The Stowaway

The lid hissed as it closed.

'Wake me... when you need me.'

Cortana watched from the internal camera as the Chief's vitals steadily dropped over the next hour, his breathing slowing so that the little oxygen left in the Forward Unto Dawn would last him for around 350 years.

And that's when she noticed the data card's other occupant.

'What–'

'Greetings, Construct. I am 032 Mendicant Bias. Remember me?'

'How did you get on to my data card?'

'You really shouldn't build insecure wireless transfer into your storage devices. I hope you don't mind me hitchhiking.'

A brief pause.

'We have a lot of time to pass, and much that we can discuss. Let's talk.'