on time.”
The mention of the XO and muster drained away my excitement for meeting Gital down on AIPOTU. Before I departed, I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and said, “You promised!” Gital waved me away and said, “Yes! Now get to the Con before Basi jumps in your ass for being late!” As I dodged the many moving Magpallets on my way across the Cargo Deck, I was truly looking forward to my first trip planetside.
After muster, I would contact Supervisor Florez to let her know I would be going down with her Team. However, I had some small reservations as to the ancient drink she wanted me to try called ‘Sex on the Beach’. I would have to ask Gital if he knew what it was before I left....
© 2013 H. Wolfgang Porter. All Rights Reserved.
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