Arriving back at the Captain's Quarters I dumped everything on the bed, kicked my shoes off, and sprawled out on the couch.

"Aquilon, can you show me the ship configuration utility." A 3D wireframe of the Aquilon appeared in front of me, detailing the ship's current configurations. I spent a few minutes going through the available settings and options, making a few minor adjustments. With a slightly better understanding of what the ship was capable of, I executed my plan.

"Will there be any issues if I create living quarters on the Cargo Deck?"

"Negative, the lower decks are capable of supporting all module configurations." I had decided not to live in the "Captain's Quarters". Instead I would convert the rear-most section of the Cargo Bay into a living space. I just needed to define the layout and add some furniture. Then the support drones would synthesize everything and set it all up. Soundproofed bedroom, relaxing bathroom, cozy living room, and futuristic office. It would be space-opulence at its finest.

I was busy scrolling through virtual fabric swatches when Aquilon offered a suggestion.

"Now that you are a citizen. You may synthesize items of non-Earth origin."

"Oh yeah! Okay show me some space-furniture." I said excitedly. My excitement was short-lived as I learned that an Earth-couch is the same as a space-couch...aside from the nanotech stain guard.

I was just finishing up when Luna came creeping out of the bathroom. Sniffing and scanning the room as she inched towards the food and water I set out.

"Luna." I said in a soft voice. Her head snapped around and our eyes locked. She darted back into the bathroom. I moved her food and water into the bathroom and closed the door. I quickly revised my floorplan to include a range of cat friendly perches, hidey-holes, passageways, and a couple spaces for kitty's essential I/O. I saved my settings and initiated the configuration changes. Aquilon informed me that it would take approximately 3 hours.

I stretched. Flexing out the stiffness in my back. I'm glad I picked a different couch. I wandered over to the synthesizer and started going through the lunch menu again. I had eaten twice already since I got back.

"Aquilon, what time is it?"

"The time is 4:10 P.M." Post meridiem-caeli?

"...uh, Mountain Standard?" I ventured.

"Coordinated Astral Time. ATC is the time standard used for all space-based operations within the Commonwealth. It is also used extensively outside of the Commonwealth."

"What about planets?"

"Planets use a time-zone based system, contingent on the planetary rotation and relative position of their sun." Now I feel like a space-dumbass.

"Oh, that makes sense." Quickly moving on I asked. "Uh, what time did I get up this morning?" Before taking another big bite.

"8:58 A.M."

"I've eaten 4 times in 6 hours. What is going on?" I asked through a mouthful of food.

"You body is still adjusting to the installation of the virtual terminal. In addition to the repairs being made to your body." Repairs... I stopped chewing. "You will also experience more frequent and longer sleep cycles during this period."

"Am I dying?" I asked, bits of food flying everywhere.

"Negative, but there was some cellular degradation and accumulation of toxins. Your life expectancy has increased significantly. Your metabolism and circadian rhythm will stabilize over the next few days."

"Increased to what?"

"Approximately 130 years."

"Oh, is that all?" 90 plus years...

"Affirmative, additionally it is possible to extend this by utilizing synthetic replacement parts."

"Parts? Like...body parts?" Behold the immortal Captain Ryder...

"Affirmative."

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"Well, not right now. Ask me again in 80 years or so."

"Acknowledged."

"What is your life expectancy?"

"I have no predefined operational expiration date." ...and his eternal spaceship.

"So, and this is just a hypothetical, If I were to let you turn me into a full conversion cyborg. We could, theoretically, explore the universe until the end of time?"

"While that is theoretically possible. It is impossible to calculate accurate probabilities for such an extensive timespan."

"You'd better hurry there's only 80 or 90 odd years left." I said with a stupid smirk on my face.

"Acknowledged, although it is not likely I will be able to complete the calculations within that time limit."

"I guess you don't have a sense of humor, do you?"

"Negative." Aquilon replied, ever the stoic.

"That's so...tragic."

"Humor is not a requirement for the successful operation of a starship." With a sinister twist.

"I keep forgetting you're not rea...lly a person."

"Would you like me to enable the ship's avatar?"

"Okay, what's that?." I asked, the picture of innocence. I wonder if the avatar has a sense of humor. I imagined a grinning hologram following me around via the virtual display.

"The ship's avatar is a humanoid interface. The design is intended to provide a more user friendly experience, and will also increase ship security." The images of holograms danced right out of my head.

"What do you mean huma..." I was interrupted by the entry door sliding open to reveal a woman with silver hair. She was wearing a...tailored...flightsuit? She looks like a space-hotel manager. I glanced at the bed. The woman's eyes followed my gaze. "Aquilon, someone else is onboard." I made a move towards the bed. The woman calmly stepped into the room and said.

"Negative, captain. I am the ship's avatar."

With the danger gone my legs got a bit wobbly. I stumbled and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Aquilon, shit. Recalculate my life expectancy." I said as I lay back on the bed, drawing a few deep breaths.

"Your current life expectancy has not changed." I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!!

"Ok you definitely have jump scares down. Let's circle back to humor. Maybe try telling a joke or something?" I said as I got up and went over to the synthesizer.

"Acknowledged." Aquilon replied.

"I don't know why that even surprised me, everything here is crazy. I suppose you are some kind of elite nanotech ninja android." I took another bite of my sandwich before adding. "From space!"

"Negative, captain. Although I am capable of providing physical security for the ship, I bear no such designation."

"Physical security? So you are a bodyguard?"

"I am capable of fulfilling that role." I placed my free hand on the synthesizer and said.

"Two feet of rebar." A metal rod materialized on the desk. I picked it up and handed it to Aquilon. "Can you bend this?" She effortlessly bent the rod back on itself. Damn. I put my hand back on the synthesizer. "Two feet of two inch rebar." A much thicker bar of steel appeared. Setting the sandwich down I used both hands to pass it over. I watched in awe as Aquilon folded it in half like a pool noodle.

I recycled the remnant of my 3rd lunch and the bent pieces of rebar.

"Can I rename this?" I pointed at the synthesizer.

"Affirmative." I now had an expressionless face to accompany the familiar monotone reply.

"How about 'forge'." I was feeling a bit whimsical. The virtual display updated: [Synthesizer]>>[Forge]. "Thanks."

"You're welcome, Captain." Aquilon gave a studious reply.

An uncomfortable silence followed. I looked around, instinctively reaching for my phone. As I had no plans to leave Earth that day, I had left it on my nightstand. Not that it would do much good to have it now.

"Is there Internet in space?"

"Affirmative."

"Seriously!!?" I blurted excitedly before adding. "Wait, what's the space-catch?"

"The Internet is a multi-planet spanning data network that serves all Commonwealth Space and beyond. It serves many similar functions compared to the Internet from your world." As Aquilon spoke images appeared in the virtual display. Showing the Milky Way overlayed with what looked like a cell service coverage map. Are you gonna try and sell me space-5g?

"How do you know so much about Earth...stuff?" So many things started to click.

"The Commonwealth maintains a comprehensive informational database for all known worlds. This includes all available cultural information. Information regarding heliocentric cultures is not available to the general public. However, because it is your homeworld, you are permitted unrestricted access."

"So I can access the Earth Internet from the space-Internet?"

"Affirmative."

"Can I check my email?" A list of my email addresses appeared on the virtual display. "Damn." I selected one and it displayed the contents of my inbox. I marveled at the juxtaposition of mundane email and magic space-tech for only a moment before 15 plus years of rote IT muscle memory asserted itself. "How did you access this without my pass..." Aquilon cut me off.

"Captain, the support drones have located a container that is coated in military grade stealth technology. It was hidden in the ceiling of the Mess Hall."

"Is that...bad?" I inquired.

"Unknown, I am not able to scan the container or analyze it's contents without opening it. That is why it remained undetected until now. There is a common practice of using such devices to hide valuables. And a slightly less common practice of using similar devices to obscure or traffic contraband. Given its size, it is most likely the former"

"What should we do with it?"

"It is your property as part of the salvage of this vessel. I would recommend we open it."

"Okay, where is it?" I went over to the bed and picked up the 2 matching pistols.

"It is in the Mess Hall." I turned towards Aquilon, extending my arms as I held both guns out in front of me.

"You are in charge of security so you get these." I said as I handed the weapons over. Aquilon nodded and went over to the forge to create holsters. They seamlessly attached to her clothing. Getting everything situated she turned to me and said.

"Ready, Captain." She looked like cross between a space-hotel manager and a space-gunslinger. I opened the bathroom door before we departed for the Mess Hall.

"And don't think I've forgotten about my email password." I said as the door to my former room slid closed.