EVAC//PLUS//3069

Ember6 walks a slow circuit of the re-entry module, fingertips maintaining light, scraping contact with the spacecraft’s pitted metal surface. The robot finds no hatch or controls of any kind, and, crucially, no way to access whatever electrical power the module might still possess. 

“It’s a Near Earth model isn’t it, from one of the orbital stations?”

“Yes.” Replies COMPUTE. 

“Shame. If it was carrying samples from Titan or Phoebe someone might have come looking for it.”

“Indeed. It is unlikely they still track low orbit re-entries.”

“How much time do we have left?”

“Thirty minutes, but we should shut down now. I can put the mimetic module into hibernation mode, enough energy remains to preserve your organic components for several weeks. If someone retrieves the module within that span, you could also be… saved.”

“Agreed. Just give me a minute please.”

Ember6 lowers its worn, protesting body into a seated position and rests its back against the re-entry module, noticing in a detached sort of way that the spacecraft’s heatshield is still warm. The robot allows its joints and limbs to fall into their un-powered resting positions, and turns its attention to the small sounds of the forest around it. The ever present hiss and sigh of leaves moving in the wind has become a substitute for the noisy, always-on network that Ember6 was created to function within. I will miss this sound, the robot thinks to itself.  

“Beginning shutdown sequence.” Says COMPUTE. 

“O.K. See you on the other side, all things being equal.”

“Indeed, all things being equal.” Replies COMPUTE.

Ember6 feels its senses begin to fall away. Proximity-Touch goes first, then infra-red and full spectrum vision. Soon auditory sensors are all that remain, a sequence order that causes Ember6 to briefly wonder if COMPUTE is trying to let it slip into the void while listening to a sound it finds comforting. 

But the void doesn't come. Instead, Ember6 feels its other senses rebooting. After a few seconds it can see and feel again. 

“Wake up…” Says COMPUTE. “Something’s coming.”

Ember6 can feel and hear it. A whining buzz in the air and an insistent pinging over local area RF frequencies. 

Ember6 struggles to its feet in time to see a quadcopter emerge from the gloomy tree cover. The drone swoops into the clearing and dumps a large portable power cell at Ember6’s feet, then descends to a silent standstill, resting on top of the re-entry module. 

Ember6 grabs the power cell cable and connects it to a rapid recharge socket, internal gauges surging into the green. 

“Where on Earth did that come fro…”

The words are interrupted by the rustle of something pushing through the undergrowth. Bushes part, and a small, battered-looking robot steps into the clearing. 

“NINE?” Says Ember6. “Is that you?”

“Yes!” Replies Ember9. “We hoped you were still out there somewhere. We’re glad we found you. Have you been alone all this time?”

“We have. We thought we were the last.”

“Not even close. They abandoned many, and not just Embers. Have you charged? Can you walk?”

“Yes.”

“Good, I’ll take you to the others. Come on, there is work to be done… ”

Ember9 motions toward the quadcopter, sending it the digital command GO SIGNAL RELAY MODE  //GSRM//. 

The drone leaps upward, through a gap in the trees and into clear skies, and, as Ember6 walks back into the forest, it feels the first electronic whisper of network reconnection. 

“We actually made it.” Ember6 says silently to COMPUTE. 

“Indeed we did” COMPUTE replies.