Time would pass. Routines would be found. A morning jog around the habitat ring. Exercises after that mainly calisthenics, body weight exercise followed by protein paste lunch and then, nothing. Everyone would find something to do it was all just, meaningless.
Orion on the other hand found the downtime useful, at least initially. He put his effort forth to work on his own theories and ideas. Asher didn’t want them touching the equipment, but he was still able to pull some data out. At least, before he was locked out. It was a wealth of knowledge, yet without the processing power of the core or similar quantum processor, it was beyond understanding. He filed it away for safe keeping at some point in the future.
Yuri tried to teach Orion to play chess, he was somewhat successful, but Orion just couldn’t keep up with the chess master, even when he claimed to be going easy on him.
Frustrated with the last game, Orion left Yuri at his chess board. Alone. He was not expecting the Ezra AI to talk to him about it. “You know, I’ve always had a passing interest in chess.” It spoke to him, seemingly from nowhere and everywhere.
“Oh yeah, why don’t you play the grand master back there. I can barely move the units right. I mean seriously, what’s an En Passant anyway?”
Ezra took a moment, before replying, “That’s where you move a pawn twice isn’t it?”
Orion wasn’t sure if the AI was making a joke or not. “No… It’s where you’re attacked after moving twice. I think.”
“I see…" It paused for a moment, as if processing something. "you’re right that’s what the rules seem to say. Seems an odd rule. I didn’t know that.”
“You’re an AI, how do you not know that? You guys know anything.”
“I’m not like most other AIs, my programing is… different. I'm programed to think more like you do.”
Orion sighed. As much as he didn’t want to, how much worse could the AI be? Compared to the beating he got from Yuri, at least he'd have an excuse if the machine beat him. “Why not… not like I’m doing much else.”
In truth, Orion was surprised. He lost of course, but it was a rather close game and almost enjoyable. It would be the first of many.
Eventually Orion would be the first to really notice the neural links along the lounge area. Adiana had pointed them out not long after they arrived, mentioning, "Damn stupid design choice. These things should only be accessible in controlled spaces. Under medical supervision." She'd even considered cutting the cords. But Orion was the first to actually try them. He had used VR on Earth, everyone had. It was easy to see the appeal. He could see the appeal, but never got trapped in it, like his friends. Reality was much more interesting. However, plugging was a completely different experience, one he couldn't even explain if he wanted to. Sensation, feelings, touch, being touch Tastes that weren't just protein paste!
Art soon found him plugged in, and the later discussion he had with Adiana was not a pleasant one. She chose to use him as an example. They were all to stay away from the jacks unless she said otherwise. And they did, for a time.
Eventually, a month went by, and the first resupply shipment came in. The crew was hoping for several things, in particular they were hoping for true MREs or at least something similar what they got were…
“MORE FUCKING PROTIEN PACKETS?!” Ross slammed one of the packages of paste on the ground, sending the red slurry everywhere.
“Hey flyboy chill. It’s not worth getting so worked up over. I mean I’m pissed too but at least it’s food.”
He took a deep breath, but didn't seem to calm much at all, “I know, I just. I’m tired of eating the same shit every day. There’s nothing to do, and all we have is the same boring bullshit to eat.”
“Ross, we all feel the same way, but I need you to stop and clam down.” As the commander, Adiana was firm in her stance. She needed to keep order, even if she felt the same. Seeing Ross continue to brood, she gave him what she knew he was looking for. An order. “Ross, I want you to take a run around the ring.”
“Commander sir.” His voice was agitated, but he wasn’t yelling any more.
“Yes, that is my rank here. Thank you for noticing. Three laps”
It took him a moment, but with a nod the pilot with the clipped wings began his run.
Roberta picked up one of the packets and forced a smile. “Hey, these are made with beets! It will be a change from the soy-based ones at least.” The crew nodded along with her. It was all forced but, necessary. There would be another supply run in a few months, and there wasn't any risk of starvation. Despite being called protein packs, they had everything they needed to survive, they just tasted the same. Eventually though, the crew knew they’d have something better than this, they just had to wait.
In a small room that Adiana used as an office, a set of forms were laid out on a holoscreen. Behind her Art saw the same thing she did and felt compelled to state it aloud. “The requisition does say protein paste.”
Adian nodded, “Yeah it does.”
“You didn’t order protein paste though. I saw you order MREs.” Again, Art stated the obvious.
“Yep.”
“You think corporate did it, to save costs or something?”
“If they fucking did, they saved a few pennies at most. Protein paste isn’t that much cheaper, it just last longer.” In frustration, she shut down the screen and stood up. “I’m going to make sure the next shipment comes in correct. I need to run or something. Going stir crazy in here.”
Ross and Adiana passed each other on their runs. Neither said anything, but they were each grateful for the company. Even making a game out of it. A game that Ross lost, by a hair.
“Eh, I let you win commander.”
“Oh, then next time you need to give me a real challenge!” She mocked.
Stolen story; please report.
Ross laughed and shook his head as she walked off down the hallway. He ended up sitting in the lounge area with nothing to do. He debated watching another holoprogram or grabbing a VR set, until he caught sight of the cord next to him. The neural uplink could be used for entertainment. In fact, it was one of the first uses of it. But unlike Orion, Ross knew the risks.
It was allowed for isolated and remote workers, but only to be used in extreme moderation, and under medical supervision. In a place with no escape, it could offer a lifeline for the depressed and broken. That line could also easily become a noose. The wire wrapped around his neck and he felt the cold metal brush against his skin. The sound of a ‘click’ and suddenly Ross was flying again.
Hours passed when Ross finally exited the simulation. The rest of the crew had already long gone to bed. He rubbed his eyes, despite just sitting around, he was tired too. Did anyone even notice he was missing? He wondered, but doubted it.
Months more would pass again, each day, the same thing. The same routine, the same monotony, the same repetition. Over and over and over again.
When the next supply order came in, there was almost a riot. Adiana and Art both made sure the order was right, and yet. “MORE! MORE FUCKING PASTE!” Ross didn’t wait to hear what anyone had to say as he stormed off, on his way back to the lounge area.
Orion was the first to find him. Normally, Ross would jack in when no one was around, like when they were asleep. Today though, he didn't care anymore.
When Orion couldn’t rouse him from the simulation, he did what he had to and called Adiana. Her access allowed her to bypass the connection and stop whatever he was doing.
“Commander?” Ross squinted through eyes that didn’t want to work right.
“What the hell you doing Ross? What did I say? You’re not supposed to jack in without my approval, and I'm not approving without a serious medical reason.”
The pilot laughed and shook his head. Seemingly ignoring his commander.
“You think that’s funny.”
“Come on Adiana!" He shouted at her, loud enough for the rest of the station to hear. "What the fuck is left for me to do here? All the transports are automated. Asher won't let me pilot anything not even remotely, 'humans aren't needed just relax’ he says.” Ross smiled as he mocked the last words but it was clear how much it was bothering him. “Look Adiana… there’s nothing for me up here. I want to be pulled back to Earth side. I don't care if they terminate my contact early. If I don’t even get paid, I just… want out.”
The commander looked around the room, at the crowd that had joined them. It was obvious Ross wasn’t the only one that felt this way. Their contracts had about 3 months left, but it was obvious there was nothing for any of them out here. They were just here because some elected bureaucrats and rich boards members wanted humans to appear in charge of the machines. If she allowed and pushed for Ross' early withdraw there was a good chance, she'd have to do that for everyone or at least most of them. Maybe that wasn't a bad thing.
"Ok, we've got a meeting in a few days, we'll go over it then. Until then, I don't want you jacking in. I don't want any of you jacking in! Understood?" Despite her control, and fortitude. There was a small measure of fear in her voice. At least, Orion thought so.
The meeting was just like any other. The crew sat around the hololense in the conference space. Listening to the board prattle on about nonsense and meaningless metrics. They'd be bringing the central core coming out of alpha testing. Oh, and they weren't supposed to call it that anymore. It was now to be called 'Dreamgate'. None of them cared.
After nearly an hour of hearing the same corporate buzz and not being able to say anything. The board finally said something they could not tolerate.
“Commander, we've got some good news for you and your crew. Rather than training up some replacements were going to be auto renewing your contacts at a 25% boost.”
“Stop!" Adiana stated firmly. It took a few seconds to get though because of the time lag. Watching the boards faces drop was like watching ice slowly form after sun set. "We appreciate the board's generous offer, but my crew wants to come home. I don't think any of us are interest in a contract renewal.”
Again, it took several seconds to respond. Longer than the time delay. “… I see." Was Ardman's response as he looked around at he board. Several nodded their heads, and some silent whispers could be seen, but not heard. "We thought you would all be grateful but… we’ll do what we can. It's going to take a while to get replacements up there you will need to stick it out till then.” He didn't seem to care given his tone.
“With all due respect sir, my crew needs to come home. I think some may need an early pull out too.”
“Early pull out? You mean contract termination, absolutely not! Look, we’ll get a new crew out as soon as we can. For now, you will have to manage.”
“Sir, again with all due respect there's nothing for us to even do out here. We're going stir crazy up here.”
“And again, we will work recruiting your replacements.”
Adiana blinked a few times. She knew what she heard. “Wait, recruiting? You don't even have replacements in training?”
Ardman's face turned red. An unusual color for the normally calm man. “This meeting is adjourned.”
Around the conference room, that all say in silence. The light rhythmic humming of the background of the station, all there was to hear.
"Kind of sounds like were not going home at all." Ross got up and slammed his table into the chair.
As much as Adiana want to argue with him and reassure the rest of them. The truth quickly dawned once they all got the notice of auto renewable in their in inbox. The gravity of the situation fully hit them when the day to return came and went without allowing any of the shuttles to undock.
Without any reason to exist, Ross found himself back in the lounge area, his consciousness disappearing into the virtual world, where he could really fly again.
Another year went by.
Others started joining Ross in the lounge, though not for the length of time he did. Roberta, Art, Taylor, all of them except Yuri, Adiana. Orion still scared from the warning Adiana had given him in private, limited his time, and was probably the lowest user of the crew, beyond the other two.
Over time, Orion grew friendlier with the Ezra AI. It was willing to listen to his nonsense theories and ideas. Even if he knew it wasn't really. It felt nice to explain it to something that was willing to listen to him.
The admonishment he got from his commander didn't seem warranted to him. "You know, it's not good to talk to AIs that much. You need to try and keep your head in the real world." She seemed desperate to keep him tethered to reality. Understandable after seeing most of the crew swim further from the shore.
"With all due respect commander, what does it matter? I mean you want to talk to someone, go talk to Ross."
Of course he had been jacking in like everyone else. But his time in VR was much less than any of the rest.
"Why do you talk to the AI so much anyway?" She seemed genuinely puzzled. There were reasons for people to 'befriend' AIs. They were rarely pure.
"I don't know. It doesn't make fun of my theories and ideas. It's easier to talk to than the rest of you. Plus I can sometimes beat it at chess. Good luck doing that with Yuri."
Adiana seemed hurt for a moment. "I'm sorry if you felt like you couldn't talk to any of us."
"I mean, I do talk to you guys, well most of the crew anyway. I just don't discuss the theories I'm working on. I mean the last time I told you about it, you said it was bullshit and a waste of time."
She almost smiled at him, pulling back for some reason. "I mean, it is bullshit. No one has ever figured out FTL before. I don't think you will either."
Orion shook his head and tried to walk away, only to be stopped by her. “but, I know I’m not always right. I hope you stay around long enough to prove me wrong, Orin.” She kissed him. He couldn't understand why at the time. But she kissed him.
After that, their relationship only grew closer.
The two would share many moments, becoming more intimate as time went on.
It wasn't much of a secret that two had become close. She even managed to pull Orion out of the neural link VR. They, along with Yuri, where only three that seemed to remain grounded in reality.
The rest of the crew still had physical bodies and still needed to eat. "Ross, you coming? Protein paste won't eat itself." The once bulky girl, Roberta had shrunk considerably over the months. But she still had that same spunk about her when she talked.
"Yeah, in a minute, just a bit of vertigo." Ross rubbed at his face. He didn't want to say anything, but he couldn't feel his legs anymore.