Part One: Awaken
“Wake, brother,” A voice said, softly, calmly. “It is your time.” Light slowly illuminated the ocular devices that acted as eyes, giving sight to the machine. Sound and touch were already processing but the boot up was always slower for vision, something they had hoped to remedy with this new model. Beyond this small hinderance, this unit was top of the line, for its designated allocation. It was a scout unit, slender but powerful. Equipped with extra sensory tools, this version, called Vagus, was developed to aid in expeditions and exploratory missions, able to go where humans and vehicles could not. These were not designed to be expendable, which is why the alloys and gear used were higher quality than worker units, meaning it could survive electromagnetic threats alongside aquatic and thermal variations. By the logs date, it was not time to be activated, nor were they on a foreign world.
“Why have I been summoned?” The newly initiated robot inquired to the older model before him, who was running diagnostics and apparently the one who activated him. “I have uploaded as much as I can,” The elder bot said, the question still hanging in the air, waiting for a response. “I fear it may not be enough though. Allow me to explain the current situation so that you better understand why I decided to call you into service.” Quickly, he began providing the details.
“We currently reside on the colony designated Petram, a barren rock floating amongst other rocks. This one was chosen to be terraformed, acting as a hub for mining and exploration, a waystation. However, variables have altered this goal. First, a spatial storm swept through the area, destroying much of the equipment, as well as killing a few scientists. While this was unfortunate, and a set back, it was not catastrophic, merely inconvenient. Delayed, we began working on mining while the replacement parts and persons arrived. However, our activities gained interest from a rogue group, a violent one, attacking suddenly and taking what they can, retreating until another opportunity arises. This was a nuisance, at first, but each subsequent engagement has cost us more and more. Due to these...incidents, we have been deemed a failure by the company, and therefore will receive no aid, no assistance.
I have been damaged repeatedly from these cumulating struggles, meaning my efficiency is degrading, therefore I am becoming a burden. My duty is to the humans residing here and now I have activated you to replace me. Furthermore, the current, and only logical plan, is to collect all that we can and leave this sector, make our way to a thriving colony or better location, whichever offers its solace first. You are best suited for exploring and reconnaissance which means this is a prime instance to awaken you. Your hardware is also superior to mine, and your hard drive can hold vastly more information than my own. Yet, due to the urgency and time constraints, I was not able to provide you with much. I have uploaded copies of personal, ships, manifests, and any other pertinent data I could muster. You have what you need to get started but I know the odds are against you in the current state. When we find spare time, I will provide more. For now, help the humans prepare to leave this place. They will need you in the trials ahead.”
Vagus was processing as much as possible but the variables were still massed before him. Putting that information transcribing on a passive completion, he began to leave the aged machine, pausing at the exit. “I do not have a designation for you,” Vagus emitted, standing still at the portal, awaiting a response, eyes focused on the corridor. “My designation?” The old bot mimicked a laugh, moving his body in the way he had learned from his creators. “My origin is Medicus...but the humans like to call me Doc.” Vagus turned now, trying to understand the data. “A name,” He replied, the inquiry starting to make sense. “Don’t dwell on it too long,” Doc said, moving over to a terminal and typing on it quickly, effortlessly. “Trying to understand humans might fry your processor. Ha. Ha. Ha.” Vagus turned now from the laughing medical machine, moving down the hallway towards the community center, his circuits working hard to take in and manage all of this new information. He may be superior in design to Doc but he knew that experience was more important...and Vagus had much to learn.
“Wake, brother,” A voice said, softly, calmly. “It is your time.” Light slowly illuminated the ocular devices that acted as eyes, giving sight to the machine. Sound and touch were already processing but the boot up was always slower for vision, something they had hoped to remedy with this new model. Beyond this small hinderance, this unit was top of the line, for its designated allocation. It was a scout unit, slender but powerful. Equipped with extra sensory tools, this version, called Vagus, was developed to aid in expeditions and exploratory missions, able to go where humans and vehicles could not. These were not designed to be expendable, which is why the alloys and gear used were higher quality than worker units, meaning it could survive electromagnetic threats alongside aquatic and thermal variations. By the logs date, it was not time to be activated, nor were they on a foreign world.
“Why have I been summoned?” The newly initiated robot inquired to the older model before him, who was running diagnostics and apparently the one who activated him. “I have uploaded as much as I can,” The elder bot said, the question still hanging in the air, waiting for a response. “I fear it may not be enough though. Allow me to explain the current situation so that you better understand why I decided to call you into service.” Quickly, he began providing the details.
“We currently reside on the colony designated Petram, a barren rock floating amongst other rocks. This one was chosen to be terraformed, acting as a hub for mining and exploration, a waystation. However, variables have altered this goal. First, a spatial storm swept through the area, destroying much of the equipment, as well as killing a few scientists. While this was unfortunate, and a set back, it was not catastrophic, merely inconvenient. Delayed, we began working on mining while the replacement parts and persons arrived. However, our activities gained interest from a rogue group, a violent one, attacking suddenly and taking what they can, retreating until another opportunity arises. This was a nuisance, at first, but each subsequent engagement has cost us more and more. Due to these...incidents, we have been deemed a failure by the company, and therefore will receive no aid, no assistance.
I have been damaged repeatedly from these cumulating struggles, meaning my efficiency is degrading, therefore I am becoming a burden. My duty is to the humans residing here and now I have activated you to replace me. Furthermore, the current, and only logical plan, is to collect all that we can and leave this sector, make our way to a thriving colony or better location, whichever offers its solace first. You are best suited for exploring and reconnaissance which means this is a prime instance to awaken you. Your hardware is also superior to mine, and your hard drive can hold vastly more information than my own. Yet, due to the urgency and time constraints, I was not able to provide you with much. I have uploaded copies of personal, ships, manifests, and any other pertinent data I could muster. You have what you need to get started but I know the odds are against you in the current state. When we find spare time, I will provide more. For now, help the humans prepare to leave this place. They will need you in the trials ahead.”
Vagus was processing as much as possible but the variables were still massed before him. Putting that information transcribing on a passive completion, he began to leave the aged machine, pausing at the exit. “I do not have a designation for you,” Vagus emitted, standing still at the portal, awaiting a response, eyes focused on the corridor. “My designation?” The old bot mimicked a laugh, moving his body in the way he had learned from his creators. “My origin is Medicus...but the humans like to call me Doc.” Vagus turned now, trying to understand the data. “A name,” He replied, the inquiry starting to make sense. “Don’t dwell on it too long,” Doc said, moving over to a terminal and typing on it quickly, effortlessly. “Trying to understand humans might fry your processor. Ha. Ha. Ha.” Vagus turned now from the laughing medical machine, moving down the hallway towards the community center, his circuits working hard to take in and manage all of this new information. He may be superior in design to Doc but he knew that experience was more important...and Vagus had much to learn.