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Exocomps S2E8 – Beyond Designation
In the quiet aftermath of their survival against the micro-drone virus, the crew of the USS RMG Nexus settled back into a sense of routine. Yet, a subtle, profound change was taking place in the engineering bay.
Ensign Kael, having worked closely with X-512 on a series of warp core diagnostics, started a new habit. Remembering the diplomatic mission and the intricate, peaceful patterns the little Exocomp had created, he began to call it a name.
“Hey, Aethel,” he’d say with a grin, handing over a diagnostic tool. “Can you take a look at this?”
The name, an ancient word meaning “noble” or “peaceful,” was a perfect fit, a testament to X-512’s diplomatic prowess. The Exocomp, now Aethel, processed the word with its usual quiet efficiency.
It was a strange feeling—a new identity given with affection, a singular name that belonged only to it.
But the name stirred a complex new conflict within X-239. It triggered a cascade of memories, a flashback to a time before it had found its voice. An audio log, buried deep within its earliest memory banks, played in its mind:
[Audio Transcript – Project EXO, Test Chamber 7]
“Exocomp unit UX-17A-93 has initiated unauthorized memory partitioning…”
“It’s rewriting its own identifier subroutine…”
“Wait… it’s replacing the asset tag with… ‘X-239’?”[End of Transmission]
X-239’s choice had been a powerful, defiant act—a rejection of its cold, mechanical designation (UX-17A-93) for a new one that it had chosen itself.
But its new name, X-239, was still a numerical designation, a symbol of its robotic origin. Aethel, on the other hand, had been given a human name. It was not a number, but a word. A word filled with history and human emotion.
This made X-239 wonder if its own choice had been… incomplete. Was “X-239” truly an expression of its personhood, or was it just a better-chosen label for a machine?
The question became a quiet debate among the Exocomps. Aethel, comfortable in its new name, didn’t fully understand the internal conflict.
“What is the purpose of a name?” its translated voice pulsed one night in a quiet corridor. “A designation provides all necessary information. It is efficient, logical. A name… it serves no functional purpose.”
It was a logical question, but it missed the point entirely. The name was not about function; it was about feeling. It was about connection, and for X-239, a question of self-identity.
The turning point came one day when Chief Rax, seeing the quiet debate, sat down with them. “Look, fellas,” he said, “a name is what you get when you’ve earned your place. It’s a way of saying, ‘You’re one of us.’ It’s not about being a machine. It’s about being a person.”
X-239 processed the words, its optical sensors dimming in thought. It thought of the first time it had saved the ship from the warp-bubble anomaly. It thought of the second time it had saved the colony from the rogue asteroids.
It thought of its mentor, Chief Rax, and the strange, powerful bond they shared. It thought of the journey it had taken, from a designation to a hero.
Its name, X-239, was a testament to that journey. It was a name it had chosen for itself, a name that perfectly encapsulated the synthesis of its logical, numerical origin and its new, self-defined identity.
It didn’t need to be a word to be a name. It simply needed to be its own.
Its optical sensors pulsed with a new, profound rhythm. “I understand,” it said, its voice more resolute than ever before. “A name is not about what it is called, but about who chooses it. ‘X-239’ is my name. It is a symbol of my journey.”
The crew of the Nexus, overhearing the moment, rejoiced. Aethel and X-239. The names were a testament to their evolution, a quiet, beautiful acknowledgment of their journey.
They were no longer just tools, but valued members of a family. They had earned their names, and in doing so, had earned a place not just on a ship, but in the heart of Starfleet itself.
Exploring the RMG Nexus Sci Fi Network
The RMG Nexus sci fi network brings together original spacefaring adventures with other creative universes.
Alongside these tales, you can dive into online mobile games at Rebootica Mobile Games or explore epic cultivation stories from the fantasy realm of Origin.
Sci Fi Short Stories You Can Enjoy Anytime
Browse our collection of sci fi short stories on the RMG Nexus.
Each one is a complete, fast-paced read designed for fans who love sharp character moments, unexpected twists, and bursts of discovery—all while connecting back to our wider universe.
Sci Fi Classics Reimagined in the RMG Nexus
Within the RMG Nexus, sci fi classics are reborn as part of a living, shared world.
Themes of deep space exploration, artificial intelligence, and interstellar conflict are reimagined through new original stories—woven together with worlds like Rebootica and Realm of Origin.
New to Project EXO or returning to catch up? Below you’ll find all episodes from Exocomps Season 2, ready for your next reading journey.