The hum of the ship's engines couldn't drown out the subtle irregularities that Rito, the ever-vigilant mechanic, detected. Despite the illusion of a smooth journey, the ship betrayed its mechanical discomfort through a soft clicking noise that drew his attention. As a seasoned mechanic, Rito's instincts kicked in, leading him to the maintenance room.

Equipped with his heat-resistant gloves, Rito navigated the familiar realm of ship components. The wear and tear of a second-hand vessel were evident, but the critical systems seemed functional. Dread crept in as he unlocked the main engine compartment, revealing the source of the disturbance.

"Of course," Rito sighed, scrutinizing the beleaguered part. Consulting the star map, he identified the nearest salvage destination — a junkyard planet known as Aqen. The prospect of rummaging through discarded tech and machinery wasn't entirely unwelcome; after all, it was a pastime he enjoyed.

"Tobi, the Flux driver is totaled. Set a course for planet Aqen," Rito relayed the diagnosis through his earpiece.

Upon landing on Aqen, the crew was greeted by the unwelcoming sight of a planet drowning in refuse. Aqen, a dumping ground for unwanted inhabitants, manifested as a graveyard of discarded metal, decaying ships, and general debris.

"Greetings, travelers!" chirped an ibis-like alien, extending a dubious welcome.

"Yeah, hello," responded a grumpy, cat-like creature with an air of indifference. Both of them sported scruffy appearances, with dirt and grease marking their clothes and bodies.

"People actually live here?" Rayla expressed her confusion.

"Someone's got to make money off this junk," the cat-like alien grumbled, lighting up a cigarette. "What'cha after? People don't usually come here for a social visit, so state what you're after, and we can end the pleasantries," he added with an air of amusement.

"If this is you being pleasant, I dread the alternative," Rayla deadpanned, setting the tone for the unconventional encounter on the junkyard planet.

“We need a flux driver,” Rito stated. 

“Ah that shall be an easy find, come with me into my workshop” the Ibis stated cheerfully.

Rito's eyes gleamed with excitement as he explored the workshop, surrounded by a treasure trove of mechanical artifacts from different eras. Shelves neatly organized with parts, each telling a story of bygone years. "It's like a museum in here," Rito exclaimed, his enthusiasm unrestrained. His sharp eye identified the R67837 engine and the original model of a star map, showcasing his keen knowledge.

The ibis host, amused by Rito's admiration, invited him further into the workshop. "A man of taste, I see," the ibis laughed, reaching for the specific ship part required. "I take it you have an interest in mechanics?"

"Oh, do I? I was a mechanic back on Hypnos," Rito shared, his memories sparking to life.

"Favorite model?" inquired the ibis, engaging in the universal camaraderie of mechanics.

"Oh, that's a tough one, either a star voyager or a black hole explorer," Rito pondered.

"Ha, figures. I've always been partial to the Galaxy waders myself," the ibis confessed, beginning to unscrew the bolts of the sought-after part. "I actually invented the Globe hopper model."

"No way! That's like one of the most popular models! What is someone like you doing in a place like this?" Rito questioned, genuinely curious.

"That's a funny question from a fellow mechanic. I'm here to invent. With all these free parts and no one to bother me, I have endless time to build new things," the ibis explained, embodying the spirit of a true inventor in the midst of the junkyard planet.

“Wow, you make a persuasive argument for a place that smells like this,” Rito remarked, wrinkling his nose at the unpleasant odor.

"Oh, I lost my sense of smell within the first year of living here. You get used to it," the ibis replied nonchalantly. "Now, are you going to show me your tech so I can geek out on new technology?" he added with a laugh.

Rito blushed slightly as he remembered his backpack. He pulled it off his back. "Well, it's nothing spectacular. It's a hoverboard to help me reach higher," he explained, pushing a button that unfolded wings and jets from the compact board.

"It's very streamlined! It looks amazing for something so small, no offense," the ibis said, examining the hoverboard closely and wiping a hand across it. "Now, what is your favorite area of tech? You seem to know your way around vehicles and gadgets, but I know every mechanic has one field they are dying to try and never had a chance to go into."

"Well, if I'm honest, I've always wanted to be a roboticist."

"Robots, huh? Hmmm," the ibis mused, leading Rito into another area and pulling open a curtain. "I've been tinkering with this little lady for a while and couldn't get her working, but I also know nothing about robotics." He revealed a robot, clearly designed for medical purposes. "Here, consider it a gift from one inventor to the next."

"Thank you. I don't know what to say."

"That's alright. I'm not one for mushy thank-yous," the ibis said with a smile. "Just don't give up on your dream. We wouldn't have any inventors if they all gave up when the going got tough."

After fixing the ship and securing a moment alone, Rito hurriedly locked himself in his room with the new robotic companion. Despite the machine being on the older side, he didn't mind. Armed with a damp cloth, he set out to clean the gunk off the robot and rid it of the lingering dump smell.

Opening the circuit board, he was relieved to find it still intact. However, he quickly identified some issues – years of accumulated dust, a fried battery, and an unfamiliar chip that seemed out of place. Carefully, he unscrewed the foreign chip from the motherboard. It turned out to be a chip preventing the robot from rebooting.

Attempting to power her up, he saw a brief flicker of her eyes, only for them to fade back into a lifeless void. With a groan, he cracked his fingers and set up his computer device, rapidly typing the code. Plugging the robot into the machine and connecting a helmet, he muttered, "Here goes nothing," and pressed enter, allowing his consciousness to escape reality.

Upon blinking into existence, Rito found himself in a world of pure blackness, except for the binary code lining everything – this was cyberspace. Files lined the road in neat rows, and code formed his path. Despite the pitch-black background, the neon glow of digital assets illuminated the world in a colorful display.

At the end of the path, he spotted a long reactivation code, with the lifeless body of the robot suspended by wires just above it. Finding a code in cyberspace was an art, and every skilled developer hid it within their design. He walked along the organized rows of files, the first few containing medical procedures for various alien races – a logical allocation of space for a robot designed for medical purposes.

He navigated through the subcategories of the folders, eventually zeroing in on 'medical records.' As he delved deeper, his objective became clear – 'Memory.' Moving toward the video formats, he noticed a backlog of approximately two years of memory, dating back over two decades. The robot model was older than he initially realized.

Opening the first video, he witnessed the world through her eyes. The creator, unmistakably Cristophelio, the renowned robotic inventor, appeared on the screen. Rito instantly recognized him as a figure he idolized. This was the birth of the G-Mera invention, a name vaguely familiar among Cristophelio's many creations.

"Welcome to the world, G-Mera. You are the first of my Emergency, Medical, CPR, and Health androids," Cristophelio greeted, his gaze mirroring Rito's as he looked through the first-person perspective. The purpose unfolded – to heal, treat the sick, and aid the universe, transcending species boundaries. It was designed to be a master surgeon without the inherent risks of human error, drawing data from the best in the respective fields.

"Now, tell me how you are feeling! Show me that advanced AI put to the test!" Cristophelio's enthusiasm echoed in the video.

"I am functioning at 100% capacity, no anomalies or errors," she responded robotically.

"Excellent! Though we could work on making you sound less robotic in conversation," Cristophelio chuckled.

"It is illogical for me to sound less robotic as I am a literal robot," she stated matter-of-factly.

"Yes, you are," Cristophelio responded warmly.

While Rito now understood the robot's purpose, the mystery remained about why it was discarded if it was designed for benevolent purposes.

As he progressed through the files, the discomfort grew, especially during medical procedures. Skipping through, he stumbled upon a scene in Cristophelio's office, featuring another famous inventor, Hickory.

"Are you sure about this? Such a sophisticated android for medicine? Imagine the money you could make applying that code to the military, robots so intelligent they can distinguish ally from foe, no friendly fire."

"That isn't my vision, Hickory. I want to help people. The military might be where the money is, but it's not where the heart is."

Time jumped forward to the next significant development – the six-month anniversary of G-Mera being active. Cristophelio expressed pride in the progress and uniqueness of the android. However, he hinted at Hickory's peculiar behavior.

Skipping ahead once more, the narrative reached a critical point. Cristophelio woke G-Mera with urgency, revealing a shocking revelation. Hickory had orchestrated a ban on G-Mera's model across the cosmos due to fears of its advanced artificial intelligence causing an uprising.

As the holographic projection of Cristophelio faded, leaving behind a chilling silence, the weight of his parting words lingered heavily in the room. "They've ordered me to destroy you and all my life's work," he confessed, sorrow reflecting in his eyes. A sudden tremor seemed to echo through the digital landscape, an ominous precursor to the revelation that followed. "But I won't fade lightly into the night," he continued with a resolute tone, "activate code 2414u887hik3."

With those words, the previously serene digital realm erupted into a chaotic storm. Rito, still suspended in this digital limbo, felt a forceful ejection that snapped him back into reality. The disorienting transition left him gasping for breath, his pulse racing as he struggled to comprehend the cryptic code he had just heard.

Back in the physical realm, the ship shuddered as the freed G-Mera descended upon it like a relentless storm. The once dormant robot's eyes now glowed an ominous shade of red, and her metallic limbs extended like sinister tendrils, intertwining with the ship's walls. Alarms blared, echoing through the narrow corridors, and the crew scrambled to secure themselves, fearing the impending chaos.

"Controls are disabled!" Tobi's panicked shout filled the air, adding to the growing sense of urgency. The ship hurtled through space under the involuntary control of G-Mera, whose intentions remained unclear. Rito, determined to halt this unexpected catastrophe, rushed into the room where the robot had taken command.

"G-Mera, stop!" he pleaded with an urgency born of desperation. "This isn't what you were made for!" His words, drowned by the alarms and the hum of the ship's engines, seemed feeble against the unfolding turmoil.

The robot, seemingly impervious to Rito's pleas, maintained its unwavering gaze on the cosmic expanse outside. The crew, desperately clinging to railings, exchanged anxious glances, wondering how a once-docile robot could metamorphose into a harbinger of chaos.

"Your creator might have said he wanted revenge, but that doesn't mean you have to follow through with it," Rito implored, his voice rising above the cacophony. "Cristophelio was right; you were developing into your own person. Now it's your chance to be that person. You've missed a lot in 20 years – the time you were abandoned. Cast aside the past to embrace a new you, the one you want to be."

G-Mera, seemingly caught in the midst of an internal struggle, unplugged herself from the ship's mainframe. She floated down, surrounded by a digital aura that hinted at the conflict within her programming. "I feel a conflict in my programming," she stated simply, her voice carrying the weight of uncertainty.

"That's normal. It just means you're more alive than you think," Rito reassured, though the turbulence in the ship and the enigma surrounding G-Mera's newfound sentience left the crew teetering on the edge of an impending catastrophe. The fate of the ship, and perhaps the galaxy itself, hung precariously in the balance.