"So, do you ever do more than flirt?" I ask in between kisses.
I slept with Scope the other night, sure, but that was just fucking. There wasn't a connection with him, really. There must be something wrong with me, that I connect better with a robo…
I open my mouth to answer, but his question interrupts me. I smile, looking at him.
"Yeah. In a week or so." I answer. I go to bite my nail again, but stop myself, still smiling at him.
"What time is it? I don't have to go right away..." I say, bl…
I'd seen pictures of her and we did look eerily alike. I don't think I'm related to her, but with the way the government saved DNA, who knows? "Not related that I know of, but you were right about me being spacefolk."
I put the van back in drive, m…
I smile- he thinks I'm pretty!
"So did I really look familiar or was that just a line?" I say- interested in the answer, but also trying to fluster him a bit.
"Oh." I say. It's dumb, but I can't think of anything else. I sit there, awkwardly.
I know they'd been making AIs for a while, but I had no idea they'd sent one on Far Point. It makes sense, really, but I have a hard time wrapping my brain around i…
I take my foot off the gas and the van slows down. "What?"
That's impossible. There is no way he could have survived over a hundred years in stasis while conscious. And yet... why would he lie?
I stop the van and put it in park in the middle of no…
"Alright, if you insist!" I say, climbing behind the wheel.
I look over the dash. I can totally do this. I put the van in drive and hit the gas- not flooring it, but not being all timid about it, either.
"So how long ago did you wake up?" I ask hi…
I stare at him, surprised. "You sure you want me to drive? I haven't been behind a wheel in like a hundred years."
The keychain has a little fox on it. That's weird. Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved foxes- so beautiful.
I press my hip against his and comb my fingers through my hair self-consciously. He seems to be into me, but I'm not sure if it's just for the night.
I nod my head at the interior of the van. "So where do you sleep, anyway? What is all that stuff?"
"Thanks." I say, taking the bag and radio, not knowing what else to say. I think about the trip tomorrow- about the danger, about Union. I wonder if I should tell Svenja about the lack of spaceports. My mind is going in circles around the fact that …
Oh, man- that smirk! Makes me forget about my troubles, that's for sure.
"Yeah, Kiddo took a shine to me. Helped us get back to Boomtown, set us up with jobs and such. She's young, but I guess everyone here is. She certainly can handle herself in a…
I follow his instructions on the water. "Damn." It was the best tasting thing I've had since waking up- not that the food Caesar cooked up at Loot's was bad, but this... reminds me of home.
"Oh, I'm sorry." I say, making eye contact. I want to do,…
I wipe my mouth on my sleeve and sit back. "No. It was a memory- from before."
I take a deep breath. "It's ok. It's just a side effect. I had too much to drink, probably. First time since waking up."
I put my finger up to my mouth to chew my nail …
I let him move my hand and put it back down in my lap, keeping very still.
Of course he would have family or descendants to go back for. Why would he want to stay on this trash heap? And even if that signal never reaches a soul, working towards it …
"So, what now? Is there a spaceport on this planet?" I ask.
My feelings all tangle in a knot. A weight I didn't know was there is lifted now that I can actually talk about being from a different planet. I wonder what he'll do, now that we know each…
"Caesar, me, Svenja. There were more containers, but the ship was damaged. We had to get out of there. It wasn't the ship we were supposed to be on- it was a junkship. Somebody threw us away."
And there it was. I had no idea where this planet was o…
My head is reeling. I have to force myself to take a few slow, steady breaths until I can think again.
"It was barely a blip on the news, but when I joined I read up on the past programs. " I tell him. I noticed he didn't answer my question, deflec…
"Far Point!" I can barely believe it. "That was the first one! How long have you been awake?" My head almost spins. A hundred and forty three years... Far Point was seventeen years before my program, Orion Alpha.
I put my hand up to my head. "You s…
"It's beautiful." I let out the breath I was holding.
I swallow hard and close my eyes, all trace of mirth gone. "I honestly don't know." I answer truthfully. I open my eyes and look at him. "How long have you?"
"The Starry Night!" I gasp when I see it. "That's my favorite." I practically whisper. After I finished school, I worked at a private hospital for a while- it catered to some of the richest of the rich. That gated building contained some of the most…
I put my drink down and lean in close to him, biting my lip. There is something off about him- I'd noticed it before and forgotten, but... Now I can't stop noticing it. But that smirk!
I smile. "Yeah.
I look over to see Svenja leaving. I think we'…