Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 318

200 kilometers…
All systems: Ready to go.
100 kilometers…
WORMHOLE TRANSITION COMPLETE
Setting course for Gliese 581
13-7-2525
VNP-0001-Zheng He 1
LOG
This system is as promising as it looks...WHAT WAS THAT!?
One of my scans came back with biological feedback…
Oooh… I’m trying to zero in on that planet…I need a closer look.
I’m checking the ship’s cargo holds for exploration drones: There are… Is… Well, one.
WHAT?
What would you be making a Von Neumann Probe if you don’t even give it the ability to explore planets!?
Seems like I’ll be needing to starting up to manufacturing process sooner than I thought in order to build
those drones...
I am sending the manufacturing drones and equipment...
I am unsure about this… My mission is to replicate myself through every system I go but… Somehow
replicating myself feels… Weird…
17-12-2525
VNP-0001-Zheng He 1
LOG
Construction complete!
These ships are loaded AI matrices exactly the same as mine.
CONNECTION INITIATED
Deep Breath…
Me: Hello?
No.2: Hi.
He answered!!
Me: You are my clone...
-Pause-
No.2: I guess...
Me: If we’re gonna have a bunch of clones, we’d have to make names for ourselves… I’ll be Zheng He
-Long Pause-
He is not a talker.
No.2: Charles...