Thomas was busy helping the drones connect one the machine parts printers' outputs to the input of the Drone Constructor when the airlock began to open and shut. The person that had invaded and overtook his Android 1.2 body began gliding through the storage dock, clipped onto the safety bars. When the woman finally noticed him, she was shocked and began to retreat.
He had figured she already had ample opportunity to sabatoge the mission objective and she had seemed genuinely upset, so he took a softer approach with her. "I'm almost done." He explained calmly through their helmet intercoms. She jumped at the sound like a mouse scared of its own tail. He chuckled. "I'm Tom. Who are you?"
Jessica floated silent for a while, her thoughts running a million miles a minute. "I'm Jessica" she lamely replied.
"Well Jessica, I'm finished connecting the machines we need to get some more helping hands around here. How about we head up to the Control Room and you can take a look at what the next step will be. On the way, how about you tell me how you got uploaded into a loaded A.I. core." He said as he pushed his way towards her ushering her out of the airlock.
As they removed and stored the suits, Jessica was explained, "I was kissing my boyfriend, and when I opened my eyes I was this." She said gesturing the body. Sheepishly she admitted, " But Darren probably did this. The last thing he said was If anyone should live through all this, its you and he was a brilliant hacker. I mean I know hacking is wrong, but it was like watching an artist... paint... Sorry." She said as her voice began to hitch. Androids couldn't cry, but their expressions still mimicked their true human emotions.
As much as he pitied the girl for the responsibility she was about to bear, he felt relieved. Since the body she wore was keyed into the Control Room, she was now responsible for all decisions in creating a sustainable and stable habitat for all Earth's lifeforms. Since she could rely on him in times of crisis, this wasn't going to be a mission failure. As long as he existed he refused to let humanity die. He just hoped they would get along.
Leading her to the control room he asked, "What did you do before?" he asked, purposedly not stating before what. Just before. The before. Before they had no home. Before when cities of humans sprawled across the continents. Before when families lived in their warm homes surrounded by thier children and grandchildren. This is the world they needed to build again.
"I was a college student. I hadn't picked a major yet." She told him.
He persed his lips. It could have been worse. She was a blank slate and could be useful. He began explaining the mission she had been volunteered for.
"Okay. So this is where the magic happens." He started with a smile. "As you can see we can't support human life yet. We need to develop and build their basic needs before we begin fertilizing eggs." He pointed to the machines, now online and on the once black computer monitors. "The drones that we have harvest the Meteors are full of resources we need that drones will mine, carry, and sort, from iron to oxygen. The processor breaks the rocks down to a useable ingot. The ingots get fed into building materials and machine parts which can make more drones. You following me?" He asked her. She nodded, focused.
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"Sit down and strap in please. You are the android controlling the development of the ship now, whether you want the responsibility or not." He said sternly, analyzing her determination. She gulped, and followed the instructions. The screens popped up like they did before, except there were new building options now.
Tom continued, "So humans have basic needs, most think of as food water and shelter. We need to grow and store food, and water to start with. After that we can work on growing medical supplies. I suggest we have at least a chicken farm and a pig farm before the children are born. We have enough resources provided to make two androids per four children. Fortunately I hadn't made my companion so I could make myself a new body."
"I'm sorry." She apoligized again.
"It's okay." He exhaled. "I didnt know the other A.I.s selected. It could have been a real nightmare. I just hope we can get along. Theres a massive file of stored A.I.s when the android builder unlocks." He guided her to the file so she could find it on her own. "They can't be deleted." he said, seriously. "These A.I. are gonna be assigned to androids needed to carry out complicated tasks that align to their specialties. A.I.s can obtain knowledge outside their specialty but you have to trade memory space. That's a whole thing we can get into later. For now I'd rather you just learn. Our Earth memories are precious now." He said wistfully.
"So for now we get water and algae tanks built, then we start farming. Stars are harvested every two months to fuel the ship. It will probably be at least six months before we can start having children and developing android parents." He concluded.
"Android parents plural?" She asked him, quizzically.
"In order to support the emotional needs of the children, they determined four children to be assigned to two android parents. A.I.s have their listed preferred gender, and I hope no one else was confused about that questiom..." he mumbled off at the end.
"You were confused about your preferred gender? I can see how the choice could be difficult." She empathized.
"No, when they asked me which gender i preferred I thought they meant sexually." He said laughing at himself, "hence the-" he wildly gestured to her whole body. She burst out laughing, breaking the tension in the room.
"I kinda like it. Being a pretty machine isn't a bad thing. At least I don't look like a machine. Its hard to feel like a machine. I feel real. I mean, we are real and alive in a way right?" She questioned beginning to circle around in her thoughts.
"We are as real as we want to be. Now, set that drone constructor to make continuous construction and labor drones for the buildings we need next. I may not need it anymore, but I cant wait to plant some coffee beans." he said, smiling. "I need to plug in for a little while. See if you cant get production moving while I'm sleeping." He said, stifling a yawn.
"Yeah, sure. Do you need me to wake you up or anything." she gently inquired.
He explained, "Androids can't wake during a full charge, which this new body is in need of right now. Are you confident enough to take lead on this now?"
"Yeah, sure get some rest. I can do this." she replied with more confidence than she felt.
The next few minutes were spent opening the menus and selecting the types of drones she needed produced. Adjusting the settings, she set the drone constructor to create as many drones as it could for the next 6 hours. Meanwhile, she pulled half of the labor drones from the meteorite and put them to work building the farm addition to grow the first round of crops.