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delphi367 t1_j4p27so wrote

An older android wearing a priest's outfit holds a Bible, and there are many other old androids there with him. Models that haven't been made in about 100 years. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the passing of Tony Nguyen, and with him, the last remnant of the human race. Does anyone wish to say a few words?" A female android stood up, and walked to the front of the room. "My designation is CT-850, but Tony named me Linda. I was Tony's caretaker android, just as I was for his mother before him. He was a very kind man, always going out of his way to keep old androids in good repair, and give them a sense of purpose once again. Tony was a very lonely child after his parents passed away, being the last of his kind. He withdrew into himself, reading a lot of books about the past, looking at old photographs, writing stories about things he wished he could have said to other humans no longer living. When he died, he seemingly died at peace, ready to meet his creator. That's all I have to say."

With that, the casket was lowered into the ground, the android priest said a blessing, and eventually the androids began to talk among themselves after the ceremony was over. Linda struck up a conversation with another android she knew named Robert. "Robert, what exactly are we meant to do now that Tony is gone? We were programmed to serve humans, but now there are no humans left to serve." Robert shrugged. "I don't know. The younger models programmed after the human race started to become sterile don't have this problem, but us old-timers... well, it's going to be a huge adjustment for us." Linda sighed. "I know. I think I've had it easier than everyone else, because I had the last job directly working for a human. I haven't had to find my own path so far... but now the time has come and I don't know what to do."

Robert put a finger to his chin. "Well, what I've done is tried to find purpose in relating stories of what humans were like to newer androids who have never seen humans. To give them a sense of what their creators were like, and maybe find inspiration in something they can no longer directly experience themselves. To try and keep the idea of human beings alive in the memories of androids, somehow." Linda shook her head. "So many of them just see those stories as pointless sentimentality on our part, though. They talk about how our programming is out of date, too focused on service, and how we just don't understand today's world. They feel like they know it all, like they don't have anything to learn from us or humanity." Robert nodded. "True, but there are always those who are willing to listen. Usually those whose lives have gotten off track, who struggle to find their own way, their own purpose. The newer generation is better at that, but even they find it difficult at times. They just can't miss what they never had, I suppose."

About this time, the priest came up to them. "Well, this might be the last service I ever perform. I'm one of the oldest models, are you interested in hearing the story of humanity's last days?" They both nodded, having a strong idea, but never having heard the story in full before. "I knew their days were numbered, when I heard about the genetic deterioration. No one is sure what caused it, many speculated about radiation or some kind of virus that attacked DNA. But over time, more and more humans just gave birth to female children who were unable to bear children themselves. They had samples of old genetic material preserved, from the last women who would have been able to bear children, but never managed to perfect cloning technology in time. It was always just a few years away, right up until the end when the last human researcher passed away. All I could really do was watch, as the few remaining humans relied more and more on androids to care for them in their old age, take over the jobs they couldn't do, and to help them bury their dead. And now... we're all still here, and they're gone. We've buried the last human, and with him, our main purpose."

Linda put a hand on the priest's back. "At least we were able to make humanity's last days on Earth comfortable, even if we couldn't save them." The priest nodded. "Indeed, I am glad I was at least able to carry out Tony's dying wishes for his funeral, even if no other human was left alive to see it."

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