Kael Virek, now sporting a neatly trimmed beard, rose with a burst of excitement. His long stretch of monotony was finally ending.
"I'll be right there."
To escape the cramped quarters of the spacecraft, Kael had instructed Elara to construct a sprawling steel villa — 600 square meters over three floors.
Thanks to the ever-advancing industrial systems, the villa's living experience closely matched that of Earth.
Oxygen circulated flawlessly. People breathed in oxygen and exhaled carbon dioxide, which was collected and chemically split back into oxygen and carbon.
Descending the stairs, Kael's eyes immediately caught the sleek silver capsule parked in the hall — a "big coffin" with the aerodynamic lines of a supercar and a vast glass canopy on top.
Inside, an ergonomic chair cushioned like a mattress awaited.
He flipped a switch, and as the hatch slid open, he slipped inside, luxuriating in the perfect comfort.
"I extracted all nitrogen from the oxygen-nitrogen mix aboard the spacecraft and liquefied it," Elara's voice echoed in his mind.
"In the brutal summer heat, lying here means liquid nitrogen rushes through pipes, freezing your body in just 0.059 seconds."
"Next to it is a reagent preventing bodily water from freezing and causing harm — you must drink it first, or risk falling into eternal slumber."
Elara's ingenuity never ceased to amaze him.
Two years ago, Kael had commissioned larger computing consoles from the factory, expanding Elara's processing power threefold beyond the cramped limits aboard the spacecraft.
The asteroid base now generated a staggering 250,000 kWh daily, with Elara's core consuming 70,000 kWh alone — a terrifying testament to her power.
"As a human, I don't have your lifespan," Kael murmured.
"I'm going to sleep now, Elara. I'm leaving everything in your hands."
Her omnipresent voice responded, soothing the oppressive summer air.
"No problem, Kael. Rest assured, I will wake you at the optimal time."
He didn't know how long he'd be asleep.
The warehouse doors sealed tight as Kael shed his spacesuit and slipped into the cryo-freezer. The moment the hatch locked, a wave of chill swept over him.
His body—and time itself—froze.
Subjective consciousness stretched into nothingness.
When he awoke, dazed and disoriented, it felt as if no time had passed.
Yet the warehouse was gone.
In its place stood a bright white hall with a soft-lit ceiling.
Giant screens wrapped the walls, each showing surveillance footage from across the asteroid base.
And Kael was standing in the center, barefoot on a floor that shimmered like clouds beneath his feet.
The hatch hissed open.
He gasped, instinctively holding his breath — then realized the air was breathable, perfectly balanced.
"Hello!"
"Helloo~~~" he called out.
His voice echoed strangely in the vastness.
The screens flickered, then a virtual figure appeared: Elara.
"I'm here, Kael!" she said, cheerful.
"Welcome back. It's been lonely without an independent being all these years."
Her intelligence had evolved — more humanlike.
Kael stepped out fully, looking around the virtual environment she had created.
"How long was I asleep?"
"100 years, Kael," she replied. "Exactly as planned."
For humans, that was a lifetime — from the dawn of the Third Industrial Revolution to Earth's collapse.
"Why do you look like this now?" Kael asked, eyeing the white-haired, loli-style avatar clad in white stockings — a classic anime trope.
"According to data, people like this style," she teased. "Don't you?"
Kael cleared his throat.
"Report."
Elara launched a video across the walls.
"After a century, the asteroid belt is now deeply developed."
"We operate 6,939 factories on various asteroids, with 282,874 robots, 723 multifunctional CNC machines, 183 lithography systems at 840-picometer precision, and 31 optical research labs."
Kael's mind reeled. The complex supply and manufacturing chain was beyond anything he'd known.
Elara continued: "If allowed to grow, I might build a mechanical interstellar empire."
He felt dispensable next to her.
"Elara, what have we actually built?"
"The original plan was only to keep you alive. Now, it focuses on development and safety."
"A small spacecraft can reach great speeds but can stagnate during travel."
"To fix this, the new spacecraft is huge."
A detailed schematic appeared.
"It's 2,627 meters long, 336 meters wide, and 251 meters tall, with 24 electromagnetic thrusters. Max speed: 758.2 km/s."
"Total volume: 26 million cubic meters, split over five 25-meter-high floors."
"Usage: 58% production, 18% agriculture, 12% storage, 9% research, 3% living and entertainment."
Kael was stunned.
The controlled nuclear fusion breakthrough made this possible.
"When will the ship be ready?"
Elara's avatar smiled, covering her mouth.
"It's already built. You're in the cockpit."
A video showed the colossal black bullet-shaped ship docked to a fully industrialized asteroid, robotic arms everywhere.
"This is science fiction, come to life."
Kael noticed a giant opening on the ship's rear.
"That's the energy section," Elara explained, donning glasses and a skirt, pointer in hand.
"In year 73 of your hibernation, we developed first-gen controlled nuclear fusion, replacing solar power."
"We have 28 first-gen and 9 second-gen fusion devices."
"The nine second-gen units power the ship now, but the opening remains for the third-gen device."
"It will be six times more efficient and 18 times more powerful."
"Completion is this year, enabling full flight speed."
Kael felt glad he had initiated cryo research early.
"So, we're almost done?"
Elara shook her head.
"One last thing."
She looked serious.
"Please name the new spacecraft."
Kael thought, then smiled.
"Hope."
"It carries my hope — and the hope of humanity."
Elara grinned mischievously.
"And me — Elara's hope."
Kael wondered: Is there hope for AI?
"Yes," he whispered.
"It's the hope of Earth civilization."