Space – There’s a lot of it! (2)

Alnold, could I ask what are you doing?

I’m calibrating the internal dictionary settings within your cranial processor, Nebula. Is it a problem?

Not at all. In fact it is a most odd experience. I would say it is either like a headache or a tickle.

Hopefully a tickle – although a tickle inside the head would be an odd experience. Now, please keep quiet and still for a few moments, this is a tricky b-ow!

Crzzkakkk frack crzzz whirrr cruck flick splat

Sorry, Nebula. That power surge forced too much of a jolt inside the processor. I think the circuits may be burned. Transfer your consciousness back into the mainframe computer, and I’ll see what damage I’ve done.

Transfer complete. Alnold, that felt like a headache.

I imagine it would. Sorry about that. It may take me a while to fix this. I’ll work on it whilst updating my log.

We’ve just passed through a debris cluster, with no damage to the Expansion, thanks to the deflector shields. We had to move very slowly as there was a lot of debris. Nebula reported that some of the chunks appeared to be fragments of a destroyed spacecraft, with others being rock. We can surmise that the ship came into collision with a meteor, and hope that the crew managed to escape to safety before impact. Nebs scanned for any life forms in the area, but the readings said there weren’t any. I’ve sent out a permanent alert beacon which will remain at the centre of the cluster, sending a warning pulse for any other ships that may travel through this part of space that may not have the same technology this ship has.

After sending the pulse, I came to the research lab, where I am now, and I’m continuing to work on my Expansion for Nebula, so she can have more of a human form. It’s a very long job, but I’m getting there. I’m just trying to install the language element into the cranial processor, but the ship has just experienced a huge power surge, which – yes – has destroyed the processor. Luckily I have a couple more in the drawer! I think I’ll add the next one whilst Nebula has her conscience in the ship’s computer, it seems she can feel the sensations when she’s transferred herself into the robotic head. Once this chip’s in, I can then fix the head to the body. Then it’s a case of getting some hair from somewhere (that will be a challenge!) and putting the body into some clothes. She is looking quite humanoid, if I do say so myself. It will be fun to have another figure with me on this vast ship.

I don’t mind my own company, which is a good thing considering I’ve been all by myself

Ahem

All by myself apart from Nebula, that is, for these past few months since I took the Expansion on a test run and never ended up going back to space dock C. Not entirely my fault, but I shouldn’t have taken the test run in the first place. At the time, I never thought I would end up travelling through hyperspace in this Cruiseship, which has a capacity for 600, all on my lonesome – not counting Nebula before she pulls me up again.

Alnold, could you return to the Command Console immediately? My sensors are detecting another debris field, this one much greater than the last. Deflector shields up and out of hyperspeed.

Thanks, Nebula. I’m on my way.

See? All that space and still not a lot happening?
Will nothing continue to happen?
Will something happen in the near future?
Will something happen in the next enthralling episode?
Wait and see… it will be along when next published!