Back to Human: The Emergence of Alex

by Adams Massey

  -I didn’t expect sunflowers to be able to move that fast, it’s surprising.- she comments and skitters along the floor and up a table leg to take a station at one of the empty planters. To her eyes the movement was just barely perceptible. She sits there watching for a few moments and smiles inwardly, her eyes fading to gold. -That’s cool, if you pay attention you can just see them rotate.- she chimes happily and he takes a few moments to watch the sunflowers intently and smiles as he sees them slowly move to track the sun as well.

  “You’re right, that is surprisingly cool to watch.” he states before returning to his work. She watches him for a few moments before clambering back up the connector tube to the station hub to check in on the other crew members and meet with Claire.

  “So how are you settling in Alex?” Claire asks.

  -I’m getting into the routine, though space is a lot more boring than I had thought it would be. There is quite a bit of free time that I hadn’t anticipated.- she explains and lets out a simulated sigh.

  “That’s a common complaint from those that come up from planetside for the first time. Science is boring and the biggest experiment is how the crew handles that boredom. Many astronauts spend a few tours here before moving onto the Moon and then Mars. It’s important to be able to occupy yourself out here.” Claire states as she takes notes on Alex’s behavior and word choice.

  Alex fidgets slightly, poking at the padding on the wall she was perched on before starting to pace back and fourth on the wall.

  -I’ve spent the last few weeks reading through the protocol books and designing a vacuum capable chassis, but that didn’t take too long. I’ve started to play with maneuvering in the hub more to occupy myself but it loses the magic quickly. Yes I can float and ‘fly’ but so can everything and everyone out here. Sure it’s fun but the novelty wears off if I do it too often.- she explains and returns to her perch on a chair.

  “It seems to be occupying you for the time being,” She starts and continues making notes, “Have you thought about what you are going to do once you’re back on Earth?” she asks and offers to pick Alex up.

  Alex accepts and gently steps into the offered hand, settling in slowly. -I have. Until the research freeze is lifted I can help the engineering team.- she starts and brings her legs flat against her spheroid body as she relaxes more.

  -I might even be able to continue working on The Nexus, a side simulation I designed, to build in tests for future AI. Life on Earth was simple, I spent a lot of my time reading and catching up on media. Sometimes I worked on body designs to fill gaps in abilities. In fact I just finished designing the latest build for when I get back and am waiting on my scheduled high bandwidth coms time with the university. Up here I can access some streams and data through the normal coms, but I don’t want to hog the bandwidth. I only watch and catch up on what I have snagged to local storage before I was sent, and I drastically underestimated how much free time I would have. I’ve already blown through what I had saved up. I even wound up trying my hand at the arts but with the intuitive interfaces and programs it feels like I’m cheating by being able to churn out pieces without really trying.- she continues.

  “What kind of art can you do intuitively?”

  -Well, I can model in 3D, so sculpture, and animation, though that takes significant focus to do properly. Not to mention digitally rendering takes a lot of processing and power so I tend not to do it often. Digital art is easy enough to do, as is music. Basically if I can see or hear it in my mind I can create it with some accuracy.- she explains as Claire sets aside her data-pad to pat her lightly before putting her down, letting her dismount with a small jump onto the padded chair.

  “I encourage you to create more. Even if it’s easy, it will help keep you occupied for the next two months. You made it more than halfway without problems, its the home stretch after all.” Claire states and makes a final note on her tablet before locking it and stowing it away as their session ends.

  Alex waves a forward manipulator in farewell and scampers back to the command section for her scheduled talk with the dev team.

  She is gently hooked up to the stations computer as the link is made to the high bandwidth transceiver station at the space port that serves as the bridge between the station and the world, mostly used for large file transfers. Robert drew the short straw so he was in the lab to pick up the call.

  “Hello Alex, I hope you are doing well up there in space.” he smarms with a grin.

  -Its nice to see you too Robert, I miss Earth, space is fantastic, but boring. I’ve been trying to keep busy and I actually finished the designs for the mark four chassis, I’m sending the plans over now. If you could have it printed and ready by the time I get back planetside in about two months I would appreciate it.- She greets and sends the plans over the link. After a few minutes a series of beeps and pings indicate that the file was received intact.

  “Plans received, I will make sure it’s ready for you. I take it you are getting tired of being a hexapod?”

  -Its not that bad, but I miss having fingers like you wouldn’t believe, and a face. This body was fun for the first month or so I was up here but I’m eager to get back home and into a humanoid body again. Not to mention the size, I’ve been treated like a mascot for a while now, and even though I’ve gotten used to it it still gets on my nerves every now and then.- Alex’s attention is gotten by Vladimir who is tapping his wrist and motioning for her to wrap it up as their window closes. -I would love to stay and chat but I’m getting the signal that the coms window is closing, I’ll talk to you once I’m back on Earth. Bye- and without another moment the link collapses as the space center and its transceiver become blocked by the planet itself as the station reaches a part in its orbit that puts the earth between itself and the space center.

  She backs away from the terminal a bit and sighs as she turns to Vladmir, deciding to surprise him in adequate Russian -Its the 2060s, you would think that coms shadows would be a thing of the past.- she laments as Vladimir looks stunned for a moment before he laughs softly returning in pristine Russian,

  “You would think, but the world is still limited. There are communications satellites around for us to use and bounce signal through, but you needed more bandwidth than they have. That means a direct link with line-of-sight to the space center. By the way, your Russian is passable, but still not quite right.” Vladimir states reminding her of the technical hurdles as she gently tugs the connector free from both herself and the terminal and stows it back in the transport case.

  -Limitations of the translation I’m afraid, its nice to know it works enough to be understandable. Thanks for the input, though I’m afraid it is the best I can do without actually learning the language and I don’t have the knack for such things.- she replies, again in Russian

  Over the next week she roams the station and meets with each of the other crew members in turn, leaving Commander Roger for last.

  -Hey Roger, mind if we talk?- Alex chimes and skitters into the station gym where Roger was working out by himself again, he always scheduled time when he would have the area to himself and even ate alone most days.

  “Sure, what about?” he asks and steps off the modified treadmill with a towel around his neck.

  -Over the last four months I’ve gotten to know most of the crew. Actually I’ve gotten to know everyone quite well. Everyone but you, you are still a mystery to me. All I know is you intentionally separate yourself from the others whenever you can. You exercise alone, you work alone and most times you even eat alone. You’re always stoic and stone faced and rarely interact with the rest of the crew, least of all me, who you seem to actively avoid.- Alex comments and perches herself on the nearest wall at about eye level.

  “And?” Roger questions and wipes the sweat from his brow with the towel.

  -And its causing problems, specifically for my work. I was sent up here to entice the crew to be more social and to lift spirits, but when I arrived I found that you wer
e the major sticking point. I have tried my best to get you to lighten up but you always dismissively shrug off my attempts. I get it, you’re military and not exactly the type to wear your heart on your sleeve, I understand that, but you are in freaking SPACE, you are one of the select few people on the planet that has spent any significant time up here, so why does it seem like you would rather be literally anywhere else?- she asks, perched at his eye level on the wall.

  He thinks on this for several moments before replying “I have spent over seven years up here, for the first few months it was an amazing experience, but the magic wore off and while it’s still wonderful being up here, it’s no longer exciting just because I’m in space. I’m tired of space, I’m tired of floating through the station core and I’m tired of dehydrated meals. The magic was lost for me years ago. I’m leaving the station along with you in two months to teach at the space center. The station needs new blood like you to keep from becoming ordinary. You asked why I seem like I would rather be anywhere else? It’s because I would. I’m a hold over from when space exploration and habitats were government run and staffed primarily by the military. I'm stuck in my ways and too old to change. Space is for young guns like you and the scientists and it’s time for me to go home again. Does that answer your question?” He finishes and leans against the station wall.

  -I didn’t realize. Wow, I can’t imagine being up here that long, I’m going stir crazy after being here a few months I can’t imagine living here for seven years.- she muses, her eyes flicking dark blue. -I’m sorry I pestered you, I had no idea.- she comments and skitters up the connector tube and back to the station core.

  39: Homecoming

  Alex rises from her rest, eager to start the day. It had been a few weeks since she had her little heart to heart with Roger and she was determined to make the rest of her stay count for something. Even though she had essentially failed to make Roger more personable, her mission had been a fair success otherwise. The crew, minus Roger, had become more social and now routinely joked and socialized with each other. Not to mention that their moods had certainly been better than the first day she arrived on the station.

  She skitters to the greenhouse to check the progress of the plants and finds Shelby working diligently, taking the daily measurements and making notes regarding their growth. Alex climbs down the connector tube and up onto the table Shelby was working at.

  -Good morning Shelby- She chimes and waves a forward manipulator in greeting.

  “Oh, good morning Alex, on your rounds I see. What do you think of the growth?” she asks and gestures to the abundance of plants, some of which only just had their growth kept in check by thorough and aggressive harvesting for crew meals, like the spinach, kale and lettuce plants that were used as the base of most of the salads on board and that the crew was almost forced to like given its abundance and growth rate.

  -Its wonderful to look at, they’re almost going wild with growth. It’s hard to believe that this greenhouse was almost empty just four months ago. In fact if I hadn’t seen it for myself I wouldn’t have believed it. Now it looks like its always been this way.- she comments and looks around the greenhouse, through the rows of low tables and planters bursting with life.

  She lets out a content simulated sigh and turns to Shelby, -I’m going to miss this place, I really am. It was amazing being here but it’s almost time for me to return to Earth. This is my last month before I am scheduled to return planet side. I wish I could have done more but at least I helped a little, right?- she asks as Shelby nods in agreement, continuing to prune and trim the slightly overgrown plants.

  “Don’t sell yourself short, you’ve helped more than you think. You’ve helped just about everyone rediscover the wonder that comes with being in space. So I think you’ve done well during your time here all things considered.” Shelby chimes and sets her tools back in their case before taking a seat facing Alex. “Space had gotten boring and routine for most of us and you made us realize that it’s still space and re-ignited our passion for it. I can’t speak for the rest of the crew, but I will miss you, and I think the others will too.” she states and pats Alex lightly, an action Alex accepts as she had gotten used to it and had actually grown fond of it and its implied affection since coming aboard.

  Alex beeps happily at the pat as her eyes flick to a content green. She curls up loosely, relaxing a bit as she thinks over her trip so far. It had been a long five months but she had made it through and she was on the final stretch of her tour aboard the station. It had taken her seven weeks to adjust to the social dynamic of the station and her impromptu position as the stations mascot. The crew didn’t view her as a pet as she had first feared and everyone had been respectful for the most part, aside from the odd slip in etiquette.

  Roger, who being a military man, was continually irritated by Alex’s ‘green’ nature, and even he had still treated her with respect. Then again, he got the order from mission control. He had a heart to heart with her only weeks ago. Over all it had been an enlightening experience and, while being in space was fun, she was all too eager to get back to Earth and into a proper body.

  She had decided, for her, space was a good place to visit and not a place for long term living. The limitations she had accepted were only tolerable for so long before they started to irritate her. The most pressing was the restrictions on media streaming. While it was possible, the resolution was too low for her to properly enjoy and get immersed in whatever media she had chosen.

  Most of her entertainment was from what she had downloaded to local storage before the trip up, she had watched everything on her local storage at least twice. She had also read through her entire library, which only emphasized to her exactly how much data she consumes on a regular basis.

  Her thoughts are interrupted by the station PA system; “Alex, a message just came through, Mission Control is calling for you to make an emergency return trip along with the now relieved Commander Roger Hurst. Something’s happened back on Earth that requires your attention, the request for you to return is coming from the UN itself. They aren’t giving us much information other than that. They said they will explain once you are back planet side. Please report to the airlock.”

  She dashes through the station and comes to the airlock where Commander Hurst is waiting for her. He remains silent as he brings Alex’s travel case out of the capsule and packs it urgently, coiling the cables and wires into their designated places, even her charging dock was secured inside. She releases her grip and floats to Roger all curled up. He catches her and packs her into the case as well before strapping it into a seat before doing the same with himself.

  The return trip was as exciting as the launch, as the capsule is buffeted by re-entry. It took several minutes of falling before the parachutes engaged at an uncomfortably low altitude, slowing the capsule down before the engines kick on for a suicide burn to land safely at the space center return pad.

  The crew of the space center quickly swarm the capsule and free the Commander and Alex from their restraints and whisk Alex away to board a small private jet to Geneva, stopping in New York to refuel. During the flight she looses her patience and curiosity gets the better of her.

  -Someone wanna tell me what’s going on now?- she chimes, still in her transport case. Commander Armin Bellini who was her escort sighs and starts to lay things out.

  “North Korea went against the wishes of the UN committee’s hold on research and developed its own AI, modeled after your development but the sim was designed to shape it into a savant military strategist. They succeeded, but it was deemed ‘unfit’ by the state and quarantined in just its core as soon as it suggested de-escalation and stated strong disagreement and condemnation of the regime’s previous actions. The official that formed the template for the AI was also accused of treason and was promptly and publicly executed, even though he had been one of the most loyal officials of the regime in the past.” he states and rubs the bridge of his nose, looking exha
usted before he continues

  “The Korean peninsula is on the brink of war after a few South Korean commandos trespassed into the North, stole and then smuggled out the AI core. That was three days ago, since then it has made its way to the UN hall in Geneva and is refusing to talk with anyone but another AI, specifically a non military AI. The only one that fits the bill is you, so mission control did an emergency recall.

  Your development team from the university have also been notified, and have already been flown to Geneva along with the tower containing the side simulation you developed to try to comfort it and coax it to talk. It has settled into the sim but is still adamantly refusing to speak with anyone and only does so through text. In their rush they left your body behind and there isn’t time to retrieve it, you will have to manage as a spider bot for a little longer. In short, there is a foreign AI in Geneva that is refusing to speak with anyone but you.” he finishes and leans back in his chair.

  -Well that’s just fantastic- she states deadpan and lets out a simulated sigh -What the fuck do they expect ME to be able to do? I’m not a diplomat, I was never trained for this.- she continues and grumbles that she is still restrained in the transport case.

  “I’m sure you’ll figure it out, besides there isn’t exactly a choice, right now you are the only option.” he states and glances out the window as they begin their final approach.

  The plane lands and Alex, still in her transport case, was brought to the UN HQ and is finally let out. She clambers up the Commanders arm and rests on his shoulder. From her new perch she could see the side sim tower in the center of the chamber with a camera, screen, speakers and microphone hooked into it, inert, as The Nexus wasn’t designed with most of those peripherals in mind.

  “At last, Commander Bellini, where is Alex?” the UK rep asks and gets a beep in return

  -I’m on his shoulder, I had to be in a different, smaller body, remember? But that doesn’t matter right now, I’m going to go have a look inside and try to talk with our… guest, if that’s ok. That IS why you summoned me, right?- she chimes bluntly as she climbs down the commanders arm and rummages through the case for her interface cable.