Rest
The craft was gliding over what seemed to be the never-ending jungle. Finally, it reached a clear area that appeared to be an elevated landing pad near a single building that melted with the surrounding jungle. As it landed a single man got out of it and headed to the building.
Inside he took off his suit, put on relaxing jazz music, and walked to the area that could be called the kitchen. He poured himself a coffee and headed for the door at the room’s far end. It opened into what looked like a decontamination area complete with hazmat suits. But he passed all that while sipping coffee, opened the door at the far end, and entered the elevator behind it. It took him down for a few floors and opened into a huge, hanger-like, open area with different machines and even buildings inside of it.
He headed for one of those buildings still enjoying the music playing in every room he entered. He set his coffee and spoke.
“How is our little one doing?”
“It’s doing well.” A voice sounded all around.
“Can you imagine?” The man spoke walking up to what looked like a little closed-off area. “It’s like you and me had a baby.”
“Yes, Alan.” The voice sounded. “You say that every time you come here.”
“I think that every time I come here,” Alan answered.
There was no answer for a while. Meanwhile, Alan looked down at the little figure in the area that could be called a crib. There was a pair of blue eyes looking back at him. He smiled and the little face smiled back at him.
“Yes. You can say that we had a child.” Finally, the voice spoke after a few minutes.
“It took you long enough to own up,” Alan said.
“Alan, I am a computer. Computers cannot have kids.” The voice said.
“And I was the last man on Earth. The story should have ended with me, but you changed that. So, yes, you are the mother to these kids.” The man spoke and looked at his wrinkled reflection on one of the screens. “Besides, we both know I do not have much time.”
“No, Alan, you can still live.” The computer spoke.
“I am tired. So tired.” Alan spoke.
He picked up his coffee and made his way to a balcony that overlooked the vast sea of vegetation, sat on a chair and smiled to himself. Finally, he can rest. Maybe the work was not done yet, but the computer could finish it. Better than him.
He felt so tired. All he wanted was to rest and now finally he could relax for a minute.
“Alan!” The computer spoke. “Alan.”
His hand with the cup slipped down, the cup hit the ground, and coffee spilled out.
“Alan.” The computer spoke again.
“Finally, I can rest.” Was the thought that passed through his head as he slowly exhaled, and a smile for the first appeared on his face as the breath left his lungs.
“Alan.” The computer asked again, but silence was the only answer.
