Chapter 16

Last Farewell

The Robotas came up to Rei, clutching onto the rail. They were approaching towards her aiming for an attack. Rei felt threatened and stepped backwards.

Howard Mason said, “Dont’t worry about the descending scene on Mars. Video clips of The grand moment of human history are already forged. Nobody can tell the difference.” Howard Mason, transplanted on Victoria, kept on babbling as if a pattern of loud-mouthed showoff character had been transferred. The fact that the ship itself - Victoria, Destiny, Hypnos, and Leonardo – became the body of the artificial consciousness was terrifying.

“When Ayanami Rei took her first step on Mars, she says, ‘By this small step, I announce that humankind is no longer loners of the Blue Planet.’ Isn’t this cool? I wrote this script myself. Rei shall become a hero. We will continue to earn money from Earth. , the fake Mars reality show will continue. Think about it. Who would come to see Rei in person?. Just one subject of experiment is enough to land on Mars. I have no intention of breeding,” said Howard Mason.

The only one left was Rei. But there was no time to mourn on the others’ death. The Robotas were coming up and Rei had to take action. It was too dangerous to use a gun. A hole in the ship would end up everything. Rei couldn’t make up her decision. She needed a plan. Rei leaned forward and closed the hatch swiftly.

“It’s meaningless to resist. The brand new Robotas are strong,” Howard Mason giggled. There was no need to argue. Rei did not respond. She pulled out the tool box. It was intended to be used on Mars. Rei flew fast over to Destiny. The hatch between Destiny and Hypnos was open by the Robotas already. Now they were faster than before, as if they adapted to the microgravity environment. They speedily moved alongside the rail. Rei closed the hatch between airlock and Destiny. She tightened the handle with a monkey wrench so that it would not turn. This way, she could earn some time.

“You’re quite smart. But how much longer will it last?” said Howard Mason. Rei pushed the decompression switch of the airlock. It did not work, just as expected. Howard Mason dominated over them. Rei took out the electric driver from the tool box. “What are you up to?” asked Howard Mason interestingly. Rei started taking out the screws. She was disassembling the switch box itself. “Are you attempting to go out of the ship, like Hugh did? Send a message to Earth? The power supply for the communication module is cut. Can’t even send a dot-and-dash signal.” said Howard Mason.

From the backside, Robotas were vigorously shaking the round handles left and right to open up the hatch. It made bumping sounds. It seemed as if they will break soon. The monkey wrenchs were clattering and getting loose. Rei saw them, but she went on with what she was doing. She got out the wires. However sophisticated the technical system, the driving motors had to be connected with wires. She took off the covering and made short circuits.

“What on earth are you upto?” said Howard Mason. Rei hit the camera on the ceiling of the airlock with her fist. Until the Robotas enter inside by opening up the hatch, Now, Howard Mason would have no idea what is going on inside the airlock.

“Tina does not know Rei, but Rei knows Tina,” said Rei. Since Rei participated the Mars Two Project, she read every article Jay wrote. Tina, she was a clay pigeon shooter, a fusion funk group guitarist and an astronaut who received perfect scores in all tests.

Rei brought a space suit from the holder. She connected the helmet, gloves and shoes. She also lowered the visor of the helmet. With the air inflated, the space suit looked like a man. Rei positioned the suit to sit on the spot Robotas would see when opening the hatch to enter.

Rei sat on the blind spot. She wrapped herself with safety rope and sat tight facing her back to the Destiny wall. She held two wires with her hands, ready to make short circuits.

“Crack”

Finally, the monkey wrench tightened part smashed open, unable to bear the impact any longer. With a squeaking sound, the hatch opened. As the Robotas came over, they jumped onto the space suit like a vulture diving to the ground to snatch its prey. They did not see Rei.

“Now!”

Rei connected the wires. The motor activated and latches unhooked. As if a cork of a champagne bottle flung open, the hatch opened outwards with a loud sound. Instantly, the air in the airlock flew out into space. Robotas flew out together, as they were holding onto nothing having jumped on the empty space suit. Rei flew too, but the safety rope held her tight and supported her from flying away. Rei seized the safety rope and went over to Victoria. She faced her back to the spaceship wall. She straightened herself. It was not over yet. Robotas were not as frail as humans, and they were resistant to the vacuum state. Robotas don’t die.

A Robota was hovering in space and a much larger Mars was seen. The Robota was smart enough to wear a space suit. It had activiated the MMU(Manned Maneuvering Unit) and approaching towards Victoria. The other two Robotas were nowhere to be seen. In space, as there is no transmission medium, if one does not spout something out, it is impossible to move towards a desired direction however strong you may be.

“Right! Come on!” shouted Rei. She held a pistol in her hand. But she could not pose a normal shooting posture. She had to hold the pistol with her left hand, and put her gloved right finger behind the trigger.

“It’s OK. I am a clay pigeon shooter, Tina!” said Rei. She felt much better having said that. She felt as if she crossed arms with Tina, which was much less lonely. Rei was confident. She targeted below abdomen of the Robota. She remembered Hugh once telling her that the core part of a Robota which functioning like human brain was situated at that point. It was an information which Humanity extracted from Boston Mechanics. The Robota did not seem to notice Rei holding a pistol. It was approaching towards her in a constant speed. As it came into a shooting range, Rei pulled the trigger. No recoil. It was misfire.

“It’s OK. Be calm,” Rei assured herself. She got rid of the blind shell and loaded the pistol again. Robota had approached to about 10 meters distance from Rei. Its face was half ripped off. Rei hit her body hard onto the ship’s wall. Although no sound was heard, the bullet had been fired. The sound’s wavelength could not spread in a vacuum state space. The bullet made a hole in the lower abdomen of the Robota. As a reaction to the energy, the Robota moved afar. Yet, it was still moving. Rei waited for it to come nearer. When it approached upto 20 meters distance, she fired another shot. She saw an electric flame as the bullet hit the Robota. It went afar once again. Still, it wasn’t over yet.

“Die! Die!” cried Rei. As the Robota came close again, Rei shot the remaining seven bullets in a row. With the final bullet fired, the Robota distancing away, suddenly flew terribly fast towards Rei. It had burst the nitrogen tank of the manned orbit unit. Rei did not panic. She kept her head and put her foot towards the approaching Robota to turn its direction. Everything happened in an instant.

The Robota flew to Mars. It was nearly 90 degrees, and with such degree, it would surely burn off in the atmosphere of Mars. She had won the fight she could not win. It was possible as Rei and Tina were together. Rei was floating mind blown. She did win, but she was in no condition for a party.

“Hugh...” said Rei. She had to let him go. All the time Hugh had flown together with Victoria. It must have been such a long and monotonous journey. Hugh had fixed the safety rope in front of the communication module. Rei followed to where the rope was connected. There was a blackish red mark on the linked adjacent rail. Rei untied the loop. Once again, Hugh floated nearer to Victoria. Rei waited till Hugh came closer. Then, she pushed him with all her might into the dark and endless space, so that he can finally fly away from the beastly Victoria.

Rei did not look at Hugh’s face. She wanted to keep the memory of Hugh as whom she had loved. She did not want to lose one of the few genuine memories she had.

“Goodbye, Hugh...”