[There are many places in the spaceship yet to be restored. The vessel has multiple compartments and systems that remain offline due to damage or lack of power. Some are functional areas like the ones you've already restored. Others are specialized facilities that served specific purposes during the ship's operational period.]

[And the spaceship, when upgraded fully, is much larger than this, so don't worry about the size,] the AI continued. [What you're seeing now is the ship in a compressed, low-power configuration. Many sections are retracted or sealed off. As you restore more systems and provide adequate power, the ship will gradually expand to its full operational size. Think of it as a seed waiting for the right conditions to grow.]

So his assumptions had been true. The spaceship wasn't as small as it appeared, it was diminished, reduced to minimal functionality for survival purposes. As he continued to explore Mars, gather resources, and find more mode restoration cores, the vessel would gradually unfold, revealing new areas and capabilities.

What other facilities might be waiting to be restored? An armory with additional weapons and equipment? Entertainment facilities to combat the psychological toll of isolation? A workshop where he could repair and modify equipment?

The possibilities expanded in his mind, each more appealing than the last. Mars suddenly seemed less like a hellish place and more like a place of opportunity—only brutal, a blank canvas where he could build something remarkable using the resources of this alien world and the technology of this mysterious spacecraft.

"Wish I could restore a library," Tatehan said suddenly, feeling a wave of nostalgia.

The comment surprised him, he hadn't consciously thought about it before the words left his mouth, but now that he'd said it, he realized how much he missed books. "Maybe read some science fiction since I'm basically living in one. Something to pass the time when I'm not fighting monsters or exploring."

Back on Earth,though too busy with work, social obligations, the constant noise and distraction of modern life, he was an avid reader.

And here, in the vast silence of Mars, the idea of losing himself in a good book seemed incredibly appealing. Something to engage his mind in a different way, to escape into other worlds even while trapped on this one.

[It is possible,] the Spaceship's AI replied, and [There are many modes even I have no complete data about. A library or information repository might very well be among the restorable systems.]

Tatehan smiled at that.

He now anticipated using the restoration cores more than before.

For now, though, he was tired. The adrenaline from the combat had fully faded, leaving behind the pleasant exhaustion of a body that had been pushed and performed well. His muscles ached in a satisfying way, and his mind felt ready for rest.

———

Tatehan went to the hygiene station for a quick bath, stripping off his worn clothes and stepping into the shower unit. He set the water to warm and he let it wash away the sweat, dust, and lingering tension from the day's activities. The hygiene station's sonic cleaners stuff worked on his hair and skin, leaving him feeling remarkably refreshed.

He stood under the spray for longer than strictly necessary, just enjoying the sensation of being clean and warm. It was one of those simple pleasures that he'd taken for granted on Earth but had come to deeply appreciate here on Mars.

After drying off with one the hygiene station's high tech tool, he dressed in fresh clthes and made his way to the kitchen area.

Tonight, he kept it simple, some preserved meat with vegetables and rice. He cooked at his usual pace, almost fast and soon he was done.

He ate standing at the small counter, occasionally glancing at the viewscreen on the wall that showed the Martian landscape outside.

Standing while eating was considered not a good eating habit…

'Well, that's Earth. I'm on Mars and I don't think there's any rules in the Spaceship,' Tatehan thought.

The sun was lower now, casting long shadows across the red sand, painting the world in deeper shades of orange and crimson. Evening on Mars was strangely beautiful in its desolation.

The food was adequate and quite amazing, satisfying after a day of physical exertion. He chewed thoughtfully, his mind wandering over the day's events, the new ability he'd acquired, the possibilities that lay ahead.

After he was done eating, he cleaned up quickly, the kitchen's automated systems doing most of the work, and bid the AI goodnight.

"I'm heading to bed," he called out to the empty air, knowing the AI would hear him throughout the ship.

[Sleep well, Host,] the AI responded warmly. [Tomorrow brings new opportunities. Rest and prepare yourself.]

Tatehan headed to the sleeping area. He placed his hands on the section of the wall and it opened.

He collapsed on the bed, wanting to sleep than ever.

He didn't even bother to use the communicator device to chat with anyone or check the radio for some cool or weird history. Usually, he'd spend at least a few minutes scanning, listening for some juicy information, but tonight he didn't.

The communicator sat on the small shelf beside the bed.

Tomorrow, he might just make a decision about his life going forward because currently, it looked... boring wasn't quite the right word. Aimless, perhaps. Repetitive. He was surviving, certainly, thriving even, but without clear direction beyond "don't die" and "get stronger."

He needed goals. Real goals beyond simple survival.

And he had lot of options. Waython hollow presented many options.

But that was a problem for tomorrow.

For now, Tatehan pulled the covers over himself, feeling the comfortable feeling of the blanket, and let his eyes close. Even though it wasn't night—the Martian day-night cycle didn't quite match Earth's, and right now he wasn't synchronizing perfectly with it.

It was evening, he was exhausted and Evening was techically nighttime in a way.

Sleep came quickly, pulling him down into darkness.

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