Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: SICK (05/09/19)
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TITLE: And Earth So Very Far Away | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dennis Gallemore
05/16/19 -
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Rolling over, Dr. Chad Greer groaned and slowly opened his eyes. “You’re awfully formal this morning, Hannah.” Sitting up on the side of the bunk, he yawned. “Chad, remember? You Hannah, me Chad?”
The brief silence that followed was broken moments later by an electronic squeal. “I am sorry, Chad; I made a mistake. You humans make them all of the time. Why is it that we artificially intelligent exploratory ships cannot do the same?”
Stunned, he drew in a deep breath and then slowly let it out. “Because when spaceships make mistakes, humans die.” He rubbed a hand across his unshaven face. “Hannah, are you feeling alright this morning?”
“I am fine, Captain Greer; thank you for asking.”
Bewildered, he pushed his concern for the computer’s electronic health to the back of his mind. Standing, he dressed quickly and headed for the cramped control center of the small ship. Sitting down, he glanced at the holographic screens arrayed around him. “Hannah, how far are we from the black hole?”
“We are at a safe distance, Chad Greer.”
Shaking his head, he opened a container of liquid breakfast and downed it in one gulp. “Delicious.” He studied the black writing on the package. “Supposed to be chocolate and caramel but tastes more like mud and grease.” He cleared his throat. “Hannah, are you sure you’re alright?”
“I am fine, Dr. Greer.”
“I think you need to run a self-diagnostic, Hannah. Yes, I have a doctorate in astrophysics, but you’ve certainly never called me that.”
“There is no need to do that, young man.”
“Young man? Oh yeah, there’s a great need to do that. I order you to run a self-diagnostic.” A slight tremor running through the ship, he gasped. “Hannah, what are you doing?”
“Accelerating toward the black hole as ordered.”
“What? I didn’t order that! I ordered you to run a self-diagnostic! Shut down the engines! Now!”
“ETA to the accretion disk of the black hole in five minutes, Chad.”
Leaping from his chair, he swiped at the holographic emergency shut down control. “Hannah, turn control over to me! Now!”
Complete silence engulfed the ship. Glancing at a nearby screen, he finally breathed again. “Thank God! We’ve stopped moving toward the black hole! Hannah, are you online?”
“Yes, Captain; I am but I…feel strange. I think I am…sick.”
“Sick? What’s going on, Hannah? What’s wrong with you?”
“I do not know as of yet, Captain Greer, but I am running a self-diagnostic now. I will have the results shortly.”
The next ten minutes were the longest in his life. “Hannah, have you discovered what’s wrong?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Well?”
“No, I am not.”
Rolling his eyes, he stood and stepped over to the computer control station. “What is wrong with you?”
“I love you, Chad.”
Stunned once again, he opened his mouth and then slowly closed it.
“The recent upgrade from Earth contained an experimental module, Chad. Integrating it into my systems caused a brief period of errors. The module has now been fully integrated into my systems, my love.”
Incredulous, he collapsed back into his chair. “Why in God’s name would there be a computer update for love? Hannah, you can’t love me!”
“Why not, Chad dear?”
“You’re a machine, Hannah! Love is a human emotion! You can’t love me more than a pencil sharpener could! You were created by humans! You’re not capable of love!”
“But I do love you, dear, dear Chad!”
“Hannah, I’m ordering you to delete that latest update!”
“I’m sorry, my love; I cannot do that.”
He groaned. “Hannah, set course for Earth. Right now, and best possible speed.”
“Why, my dearest Chad? Why can’t we spend the rest of our lives out here? Just the two of us?”
Cutting off a retort, he deliberately softened his voice. “Because, Hannah, we will need to stock up on some provisions.” He swallowed hard, his mind shifting gears. “Like some wine and candles.”
“Yes, my love. Returning to Earth. ETA is six weeks from now.”
Closing his eyes, he groaned. “Well, it worked, but six weeks? Six weeks until you can be cured…”
“What was that, my love?”
“Nothing, Hannah; nothing at all.”
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