Little Stars - Part 2 (Patreon)

Part 2

Circles flipped himself back into a more comfortable position, holding onto one of the metal struts that held the inside of the ship's inner corridors together. He tried to catch his breath and get his thoughts together, his radio clicking on and off as sounds from the bridge came in and out.

“You… Circles… Doc, get…”

The armadillo realized the newly thickened padding between his legs was forcing them into an unnatural position. He couldn’t straighten up and easily adjust himself to prepare for his next jump down the corridor.

“Hey guys! Got a problem!”

The radio crackled as it tried to return to life. Whether it was some kind of interference or damage caused during his interaction with the ship's AI, it wasn’t connecting properly back to the bridge.

Circles would have to make his own way back.

He pushed himself up and along the various corridors of the ship, trying hard to keep track in his mind of where previous landmarks had been before as he floated around. Emergency lights were still on, but he could see down several shafts that lights were coming back on around the ship. Whatever he’d done in the core had apparently started many of the ship's core programs, or at least restored some of their functionality

Eventually the lights caught up with him, illuminating the rest of the way ahead and allowing him to see some of the signage that had been placed around the ship. The bridge wasn’t far, just a little further to go…

“I’m pick… signal… Circles are you there?”

The armadillo grabbed hold of a girder and stopped himself “Yeah! I can hear you!”

“Great!” Pytels voice came through clearly, whatever interference that had been getting in the way dissipating from the radio’s audio “We were getting worried, the ship is… gah!

“Pytel?”

A new voice came through “Aster here, you’ve got some explaining to do kid. What the hell did you do down there?!”

Circles was taken aback “I… I just… it turned back on and…”

“It just turned back on by itself? You didn’t press anything?”

“No! Honest!” Circles could hear the desperation of a toddler coming through in his voice.

All he heard down the radio was a disgruntled groan “Fine, get back here. We need a situation report and to plan our next actions. Aster out”

The radio clicked off, leaving Circles alone once again as he fumbled around the corridor. The padding between his legs was crinkling with every movement of his limbs and making him distinctly aware of the fact that he’d have to explain them to his colleagues when he reached the bridge.

How had he lost control so easily? Sure, he was in the body of a toddler, but he hadn’t wet himself for decades! The babyish designs that the android had decided to adorn the underwear with did not help matters, his face blushing as he caught a look at them as he landed on the corridor floor just outside the door to the bridge.

As it opened, the first thing the armadillo noticed was that all the lights on the consoles and ceilings had now returned to their full brightness. With the Daedalus having been a colony ship, it was virtually unused until now, the ship's AI having run everything while the crew had remained asleep. The small crew were rushing around between the various working computers, their high pitched voices clearly concerned about the sudden change in circumstances.

“Circles!”

Pytels voice echoed around the bridge, bringing all the crew to a stop as they looked at him. Some eyes were tinged with concern, others with suspicion. Aster’s, however, were far closer to anger.

“What the hell did you do there?!” the bear pushed himself hard through the still gravityless room “We have no control over anything! The AI isn’t responding to anything and…”

SHIP STATUS: NOMINAL

The announcement interrupted the captain and made the whole crew stand stock still, as if the voice had the power to freeze them in place.

EMERGENCY MEASURES SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED. ALL CREW AT MINIMUM REQUIRED 95% POSITIVE BIO-READINGS

“What?!” Aster shouted into the air “We’re children now you stupid computer!”

“Sir, it can’t hear you, it’s just…”

VOICE ACTIVATION CONFIRMED: ASTER - CAPTAIN. HOW MAY I ASSIST?

Pytels insistence was cut short as the digital voice left the bridge silent once again. Clearing his throat, Aster stood back up straight.

“Computer, why have we been released from cryosleep?”

SOLAR FLARE WAS DETECTED APPROXIMATELY THIRTY DIADEN DAYS AGO. EMERGENCY MEASURES TO PROTECT THE SHIP WERE IMPLEMENTED. COLONIST REVIVAL WAS INITIATED AND…

A small buzzing sound seemed to emerge from the radio

INTERRUPTED BY USER PYTEL REGIS SIX HOURS AFTER PRIORITY CREW WERE THAWED.

“Wait, a solar flare?” Pytel spoke up “That would explain why we’re floating in space and the AI shut down. If it had remained on it might have been destroyed from the magnetic interference.”

Aster shook his head “That doesn’t explain… this” he pointed at his training pants “Computer, why are we all children?”

Another buzz and delay followed.

IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE LIFE OF ALL COLONISTS, EMERGENCY BIOADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO ENSURE ENERGY COULD BE ASSIGNED TO ALL CRYOSLEEP PODS.

Everyone looked at eachother, a sense of realization coming over each of them.

“So, we’re children because it saves energy?” Circles recognised the doctor's voice from the radio and noticed the wolf cub to his right, taking notes on a clipboard.

VOICE IDENTIFIED - DOCTOR SEARLE - MEDICAL INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED CONFIDENTIAL, PLEASE CONFIRM…

“Yes, yes, just tell us!” her voice was as high pitched as anyone else, and her patience just as frayed.

ALL COLONISTS ARE NOW AGED BETWEEN THREE MONTHS AND FIVE YEARS OF AGE. ALL APPEAR TO BE UNHARMED BY THE PROCEDURE.

Circles’ mouth dropped open. Three months? There were some colonists who were nearly infants?!

“What?! Where was that in the protocols?” one of the pilots spoke up “How could you…”

STANDARD AI EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS WERE INSUFFICIENT TO ACCOUNT FOR POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE.

“Hold on” the doctor interrupted, “We’re all toddlers because it was necessary to save our lives? That doesn’t explain why the androids were treating us like children”

SERVICE ANDROIDS HAVE APPROXIMATELY 0.00000001% OF THIS SYSTEMS COMPUTATIONAL POWER. THEY WILL ACT ACCORDING TO SIMPLE PROGRAMMING INSTALLED TO SUPPORT COLONISTS OF THE RELEVANT AGE GROUP

“This is absurd” Aster grumbled “We’re not children. Can’t you tell the androids to do something else during their charging period or… something?”

RISK OF INJURY TO COLONISTS INCREASES BY 78% IF THIS ACTION IS TAKEN

“Seriously?” Aster's voice broke again in surprise “How can it be that high? We’re perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves!”

CURRENT STATUS OF COLONISTS INDICATES THIS RISK IS A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE. TWO COLONISTS AWOKEN FROM CRYOSLEEP HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RETAIN BLADDER CONTROL, ONE IS…”

“What are you talking about?! We’re all…”

“Ahem” Searle motioned her head towards Circles, his face going bright red as he realized what she was trying to point out. Aster saw the thicker padding between the armadillo’s legs and his mouth stayed shut.

“You said two colonists?” Searle questioned “Who is the second?”

ANDREAS CASTOR - OCCUPATION, PILOT

“WHAT?” one of the pups at the front, clearly angered by the suggestion, stood up from his chair “I still have bladder control!”

The room stayed silent for a brief moment, none of the dog's crewmates coming to his defense. With a shudder he looked down at the training pants around his waist, his face dropping as he noticed the stars missing on the front.

“I… didn’t even… how?”

“Sit down Private!” Aster ordered, the pup immediately getting back into his chair “We’ll handle this situation after we’ve resolved the issue with the AI”

“Sir” Pytel looked over from his console “I think you need to take a look at this”

Aster put his hand to his head and sighed “This better be good news, I’m starting to think I’d like to be back in cryosleep”

Pytel gulped “That’s just it. We can’t go back into cryosleep. Our pods are busted”

Aster's face went white under his fur “That means we’re… just floating through space? Without any destination for lightyears?”

Pytel shook his head “It’s not quite that bad. We’ve made it to the correct solar system, but…”

“We’re still thirty years out at current speed” Andreas spoke up from his pilots console “We can make it to the original destination we were given at standard engine power but we don’t have control over the ships systems to increase the speed further.”

MANUAL CONTROL CURRENTLY INCREASES RISK OF SHIP FAILURE BY 45%.

Aster grumbled, looking back at Circles with a tight face “I don’t suppose getting back to the AI is something you can do?”

Circles shook his head “The door shut behind me, I don’t think it’s going to just let me back in given it kicked me out the last time”

“Or any of us” Pytel noted “We’re all children, the AI knows we shouldn’t be but can’t stop the androids from treating us like them and children are locked out of all engineering decks”

“So if we try to go to places that younger colonists wouldn’t be able to access, we’ll be forcibly removed by androids” Circles responded “Just… great.”

The crew looked at each other, their faces all set in a grimace of realization. They were stuck in space for the next thirty years and were currently kindergarteners, at best. The androids would normally be a blessing when it came to managing the ship, but in their current state they may as well be jailors.

“Wait… can we still access the bathrooms?” Pytels eyes went wide “I ummm… really have to go”

“Maybe now the AI is up” Aster responded “They were locked when I awoke, much to my frustration”

Pytels face dropped “Maybe… if I ask an android?”

Searle giggled to herself, then tried to get her composure back “Well… it’s what a toddler would have to do.”

A pout emerged on the fox's face “Like I have a choice…”

The bear captain just shook his head “Computer, unlock all bathrooms on the bridge and allow all personal, regardless of age, to access their facilities”

Aster's command was met with a buzzing noise and more sounds from outside the bridge.

ALL FACILITIES CAN BE ACCESSED

Pytel’s face turned from a frown to a smile instantly “Great! I’ll be right back guys!”

The fox pushed himself towards the door, only for three androids to meet him and block his progress any further out of the bridge.

“Let me through, I’ve got to get to the bathroom!”

“Age restrictions in effect. Please wait for a suitable potty to be brought to you”

“A what?!” Pytel started to dance back and forth, his desperation increasing “I don’t need a potty!”

“Behavior indicates you require the use of a potty”

“I mean I can use a toilet! Come on just…”

Before he could say another word, one of the androids pulled open her chest and allowed the replicator inside to start its work. Bright orange plastic began to be slowly printed, the fox realizing instantly what was happening as the android took hold of his arm.

“I don’t need a potty! Please just let me go to the bathroom!”

Circles leapt towards the androids “Let him go!”

“Please do not interrupt potty time. Toddlers require full concentration to use their personal facilities”

Another android grabbed Circles before he got close, their arm tightening around his chest as she lifted him up into a full hug “What are you doing?!”

“Checking child's diaper… Status - Dry. Probably of tantrum causes being assessed”

“I’M NOT HAVING A TANTRUM!”

“High probability of tantrum being caused by lack of nutrition. Initiating feeding”

“WHAT?”

“Circles, just let it do it!” he heard Searles voice from across the bridge “It won’t hurt you!”

“What about me?!” Pytel screamed “I don’t want to have to use a potty!”

As the orange seat was pushed free of the replicator, the android rested it on its chestpiece and locked it into place.

“Seating child on potty, please stay clear”

Pytel was lifted forcefully up, his training pants pulled down, and placed on the cold plastic, his eyes widening as he realized with a shock that he was about to pee in front of the rest of the crew into a small, plastic bowl.

“Wait! Please…”

Too late.

The sound of liquid hitting the plastic bowl reverberated around the bridge, Pytels face falling and his eyes closing as he tried not to think about what was happening. The fox couldn’t move in the android's grip, and the bottom of the potty seemed to be pulling the pee towards it.

“Of course…” Searle mused “The potties need to have a seal. The androids are making sure nothing escapes into the ship's atmosphere by…”

“Doctor please!” Circles screamed “These things are crazy!”

His android had similarly pulled a plastic bottle of milk free from its replicator and shifted Circles in its grasp, moving him so that he was laid over one arm while it kept him still by keeping its hand between his legs. It pushed the bottle into his muzzle before he had another second to respond.

The thick white liquid started to move into his mouth, each motion from the android making more enter his mouth. He sputtered as he forced himself to swallow, his face going bright red as he tried as hard as he could not to think about what was transpiring.

“Doctor, are they going to be ok?”

“Captain, they’re both going to be fine. The androids are doing exactly what they were programmed to do for children on this ship. They can’t hurt them.”

Pytel started to sob slightly as he finished using his new bathroom. The potty drained the liquid out of the bottom, back into the android as it seemed satisfied that he no longer needed it under him.

“Potty time completed”

A little jingle came from the android “Well done kiddo!”

“Oh gods…” Pytel put his head in his hands

The android lifted him up and let him float in the air as it pulled his training pants back up, ignoring his small sniffles and placing him lightly down on the bridge floor. He immediately pushed away with his feet, trying to get as much distance between him and what had just transpired.

“Well… that solved one problem” Searle said thoughtfully “I guess that’s how we use the bathroom from here on out until…”

“Until we find a way to get back into the adult restrooms” Aster gave the doctor a forceful look, the wolf shuffling away “I don’t think any of us want to go through what Pytel just did”

“Mpppphh!” Circles tried to get the attention of the crew as best he could through gulps of milk.

“Quiet Circles, just finish up and then we’ll get back to planning” Aster commanded “Hopefully we’ll be offered something more… solid than that”

The armadillo could only continue to nurse from the bottle until it drained entirely. The other crew members were staring on in awe with the exception of Pytel who had gone back to working at his console, blushing the whole time.

“Feeding complete”

With a firm motion, the android lifted Circles over her shoulder and started to pat him on the back. The armadillo knew what was about to happen, but he was helpless to stop the loud belch that came from his mouth.

“Burping complete”

“Wow, these android programs really are exceptional” Searle said “I guess they were meant to assist with child rearing once we arrived on the planet”

As Circles was lowered slowly to the ground, the androids lined up in front of Aster. Each one looked down at him with the hollow eyes of a machine, the bear trying hard to keep himself composed.

“Awaiting Captain's orders”

The bear seemed genuinely surprised “Huh… Well ummm…”

“Wait!” Pytel squealed “What can we order them to do? We need them to help us get out of this mess!”

The crew looked at each other. Each one seemed ready to suggest something, but none were taking the first plunge.

With a heavy sigh, Aster looked around “Right. Let’s brainstorm”