Plasticity

In the not too distant future a sentient pile of space junk must save itself from being recycled.

As civilizations outgrow their planetary bounds and take to the stars, they leave behind them a wake of cast off junk--and people. But the objects cast off are not necessarily useless, nor the people hopeless. 

In the vastness of the cosmos, new life can coalesce where you least expect it. When it does, will you recognize it?