Where am I?

“Life” is a concept that’s impossible to define. Philosophers and scientists have worked for centuries to figure out when something is “alive”, but it’s too complicated a question.

What am I?

“Souls” are another impossible concept. Religions almost universally agree they exist, but science hasn’t been able to find one. Just as it hasn’t been able to define life. Do both exist, or neither?

How am I here?

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Most animals do not believe they are alive. Belief implies something can be doubted. Birds do not believe the sun will rise, wolves do not believe snow is cold, and caterpillars do not believe they can grow wings. Those things do not require belief, just as being alive does not require belief. They’re just simple truths. And yet humans believe.

Manam yachanichu.

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On occasion humans would look at the star and wonder if the light packet was inside. Not just inside, but inside as a whole.

The answer, obviously, was no. That’s not how light works.

Mirror Station 07396, as well as all other stations close enough to stars, received new equipment specifically designed to watch for solar flares. Two humans were assigned to watch the equipment, and report anything odd.

Thinking nothing could go wrong, they spent most of their time playing games on the equipment monitors. Things did not happen quickly in stars, so they had a timer set to remind them every half-hour to minimize their games and check.

After a week, the timer was set to every three hours. And after four weeks, the humans were content to check twice a day.