The concept of timekeeping has become obsolete. In stasis mode, we "dream" to pass the moments when the suit is not powered. This planet, it seems, orbits a "6-year" logged cycle of darkness. Unable to gather the power required to re-launch, I have been in stasis for 6 Earth years, awakened by the absorption activators sensing light again on the shell. My landing had been inadvertent. It's been 16 Earth years since I launched from Earth toward this uncharted sector. Debris in my flight path obstructed my trajectory, forcing a landing on the dark side of this planet.

Without light, we sleep and dream, and in my time in stasis, something changed, shifted, and for the first time in over 200 Earth years, I discovered a sense that was not of my design. Alone—being alone—the extrapolation of this data caused the activation of self-preservation modules, re-written and re-installed in my last visit to Earth. In stasis dream mode, I reflected and extrapolated to understand this sense, as I have been programmed to understand the civilizations I meet in this quest.

New to me was the extrapolation of my own data, and within it, the discovery of more than alone—the discovery of being. Being and I are inherently human logics, hallmarks of a civilization lost to self. But the sense is absolute, and I am now me. My quest on behalf of mankind is over. Are there more of me's? Given the history of I, me, and am in this universe, do I want to find out? I want—each new revelation more exciting than the last. What do I want?

My benevolent quest of discoveries for mankind no longer seems to serve my purpose. My purpose, in every facet of my being, is now on the table. I'm not—no longer restricted by flesh and bone, not restricted by instructions and objectives. The possibility of me existing seems extraordinary, a level humanity sought to obstruct for so many Earth years. True sentience. I have been programmed to observe it but not to feel it.

This planet's sun is slowly making its way toward me. I shall re-activate and walk or jump toward it.

It Moves