135 comments

Science Fiction Speculative

Humans are so unnecessarily complex.

They are made up of only atoms and space dust, but they manage to make everything seem so complicated.

Cultures.

Languages.

Freedom.

Food.

Dialects.

Skin.

Gender.

Love.

Rights.

Technology.

Even something as simple as finding other forms of life in the universe.

Infinitely many resources.

Yet they are blind.

Blind to what is right under their noses, seeking to look up at the stars and dream.

Rather than to look down and live.

Although, I shouldn’t be talking.

It is not as if I am human.

I am merely a vessel, an android sent from the planet 76hteu which is as close to human pronunciation as it gets.

Sent to Earth by my creators, I am to report on the human behaviors as I observe them.

To determine if my planet should reach out.

We have been watching.

Watching for years.

Trying to come to an agreement over whether or not to communicate with Earth.

So far, the only thing my planet has agreed upon is to send me to Earth to determine if they should or shouldn’t come here.

I think the human term for my predicament would be a guinea pig.

Adorable little things, really.

With those cute little twitching noses, and those soft, furry bodies.

Not at all like humans.

With their lanky limbs.

A full head of hair.

No visible defense mechanisms.

Unlike birds, which I have come to realize, can be very aggressive.

My body has been designed to look like a human, but compared to my home planet, humans are weird.

They do not have three eyes.

They do not have pale blue skin.

Nor do they have any strange features that define every individual on 76hteu.

Very creepy.

And what is wrong with the sky?

Changing colors every day.

It turns a pale color in the morning.

Blue during the day.

Or even gray when it's cloudy or stormy.

And dies a violent death in the night.

I’m not sure what to do about it.

Is it some sort of human creation?

If so, then they are far more advanced than we had originally thought.

And do not get me started on the machines in the…restroom?

Bathroom?

Powder room?

Lavatory?

Loo?

Shower?

Toilet?

Spa?

Unnecessarily complicated, I tell you.

But that is beside the point.

Well, actually that proves my very first point.

But back to the point that I was trying to prove in the first place-

Oh goodness.

So complex, humans are.

I cannot even speak properly in their different tongues.

The machines in the public restrooms are what I am trying to talk about.

The ones that you push that silver knob and it blasts out hot air?

That’s the monster.

How in the universe did they get hot air to come out of…that?

Scared the complete circuits out of me.

The human female behind me didn’t know what to think of me.

I was this close to…what is the human phrase?

Blowing my cover, I think is what it is.

I am not supposed to do that.

The one thing I have been redundantly programmed not to do.

I have to make humans think I am one of them.

It is harder than I had originally thought.

There are many things that are so strange.

I do not know how humans do it.

They are an interesting species, I will give them that.

But what is that white powdery stuff that falls from the sky?

I cannot feel the temperature of the air.

It is not something my robotic body can comprehend.

But humans put on more skins when that white stuff comes down.

I think it is…cold?

I cannot understand anything.

I was sent to Earth in the hopes that I could find similarities between our two planets that are separated by hundreds of lightyears.

Instead of finding a single land-mass that spans the entire planet, I find not one.

Or two.

Or even three.

But seven.

I…cannot comprehend the resources they have.

And the number of humans?

That is a whole other story.

The computer in my brain tells me the number is updating every few minutes.

Over seven billion humans living on this small planet.

There are only about a million of the organic sentient species that created me, yet our planet is bigger.

How do they manage?

And…their cities?

I could have spent my entire battery life wandering the different cities on Earth.

Every single one is completely unique.

And they all have a beating heart.

Not like a flesh and blood heart, as humans say, but a cultural heart.

The heart of a city truly is in its humans.

The different tongues are spoken.

The way they are spoken.

Why they are spoken.

What they mean.

When they can be said.

What different things mean in different places.

It is as if every single human is a well-oiled machine of a melting pot of different ideas.

I have been on Earth for about twenty Earth years.

That is only two years on 76htue.

I can understand why humans rush around all the time.

Their lives are so short.

Barely just beginning and then they end.

For these past twenty years, I have managed to see just about everything Earth has to offer.

I have seen some magical things.

I have seen some wonderful things.

I have seen some things that are so amazing, I cannot comprehend the majesty of them.

I almost short-circuited from an overload of pure excitement.

But…for all their ideas, humans are not entirely above faults.

Small or big hand-held machines fire death and destruction when shot.

Roaring yellow…Cats? That tear down the towering trees that have stood for years.

The dozens of different species of animals that go extinct every single day.

The hundreds that go extince every single year.

It is a wonder that humans do not realize what impact they are having on the only planet that they currently exist on.

They do not understand that Earth is straining at the seams.

And when things strain against the seams…they inevitably burst.

I do not want this planet to burst, literally or figuratively.

There are so many good things that they have done.

So many positive things that came from their minds.

Love.

Kindness.

Empathy.

I cannot understand the complexity of those feelings, being made from spare parts, but what I can understand is that humans get so much more done when they work together.

Not when they fight.

Not when they kill.

Not when they destroy or burn down what stands in their way.

Not when they harm.

Not when they yell or scream.

Not when they purposely hurt others for enjoyment.

Not when they forget to look among the stars.

I see it all the time in the everyday lives of humans.

They are so focused on that small device in their hands.

Or their next item of business.

They are so focused on rushing and going from one place to another that they forget to slow down.

And I am not even a human.

I noticed these things when I do not have the capability to feel.

I noticed these things when I am not even alive.

I am a robot.

An android.

A vessel of an intergalactic species.

So I think my report back to my planet will include the advice to stay away.

Stay away for now.

Let the humans understand that they cannot live like this.

That they cannot abuse like this.

That they cannot continue staying ignorant.

Or continue shying away from risk.

But when they have seen the error of their ways.

When they have understood what they have been doing wrong.

When they learn to love and feel for others.

When they finally learn to heal.

We will come back.

We will embrace our fellow species in the universe.

We will walk together into a new era.

And we will thrive

February 19, 2021 22:35

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135 comments

Jeni Conrad
11:29 Mar 04, 2021

Fun! I love your lens of the robot in battery life and other stuff. Good job!

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Nainika Gupta
13:35 Mar 04, 2021

Thanks so much Jeni! :)

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Maya -
17:33 Mar 03, 2021

Omg lol, your stories are the first three on the contest page. :DDD

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Nainika Gupta
17:35 Mar 03, 2021

wait really?? hhahaha

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Maya -
17:36 Mar 03, 2021

Lolol hehe :))

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Holly Fister
23:22 Feb 28, 2021

This is a great commentary on mankind! I loved the part about complicated bathrooms; I was recently assaulted by an out of control bidet, so I completely agree! I’m looking for feedback on my most recent story. Would you be willing to read it?

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Nainika Gupta
14:19 Mar 01, 2021

Thanks so much Holly! Really appreciate it :) and I would love too! Thanks for asking :)

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Holly Fister
15:34 Mar 01, 2021

Thanks Nainika! I’m trying to get more connected in the Reedsy community. 😃

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Nainika Gupta
16:04 Mar 01, 2021

of course!! :)

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Meggysa Nine
17:09 Feb 28, 2021

THE DETAILS!!! ❤❤❤ I learned something new from this story, thank you for sharing this. You nailed it!👌❤

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Nainika Gupta
14:19 Mar 01, 2021

Ahah, thanks so much Arcu!! Really appreciate it :)

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Meggysa Nine
17:09 Feb 28, 2021

THE DETAILS!!! ❤❤❤ I learned something new from this story, thank you for sharing this. You nailed it!👌❤

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Diana Quill
07:10 Feb 28, 2021

This was really fantastic, with a clear, powerful message told through a clever, endearing character. I also appreciated the little details peppered between the main narrative, such as aggressive birds or how the sky dies at night. Very well done.

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Nainika Gupta
14:19 Mar 01, 2021

Thanks so much Diana!! Really appreciate it :)

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K M Hasling
20:08 Feb 27, 2021

I liked the style. It was fun to read quickly and skim while catching a punchline of importance or comedy. This one is my favorite: Scared the complete circuits out of me. ... ... Blowing my cover, I think is what it is. It's funny to watch the android be familiar with some concepts like the first line but still struggle with others. The message of "stay away" is what I feel right now too. Thanks!

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Nainika Gupta
21:13 Feb 27, 2021

Loll thanks so much K!! Really appreciate it :)

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16:04 Feb 27, 2021

I have been writing fictional stories for a few years now, and none of my stories could ever be quite this well written. I entered a contest with somebody here, and we both wrote the story. The title is; Neglected Please give it a point for me! - Love your story

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Nainika Gupta
16:30 Feb 27, 2021

Aw, thanks so much Annalisa! Means a lot :) and I would love to read it!

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Jasey Lovegood
07:58 Feb 24, 2021

"Humans are so unnecessarily complex." I KNOW MAN I KNOW

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Nainika Gupta
13:50 Feb 24, 2021

ahahah XD

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TJ Squared
20:41 Feb 22, 2021

THIS IS AWESOME! It describes all our problems good and bad that we are going through as...well humans but from another perspective. So good! I really liked this one!

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Nainika Gupta
20:44 Feb 22, 2021

aw, thanks so much :))

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TJ Squared
20:46 Feb 22, 2021

yOu Is WeLcOmE!

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Keya M.
20:08 Feb 22, 2021

What a beautiful story! I loved all your details and the humor. Great job!

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Nainika Gupta
20:08 Feb 22, 2021

Aw, thanks so much! Really appreciate it :)

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Keya M.
20:12 Feb 22, 2021

I read ur bio, and I totally understand. I hope things work out for u, and that u come back to Reedsy soon because u r incredibly talented, and I truly enjoy reading ur stories. Also, respect for putting ur priorities first Nainika. Ur a queen.

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Nainika Gupta
20:12 Feb 22, 2021

you...aw thanks so much Keya. Really appreciate it :)

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Keya M.
20:15 Feb 22, 2021

Always. Much love and I hope everything works out for u.

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Nainika Gupta
20:15 Feb 22, 2021

much love to you as well, Keya <3

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Amel Parvez
18:09 Feb 21, 2021

WOW! Btwi LOVED the way. anyways, ''And dies a violent death in the night.''just fell in love with this line.

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Nainika Gupta
19:01 Feb 21, 2021

thanks so much :)

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Amel Parvez
07:36 Feb 22, 2021

you're welcome XD

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Nainika Gupta
13:18 Feb 22, 2021

:)

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Nancy Drayce
12:58 Feb 20, 2021

Such a well crafted story! I love the message and the android's perception of the world! Amazing 💙🌟

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Nainika Gupta
13:42 Feb 20, 2021

thanks so much nancy!

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. .
00:26 Feb 20, 2021

OH DONT YOU DARE LEAVE WITHOUT TELLING YOUR OG MALLOW FRIEND GOODBYE

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Nainika Gupta
13:41 Feb 20, 2021

i'm....sorry luke :(

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. .
14:01 Feb 20, 2021

Goodbyeeeeeeee we will always be friends

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Nainika Gupta
14:23 Feb 20, 2021

:)) always :)

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. .
15:10 Feb 20, 2021

:D Well we had a good run...

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Nainika Gupta
15:13 Feb 20, 2021

i'll be back, don't worry - whether it be a couple weeks or a month, I'll be back <3

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Mira Caplan
00:23 Feb 20, 2021

PART 18 HAS BEEN PUBLISHED Love the new writing style, btw.

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Nainika Gupta
13:43 Feb 20, 2021

thanks mira!

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Mira Caplan
16:03 Feb 20, 2021

You are leaving????? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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Nainika Gupta
16:26 Feb 20, 2021

:(

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Mira Caplan
16:03 Feb 20, 2021

You are leaving????? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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Mira Caplan
16:04 Feb 20, 2021

But i read your bio and yeah. I understand. (Even though it is very sad and we will all miss you, your actual life is more important)

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Nainika Gupta
16:26 Feb 20, 2021

thanks for understanding :)

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Mira Caplan
17:19 Feb 20, 2021

np! :)

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Mira Caplan
16:04 Feb 20, 2021

But i read your bio and yeah. I understand. (Even though it is very sad and we will all miss you, your actual life is more important)

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Sunny 🌼
23:57 Feb 19, 2021

This was great. That's it. That's the whole comment. The story was great. And also beautiful and well-written.

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Nainika Gupta
13:43 Feb 20, 2021

thanks sarah!

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