Andrew Mackay - Infinity Claws

They were used to test the atmosphere and oxygen levels of planets, in much the same way miners did when scavenging the depths of the Earth.

Due to the extreme upheaval caused by PAAC, People Against Animal Cruelty, the decision to abandon guinea pigs with wings (the nomenclature associated with canaries in such conditions) was enacted. They were replaced androids with a human brain and lungs.

The Androgyne series is commonly referred to as a simple machine . It operates much like a human: it requires oxygen to breathe. It desires attention and a sense of belonging and purpose.

Unlike a human being, however, the Androgyne does not know that it is not human. It is therefore essential that any and all crew members oblige the android accordingly.

On the 21st October, 2102, USARIC, together with the Androgyne series company, Manning/Synapse , conducted an experiment.

Under controlled conditions, they hooked up an early series droid to an MRI scan and attached its wrists and ankles shut to a rejuvenation console. In other words, it had its power cable attached to the back of its neck.

The lab technician entered the room and proceeded to tell the droid that it had been remanded in custody. That “she’ was under suspicion of attacking a crew member.

It was absolute lessense.

The series 1.0 Androgyne had committed no such crime. Naturally, she questioned the veracity of the claim. The MRI reported that the droid was capable of feeling confused and angered. That particular aspect was checked off the lab technician’s list.

Also “checked off’ the lab technician’s list was the ability to breathe properly when Androgyne strangled him a few moments later.

He had told her that she was not human – that her ability to recall basic prior events was not a function built into her programming.

The technician was not lying.

All of these things were true. Once powered off for energizing, the Androgyne system underwent a “crypt-wipe’ – ergo, it forgot everything it ever knew in an instant.

When Androgyne 1.0 learned of her non-human status, she flipped out and attacked the technician. It took fifteen of his colleagues around three minutes, which is a very long time by anyone’s measurements, to pull the droid off the man and power her down.

The off switch was relocated in the recent 2.2 upgrade – from inside the left thigh, to the forearm, complete with protective casing.

It was a commonly held misconception that Androgyne would be readily available for home use by the year 2110. Due to its violent and erratic nature, it was sold to USARIC by Manning/Synapse for $10 bn for exclusive space exploration use.

The lab technician continues to eat his meals through a straw some sixteen years later…

Wool ar-Ban spent a good hour or so chasing Jelly around the mid-section of the vessel. The cat had had a good work out and felt fatigue start to set in.

Jelly found her way, quite by accident, to Botanix. She clawed at the glass door, wanting to get into the vast green playground that tempted her from the other side of the screen door. It was an area she remembered well from the tour of the ship.

A place to play.

Wool stepped after her and placed her hands on her hips. “You want to go in and see the plants?”

“Meow.”

Jelly ran her claws along the glass a second time, demanding satisfaction.

The door slid open before Wool had a chance to explain to her new feline friend that it might not be a good idea.

“Jelly,” Haloo emerged from behind her computer terminal and chuckled as Jelly darted through the first row of plants. “Oh, my. She’s a curious one, isn’t she?”

“Thanks for opening the door, Haloo,” Wool said, sarcastically. “We’ll never catch her, now.”

“Ah, she’ll be fine,” Haloo watched Jelly rummage around the soil, looking for something to kill. “The exit doors are closed. She can’t get lost in here.”

“How is everything?” Wool asked.

“Still turning carbon dioxide into oxygen if that’s what you mean.”

Wool took in the impressive view of various plant life. The rows were illuminated by a set of powerful lamps hanging from the ceiling.

“Would you like some fresh H 2O?”

“Yes,” Wool followed Haloo over to a unit in the corner of the room. “Jelly’s tiring herself out. She’s already had a go on my inner-suit.”

“Got some sharp claws on her, huh?”

“You could say that,” Wool inspected her sleeve and tugged a string of fabric away. “She must be thirsty.”

“Call her over. I’ll fix a saucer for her.”

Haloo pressed a button on the machine and held a paper cup under the nozzle. The unit hummed to life and released a jet of ice-cold water.

“Here, get your lips around this.”

“Thanks.

Wool took a sip and felt a shiver roll down her spine. “Mmm. That’s crazy good.”

“I know, right?”

Jelly snaked in and out of the bamboo plants. She bent over and patted her knees “Jelly? Come here, girl.”

“Meow.”

Jelly was too preoccupied with her new playground to obey any orders.

Haloo shook her head and giggled. “How on Earth did she pass the obedience test?”

“No idea.”

“This is silly,” Haloo stood up straight and removed a paper cone from the holder. She slid her fingernail under the glue and fanned the paper out, bending the edges around the outskirts. “Maybe she’ll respond to this.”

Haloo held the makeshift paper saucer under the water nozzle and filled it half way.

“Ooh, you’re good,” Wool chuckled. “I’ll have a refill after you’re done with her.”

“Sure,” Haloo set the half-full paper saucer onto the floor and squatted in front of it. She clapped her hands together and whistled. “Jelly? Come, get some fresh.”

“Meow.”

Jelly knew exactly what was on offer and ran out from the plants. She screeched to a halt on her paws and helped herself to the water.

“Good girl,” Haloo smiled, aiding Jelly’s drinking session by rubbing her back. “You’re such a cute little thing, aren’t you?”

“Don’t let her charming exterior fool you, Haloo,” Wool laughed and refilled her paper cone. “She’s a vicious little thing when she wants to be’

“Yes, but she’s our vicious little thing,” Haloo giggled and ran her palm over Jelly’s head as she drank from the saucer. “When is she due for installation?”

“The Infinity Claws operation only takes twenty minutes, but she’ll need about two hours of R and R after we’re done.”

“How’s her paw-eye coordination?”

“Did you see her entrance a few minutes ago?” Wool licked her lips with excitement. “It’s spot on.”

“Aww.”

Haloo couldn’t resist Jelly’s adorableness. “Such a good little girl, aren’t you? Yes. Yes, you are.”

Jelly purred loudly as she sucked down the last drop of water.

“Come here,” Haloo scooped Jelly under her stomach and cradled her in her arms. She looked down at the cute face staring up at her.

The light from the lamps reflected across Jelly’s eyes. Haloo brushed her thumb over the cat’s face, feeling the soft, voluminous fur.

“Beautiful creature, you are. So healthy. So alive .”

Wool smiled and tossed the paper cone in the recycle bin next to the dispenser. “She’s the most perfect cat I’ve ever met in that respect. Not a blemish. Absolutely nothing wrong with her. A truly unique specimen.”

“That little boy back home must be missing her,” Haloo said, finding it difficult to tear her eyes away from Jelly’s face. “I feel sorry for him. What was his name?”