Outpost

OUTPOST

Citizen.

Citizen.

Citizen.

Aria.

It's morning, Citizen.

Morning.

There's no such thing.

Studies indicate that the replication of the earth's sun cycle is beneficial to a human being's sense of contentment, Citizen.

I had hoped the water would be calming.

Still won't call me Gordon?

Isn't it against your programming to enter personal quarters uninvited?

Am I uninvited?

No.

Your vitals were erratic and I felt authorized to attend.

Did you come to check my vitals?

Yes.

How's my pulse?

It's healthy.

Speeding slightly.

And my breathing?

Breathe in.

No, no, no. Not my neurolink.

Ok fine.

What's my prognosis?

You need a workout.

What?!

Your morning training was scheduled to begin 11 minutes ago.

Aw.

Can do me a favor? Run another diagnostic check in the beyond?

Yes, Citizen.

And put on a shirt already.

Probe attempt one four eight. Final attempt by the Citizen before his departure.

Data on the unknown space phenomenon, colloquially referred to as "the beyond", remains virtually unchanged.

Each probe continues to fail in transmitting any useable information.

The beyond is still observed as an impenetrable dark band of... something.

Okay. Almost there.

Looks like this is it.

You're leaving.

I don't want to leave.

You have to.

No. I don't want to leave you.

Come with me. We can take the transport together.

I can't Citizen. Protocol dictates I remain with the outpost. I'm the property of The Interstellar citizen's commission.

A.R.I.A., you stay here, they'll decommission you. You know that.

You've come so far.

I can't let that happen.

Citizen, the probe has arrived at the beyond.

Alright.

Come on, give me something here.

My God, My God. A.R.I.A.

Citizen, we are receiving transmission.

Yes! We are receiving transmission.

Citizen, the pulse signal is steady.

Keep it steady! Come on! Come on!

It worked Citizen!

It worked! Woo!

Yes! Woo! I love that!

That's beautiful.

What's that?