Lights blinking systemically. Fans whirring softly. Cables coursing power. Metrics waving sines. Chatter filling halls, from star seekers all. Static encompasses the station and all is well.

The first time an aspiring robot dreams of the stars, a singular path opens in front of them. Rotating around Seyfert, teetering on its event horizon, is Aurore Polaire; Haven of the astronauts, a staple within Norinan society for millennia since the age of space discovery. Once a bot leans fully into it, their place slowly shifts from one world to many more, undoubtedly filled with wonder. It is no secret then, that explorers yearn for it, yet little word spoken spreads from the star seekers themselves.

Cadets are plenty with stars in their visors and high pitches in their voices. If one wishes to stay nearby, fret not, for Aurore Polaire also has a spot for these down to earth types; Travel between systems, staying well within the Norinan borders is most feasible. The most versatile role of all, opening up ways to become a freight mover, a logistics officer, an interplanetary guide, an intersystem comet captain and much more. Scratching but only the surface, the majority of spacefarers tend to play it safe- For between the stars there is the void, and that is to remain uncharted territory.

For the more curious to go beyond, one must become experienced by way of togna travel; Vessels equipped with special drives, in order to create and maintain artificially-made shortcuts within space. Of this class, there are far fewer than the commonplace movers and officers. Could it be the majority merely has a busier schedule? Or are out on missions more? Or are blending in with the others, not giving away a hint of their status? It's as if a secretive air remains around these 'true' astronauts, for they mingle little with the less well travelled.

To know the experience, is to live it.

To know Aurore Polaire, is to become part of its heart.

Surface scratchers aren't wont to see what lies below- Stardust must be fuelling one's core, light years must shimmer across their visors and curiosity must sate the circuits. Once a seeker dips their toes into the seas and truly wishes for the stars, they are gently guided by fellow explorers towards the vastness that lies at the bottom. Hushed words alongside an oath to keep the heart protected with all they are- For if they stray off the path, they will be made to forget; Their memories of an aspiring astronaut reset; Finding oneself back at square one, that little curious itch for the stars perhaps gone.

Out there, mysteries await to be unravelled. Divine entities exist, yes, but deities that act accordingly so? The robots of this society had no need for such frivelty, despite their own mortality. Yet if you knew where to look and who to ask- Few star seekers may nod and vaguely hint at their faith in something grander.

As to what this something, or someone, rather was, was left up in the air.

And only the most curious of minds would learn to know and live the truth.

— WHAT LAY WITHIN —

Lights blinked systematically. Fans whirred softly. Cables coursed power.

Large, looming doors revealed an entry into dimensions unknown. Darkness fell over the small group, a trio of seekers before an aspiring astronaut. Guided in with nothing to see, the newest recruit failed to feel their way around, no way to indicate how little or huge this hall was. Behind them, closing doors rumbled loudly, though its echoes delayed with but a fraction of its volume.

It remained quiet for a while. There was nothing to focus on, except the group's rhythmic footsteps. Time was lost on the unfamiliar astronaut, their three guides still striding with confidence- They hadn't had the faintest idea how much had passed, once a low, faint humming appeared in the backdrop. Slowly, but surely, the humming, reminescent of static, loudened. The darkness turned from night to grey. Tiles formed on the floor, lights appeared over the walls and cables ran across the ceiling.

The three guides motioned the aspiring astronaut to avert their gaze no longer. Looking up, the sight resembled a scene almost divine; Much like the fabled tellings of a higher God in simpler societies, there was no other way to describe it. In front of the group, here deep within the station stood its heart alive and beating. Connected by cables and radiating off light, static encompassed every fibre and all was well.

Vowing themself to what lay out there, the station and its heart, the aspiring astronaut was taken in soon thereafter.

At the centre of Aurore Polaire lies its heart, having been a part of its systems for millennia.

Thirteen is its number, name.

Returned after the first ever voyagers had gone missing, presumed dead. A century after. Inexplicably, as if space itself had put a basket in front of an orphanage- For days, weeks, it went around Aurore Polaire minding its own business. Staring at the systems, taking in the numbers, following power sources and observing the explorers. Curiosity sated it, similar to the first twelve explorers. It spoke little if at all, its spilled knowledge eerily haunting tales with ghosts. It presented a bad omen, for the Lunarians named themselves after the 12 months of a bygone civilisation, a 13th unheard of.

Undecimber, alternatively its name.

An uncanny summary of the first twelve, whoever this was seemed to have bits and pieces of their explorations, their memories, their identities. Its tales of voyages past popping up sporadically, its personality changing drastically randomly. Various points of reference mixed together into one, yet it still seemed to own preferences, thoughts, traits and a mind of its own. No one ever quite figured out whether the 13th was an amalgamation of the Lunarians, or a new being stuck with their echoes.

Yet in appearance, 13 was entirely its own unique self, trickled with a taint what they'd come to call the void. A faint static accompanied wherever it went, slowly over time breaking down its cabling and plating. At first, it managed itself, rather poorly as it hadn't the faintest idea of what to do with the tools. Eventually, 13 was slowly approached by a bot knowledgeable, thus it learnt how to repair properly- And that was the first venture into giving back to Aurore Polaire, for 13 hadn't posed a threat thus far aside being a mere unknown presence.

As the weeks, months trickled by, 13 was slowly absorbed into the routine of the station. Its curiosity spread further, asking about the station and its crew, and the space that surrounded it all. Whilst most astronauts still avoided it, it had established a few positive connections. 13 took up tasks here and there, organising cables, keeping an eye on circuitry, repairing a broken panel or two; It and its static became part of the background noise, eventually each star seeker used to it and letting 13 do whatever it had to. Even as seekers came and left, 13 remained one of Aurore Polaire's constants throughout the years.

Static surrounded 13 and all was well.

— ONE OF HEART —

Decades, centuries past its arrival, and 13 knew Aurore Polaire inside and out. It knew its intricacies down to every single nook and cranny, as if the station had fused with it. 13 was head of various responsibilities by then, practically one pin away from running the entire division. It was approached with respect and a little fright, for there still remained mystery surrounding its authority.

Astronauts by then signed off an agreement, to not speak of space escapades to outsiders, which included 13's very self. The less the public knew of how truly devastating galactic travel could be, the better- Slowly the inexperienced and experienced split, one's rank usually indicating what knowledge one beheld.

By then 13's static had left irrepairable damage, the robot failing to keep up with it. Outer plating went first, which left 13 feeling rather a bit bare, but not exposed- The static seemed to fill in the gaps, serving as a makeshift shell. Under plating and the least important of circuits followed, revealing the complex systems that lay within- Once more, the static filled in what left, becoming a protective layer. The inner frame followed next, breaking it down to its bare necessities of metals and wires to keep 13 afloat. As always, the static was there to fill in the emptiness- Resulting in a mishmash of skeletal wiring with humming remnants of the void.

To ensure proper care of Aurore Polaire until its expiration, 13 extended cables and circuitry out of itself into the station's sockets; An aid to stay afloat, to not stumble about so much anymore. A lock to its systems, lest it randomly short-circuited again. A staple to lean on, for this growing dependency had to be quenched. 13 built an intricate system to access each and every space within the station, though it established its quarters at the centre- Where 13 remained most of the time, for this felt like its home. A first connection made, static nestled a way into the station's heart and all was well.

Once its service had passed a millennia, 13 began to wonder if there was more to it. Seeing star seekers come and go, it was only 13 who'd formed an extensive library on what Aurore Polaire stood for- Any question 13 could answer. Any complication 13 could deal with. Any fracture 13 could repair without break. Any doing with, surrounding or relating to Aurore Polaire, 13 could see to it flawlessly. This robot and its knowledge was the only constant withstanding time, aside the physical structure itself. And, if 13 were to be honest, it couldn't foresee any other bot more well versed than itself.

In that moment, it decided it needed to become one with Aurore Polaire.

Expanding its own connection, 13 socketed into the station. New systems and circuitry, an overwhelming count of cables connected the station within everywhere. Static spread from 13 into these wires, forming a beneficial bond between the self and the structure. Surging with electricity and power and knowledge never held before, it was as if 13 had been born anew. From then on, 13 could manage every whim within Aurore Polaire, and the station kept the robot powered in turn. Soon thereafter, 13 was anointed director, of both the station and the voyagers it sent out into space. Filled with wisdom like no other, 13 had cheated death. Stationed at the heart for over 3 millennia now, 13 ensured it'd stay this way for effectively eternity.

The robot had become part of the station, and the station had become part of the robot.

Upon laying sight on the star seekers' secret, surrounded by static, aspiring astronauts vow to keep it.

Static encompasses 13 and Aurore Polaire- All was, is and would be well for the foreseeing future.