Lit eZine Vol 3 | p-13 | FICTION | The Last Flight

SHORT STORY

THE LAST FLIGHT
by Grusha Mohbe

Mission Log: Last Flight

“A.T.L.A.S, report position.”

“Reporting position to Pascal again: 60 light years away from M31 nucleus.”

“This is not a casual outing A.T.L.A.S, you can’t call me by my name,”

“Position reported all the same, P.A.S.2231.”

P.A.S.2231 lets out a huff of amusement.

“Alright wise guy, systems report,”

“Reporting systems update: Systems fully functional. Like the last three times you asked within the span of 15 minutes.”

“Don’t be huffy with me, we have to be careful.”

“Fully functional.”

P.A.S.2231 nods before turning to the keyboard to his left.

To: Central Operations and Main Engineering Terminal

A.T.L.A.S 22 systems are fully operational.

Permission to proceed with an analysis of chemical components from the center of the M31 double nucleus.

P.A.S.2231’s fingers grip the rather uncomfortable chair he is seated in. The communications system of A.R.I.E.S may be faster than the speed of light but no more than his own racing thoughts.

Approval to even venture here took months of effort.

But now he was so close.

From: Central Operations and Main Engineering Terminal

Permission granted.

Proceed with caution

A sigh of relief leaves P.A.S.2231.

“I am to assume we continue with the mission, P.A.S.2231?”

He laughs.

“And why would we do that?”

“…”

“Yes, we received confirmation to continue with the mission”

“Positioning closer by…”

“Only 10 light-years; remember, you have to keep your distance to avoid the black hole. Just because it was recently fed does not mean it’s safe. Ever.”

“Position update: 50 light years away from M31 nucleus. I am now outside of the safe distance for recovery”

“Exactly, so be careful. Employ all spectrograph instruments and the advanced camera survey”

“Spectrograph instruments have been employed, data input will conclude in two minutes”

“Alright then.”

“I detect an inflection in your voice”

Leave it to A.T.L.A.S to use his expansive programming and advanced audio detection on him.

“I guess I’m excited to see what we find. If we find anything, that is.”

“Data input has been completed, shall I relieve your worries?”

“You always do.”

“Input… is shown as inconclusive, spectrographs are too far to properly inspect the presumed ionized gases.”

A failure.

A.T.L.A.S would have to come back and P.A.S.2231 would need to spend months trying to increase the range of the spectrograph instruments. Another round of bureaucratic bullshit.

“Position updating: New position 35 light years away from M31 nucleus”

“A.T.L.A.S. you were not authorized for that. Get back here to the ship right now!”

“I am within the recommended safety distance for my mass, I will begin the spectrograph input once more”

“Goddammit A.T.L.A.S.”

P.A.S.2231 rubs his face and waves his hand up, bringing forth a monitor. It was standard practice to keep track of all A.T.L.A.S. models when on missions using the monitor but P.A.S.2231 never had the need for it.

Until now.

“Data input has been completed, spectrographs were able to pick up on hydrogen ionized gases, making up for most of the report”

“Okay, that’s enough. We have something to give to C.O.M.E.T; now get back here”

“This shows us nothing more than what we know”

“I don’t care, it’s—”

Beeps from the monitor alert P.A.S.2231, his eyes snap to it and widen at what is shown before him.

“A.T.L.A.S. get out of there right now!”

“Position—”

CRASH

P.A.S.2231’s heart drops. He couldn’t warn A.T.L.A.S. in time.

“Atlas, can you hear me? Atlas, respond please.”

“My communications systems are still online, P.A.S.2231”

“It’s Pascal bud, everything okay?”

“Systems scan shows grave damage to spectrograph instruments…”

“Can you make it back here?”

“Pascal… Transportation systems were damaged. The best that can be done is a 5-light-year jump.”

That wasn’t enough.

There was no way for the ship to retrieve him.

“Okay bud, listen to me. Sit tight, I can go back—”

“Unfortunately Pascal, everything points to my retrieval success being at zero per cent.”

He knew it.

Dammit, he knew.

“Pascal?”

Atlas’s learning ability was second to none. He was even capable of picking up on emotions despite being a machine. But Pascal hated that now. He hated having to hear the fear in Atlas’s voice.

“Yeah, bud?” he said soothingly, hoping to lessen Atlas’s fear.

“If I were to simply be, I would naturally succumb to the black hole by simply shutting off all functions.”

“Y- yeah that’s right buddy.”

“I fear I am unable to do so. I… I believe I am afraid.”

And Pascal’s heart just breaks at the statement.

“That’s okay Atlas, I can do it from here. Just make yourself comfy.”

Pascal pulls up another monitor, typing out a system shutdown command. But he pauses at the ‘Enter’ key when Atlas pipes up again.

“I’m sorry”

What?

“By shutting me down, you would have failed the mission. My objective wasn’t to make you fail.”

“Atlas, none of this was your fault.”

“Not yours either, per my latest calculations”

Pascal lets out a soft laugh. The cold grip on his heart had softened listening to Atlas.

“Okay bud, you’re gonna have to go to sleep for a while now.”

He hates himself for the silence on Atlas’s end.

“I presume that I will be awoken in time for the next mission?”

Denial. Sometimes Atlas was more human than he ever was.

“Wouldn’t want anybody else by my side.”

“Till the next mission, Pascal ol’ buddy.”

“You got it bud.”

And he presses the ‘Enter’ key.

From: Central Operations and Main Engineering Terminal

Mission update.

To: Central Operations and Main Engineering Terminal

I quit.