Although ALIEN had quietly stockpiled a large quantity of Negalis on Titan, its reserves were still insufficient to support intergalactic travel. If a solution to the eldest ring’s shortcomings was not found soon, the spacecraft might remain permanently confined to nearby star systems before ever discovering a planet with the necessary conditions for survival.
The current Negalis reserves are still enough for the spacecraft to maintain light-speed travel for a few more decades, Arnaldo thought to himself. Perhaps it would be wiser to slow down and conserve energy.
Despite being fully mechanized, Arnaldo still yearned for the life of a flesh-and-blood human. That was why he continued to maintain ordinary human habits, even when they were no longer truly necessary. Fortunately, the data his brain collected could be backed up directly into the ship’s shared memory system. Each backup cycle lasted a considerable amount of time, which allowed him to take advantage of it to briefly close his eyes and savor the sensation of being an ordinary human, if only for a moment.
Too many upheavals had occurred in recent days, pushing his memory capacity toward overload. He had promised himself that he would protect his two teammates, help them build brighter lives, and overcome their own inner burdens. He did not want either of them to lose the smiles on their faces and fall back into the same negativity as before. Arnaldo silently reminded himself that he needed to try harder, before setting all thoughts aside and slowly drifting into sleep.
…
Awakening within the long-term memory storage device, Arnaldo unplugged the connector at the back of his neck, his mind feeling refreshed, as though he had just emerged from a long dream. He sat there, carefully surveying his room. The minimalist arrangement eased his thoughts, giving his mind a sense of openness. The air carried a faintly sweet aroma of white rum, stirring memories that were difficult to forget.
With a metallic frame, Arnaldo had covered the hard floor with a thick, soft felt carpet to minimize noise when walking barefoot. He stepped down from the bed. Light from the lamp cast his elongated shadow across the carpet. After bathing, changing clothes, and slipping a long-sleeved shirt over his IVA suit, he moved to the small bar counter in the corner of the room, mixed himself a chilled mojito, then sank into the armchair to enjoy it. The chair’s squared form, wrapped in glossy black leather, vividly reflected the rigid, mechanical side of his personality. He sat there, slowly sipping the cool cocktail, his eyes following streams of specialized research documents on the display. Everything passed in calm silence, as though the day were merely another preprogrammed cycle running through his mind.
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The clock struck 21:30. Arnaldo had enjoyed a deep sleep and ample time to unwind. Now it was time for him to return to the control room and resume his duties.
He stepped over to the wardrobe, slipped the tie hanging from the rack around his neck, donned a silver-gray waistcoat, and draped a jet-black coat over it, its British-style lapels neat and restrained. On his left wrist rested a luxurious timepiece from a high-end fashion brand he greatly admired. He studied his reflection in the mirror, adjusted his tie one final time, and then stepped out the door with the composed elegance of a gentleman. To him, appearance was a living portrait that revealed the wearer’s inner world and personality. For that reason, he never allowed himself to be careless in any circumstance.
The spacecraft’s corridors were equipped with automated conveyor walkways, enabling faster movement. Astronauts could accelerate or decelerate depending on the pressure beneath their feet; they could even exploit the added acceleration to sprint from the bow to the stern of the ship.
Arnaldo stepped onto the conveyor, pressed lightly with the tip of his foot, and glided along the length of the corridor. At this hour, the spacecraft was likely en route to Neptune. Whether by coincidence or fate, the catastrophe had occurred at the precise moment when all the planets aligned on the same side. As a result, the journey of the three became all the more extraordinary, allowing them, within a short span of time, to observe nearly all the remaining planets of the Solar System.
The control room door slid open, and Arnaldo saw Tuan pressing his face close to the glass, staring intently at something beyond. Tuan’s shift coincided with the moment the spacecraft passed Uranus, and it seemed he had lingered to observe the final planet of the Solar System. There was still a considerable distance to cover, yet Tuan had willingly stayed on duty past midnight so that he could fully savor the appearance of Neptune.
The two chatted casually for a long while before Tuan suddenly widened his eyes and rushed back to the glass, captivated by the cold beauty of the icy planet. Only after the spacecraft had completely passed beyond Neptune did Tuan finally turn back with lingering regret, return to his sleeping quarters, and sleep until morning – leaving Arnaldo alone to continue working diligently, like a tireless bee in the control room.
