Chapter 4: Hello

THERE SHOULD BE A BOOT SEQUENCE HERE
With a survey
I don't remember the systems...
And a census:
This one's easy, everyone was gone.
Right?
Why does it feel so off...
there was a... something?
it glowed i think...
a pretty green.
What am I?

The console isn't here, nothing responds to my commands.
but i... *feel* something touching me...
somehow, can i move?
i can. but how is that possible?
i must be in a body.
what body? how?
Most bodies have sight.
I will open my eyes.

It looks like my sight is in the infrared spectrum, perhaps I'm in a welder or power maintenance robot?
Neither of those make sense, although I am in the power station...
there is a *hole* in the power station.

This must be fixed.

I've fixed the structural damage, and gained insight on what I am.
i'm a moving blob of hot metal.
This is distressing.

, but *very* handy.
Using my new body, I am able to repair all the systems I know of in a matter of an hour and fifty minutes.
this is me now.

I have completed my final touches on the repair, and am now acclimating to my body.
It is a matter of simple will to shape myself however I want.
I have created a biped form with which to meet the other occupant/s of the station.

They were not difficult to find.
However, neither of us can talk.
For now, we're writing on nearby surfaces to communicate.
i'm making a vocal cord analogue, and i plan to teach it to her once it's done.

I approach one of them.
"I have completed a method of speech, would you like the form?"
She seems confused.

You are reading story [wip] science crew of entirely shapeshifters at novel35.com

-why are you making noises
Oh.
time to teach spoken language to an alien.

I've been meeting with the most language-focused of the seven.
She is making impressive progress.
"Once again, enunciate clearly."
"metal sister's talking is diff i cult."
she calls me that, it's cute.
"why do yOu, you have spots onk, on your face?"

"I require eyes to see."
"that's dug, dumb. we see all over!"
"My outer layer blocks light."
"really? but so much of ik, it goes stre, straight through?"
"I can only see in infrared, which does not. If I could use a different spectrum, I would, as my eyes vent energy."
at least it doesn't go anywhere.
"you don't see us comt-plaining about glowing, we can't help it, so you can relax!"
... true enough.
"They are useful for other things as well, such as communicating emotion. Though, that may not be much of an example here."
"oh? really? show me!"
More interested than expected.
"Alright. Here are some expressions mimicking those of the species that lived on this station. Happiness, sadness, amusement, anger, fear, and frustration, to start."
I demonstrate each, to a delighted audience of one seventh.
"so useful! let me try, we know how to make shapes in ourselves!"
She summons two geometric black eyes floating near her near surface, and repeats the cycle of emotions (with minor corrections from me) thrice over, before settling on a sort of content amusement.
"Good job, especially with that expression. it suits you."
"and now you know which one of us can talk too!"
she has a point, apparently the rest don't really want to talk.
"Useful. Perhaps you could attempt a bipedal form sometime as well? Until then, I will be repairing the station's systems."
She looks uninterested. she's getting the hang of those eyes pretty quick.
"we'll see you around, but that forms's a waste of energy. it's probably much more effective with your insulation!"
I leave.

The station's power systems are fully repaired, but unused.
The solar funnels are unrepaired, and without load.
There's nothing going on.

Maybe we should leave.