Chapter 36. Realization.

NASA was completely transformed when Jack and Jessica took over its management. Their original crew was assigned to running the major operation divisions, with robot aid.

One of the biggest changes was the incorporation of a new division of  sentient robots from Azteka. These robots had more android-like bodies that made them resemble humans.

One of these, Mog, was assigned to Jack and Jessica as an advisor. What it revealed was terrifying when they asked for more information about the result of the pandemic.

"The human population is presently at fifteen percent of its previous level. China suffered the largest fall, with India and Africa coming in at ten percent of their original levels. America is at twenty percent. The main problem is the loss of male lives, which is at five percent overall."

Jack rubbed his face. "That's apocryphal."

"There's nothing we can do about it now," Jessica said. "All we can do is make sure that there's no further danger from space."

"It looks like our days of going out on missions is over. Robots can take over that job."

"That was inevitable," Jessica said.

"What's our staffing situation?"

"We have thirty-five females and five males working here," Jessica revealed. "We now have twenty-five robots, not including the two that serve us. More robots are on the way."

Jack sighed. "I'm thinking that robots will be taking over the planet. Human life is at the danger point of extinction."

What Mog revealed was ominous. "There are methods to hatch humans from genetic material."

"Is that being explored?" Jack asked.

"We have current experimental runs in progress."

Jack wondered who 'We' were. Did this mean that robots were experimenting with human reproduction."

He decided not to press the issue.

"What's our current mission status?" he asked Mog.

"Your vessel is currently on a mission to establish a new presence on Mars and the Valiant is surveying the inner section of the Kuiper Belt."

"I understand that the Kepler telescopic probe is surveying nearby solar systems," Jessica said.

"That's the massive telescope that can view exoplanets," Jessica said. "It should be able to ascertain if there are any intelligent aliens out there."

"Assuming that they're not depleted like we are," Jack said.

"What happened to us is a lesson," Jessica said. "Humans need to stop being bad actors and learn to be peaceful. What has happened is the result of fools trying to dominate the planet. That doesn't work. What's needed is peace and tranquility. We humans are no better than any other living species on this planet. We just have bigger brains. We need to learn that life is precious and needs to be preserved."

"Maybe this pandemic and its aftermath will make people use common sense," Jack said. "We must embrace one another and learn to live in peace."

No one could argue against that.

Hopefully.

Thanks for reading.