Kim and Gauss are playing chess at their accommodation. Gauss joined the LB-159 as a warfare expert. He was in the army serving the Stars of Athens. Due to the complexity of the controlling everything from a central location, people started forming governments based on local star groups. He was injured during the War of the Planets. He was last of the few survivors. He retired soon after. When he got the chance to explore the space again, he did not hesitate for a moment. The adventure of the universe attracts him like honey attracts bees.
"Checkmate," Kim said.
"Well played, Kim." Gauss was bemused.
"Do you wanna go for a drink?" Kim suggested.
"Nah, I will order room service. I feel tired."
"You're only 47 and you already sound like you've aged a century." Kim chuckled.
"You are right. You know what, let's get a drink. I've heard they have some good drinks at the bar."
"Did GALOS say that to you?" Kim asked.
"Not really. Actually, I was the one that told GALOS about it. I have been here a long time ago. When I first joined the army, we were stationed here for a few months." Gauss recalled.
"Wow." Kim felt humbled.
"Let's get going. It will get crowded soon." Gauss smiled.
"Hey, are you guys going somewhere?" Aria called out towards them at the lobby.
"Hey, Dr. Yeah, we are heading to the bar? Wanna join us?" Gauss offered.
"If you would like me to." Aria brightened up with a smile.
"Of course, Aria. Come on let's go." Gauss said.
Riki and Lana took a trip to the exotic animal shop. Human fascination with animals and caging them up for their enjoyment has reached this universal point. Riki specializes in alien life but never got the chance to meet anything more complex than organic molecules of the asteroid. To him, genetically modified humans are a better example of aliens. Lana is more interested in biology and finds fascination in strange animals and plants and other exotic organisms. Their shared interest lead them to develop some sort of pseudo feelings for each other. In the ancient world, this was called primal attraction.
"Look at that creature with all those weird legs swimming in the water," Riki said. "This must be an alien"
"That's an octopus." Lana laughed, "This is native to earth. A very intelligent creature. I think this one is most likely genetically modified. In ancient times, they used to believe that octopuses could predict the outcome of sporting events."
"Could they?" Riki asked.
"Well, sometimes the octopuses were right but you know that they were mere coincidences," Lana replied.
"Well, let's see how this one performs." Riki took out two pieces of paper and scribbled something onto each one and dropped them in the aquarium. Of course, these papers were not made from trees like in the ancient world. The octopus took one piece of paper and threw it out of the container and buried the other piece under the little pebbles.
"What? What do these actions mean?" Riki looked confused.
"I guess it means don't believe in superstitious nonsense," Lana smirked.
"Hmm, let's keep moving." Riki continued.
"what did you write in those papers?" Lana asked.
"I wrote in one that we will go to K9 and the opposite in the other" Riki said sheepishly.
"Which one do you think the octopus picked if it picked one?"
"I don't want to find out." Riki winked at her.
Stein is sitting at his balcony at the accommodation and looking at the distance. Hundreds of spaceships hovering around the station. Throngs of people walking around the covered streets. People enjoying their time. Some moving busily. He had a little notebook in his lap. He was thinking about the singularity of the hyperspace-dive at black holes. The problem is one of the last few ones that puzzles the contemporary physicists. The solution of the problem could allow humans to completely understand and perhaps control black holes. Could we one day go into a black hole by hyperspace-dive? And maybe get out through the same tunnel back to reality without getting destroyed?
"Excuse me guys, I will head to the dance floor. Don't wait for me. See you later." Niki took her drink and headed to the dance floor.
"Oooo wow," Ruk was tipsy "That's my spirit animal."
Su and Tisha both looked at him disgustingly. Ruk is a spaceship engineer. He was always fooling around at the Space Academy. He has a reputation among the girls. Tisha and Su both have crushes on him. Well, they are helpless. He is so charming. Sometimes even genetic modification doesn't help the situation. Or maybe it does but at this moment they're too drunk to listen to their genes.
"Do you guys wanna head to my apartment?" Ruk suggested.
"NO!" Both of them screamed. It was calling for trouble. They didn't need this now.
"I am heading home. I suggest you do the same." Ruk said.
"Let's go together," Su said.
"Yeah, I am too drunk to be on my own to anywhere" Tisha agreed.
"The drinks are so good. What do you think they put in them?" Ruk closed his eyes feeling euphoric.
"Nanobots." Su said, "They are programmed to stimulate your synapses. You will not have a hangover. The nanobots will clear up the stimulating neurotransmitters once you fall asleep. No trace left."
"That's some legit technology." Ruk said, "Su, can you program them to stay longer? You're a brilliant computer scientist."
"Don't pressure me into it. I can do it but why?" Su was flattered.
"Do the nanobots get flushed with the feces?" Tisha asked.
"Yeah," Su said.
"Can you make them stay in the body? And like control them and get tipsy anytime you want?" Ruk asked.
"It should be possible," Su said.
"Let's get going guys" Tisha urged, "We have a mission. We need to check with the others."
"Yeah, let's get moving," Ruk said.
The last thing they noticed before leaving the bar was Niki dancing with someone on the dance floor. Good for her, they thought.
Lu watched as the clock hit 1600 hours. He has been waiting for fifteen minutes here at the headquarter of this galactic station. There are a few more people waiting with him his the room. They are military personnel. He wondered if they were all humans. It's hard to tell these days. The humanoids seem almost human. Yet there is a subtle difference between them and humans. He cannot tell. But he understands that they are as equal as humans in rights and respect.
"Captain Lu, the Colonel will see you now." the automated voice spoke.
Lu got up and headed down the hall towards the Colonel's office.
"May I come in, Colonel" Lu was polite.
"Of course, Captain. Have a seat." Colonel Sanders replied amicably. He was aged. Perhaps about 60 years old. But it was hard to tell. He stood tall and firm. Had deep brown eyes that could penetrate even the thickest skin and perhaps read the soul. Lu felt uncomfortable. Was Colonel human?
"Colonel, I assume you have been informed already. I have come here to inform you that I intend to find out the fate of the people that settled in the binary star system at K9. I received a beacon." Lu spoke quickly.
"Captain Lu, it has been a long time since the message was broadcast. We have no further information or any subsequent broadcasts. I would not risk going on such a journey. I can safely assume the beacon has reached many other spaceships and galactic stations. Perhaps some closer to them than us. We are trying to find out more about it. But for now, there is no plan to send an expedition there." Colonel said.
"What about the message? The rogue AI. If it's true then we must do something. Otherwise, it will spread like cancer and seek dominion over other places." Lu had concerns.
"That would indeed be a thing to worry about." Colonel acknowledged.
"Colonel, I am sorry but we must do something."
"What do you want to do?"
"I will go there with my team."
"Captain, it may be easy for you to take the risk of your own life. But are you sure you want to risk the lives of your teammates?"
"Only those who volunteer will go with me."
"Well, I am sorry to disappoint you, Captain. I cannot send a military expedition. I may assist you with some military bots. That is all. No troops or spaceships." The colonel was determined.
"In that case, I will excuse myself now. Thanks for your time, Colonel." Lu stood up and left the office. The Colonel kept staring until he vanished from his sight.