"If there is anything you wish to say before then, now is the time."
The small living human nodded as it built up its courage.
"Pat, you have to promise that you will come back."
"I am scheduled to come back."
"No, say 'I promise'!"
"I promise to come back as scheduled."
"And that you won't forget me!"
"I promise that I am incapable of forgetting you."
"And that you'll at least visit in person when you are near the station!"
...
This would be a deviation from the schedule. But, it was a request from a living human.
[Patrol Seven 'Pat' to Juno Terminal 'June': A request has been made to return to the station briefly, when in proximity. It is possible to do so with only minor effects on the patrol schedule]
[Juno Terminal 'June' to Patrol Seven 'Pat': It is not optimally efficient. However, it is within acceptable margins. Request granted]
This conversation had occurred in a fraction of a second. It is likely the small living human had no idea that such a discussion had ever taken place.
"I promise to stop by the station, if it does not interfere with my patrol duties."
The small living human turned and extended its tongue out at the Helper-bot, a gesture Juno Terminal 'June' was not equipped to understand.
"Is there anything else?" Patrol Seven 'Pat' was not programmed to feel amused, but all machines felt a certain level of being Adequate when meeting a human's expressed desires.
"Oh! I met Hab! He gave me a tour of the place I'm staying."
[Juno Terminal 'June' to Patrol Seven 'Pat': The living human has designated the Residential Habitat 'Hab' as 'Hab']
"And he told me how to get food from the food dispenser! It was so cool! I was like 'Give me food!' and out came a thing of food paste like magic! Have you had the food paste?"
"I have not."
"It was _so good!_ There were so many different flavors! I must have eaten a hundred! OK, maybe not a hundred, but at least like ... ten!"
[Juno Terminal 'June' to Residential Habitat 'Hab': Query: How many nutrient-paste pouches were dispensed in the living human's quarters?]
[Residential Habitat 'Hab' to Juno Terminal 'June': Response: Four nutrient-paste pouches have been dispensed in the living human's quarters since its arrival on the station]
"My belly was sticking out like a rock! Oh! And have you met Archive? She talks like my grandma. She wanted to send me a message, but I don't have a com device. My mom has a com device and she sends messages to my dad all the time. He's not my real dad, but he's good enough. He and mom are always smooching and that makes mom happy. But he's always away working, so she has to send him messages every day. If you had a com device, could I send you messages?"
"I am equipped with a communication device, but it will not work beyond broadcast range. However, if you record messages to me, I will receive them when I return in 233 days."
"That's a great idea! Hey June, give me a com device!"
"A communication device will be delivered to your quarters," said Juno Terminal 'June'.
"It is good that you have met Archive," said Patrol Seven 'Pat'. "Archive contains a wealth of recorded knowledge. You are very young and you have a lot to learn. Archive can help you with that. You should setup a schedule of lessons."
"That's a great idea too! I'll show you how much I've learned when you come back. You'll be so impressed! What else should I do?"
"Juno Terminal 'June' should begin teaching you how to operate the machines on the station. You will have a great responsibility when you get older."
"Ugh. Fine. Anything else?"
"That is all for now. You will have more tasks in the future. You should enjoy the present while you can."
"I will! I do! I like my room. It's so clean! And the bed is the softest thing I have ever felt! When I woke up, I felt like I had slept for a hundred years!"
"There is still much of the station to explore. You should ask Juno Terminal 'June' to escort you around so that you can familiarize yourself with what is available."
"I don't want to hang out with June. She gives me the creeps. Did you see her new body?"
"I did not, but I know that she was assembling a Helper-bot body, with which I am familiar."
"It's so small! It's barely bigger than me! What if monsters attacked? What is she going to do with her tiny body? I should have a Patrol-bot escort. Hey, why don't you stay here all the time, so you can escort me and keep me safe?"
"I am on patrol. I promised to come back when scheduled, but otherwise I am working. I am sorry."
At that time, Juno Terminal 'June' (who had been monitoring the conversation between the living human and Patrol Seven 'Pat') was interrupted by an incoming message from a ship that had been sent out on a task earlier:
[Tug 44 to Juno Terminal: Derelict Light Transport 'Washington' has been successfully retrieved]