Mission Complete.

    Michael stood at the base of the airlock, gripping the tether to which his partner, Asher, who was no less than fifty feet out into space, was attached. A static voice sounded through Michael’s radio. “Gimme a little more?” It was Asher. Michael looked at the tether in his hands, then followed it down to where it was connected to the ship. He frowned.

    “There isn’t much left to give, sorry,” he responded. It was hard to make out what Asher said in return, as he was pretty far out of the surprisingly low-quality radio’s reach, but he seemed to be asking to be pulled back in. He obliged, slowly reeling Asher back in like a fish. Once his partner reached the ship, Michael held out his hand to help him back in. To his surprise, however, Asher shook his head.

    “No, I’m going to launch myself off the ship. I think I can make it there,” he mused, turning away from Michael. 

    “Make it where?”

    “There’s one of those space rocks that was just a few feet out of my reach; I’m going to get it,” Asher said, none too patiently, and grabbed onto the railing. He prepared to push off.

    Michael squinted off in the direction Asher was aiming, and it took him a good twenty seconds to see a very small speck of something in the distance. “That’s really far.”

    “That’s why I need the momentum. Just hold onto the tether.”

    “I still don’t thi-” Michael shook his head. Knowing Asher, there was no way to convince him at this point. He’d just have to get over there and realize that it was too far away. “Whatever,” he said, finally relenting. “Just don’t blame me when it doesn’t work.”

    “Sorry, can’t hear you, too busy not being a coward. Anyway, three…” Michael gripped the tether. “Two….” He stepped backward, just in case he would be flung forward. “One….!” Asher pushed off, speeding through the void like a jet. “Don’t let go!” This request quickly became little more than static. 

Michael held the tether with a vice grip and stared after him. There was no way he’d reach it. But he continued watching as he got closer…closer…

Snap. Michael’s blood ran cold. The rope-like tether snapped in half. Asher kept going, and never stopped. Frantic, Michael shouted into his radio. “Asher, grab the tether!” All he received was static in response. “Asher! Asher!” 

Nothing.

It could’ve been hours, it could’ve been days that Michael knelt on the floor, staring glassy-eyed out into space. Before long, there wasn’t even a trace of his friend. Eventually, his oxygen tank beeped a warning, and the door to the airlock shuddered shut.

Without any companionship, the large ship felt empty. The stark whites and grays of the interior that used to look new and fresh now felt cold and uninviting. The bland food used to be a point of mocking conversation, but it was now just bad. Sometimes when a door would stall while opening, the split second of waiting felt like ages. It was lonely. For nearly four months time crept by like a slug.

Clang. Michael stood idly as the door to the control room clambled open. He entered the room, shivering as the temperature dropped at least eight degrees (he had to convince the home base to fix that at some point). A beep beep beep signaled yet another decalibration that needed to be fixed. Hadn’t Michael done this just last week? Grumbling, the astronaut made his way over to the computer to rewire it. As he messed with the guts of the machine, though, his eyes wandered over to a black screen underneath one of the windows of the control room. It was a computer. Several months prior, Asher and Michael had attempted to power it up, but to no avail. All they had gotten was an error message saying that there was data missing. 

He stared at it for a second, then quickly finished his work. After the navigation monitor stopped beeping, Michael walked over to the computer, as if in a trance. His reflection stared back at him in the empty monitor. Why now? It seemed to ask him. Why, after all this time, did he decide to mess with this computer again? He didn’t have a good answer for that; maybe it was fate, or maybe it was just sheer boredom. Either way, Michael bent over the keyboard and turned it on. He then stepped back and waited for a sign of life. He waited…and waited…and waited. He was almost ready to give up and leave when the screen turned to a light gray, and a face appeared.

Michael jumped back. His breathing quickened, and his heart pounded in his chest. He was hardly able to get a hoarse word out: “Asher?” 

The face matched that of his friend. It was in an uncanny valley, of sorts. Its brown eyes were just too unfocused, its dark hair was too still, its skin was too smooth. The way that it shifted aimlessly, in a way that wasn’t quite human sent a chill down Michael’s spine. 

The figure on the screen paused, then spoke. “Hm…Correct!” The text appeared in a box, and its mouth moved open and shut. “My name is Asher Weede. I am an Artificial Intelligence created by the National Organization of Planetary and Experimental sciences to aid you in your research.” The voice itself sounded like a slightly higher quality version of a voice assistant in any phone. It did seem peppy, though, if that were possible for a computer. 

Michael didn’t know what to think of it, but he did know one thing. It wasn’t like the Asher he knew. His Asher didn't have a resting smile, like the one on the screen did as it seemingly waited for Michael to say something. But still, staring at the face that he knew so well, even though he knew this wasn’t his friend, something inside him couldn’t let it go. 

He had to say something, though. “Um…why?”

The AI stared blankly at him. Finally, it said, “Sorry, that question is too vague. Could you elaborate?” It reset back to its resting position.

“Okay, well, why do you exist?” Michael figured he should’ve felt bad about being so harsh, but it’s not like the AI had feelings.

“Hm…” It’s face shifted to one that looked like it was thinking, with the stereotypical hand on the chin. It seemed crudely made. “I am an Artificial Intelligence created by the National Organization of Planetary and Experimental sciences to aid you in your research,” it repeated. Michael rolled his eyes. Of course, this thing likely had a set bank of responses that it could use. He sighed; he didn’t want to deal with this right now. He walked up to the monitor, and powered it down. The AI didn’t react at all.

Michael left the control room and began to wander the halls aimlessly. He just couldn’t get that AI out of his mind. Why? Home base never told Michael or Asher about it. Maybe they thought it wasn’t a necessary detail to bring up? Michael laughed mirthlessly under his breath. Surely the fact that there was a robot of Asher on board would be a ‘necessary detail’. Whatever, he decided. He would just ignore it. It didn’t matter. He was doing just fine without it.

It wasn’t five hours before Michael was back in the control room, staring at the blank monitor. Curiosity was eating away at him from the inside, and he couldn’t stop himself from winding up back here. “May as well,” he muttered, and turned the computer back on.

It was static for a moment, and Michael frowned, but then the face popped back up. The AI was back. “Hi! My name is Asher Weede. I am an Artificial Intelligence created by the National Organization of Planetary and Experimental sciences to aid you in your research. What can I do for you?” This time, its voice seemed more animated than it had been before. Its movements followed its speaking patterns, and Michael was taken aback. Last time, it had just waited awkwardly for him to say something, yet this time, it was automatic.

Something about its physical features was different too. Instead of trailing away, its eyes seemed more fixated on Michael. It’s hair bounced with its movements. He was just too stunned to say anything, and the AI continued to speak:

“You appear to be troubled,” it said. “Are you in need of assistance?” 

“Oh, uh-” Michael froze. He didn’t expect this from the computer. He had to compose himself. “I would like to know what your purpose is. Like, why are you here? Why do you exist?” 

“Good question! I am here to aid in your research in any way that would be appropriately useful,” it said. “I can connect to the ship and its programs, and I can be used as a direct line to the Natio-”

“National Organization of Planetary and Experimental sciences, I know,” Michael cut in. So this thing could actually connect to home base? He narrowed his eyes; after Asher’s disappearance, he spent two hours sending SOS messages home, and never got an answer to any of them. In fact, he hadn’t even heard from them this entire trip.

“I can also identify nearly any substance you show me, I can retain up to eighty-six years of conversation memory, and I know every language on Earth!” Its face rearranged into a grin. Michael would almost think that it was proud of itself, except for the fact that it was just an AI and literally could not have feelings. 

“Right…” Michael responded. So far, this AI seemed more useful than it appeared before. Perhaps it received an update in the time Michael was gone? Or maybe it was like a chatbot, and evolved as it continued to have conversations. 

“Oh, I would also like to request that you do not power off this computer,” the AI said, interrupting Michael’s thoughts. “The one thing I do not have is an autosave feature and I do not want to be reset!”

“Hang on, didn’t you just say that you have, what, eighty-something years worth of conversation to save?” 

The AI’s face shifted to look flustered. “I do have eighty-six years of storage, but that is only if I am powered on for all that time. I apologize for the inconvenience.” 

Well, at least it apologized. But really, what good is creating a helper if it loses its memory every time it powers down? Michael rolled his eyes. Seriously, he was losing more and more faith in the National Organization of haphazardly chucking people into space every day. “Unfortunately, I can’t spend every waking hour of my day---and nor would I want to---in here, so you might get bored.”

“I can not get bored, so you are in luck,” the AI responded cheerfully. It didn’t react at all to Michael’s accidental insult. “You need not worry about me in the slightest.” Michael couldn’t say he was, but it was still nice to receive confirmation. 

Little more was said between them, and Michael awkwardly made up an excuse and left. The next few days went by pretty consistently: Michael would get up, check the navigation, have a chat with the AI, go to the observatory to study the stars for awhile, retreat to his quarters for a bit, run some tests, check the navigation and chat with the AI again, and then go to bed. 

It took a week for Michael to finally find it in himself to ask the question that had been burning in his mind: why did this AI share a likeness with his dead friend? 

Michael ducked under the door to the control room, as it was rather slow that day. He stood up, did a quick check-over of the navigation, then made his way over to where the AI was waiting. “Hello, Michael! It is good to see you this morning,” it greeted. “Do you have any tasks for me?”

“Today I just have a question,” Michael replied. He pulled over a chair and sat down. “Your name is Asher Weede, correct?”

The AI’s face nodded. “Yes, that is my name.”

“Why?”

The AI paused for a moment. It almost looked taken aback. “Sorry? I do not understand your question.”

“Your name, your face, it’s all the same as my friend. He was here too, he was with me, but h-”

“Yes, I know Asher.” The AI was calm, and it still returned to that resting smile. “I know every detail about him.”

Michael froze. “Every detail?” What was that supposed to mean?

“Because I was modeled after him, I have stored all of his information, from his blood type to his height and weight to his sexuality,” the AI said smoothly, like this was common knowledge. “I also have notes on how he handles different scenarios, who he gets along with, and his hopes and fears. Why do you ask?”

Michael stood, aghast. He focused on one word. “...modeled?”

“Yes! Asher was the first available model to claim, and so that is who I inhabited. I have copied his physical information to a T, and though the mental and personality compartments still need work, I-”

But it was cut off. Michael had stood up and slammed his hand on the power button. He was shaking. What. The. Hell. He sat back down. He was like a white-hot fire; so angry that he could barely even feel it. Modeled, the AI said. It took Asher’s identity, his personal information. That’s why it never worked before: because it didn’t have an identity to steal. He sighed and slumped in the chair, staring at his disheveled reflection in the dark screen. He could not deal with this.

It was over a week before Michael approached the computer again. Maybe he had misunderstood, he convinced himself, and home base really thought it knew what was best for Michael. After all, as much as he hated to admit it, he didn’t dislike conversing with the AI. 

He took a deep breath and turned back on the computer. This time, the static took longer, but at last, the face of the AI appeared yet again. “Hi there!” It greeted. Michael expected it to have improved again this time, but he wasn’t expecting this. It was almost perfect. Its eyes were focused, its expressions were spot on, it even seemed to be breathing. The audio was much more intonated. It was almost like Michael was talking to a real person. “I’m Asher Weede, and I’m an Artificial Intelligence created by the National Organ-” This time, it didn’t finish its sentence. It stopped talking, instead looking concernedly at Michael. “Sorry, are you alright? You seem upset. Is there anything I can do to help?” There was a sort of authenticity in its voice. It almost didn’t sound like a robot. 

“You told me last time that you were modeled or whatever after my friend, is that right?” Michael crossed his arms. He still didn’t like this. 

The AI blinked. It was quiet for a moment. “Ah. Well, I suppose that, yes, last time I was powered on I likely told you that,” it affirmed. “But only in the physical traits. Is that why you are upset? … I know it’s not something you want to hear, but I really do just want to help.” 

It took Michael a moment to respond. “I’m not mad at you anymore,” he said at last. It felt like a weight had been taken off his shoulders, yet it also felt like a fire had gone out. He set his head on his desk. “I’m just confused.” 

“I’ll explain anything that I can,” the AI responded. And it did. It explained that the computers are set up as failsafes in case anything were to happen to the members of the crew. They were designed to only be operational in emergency situations. 

After a little bit, Michael was satisfied enough. There was something about this computer that just made him feel comfortable. It felt real. He knew he probably shouldn’t be thinking like this, but he just got the impression that maybe it wasn’t just a computer. 

A few days later, Michael stopped in the control room. “Hey AI-Ash,” he called out. “You can contact home base, right?”

“Yep!” 

“Cool, I’ll be right back.” 

Michael returned shortly with his arms full of various space rocks. He dumped the pile on the table next to the AI and sat down. “Home base had Asher and me collect these rocks,” he explained. “Apparently, they haven’t been documented yet, and they wanted some samples.” The AI nodded and Michael held up one of the rocks. “If you could send home base a pi-”

Before he could finish, though, the AI immediately pulled up a screen of results. “Ah, pallasite! I know that one! Here, have some resources on it.” Michael just stared at the screen, confused. Hadn’t home base said that they knew nothing of this? He held up another one. “A carbonaceous chondrite! Those contain water, sulfur, and other stuff!” A new string of results showed up. Michael narrowed his eyes. That was suspicious. He repeated this process five more times. Every single time, the AI was able to identify it without fail. “Are you quite sure that they told you that none of these have been documented? Because every single one so far…” It trailed off. 

Michael was standing up now. “I’m quite sure,” he said. That’s why he and Asher were sent up here. That was the entire reason why Asher had gone out that day. Asher died for these rocks. His pulse quickened. The navigation computer started beeping again. The lights flickered. If the organization didn’t send him up into space for the rocks, then why did it send him up into space? “AI-Ash, please send a request to home base to bring us back.”

The AI nodded. “On it.” After a moment, though, its face turned from concentration to confusion. “Huh… that’s not right.” Then to shock. “I can’t access the computers,” it said. 

“What do you mean, you can’t access them?!”

“I mean the connection is blocked!”

The lights flickered. They flickered again. The beeping grew louder. The lights flickered again. Michael looked around and his eyes landed on a drawer. He yanked it open.

“What are you doing?!” The AI yelped. “The power is going down; you have to get out of the control room!” His big eyes glistened with concern. The screen flickered.

Michael grabbed a flash drive from the drawer. “Saving you, obviously,” he hissed. If the power went down, then the AI went down with it. He jammed the flash drive into the side of the computer. “Reach out to any possible nearby ships and send an SOS. Forget home base.”

“I don’t think there are any-” The AI’s words were jumbled, and the screen blinked on and off. “I can’t fi- oh!” The monitor now was off more than it was on. “Sent an emergency message.” Michael didn’t respond; he was busy backing up all the files. 

“Michael, I don’t think you can-” The screen turned dark, and so did the rest of the room. All he could do now was hope that it worked. He pocketed the flash drive and ducked under the door before it shut.

He navigated the dark until he found a staircase. If his memory served him right, this was where the emergency power reserves were located. He turned on his flashlight and shone it around. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he figured he’d know it when he saw it.

Or not. His jaw dropped. Everything in the room was covered in a thick sheet of rust. How was that even possible? Michael brushed one with his finger, and orange dust stuck to it. “Jeez…” he muttered. It was completely inoperable. He wiped his hand on his pant leg. Well, there went that idea. 

Michael walked back over to the control room, but the door was already shut. In fact, most of the doors on the ship were mechanical, and almost all of them were shut. The only room that didn’t have a mechanical door leading to it was the observatory, so that’s where he went. He sat down. All he could do now was wait. Wait and hope someone received the AI’s message.

Michael had never been good at gauging time, but it seemed like hours before he heard a knocking on the roof. He nearly jumped out of his skin as he looked up to see a figure knocking on the window. They gave a little wave, then gestured to the airlock. Michael shook his head, he couldn’t open it, and the figure nodded, then pulled a giant crowbar out of nowhere. Oh! Michael quickly found his helmet, then came back, where the person was waiting. Thumbs up.

It happened so fast, Michael barely even knew what was going on. One moment he was standing on the ground, the next he was thrown off his feet. For a second, he was weightless, with hardly any time to panic, and then a hand gripped his arm. He had never been so happy to get his feet back on the ground once he reached the ship to which this person was attached. Once they were safely inside, both Michael and his rescuer took off their helmets. 

“We received your message and tracked your location,” his rescuer, a young woman, explained. “Sorry it took so long.”

“I’m just glad you got here at all,” Michael said. His pulse was still much quicker than normal. “I was getting worried that I was dead meat.”

“Nah, I gotchu,” the woman said, lightly punching Michael’s shoulder. “Anyway, my crew is currently throwing a room together for ya, need anything in the meantime?”                 

Michael was about to shake his head (all he wanted to do was collapse on a bed), but then he remembered the flash drive in his pocket. “You don’t happen to have a computer, do you?”

Minutes later, he stood in front of a small computer, with the flash drive in his hand. He swallowed hard, then plugged it in. He hoped that this would work. He turned on the computer and held his breath as the computer read the program. The computer went to static. That was a good sign, he thought? 

Then, the screen turned to a light gray and a familiar face appeared. “Hello! I’m Asher Weede, and I’m an Artificial Intelli-” It froze, mid-sentence, then seemed to realize what was going on. “Oh…Michael? Did it work?”

The astronaut grinned. “I think it did.” 

The woman, who he completely forgot was standing right behind him, spoke up. “Okay, I am so confused right now,” she declared.

They began to explain the whole ordeal to her, but the AI suddenly stopped. “Oh… It seems I just got a message from the Organization,” it said warily. Michael narrowed his eyes. A message box popped up in front of the AI’s face. 

Mission Complete.

Michael stared at it for a second. “Just delete it,” he said, and the AI complied. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling.