Cycle 3000

Ariane stirred from another peaceful rest. You were curled against her side, as usual when you two slept together. Just when Ariane let her eyes flutter shut again, she heard it: the sound of a radio transmission coming through. Ariane groaned at the sound, but sat up.

“We haven’t received any orders for a hot minute..” Ariane grumbled, carefully peeling away from you and making her way to the cockpit, sitting as she translated the transmission. “Congratulations, Comrade! You've survived 3000 cycles, reaching the final phase of the Penrose Program. With the end of the operational lifetime of your Replika unit approaching, it is time to prepare for the final phase of your mission. If you have not found a suitable world for landing by this point, accept that you will not. Find solace in the thought that others night be successful where you failed. As you are probably aware, your ship's spare parts and rations will soon be depleted. Life support systems and reactor shielding will soon begin to fail, and radiation may begin to leak from the cooling system. We recommend you do not attempt to prolong your suffering by reusing old filters or rationing supplies. Instead, make peace with your fate. We suggest that you ask your Replika, while it is still functional, to spare you a slow and agonizing death, or that you take permanent rest in the cryogenic pod. Remember, you will die having served your Nation by partaking in a glorious demonstration of our power.”

Ariane could only stare at the paper for a few long, agonizing moments.

———— Cycle 5309

“I can’t sleep.” Ariane shook your shoulder, sat up in the bed you two shared. She feels like she does this every night now. The radiation only worsened her insomnia. She knows it’s bad. She’s always in pain. She’s losing her hair, sometimes even her teeth. She’s so tired, but she can’t sleep. She can hardly eat. The moments she passes out from exhaustion are filled with painful thoughts. Every time she shuts her eyes, all she can think of is whether or not she’ll wake up at all. That every night will be their last goodnight to each other. If you’ll be okay or not. If either of you will wake up the coming morning. The dread was driving her crazy.

“Please. Wake up. I can’t go to sleep.” Ariane pleaded, nudging your shoulder again with a little more force- the only strength she could muster.