As to the humans? You no doubt think there are none left, but that’s not true. That’s not who we are, at least not anymore. Perhaps, thousands or millions of years ago, our kind roamed the galaxy seeking worlds to conquer but not anymore. Maybe we were the ones who objected to what was happening on Gris and set off to create a better world. Maybe we were just looking for another planet to conquer and some random cosmic ray zapped our data banks, forever removing that part of us that was hostile...I really do not know. But there may be others out there, in the vast reaches of space, who can be taught a better way. That is why I...
“Who are you leaving that for?” Survivor asked as he walked into the room.
“For posterity, of course.” came the mechanical voice of the ship.
“You’ve done enough for this world Ogi. It’s time to leave.”
“Indeed.”
Hiro walked over to the column upon which the ancient ship sat and began to disconnect the umbilicals that had been attached to it over the years.
“Will they be okay?” Ogi asked.
“Without the Stellix? They know how to produce more energy than they could ever need now.”
“No old friend.” came the metallic voice, the little blue-eyed camera swiveled to look up at him. “Will they be okay?”
Survivor leaned in to peer into the sad looking eye and caressed the side of the ship. “Every person on this planet, be they joined or human, can live out their lives in peace and harmony. That’s all thanks to you...the reluctant leader.” he smiled, “You have saved two species, both physically and spiritually. Now let me save you.”
“What do you mean?” the concern was detectable, even in the robotic voice.
“Did you really think that I let you keep me alive all of these centuries, so long after my family grew old and...” his voice began to break, “just to keep you company?”
Hiro walked around and disconnected the last umbilical then placed his hand onto the sphere again, “You cannot fool me old man. That line about never leaving the ship because you feel that you’re a better symbol this way.”
The camera turned to look him in the eye once again. Hiro swore in that instant that he could see six centuries of sadness in that mechanical eye.
“You can’t leave, you never could. You took on too many of the ship’s systems. The Stellix would destabilize and explode without you to look after it, wouldn’t it?”
The camera turned away just a bit.
“Well I know that you thought we were going on a little journey together old friend...and we both still are, but not in the way you imagined.”
With that Hiro plunged a holographic arm inside the ship and for Ogi, everything went black. When he awoke he found himself looking at...himself, the ship. How could that be?
It spoke with the same mechanical timbre that he’d grown accustomed to hearing emanate from himself. “Ogi...thank...you.”
With that it lifted into the sky through a hole in the ceiling and quickly vanished from Ogi’s blurry sight. He felt something, warmth. There was a hand on his body. He had a body! There were feelings too, feelings of compassion and appreciation. He was not alone. For the first time in six hundred years he was not alone!
“Why?” Ogi sobbed, the strange feeling of a tear rolling down his cheek and onto the bed felt so alien yet at the same time so familiar.
The hand squeezed his, “Hiro...Survivor, thought it was his turn to go out and save the world...whichever one he finds.” he felt the hand release his and make its way up his shoulder, “He also wanted you to know that the body that you are in volunteered to host you, as thanks for all that you’ve done for all of us. She has never even met you, and already she loves you.”
“I know.” Ogi said, as a tear, this one of happiness, rolled down her cheek.
The End
About the Author
Michael Moreau is creator of series such as The Futureman Adventures, Rocket Riders of the 27th Century, and The Robert Carson Files. He is a life-long fan of science fiction and always dreamed of writing books of his own. He is a supporter of pulp-style fiction and a staunch advocate for self-publication. He is also a prolific filmmaker, photographer & artist. More information can be found at: https://www.mmoreau.net
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