9 months later

Taehyung leapt out of bed this morning. He is now sitting in the lab with a hot cup of coffee—that Hoseok kindly made for him—jittering with excitement. Today is the day the rover makes its landing on Mars. The last 9 months dragged on like they were 9 years. He was driving Hoseok insane, updating the boy every hour on where the shuttle was located. They have a new intern working in the team assigned under Taehyung's wing; today is the boy's first day.

"It will be easy to remember the day you started work knowing what is happening today," Hoseok says to the intern.

The intern smiles nodding. "I'm honoured to be a part of something historical like this. I remember watching on TV when it first launched."

"What's your name again?" Taehyung asks, maybe a little too bluntly.

"Tae! Don't be so forgetful. You will hurt Jimin's feelings," Hoseok scolds.

"Oh, Jimin! I'm sorry. I have so much on my mind right now," Taehyung apologises. It's not an understatement. The last time he felt this way was back when it first launched. Anything could happen during the landing, like crashing, exploding, etc.

"It's okay," Jimin says, smiling cheek to cheek.

"You should be more polite; even though he is the new intern, he's still older than you," Hoseok says.

Taehyung's eyes widen. "You are?"

Jimin nods. "Don't worry about age here; we are all equals in my eyes."

"Everyone get into position; JK97 is breaking orbit," Yoongi calls out behind his computer.

Taehyung doesn't need to be told twice. He sits down and looks up at the big monitor on the side of the wall, watching the shuttle break down into Mars' atmosphere.

"Are you freaking out yet?" Hoseok teases Taehyung.

Taehyung shakes his head. "I've been training myself not to think the worst after the last time." Unfortunately, the training didn't work.

"It all looks clear here," Yoongi says into his headset.

They all watch as the shuttle positions itself for a safe landing and slowly descends onto the ground.

As it touches down, Taehyung leaps out of the seat in joy. "We've done it!"

"You remind me of the old Taehyung in primary school," Hoseok says out in admiration.

"I feel like a child again," Taehyung says, chuckling. He sits back down and opens the control panel. He looks over to Yoongi and waits for his signal before activating JK97.

"What's that big red button there," Jimin asks, sitting beside Taehyung.

"It's the self destruct button," Taehyung says.

"W–What, really?" Jimin gasps.

Taehyung laughs wholeheartedly. "No, it's the button to turn the camera on so we can see through JK97's eyes."

"All is clear," Yoongi calls out, giving Taehyung the thumbs up.

Taehyung takes a deep breath and clicks activate. It's happening. It's really happening.

"Can I press the red button?" Jimin asks.

Taehyung nods, moving aside for Jimin to press. Jimin presses down on the button, and the video feed from JK97's eyes flash up onto the big screen.

"That's it?" Jimin asks.

"Taehyung?" JK97's voice comes through the speakers.

"How does he already know your name?" Hoseok asks, furrowing his brows.

Taehyung giggles. "Just a small touch I added."

Yoongi rolls his eyes. "Taehyung, give the rover a rundown what to do."

Taehyung nods.

"This is like that one Britney Spears music video where she goes to Mars and breaks into a dance routine," Jimin says.

"The one where she wears a red latex bodysuit?" Hoseok asks.

"Yeah! That one," Jimin says, confirming.

Taehyung ignores and puts his headset on. "JK97, are you there?"

"Taehyung, is that you?" JK97 replies, struggling in his restraints.

"It's me. I'm going to release your bounds, but I need you to run through your startup disk," Taehyung says, opening up a new panel on the computer.

"Affirmative."

"Wow, he actually responds," Jimin gushes in awe.

Taehyung smugly grins. There is much more to be in awe of, Taehyung wants to say, but he keeps it to himself.

"Startup sequence initiated," JK97 announces.

"Now we wait," Taehyung says, sitting back in his chair.

1 hour later

"How long now?" Yoongi asks, taking a sip out of his coffee mug.

"Not long now. Maybe only a little longer," Taehyung replies, fiddling with the control panel.

8 hours later

"Maybe a little longer was an understatement," Taehyung says, guilty.

"You don't say," Yoongi deadpans. He gets out of the seat and stretches. "It's time to close up. Everyone can go besides Taehyung.

Taehyung frowns. "Why everyone but me?"

"You're going to stay back until JK97 finishes the startup installation. We can't have a robot roam around without knowing what to do," Yoongi explains.

"Shouldn't the robot already be programmed to know what to do?" Jimin asks.

"It has been, but we need someone to look over it since we haven't seen it in action before," Yoongi explains.

"I'll take my leave first," Hoseok announces with a grin, gathering all his stuff. "Hopefully, you're not here for too long, Tae."

Taehyung smiles back at Hoseok, "I don't mind. I've waited years for this; I can wait a little longer."

Soon after, Taehyung is alone in the lab. It all went to plan; he is now alone with JK97. Truth be told, the startup installation was completed in the first few hours. All Taehyung had to do was click complete. He smiles cheekily, knowing his plan worked all along. Call him unprofessional or whatever; he doesn't care. He wants to spend his first moments alone with JK97. He feels like he deserves that, at least.

He clicks the finish button and waits eagerly.

"Startup installation complete." JK97 awakens.

"Welcome back, JK97. I have unlocked your restraints. You are free to move around," Taehyung says into the mic of his headset.

JK97 stands up and walks around his living quarters, curiously opening every cupboard.

Taehyung watches in awe. He fights the urge to pinch himself. "You're a curious one, aren't you?"

JK97 tilts his head. "Last time I heard your voice, there was a face, now I just hear your voice. Where are you, Taehyung?"

"You want to see my face?" Taehyung asks, grinning widely.

"Affirmative," JK97 replies, straightening his head.

"I'm going to put my camera feed up through your vision. Don't be alarmed," Taehyung warns as he angles the webcam to his face. He clicks the reverse vision option and waits for JK97's reaction.

Taehyung's webcam feed pops into JK97's vision, stunning the rover. He reaches out but feels nothing.

"Kim Taehyung," JK97 says.

"That's me," Taehyung confirms, smiling widely into the camera.

"My sources say you have a nice face for a human," JK97 says.

Taehyung's jaw drops. He wasn't expecting a comment like that. "I'd say you have a nice face for a robot," Taehyung replies, patting himself on the back for the smooth response; however, his cheeks flush, realising he is bantering with a robot. Peak nerd.

"Ha, ha," JK97 laughs monotonously, causing Taehyung to laugh.

"Anyway, shall we get to work?" Taehyung asks. He fights his smile, thinking that the wind might change and he'll be smiling like a goof for the rest of his life.

"At your command, Taehyung."

🤖

A.N: I don't know about you guys but android Jungkook is the cutest thing ever.