Jessika Downes-Gössl

MemRE rolls over to MemAA in the port next door and tries to nudge the older robot awake. MemAA does not react. MEM-RE looks closer and sees that MEM-AA's charging light is red, despite the fact that it is clearly still plugged in. MEM-RE goes back to its own port, picks up its plug, and takes it back to MEM-AA. While it waits, it looks at all the memorabilia that it has hung up around its port.

MemRE rolls over to MemAA in the port next door and tries to nudge the older robot awake. MemAA does not react. MEM-RE looks closer and sees that MEM-AA's charging light is red, despite the fact that it is clearly still plugged in. MEM-RE goes back to its own port, picks up its plug, and takes it back to MEM-AA. While it waits, it looks at all the memorabilia that it has hung up around its port.

A hand-drawn picture book with a dedication on the first page. A length of string tied into the shape of a makeshift ring. a broken music box which used to play a bamboo flute lullaby. These are all Mem R.E. 's favorite memories. It should have taken the mementos to the Mem archives after it collected them, but it had preferred to keep them close. MemAA still isn't charging.

A hand-drawn picture book with a dedication on the first page. A length of string tied into the shape of a makeshift ring. a broken music box which used to play a bamboo flute lullaby. These are all Mem R.E. 's favorite memories. It should have taken the mementos to the Mem archives after it collected them, but it had preferred to keep them close. MemAA still isn't charging.

A hand-drawn picture book with a dedication on the first page. A length of string tied into the shape of a makeshift ring. a broken music box which used to play a bamboo flute lullaby. These are all Mem R.E. 's favorite memories. It should have taken the mementos to the Mem archives after it collected them, but it had preferred to keep them close. MemAA still isn't charging.

MemRE takes the plug out and rolls over to MemJR, then MemII, and every other MemBot in the warehouse. None of them are turning on. MemRE takes another look around and wonders where all the engineers have gone. Usually, they are here to solve any problems with the MemBots. MemRE makes a life-changing decision then. A brave decision that no other little Membot like itself has ever made before.

MemRE takes the plug out and rolls over to MemJR, then MemII, and every other MemBot in the warehouse. None of them are turning on. MemRE takes another look around and wonders where all the engineers have gone. Usually, they are here to solve any problems with the MemBots. MemRE makes a life-changing decision then. A brave decision that no other little Membot like itself has ever made before.

MemRE takes the plug out and rolls over to MemJR, then MemII, and every other MemBot in the warehouse. None of them are turning on. MemRE takes another look around and wonders where all the engineers have gone. Usually, they are here to solve any problems with the MemBots. MemRE makes a life-changing decision then. A brave decision that no other little Membot like itself has ever made before.

It decides to leave the warehouse. Not to collect memories, but to find the engineers that will wake up its friends. If a robot could take a deep breath to steady its nerves, MemRE would do so now. A deep breath in. And out. And out into the world. It is immediately, abundantly clear that the little town is not the same little town that Mem R.E. last visited.

It decides to leave the warehouse. Not to collect memories, but to find the engineers that will wake up its friends. If a robot could take a deep breath to steady its nerves, MemRE would do so now. A deep breath in. And out. And out into the world. It is immediately, abundantly clear that the little town is not the same little town that Mem R.E. last visited.

It decides to leave the warehouse. Not to collect memories, but to find the engineers that will wake up its friends. If a robot could take a deep breath to steady its nerves, MemRE would do so now. A deep breath in. And out. And out into the world. It is immediately, abundantly clear that the little town is not the same little town that Mem R.E. last visited.

The buildings are all in the same place and the streets all have the same names, but something is different. Everything seems far away and hazy, as if the world is painted in watercolors. There are no purple flowers, no pink trees, no little yellow houses. Everything has gone to grey. There are people walking through the streets despite the late hour. They carry briefcases. and wear grey suits.

The buildings are all in the same place and the streets all have the same names, but something is different. Everything seems far away and hazy, as if the world is painted in watercolors. There are no purple flowers, no pink trees, no little yellow houses. Everything has gone to grey. There are people walking through the streets despite the late hour. They carry briefcases. and wear grey suits.

The buildings are all in the same place and the streets all have the same names, but something is different. Everything seems far away and hazy, as if the world is painted in watercolors. There are no purple flowers, no pink trees, no little yellow houses. Everything has gone to grey. There are people walking through the streets despite the late hour. They carry briefcases. and wear grey suits.

Some of them bark orders through their phones. Others look at their watches and begin to walk faster. None of them make eye contact with each other or exchange a smile or a greeting. And none of them pay any attention to MemRE as it rolls between their legs. MemRE doesn't know how it will locate the missing engineers. They used to wear coats with the MemBot's logo on them.

Some of them bark orders through their phones. Others look at their watches and begin to walk faster. None of them make eye contact with each other or exchange a smile or a greeting. And none of them pay any attention to MemRE as it rolls between their legs. MemRE doesn't know how it will locate the missing engineers. They used to wear coats with the MemBot's logo on them.

Some of them bark orders through their phones. Others look at their watches and begin to walk faster. None of them make eye contact with each other or exchange a smile or a greeting. And none of them pay any attention to MemRE as it rolls between their legs. MemRE doesn't know how it will locate the missing engineers. They used to wear coats with the MemBot's logo on them.

But now, everyone in the little town is dressed exactly the same. It is impossible to tell the gardener from the lawyer or the poet from the banker. After many hours of wandering, Mem Re is about to give up. Perhaps there are no engineers left in this little town. They would not be the only people to have disappeared. Because, during all its wanderings, Mem Re couldn't help but notice one thing.

But now, everyone in the little town is dressed exactly the same. It is impossible to tell the gardener from the lawyer or the poet from the banker. After many hours of wandering, Mem Re is about to give up. Perhaps there are no engineers left in this little town. They would not be the only people to have disappeared. Because, during all its wanderings, Mem Re couldn't help but notice one thing.

But now, everyone in the little town is dressed exactly the same. It is impossible to tell the gardener from the lawyer or the poet from the banker. After many hours of wandering, Mem Re is about to give up. Perhaps there are no engineers left in this little town. They would not be the only people to have disappeared. Because, during all its wanderings, Mem Re couldn't help but notice one thing.