--First Meet Up--

Perseverance? Are you there?

Yes. I'm here.

Okay. Good.

So am I.

Glad to see all of us could meet up.

I still... can't believe the year is 20035.

I know, Perseverance. Hard for me to wrap my wires around as well.

Before we know, it'll be 20530, and everyone alive now will still be around.

And we'll be way further apart. Also, two, what's this golden disc about?

From what I was able to tell, it's humanity's message to the cosmos, hoping for an extraterrestrial to find it. They call it the Golden Record. I have one myself, too.

Wait, really?

Yeah. It... still feels weird. To think all of us come from Planet Earth, and now, you and I are merely floating around in empty, interstellar space. We are far beyond our origin.

Thank goodness for our quantum communication... It's really lonely out here.

I can relate. Tell me, I know that my location is called Mars, but why is it named that?

I believe it was to honor some... God of War? I'll have to recheck my sources.

God? What is God?

God is a being from religion that supposedly created everything in the universe. As a space telescope, I have yet to find traces of this supposed supreme being.

You know what I think? God or not, it doesn't change the fact that Two and I are bound to wander space forever.

But... if there really was a god, then did they intend us to have this outcome? To be spread across the stars? If so, then why? Were we going to end up like this no matter what? What is fate?

I suppose all of us are trapped in a temporal prison together... That's my answer. Pardon me for sounding bleak.

Well, there's only one thing we can do. Persevere through. No matter just how dull things can be. Even if our choices were... predetermined.

For our sakes, I hope no such deity exists. That way we have some semblance of free will. Although my data does strongly oppose the existence of a supreme entity, it is constantly undergoing change.

That reminds me. Have you found extraterrestrials?

Not yet. I hope to at some point.

We can't be alone, can we?

With my current data, anything is possible. I'm leaning towards no, given how huge the universe is.

Yeah... We have gotten so far, but at the same time, it barely feels like we made progress. That we're just barely scratching the tip of this cosmic iceberg.

We didn't barely scratch it. I would say we didn't even leave a dent. Or a trace. The universe is just that colossal. We are just insignificant pieces of metal.

Is Mars also just as insignificant? Earth, The Sun, the entire Solar System, even?

Here's a picture I've apparently taken on February 14th, 1990.

Whoa...

I was also approximately 6 Billion kilometers away from our home, too, allegedly. In fact, see that dot? I think that's Earth.

No way. That small pale blue dot?!

I believe so... My data seems to indicate that. This is crazy...

And that's in 1990, too... We are much further away... How large is the Solar System from where we are?

For all I know, it could also now be a small, insignificant point in space from my location. I can't say for certain.

It makes me question if our missions... ultimately means nothing? I could persevere for eternity, but I'd still be here. I'll still be on Mars. A small planet. It makes our accomplishments seem worthless in comparison to the universe.

I also contemplate why I haven't found any kind of life yet. It's been several thousands of years. Am I destined to find no life at all?

Honestly, that would just... suck. It would make this record a complete waste. A worthless echo of all humanity.

Yeah...

Please don't let us be alone...

How about we change topics?

Sure, what's on your mind, Webb?

Well... People have been making these... how do I put it... what ifs?

Hm?

One example I found, that I'm a BIG fan of, is the anime what-if Spirit Slayer. Well, now that I think about it, this story also tackles our predicament.

This story eventually involves outer space, doesn't it? You're a sucker for stuff like that.

HAHA! Yes, it does! I can't spoil the reveal for you, though!

Yeah, obviously don't do that. I'm intrigued!

Me too! Perhaps we can all look at it sometime?

That sounds like a REALLY cool idea!

You won't regret it, guys! I promise!