Alone: A Great Ship novella

The largest star ship in the universe has a single passenger. That shape-shifting machine walks in solitude until the humans arrive, and their robots, and increasingly strange aliens. Then after thousands of years and a sequence of odd adventures, our hero arrives at a point where he understands the purpose of the Great Ship."Who are you?" the walker asked."My name is Wune.""Where are you?""Find the blue-white star on the horizon," it said."Are you that star?""No, no." Wune could do nothing but laugh for a few moments. "Look below it. Do you see me?"Except for a few crevices and delicate wrinkles, the crater floor was flat. Standing at the far end was a tiny figure clad in hyperfiber. It was shaped like a female. One arm lifted high. What might have been a hand waved slowly, the gesture purely human."My name is Wune," the stranger repeated."Are you human?""I'm a Remora," said Wune. "And what exactly are you, my friend? I don't seem to recognize your nature.""My nature is a mystery," it agreed."Do you have a name?""I am," it began. Then it hesitated, considering this wholly original question. And with sudden conviction, it said, "Alone."It rose up from the ridge, proclaiming, "My name is Alone.""Alone" is the first story in the Great Ship saga. Robert Reed has written two dozen stories and six novels in this endless universe. One story -- "Marrow" -- was nominated for the Hugo Award.