Star Fields

Chapter No, 70 Transformation

Chapter No, 70 Transformation

Everything eventually changes.

We returned to Earth and checked up on our human colonists.

"They're all doing quite well," Molly said. "I don't see any signs of conflict or environmental problems."

"Good!" I said while leaning back in my engineering station chair. "Maybe we can relax for a while."

"Is this what we're going to be doing for the rest of our lives?" Alexa asked.

"We don't have lives," I replied. "We're dead, remember?"

"That's boring!"

I chuckled. "Oh well, it's still our fate. May as well adjust to it."

That seemed to quell any more complaints. I could easily understand their feeling of despair, but there was nothing I could do about it.

Later that evening, I settled into to my huge bed in my humongous bedroom to watch an old TV Space Opera called The Orville, which caught my attention because it had an artificial intelligent being named Isaac. He reminded me of Data, the android on Star Trek New Generation series. Their attitudes about humans were somewhat degraded. Despite being an android, I didn't feel that way at all. I wondered why they portrayed them that way.

My contemplation was interrupted when I noted a figure appearing out of the shadows. It was Ben.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"No, sir. The females would like you to come and enjoy their performance."

"What sort of performance?"

"They want it to be a surprise," he replied.

I got out of bed and pulled on my pants and shoes before going with him to an elevator. We descended one level to the recreational/agricultural deck, which was expanded as compared to the Explorer-1. We walked on a path through a wheat field to a large amphitheater. Inside, we found female androids, attired in tees, shorts and sneakers preparing to start a game of volleyball.

Ben and I took seats near the center of the volleyball court. Blond haired androids prepared to serve to redheaded androids on the other side of the net. The game began when Alyson, a blond, served the ball. The pace of the game was much more energetic than I would have expected. It wasn't as if they were just going through the motions. They were really trying to win.

Molly showed up and sat down near us. "What the hell are you guys doing here?"

I pointed to Ben. "He invited me to watch this." I pointed to the court.

"I don't understand," she said. "How is it possible for them to be competing like that?"

"That's a very good question," I said. "Maybe your new coding has jump started a wave of new creativity in them."

"The way they're playing is way too professional. I think the programming for this was baked into them."

"Could be. We'll have to see what else they're capable of doing."

We watched the game progress as the action became more agitated. It was obvious that both teams were playing to win. At the end, the blond team won. We did what any fans would do; we clapped.

Ben and I returned to my quarters, but before he went off to wherever he hangs out, I decided to question him.

"What about you men? Do you know how to play volleyball?"

"Yes," Ben replied.

"What else do you know how to do?"

"We can do anything," he said.

I rubbed me jaw. "How about swimming and diving?"

"Yes," he said.

"I'd like to see that," I said. "Maybe you guys could compete in a diving competition."

"We will do that," He said. "Tomorrow night."

I shook my head. "That's good."

He left and I returned to my bed. I wasn't sure how that would go, but I was anxious to see if they could do something that I considered to be esoteric as sports go.

The next evening, I went to the swimming pool and waited. After a few minutes, seven naked male androids came out and climbed up to the platform above the main pool. They soon began their dives, which were as close to professional competitive diving as any I've ever seen. They were doing both forward and back dives with plenty of fancy twists and tucks as well as somersaults.

Everything was nice and professional until the women showed up. Of course, they had to spoil the proceedings by whistling and applauding.

"Why didn't you tell us about this?" Molly complained.

"Yeah, Jason," Margaret said, grinning.

"I assumed you ladies would be offended by this display of male nudity."

"Oh, come on now!" Molly cried. "We aren't offended at all."

"Yeah," Margaret piped in. "We love it! Right, girls?"

They laughed derisively.

I sighed.

They laughed . . . again.

The male androids weren't at all embarrassed. They came over and allowed the women to get a good look at their male equipment.

I wasn't at all surprised by this overt exhibitionism. Male androids were initially programmed to provide pleasure to both genders.

"Why aren't you competing with them, Jason?" Margaret asked, grinning like a
Cheshire cat.

The others piped in with similar taunts.

I held up my hands. "I'm not as good as they are. What they're doing is professional."

"You're just a prude!" Marie taunted.

I had to endure derisive laughter and jibes. I think the male androids could understand my dismay, but they simply smiled.

As it turns out, I completely missed the significance of this incident. It hinted of an awesome hidden technology that would soon be revealed and would change everything,