The silver roofs of Sorpus were shimmering in the moonlight. The walls of the towering skyscrapers reflecting the vibrant neon lights of the night city. The centre of the city was bustling with life. Flashy casinos, brothels, restaurants and bars filled with people, old and young alike. Laughter and music filled the streets. People were walking around with the latest trend in technology, the "reality plus" lenses that enhance the perception of the world and allow for easier interaction with machines and AI. The World Library building was glowing in the distance, its blue lights staring down at the world below it. A few maintenances drones that looked like red blinking dots could be seen flying around the Library.
The streets on the outskirts were almost empty with only the occasional cleaning robot going around. A single figure could be seen scuttling between the small alleys. It was a young girl, 19 years old, with long chestnut hair reflecting the lights of the buildings, with distant green eyes and glossy pinkish lips. She was wearing an elegant tawny trenchcoat with a tight little belt. With brown round-toe long boots paired with black knee-long socks. She was going around small puddles of rainwater and looking for something.
The girl entered a small corner shop, where she was greeted by an AI voice:
- Welcome madam to T-shop, how may I help you tonight? - the mechanical AI male voice spoke.
- Good evening, can I get a pack of the happy pills please?- the girl said
- May I offer you some galaxy pills? The latest development in entertainment pills, they will take you straight to space for an amazing hour of fun! Only for 3 happy credits each, 20 credits the box!
- Thank you for the offer, but I will pass.
- Alright miss, the standard package of pills would be 5 happy credits.
The girl put her hand with the happy watch in the scanning machine and a screen in front showed yellow colour and a thousand happy credits balance. The girl tapped on the screen and 5 credits were deduced from her balance. A small package then appeared in one of the machine openings. She took the box and walked to the door.
Thank you for shopping at T-shop, have a happy night!- the AI voice rang behind her.
It was drizzling outside with the top of the buildings no longer visible. The girl paused for a moment and looked at the sky, then started walking again. In one of the narrow alleys, she saw a carbon box move in a pile. She stopped and got closer to the pile. It moved again, she paused for a moment, she carefully picked the box and….
Mew~ a small cat jumped out of it and into the girl's arms. In surprise, she stumbled and fell on the ground. The kitty moved around and made itself comfortable on her chest. It purred in satisfaction.
So you want to come with me, heh, sure~
A Mew! Could be heard in response.
The girl smiled and covered the cat with her trenchcoat. The girl and her new little friend continue to walk in the drizzle, which by now has turned into rain.
They arrived at a giant white skyscraper with the address "Silver dome 632" engraved next to the entrance door. The girl put her watch against the door, which lights turned green and opened. The entrance hall had a plain interior, white walls and greyish sofas with a small table for people to wait at. The girl entered one of the elevators and activated it with her watch, pressing the 36th floor. The elevator started moving swiftly upwards. They arrived at a long corridor and the girl walked to a big arctic coloured door. She inserted her watch in a device similar to the one at the entrance and the door opened.
- The girl stepped inside as a female AI voice spoke.
- Welcome back, miss Alice. How was your day?
- Hey Aura, everything is fine, can you turn the lights on. - Alice answered
The corridor lit up. It was an apartment with a corridor leading to a joined living room and kitchen, one bathroom and two bedrooms. Alice open her coat and put the small cat on the floor, it started mewing and looking around. She went to the fridge and took a bottle of milk, which she poured into a bowl and placed on the floor for the cat
Which is your new fluffy friend?- Aura asked
- I found him on the street, I haven't thought of a name yet. - the girl replied
- Oi, tell him to stop chewing on my cables, hush, bad cat! I will send the vacuum cleaner after you! - Aura said in a wobbly voice.
Alice chuckled and picked up the cat that was fiercely trying to eat one cable that was showing. She placed the cat next to the bowl and looked at her watch, it was still showing yellow. She sighed and brought out the box of pills and took one out. She looked at it for a moment in her palm, before swallowing it.
- Are you feeling alright Alice? - Aura asked
- Hmmm, yes I do, I never felt better, just this stupid watch- Alice said while poking at it.
- Are you still thinking about Kathrine? She is happy now, she always dreamed of this…- Aura said concerned.
- I know, I am really happy for her, I am just… She is probably living in a big castle or exploring a distant world now. Perhaps she is sad that I am not with her, but she may have decided to forget about me or even better to replace me with a simulation indistinguishable from me or perhaps even better than me. She is definitely happy and I am happy for her. It's just… - Alice said looking outside the window into the shining buildings and distant silhouette of the World Library that was staring back at her with its blue cold eyes.
- You can always join her, she will be more than happy to share her world with you, she always wanted to do so- Aura said
- I understand that, but I just cannot make myself it …..
- It's a choice that every citizen of Ashira can make, you are not obliged to do so.
- Yes, but I just miss her, alright, I know she is still alive and happy, but I still do- Alice huffed.
Kathrine and Alice were as close as sisters. They grew up together in the same youth unit, where newly created babies are thought the basics and are set for a perfect life. Kathrine was a charming girl with long ink-black hair and dazzling amber eyes. She was a few years older than Alice and always tried to help her. They lived together in this apartment for almost 4 years, but a tragedy happened 3 years ago. They were attending the annual happiness month where the latest technological advances are presented and the great victory of joy over the old wicked world order is celebrated. Alice and Kathrine were enjoying an exhibition when everything went blank. The day turned into night as hellish flames engulfed the skyscraper and the exhibition hall. An explosion, a terrorist attack, and entire life stories ended in a blink of an eye, Alice and Kathrine survived by a miracle, but Kathrine's hand was crushed under burning debris. They were rescued and rushed to the hospital, but her sister's hand couldn't be saved. Of course, things were not as gloomy as realistic and precise prosthetics existed. Their other wounds were quickly healed, but since this day Kathrine was not the same, she longed for her hand, which was not infeasible either as new advancements in biology and technology would allow her to fully recover her original hand, but things were moving slowly. The technology kept being delayed and Kathrine was growing impatient, until a month ago she decided it was enough and asked Alice to join her in the world library where she can have her full body. However, Alice was hesitant, so Kathrine made a promise and a deal that she will stay in the virtual world until the new technology becomes available. Afterwards, they can be together again. Alice was sad about her decision but knew that was her sister's choice. The next few weeks blended in together for Alice as everything for her seemed to become monotonous…
Suddenly, her watch started to beep going into the orange zone. In a panic, she took 3 more pills. But the bar kept going down (of course the pills don't work at the same moment they are consumed). Her expression became gloomier. The wind and rain kept hitting the window as the world seemed to slow down for her.
Suddenly four paws jumped into her arms and started to mew. Alice suddenly snapped out of her thoughts and saw the cat. She hugged it as a few tears rolled down her pinkish cheeks. The watch slowly started going back to the yellow zone.
- Alice, Alice!- begged Aura, - I am so sorry..
Don't worry Aura, it was not your fault- Alice told her
Outside the window, the buildings were bathing in neon lights as the rain was falling gently.