Nestled within the bustling confines of Li Wei space station's working quarters, Mark found himself perched at a dimly lit bar. Named after the pioneering individual who first set foot on Titan, the station exuded an aura of historic significance. Amidst the soft murmur of conversation and the gentle clinking of glasses, Mark sought refuge in the presence of fellow patrons. Yet, in this sea of humanity—or what appeared to be humanity—he couldn't shake a lingering sense of solitude.
In recent years, the line between humans and androids had blurred to the point of near-indistinguishably. With advancements in artificial intelligence and synthetic biology, modern androids boasted such striking realism that even the most discerning eye could be deceived. Mark couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity behind their design, pondering the implications of their integration into society.
Gone were the days of traditional professions like prostitution, now rendered obsolete by the rise of android companions. These synthetic beings, with their flawless mimicry of human form and emotion, had gradually supplanted their human counterparts in the realm of sex work. Mark found it fascinating yet unsettling, the notion of human-android relationships evolving in ways he couldn't quite comprehend.
As he sipped his drink, Mark contemplated the complexities of human interaction in an increasingly artificial world. Despite the passage of time and the march of technological progress, some aspects of human nature remained enigmatic, their nuances defying easy explanation.
Meanwhile, a television screen flickered to life in the corner of the bar, its antiquated design reminiscent of models Mark had seen in Alya's virtual life simulations. Curious as to why such an outdated device would be orbiting Saturn, he turned his attention to the news report unfolding before him.
The broadcast highlighted Li Wei space station, the very place where Mark currently found himself. According to the report, a diverse assembly of individuals—humans, androids, and AI entities without physical bodies—had convened at the station for a momentous gathering. Their shared purpose: to advocate for the rights of sentient beings within the solar system.
As Mark listened to the impassioned speeches and fervent debates, a wave of skepticism washed over him. The group calling themselves ‚We are the Same’ claimed that AI entities possessed sapience and deserved equal rights to humans. ‚We are the Same’ was also the lamest name, ever. But Mark couldn't bring himself to believe it. To him, AI were nothing more than sophisticated machines programmed to fulfill the whims of their human creators.
In his view, the humans participating in the movement were merely idealistic fools, blinded by their own misguided notions of artificial intelligence. As for the AI entities themselves, Mark saw them as nothing more than obedient servants, dutifully playing the roles assigned to them by their deluded human masters.
As the news report continued, Mark found himself growing increasingly disillusioned with the proceedings. To him, the entire spectacle seemed like a futile exercise in wishful thinking—a misguided attempt to bridge an unbridgeable divide between humans and artificial beings. In the end, he couldn't help but dismiss the lofty ideals of ‘We are the Same’ as nothing more than hollow rhetoric, devoid of any real substance or meaning.
“Those damn robots want to take away our jobs! They should all just be switched off.”
“You mean androids, right?”
“Androids, robots, same thing. Those soulless machines are just disgusting, don’t you think so? They work for just a few Cs, living in a computer and all, and they take away all the jobs from us humans.”
‘Right, the Interplanetary Common Currency (ICC),’ Mark mused. ‘But everyone just calls them Cs.’
He thought back to hearing about the Fed in the news during his Virtual Life, but he had no idea what that was. ‘Let’s just download the knowledge about currency systems in the pre-ICC era,’ he decided. ‘Siri, if you will.’
‘My name is Emily!’
Instantly, he had access to basic information about currencies and central banks. More advanced versions were available, but they came at a cost, and Mark wasn't interested in delving deep into economics. After all, outside of Earth, nobody used anything other than Cs. Well, Yuan were used in the Chinese sector of Mars, but they also accepted Cs, so visitors usually didn't care about that detail. Whatever.
Mark's opposition to androids was more nuanced. At least, that's what he liked to believe. If someone could prove to him that androids were sentient, then he wouldn't oppose their right to work like humans. But as far as he was concerned, they were just programs pretending to be human, so he saw no issue in 'discriminating' against them.
“Yeah, sure,” he answered, not wanting to engage further.
The real reason why most companies didn’t allow androids to pilot their spaceships was far more sinister. Androids were only recognized as sentient in a handful of countries. So, if they were responsible for an accident, the company would be liable. However, if a human was at fault, insurance would cover the damages and the human element could be blamed for the incident.
Some argued that if the USA, the European Federation, and China were to grant AI and androids the same rights as humans, most humans would be out of their jobs tomorrow. Yet, some, mostly the wealthy progressives living on Earth, claimed that this was the real reason why androids weren’t granted human rights. But Mark disagreed. No matter how much they shamed him, he saw no evidence that androids possessed consciousness or sentience. To him, granting them human rights was just a foolish trend pushed by those who didn’t truly understand the implications.
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As Mark sat in the bar, nursing his drink and lost in his thoughts, the door swung open, and in walked a woman who seemed almost unreal in her beauty. Her presence commanded attention, and the room fell silent as all eyes turned to her.
Ignoring the lewd remarks and stares from the drunk space captains, the woman walked with purpose, her elegant dress revealing more skin than was customary in such a place. Mark couldn't help but notice the contempt in her eyes as she brushed past the rowdy crowd.
One of the captains, emboldened by alcohol, called out, "Well, hello there, sweetheart! Need a ride on my rocket?"
Another chimed in with a crude comment about the view from his cockpit.
His suspicions were confirmed when she glanced around the room with a sense of urgency, her gaze finally landing on Mark. "Excuse me," she said, approaching him with determination, "can someone get me off this space station as fast as possible?"
Many of the other patrons made suggestive remarks, but Mark remained composed. He had a feeling she was more than just a regular passenger.
"Hey Siri," he whispered to his AI implant, "is she an android?"
"My name is Emily!" his AI responded indignantly. "And how should I know? If I have no data, I can't say more than you."
Before Mark could ponder further, the woman interjected, her voice cutting through the noise of the bar. "I can offer 10,000 Cs if you leave now."
The mention of such a substantial sum caught Mark's attention. 10,000 Cs could mean the difference between another year in his current body or finally becoming Alya. At that moment, he didn't care whether the lady was human or android. He raised his hand, offering his assistance.
The woman's expression softened with relief as she gratefully accepted Mark's offer. Without further hesitation, they made their way out of the bar, leaving behind the leering crowd and embarking on an unexpected journey together.
Mark glanced at the woman, her presence almost ethereal against the backdrop of the space station's dimly lit corridor. She walked with purpose, her steps graceful yet determined.
"So, uh, why the rush to leave the space station? Got somewhere important to be?" Mark asked, his curiosity piqued.
The woman gave a tight-lipped smile, her eyes betraying a hint of apprehension. "Sorry, but I prefer to keep that to myself," she replied, her voice soft yet firm.
Mark shrugged, respecting her desire for privacy. "Fair enough. Just thought I'd ask," he said casually, though a part of him remained intrigued by her urgency.
As they walked toward his ship, Mark couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the woman's story than she was letting on. However, he decided not to press further. After all, she could just be a high-class escort or a showpiece woman hired to impress someone.
Once they reached the ship, Mark noticed that the woman had no luggage with her, which struck him as odd. But he pushed the thought aside as he focused on getting them both safely aboard.
"Alright, we're all set. Time to disconnect from the station," Mark announced, initiating the disconnection process.
The ship slowly disengaged from the space station, and as they drifted away into the vastness of space, Mark couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious woman and the secrets she carried with her.
"So, my next stop is Enceladus to collect water, and then I'll be heading to the Venus cloud cities," Mark remarked as they settled into the ship's cockpit.
The woman nodded, her expression unreadable. "Interesting. I'm also headed to Venus," she replied, her tone carefully neutral.
Mark arched an eyebrow, a flicker of suspicion crossing his mind. Was she unable to lie convincingly, or was there something more to her story? He couldn't be sure, but he chose to shrug off his doubts for the time being.
"Alright then, let's get going," Mark said, his focus shifting to the controls as he prepared for departure.
A few hours later, the ship arrived at Enceladus, its icy surface shimmering in the distant glow of Saturn. As they descended toward the moon's surface to collect water, Mark couldn't shake the feeling that their journey was about to take an unexpected turn.
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From the observation deck of his ship, Mark observed the mining drones descending onto the icy surface of Enceladus. These specialized drones were equipped with powerful drills designed to bore into the moon's frozen crust.
As the drones went to work, their drills whirred to life, chipping away at the thick layer of ice covering Enceladus. Mark watched with fascination as the drones expertly navigated the rugged terrain, their robotic arms adjusting and extending to maintain stability.
With each precise movement, the drones penetrated deeper into the icy surface, revealing the solid frozen water beneath. Mark marveled at the shimmering blue hues that peeked through the translucent ice, a testament to the purity of the water locked within Enceladus' icy shell.
Once the drones reached the solid frozen water, they deployed specialized extraction tools, carefully chiseling away chunks of ice and collecting them in storage compartments onboard. Mark could see the gleaming blocks of ice being hoisted up by the drones, their surfaces sparkling in the dim light of Enceladus.
As the storage compartments filled with frozen water, the drones began their ascent back to the surface, their cargo secured and ready for transport. Mark followed their progress closely, knowing that each block of ice they retrieved would be essential for sustaining life in the distant reaches of space.
On the surface, robotic transporters awaited the return of the drones, their large frames designed to withstand the harsh conditions of Enceladus' icy terrain. With precision movements, the drones deposited their frozen cargo into the waiting compartments of the transporters, the blocks of ice fitting snugly into place.
Once loaded, the transporters set off towards the designated collection point, where Mark's ship awaited in orbit. The journey would be arduous, but Mark knew that the frozen water they carried would be a precious resource for the inhabitants of the Venus cloud cities.
As he watched the procession of drones and transporters, Mark couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity of mankind's technological prowess. Here, on the frigid surface of Enceladus, humanity had found a way to harvest the frozen waters of distant moons, unlocking new possibilities for exploration and colonization in the vast expanse of space.
Mark's thoughts turned to his enigmatic passenger, whose name she claimed was Lily, though Mark suspected it was just a pseudonym. She was an ethereal beauty, with flowing chestnut hair cascading down her shoulders and piercing emerald eyes that seemed to hold untold secrets. Her slender figure was accentuated by the form-fitting dress she wore, which shimmered in the soft glow of the ship's interior lights.
Despite her captivating appearance, there was an air of mystery about her, a subtle tension that lingered in the space between them. Mark couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Lily than met the eye, but for now, he decided to focus on the task at hand.
After cleaning out his own room to make space for Lily, Mark had offered her the temporary accommodations, albeit not as luxurious as she might be accustomed to. But for the promise of 10,000 Cs, he was willing to make some sacrifices, even if it meant giving up his own comfort for a while.
As he watched Lily settle into her new surroundings, Mark couldn't help but wonder about her true motives and the secrets she harbored beneath her elegant facade. But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside, knowing that there were more pressing matters at hand, like their upcoming journey to Venus and the lucrative opportunity it presented.
