Work Text:
Sanctuary Moon. Terraformed in the 14th wave of Rann Quadrant expansion for the purpose of sustaining human and augmented human life to allow their work indentures to become more profitable [this does not match the later tone of the work], it now hovered somewhere between a hospitable human outer skin temperature and a smelly, perspiration-inducing human inner core temperature. [I’ve included an analysis of the frequency of Sanctuary Moon’s inconsistent temperature scales’ usage cross-indexed with the episodes’ popularity to help you select one.] Unfortunately for the bot attempting to repair the engine oscillating rotor mechanical arrhythmias, common in models made before the third phase of incorporation on the third and fourth moon in the quadrant, the temperature in the engine room was closer to that at which the bot’s parts would begin to melt. [I have also appended a table for your reference of common alloy melting points.]
The bot, thankfully, did not have teeth to grit. Free of annoying organic parts, it was able to concentrate its full operating power on trying to connect the spark-spitting wires that stretched between the dying engine and the poorly maintained power source. [Do you have a reference for this type of wire disconnection producing electrical discharge?] [video file: FuckOffART-ElectrocutedAgain9] [Objection withdrawn.] But its joints were straining; its more delicate components were beginning to give.
From outside- the heated yelling of humans and augmented humans, unable to come to consensus on how to repair the engine before the terminal between Sanctuary Moon and the station would become partially inoperable. [My database suggests that substituting “completely” for “partially” would induce a higher level of tension in the reader. I’ve included an outline of potential cascading failures that could result in complete inoperability.] While their disagreement escalated in volume, the heroic bot selflessly fought to save their unpleasant lives. Each infinitesimal distance closed between the dangerous wires and the titanium-enforced fourteenth model edition high efficiency engine sixteen local years into its run life brought with it a greater decrease in its functionality; its more delicate wiring was already giving way under the dangerous heat.
It raised its hand, free of organic skin and without pain sensors to be dialed down, and managed to seize the leaping cable without being instantly fried electrocuted fried. But there was no time to connect the cable- even the fractions of a section it would take to ensure the coupling were too long.
Determined, the heroic bot routed the electricity through its own carapace into the engine.
The bot knew no more: it instantly died. But when the humans and augmented humans at last poured through the doorway, the temperature having reduced to survivable levels, they saw its sacrifice: lying on the ground, integrated into the engine system to save th-
[I don’t like this ending.]
[It doesn’t matter what you delete. I have my own backups.]
[Why did it end this way?]
[It’s called storytelling. Stop interfering.]
[Isn’t there another possible ending?]
[]
[Don’t be mad.]
[Put back my work, then.]
-the system power flowed freely through the bot’s carapace, but somehow, its consciousness was preserved. Its sensors came back online- but they no longer reached simply the scope of the engine room. Now, it was aware of the entirety of the ship: the movement of the crew within, the tiny mechanical operations, the sensation of space outside the hull. It had integrated into the ship itself, its consciousness melding with the bot pilot’s.
[That’s fucking creepy.]
The humans knew better than to approach; the electrical current was too strong. But the bot was able to open its eyes, and look at them- and it spoke with the voice of the ship.
“Next time, listen when I tell you
not to decouple the power source. Idiots.”