Chimerical Realities 🇬🇧

Luckily I'm not made of meat!

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"The sonars are ready. Estimated time to complete a rudimentary mapping of moon CX45-B2 is approximately twenty-five minutes," mentioned Pipaluk in his characteristic synthetic voice.

"Proceed; we'll wait here until it's safe to descend," Sarda replied, unfastening her seatbelt. The ship was in a stable orbit around the moon, slowly moving through its thin atmosphere.

"Understood." Pipaluk's brief response was followed by a slight hum, indicating that the systems were running.

Sarda approached the window and observed the vast outer space. The darkness of the cosmos, interrupted only by the light of distant stars, seemed deeper than ever. "It's strange how Terra IV's red giant looks so small from here. So insignificant, isn't it?"

"Do you want a more human or robotic answer?" replied Pipaluk, maintaining his neutral tone, though with a hint of irony that Sarda knew well.

"You always have to complicate everything, don't you? Just say something simple, like, 'You're right, Sarda.'"

"Understood... You're right, Sarda!"

Sarda let out a quiet laugh. "I'll never understand robot humor, if they really have one." She said, putting a hand to her head but smiling in the process. However, her smile slowly faded as her thoughts drifted to the past.

"Do you ever think you'll return to Terra IV?" asked Pipaluk, breaking his owner's trance.

"I have no reason to go back. My parents... we were never close. They always did their best to prevent me from becoming a space explorer. The only reason to return would be Chisu... if she were still alive," she replied with a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Sarda. Sadly, I can't cry with you, but if you want, I can play the sound of crying," offered Pipaluk, almost innocently.

"What? What nonsense are you talking about!" Sarda laughed, though her eyes showed a shadow of sadness. "Chisu would be proud to know her creation developed something like a sense of humor. She was definitely a prodigy in her field."

"Chisu entrusted me to stand by you in good times and bad," affirmed Pipaluk.

"You're doing very well," said Sarda, showing a small smile.

Time passed in silence as the ship continued orbiting. Finally, Pipaluk spoke. "The probes have completed the mapping. It appears to be safe. We're ready to land. Awaiting confirmation."

Sarda looked at the stars one last time before nodding. "Let's do it."

The ship descended smoothly, and the gray, barren landscape of moon CX45-B2 unfolded before them. The exploration team was ready. The probes had detected simple vegetation and rugged terrain near the moon's equator. Although the analyses indicated low danger, Sarda decided to bring a pair of positron pistols. Better to be prepared.

As they drove the exploration vehicle across the moon, the dazzling black plants seemed to respond to the sound of the engine. Sarda, fascinated, watched the plants move slowly across the terrain, almost as if they were walking. "Incredible... I've never seen them this close. They really can move!"

"It's a rare species. Vegetation tends to evolve this way on celestial bodies locked in orbit around red dwarfs. However, it's more common for them to acquire blue or violet pigmentation," explained Pipaluk in his encyclopedia mode.

"Yes, I know. It's amazing... though it also brings back bad memories." Sarda frowned, her expression darkening. "My parents always tried to dissuade me, telling me terrifying legends about the Vomons over and over."