A Lone Android Travelling Through Space. Andrew is an Android taking care of a precious cargo, the humanity.
I am starting to wonder how much time is left before our journey will be coming to an end. Perhaps, the end is closer than I can even imagine. The Earth seems like a microscopic dot through my window. The stars shine beautifully in the darkness of space.
Breakfast is served on the table. I decided on a wonderful Pizza dish. I taste nothing. Space food is really… lame. That is what a human would say. The HCP Machine needs to be cleaned, so I begin my task. My work is done by noon. I retire to my chamber to recharge my batteries.
I was disturbed by an incessant vibration from the Test Chamber. Some kind of space dust has become entrapped in the turrets and broken the Left Solar Wing. I need to go out to repair it. But first, I must get prepared. My body, now
protected by a shield, could venture outside and I could proceed with the task. What would happen if I did not, I wonder? That question is unacceptable. I push it aside. I open the shutter; my body perceives heat, dangerous heat. Slowly, I propel myself into the wing and I fix it. That was close. I think. The day is over. I need to recharge my batteries. I exit and I turn the lights off.
The Human Cryogenic Preservation Machine still works well. Temperature is perfect, water too. At least, that is what information available, presents to me. Some beeps indicate to me I should increase LOVE, EMPATHY, and
WISDOM. I pull the lever to the max. The HCPM works better now. The workday is over. I want to have some fun. I listen to music loudly while I dance through the halls of The HCPM. I dance, but not until exhaustion; I do not want to diminish my efficacy and then be replaced. I return to my chamber.
I need an update. Space is continuously changing and I need to get the newest information in order to make our journey a successful one. I go to the Ship Control Lab and I sit in the chair labeled "ANDREW". A large screen shows me
new information I rapidly memorize. I disconnect. I proceed to adjust propellers and wings with some trajectory corrections. The work is over. I decide to rest. I am the most important android to humanity and that makes me proud.
Hopefully, when this journey ends, I will learn what it is to taste flavours : salty and meaty, bitter and sweet, poor and tough, my heart will beat with blood through my veins and arteries; I will have vivid dreams and horrible
nightmares, I will pee my bed just as humans do. I will feel sick and will be able to die, too. Someday, I will be able to experience what humanity called "FAMILY", to have some "FRIENDS" and to find "TRUE LOVE". Now,
however, it is time to get out of the Androids' Nest. My batteries are full. I'm ready to work.
Boredom… What is this? What does it feel to be a human being? Am I human? Nevermind. It is time to begin my task; to keep things working and to check the HCPM. Yes… The HCMP needs to be checked every day. Oh! What a wonderful time I have being alone and thinking whilst on a space journey. Not an easy one. Though, it is a travel through time and space to carry humanity to another place. Such a great honour for me! I will be the one to accomplish the task and to deserve the reward that will come with it.
How beautiful Space can be! Even so, things can become turbulent when our ship encounters some danger. Most of the time she deviates at high speed to avoid asteroids and to evade radioactive dust through the galaxy. Other times she deviates randomly from her path and needs to be reset on course over and over. In any case, I have to clean up all of this ess every single day. Walls can become damaged, cables can become disconnected, liquids can become spoiled, and systems can shut off.
If those inconvenient situations did not happen our travel could be shorter, but sadly it will still be more than a few years until we reach our final destination.
Music plays loud. I dance while I furiously mop the large and gelid halls of the ship. I am done and now a hundred meters of steel shine as brightly as the stars. I take a glance at the place.
The floor reflects my beautiful smile, and my eyes, and another pair of eyes. Wait, what?! Quickly, I turn to look and a shadowy thing hides at the corner. I stop the music.
What is this?! Hello?! My voice reverberates through the enclosed metallic space, while I approach it step by step. With my mop in hand and prepared to attack, I decided to go on the offensive. Now, however, there is no longer anything in he corner. I shrug as I peer to one side first, then the other.
Suddenly, a slender figure stands in front of me. What?! What I see is confusing. It is me. I mean, just another ANDREW? Who are you? What do you want? Where did you come from? My inquiry fails to gain response. How can this be possible? I did nothing wrong.
He doesn’t respond, but slowly his lips draw into a little, almost imperceptible smile. He moves his arms slowly as if they weigh tons and points at me while his rigid face changes. Now he looks angry. He mouthes something:
I have been waiting for this … I want to replace you.
