I loosen my tie. It feels like a noose around my neck. I close the car door and
throw the ring on the dashboard. It was my father’s wedding ring. They thought
I’d want it. I laugh at the thought. I sit back into the tanned leather seat and take
a drag from the vape. I inhale deeply. The funeral wasn’t that bad and usually I
don’t like family gatherings. He died of organ failure after multiple failed bionic
heart transplants. He was well over the average life expectancy of forty-
something, but considering that a man of his stature should be immortal, it’s a
funny fate. I laugh as I exhale. With the outbreak of The Urge came an increased
susceptibility to previously harmless viruses and bacteria, bringing average
organic life expectancy down to around forty, with the majority of deaths due to
cancer and heart disease. But new diseases pop up like weeds around here, so
you never know what you’re going to get. Orgonic Industries managed to double
life expectancy, if you can afford it, and has become the leading bionic organ
producer in Light City.
As you can tell we were like two peas in a pod, if the other pea did as it was told,
which it didn’t. He would try to beat me into a square person, so I could fit into
his square office. All the times I heard him say “I’m only doing this because I love
you” almost had me convinced that he was really doing it for my own good. The
more he beat me the less I felt and me being what he called ‘flawless’ seemed to
piss him off even more. When his work started to take all his time the beatings
became less, so I had to find ‘love’ somewhere else, since he wasn’t dishing it out
anymore. I starting sharing love the only way I knew how. I took to fighting. I was
a natural. I swung my first punch when I was thirteen and I’ve never looked back
since. While my father was building limbs, I was breaking them. I think my father
enjoyed seeing my face all fucked up. He never said anything, but I saw him smile.
Aging, disease and sleep is a nuisance to productivity and all these flaws must be
perfected with bionic parts or by adding the appropriate chemicals to the mix. So,
you could imagine never feeling good enough. But I got used to never being
approved of, so I never needed approval from anyone. In a way, it freed me from
the madness in Light City. After being in and out of schools my father sent me to
Aquabot training, to-you know, “become a real man”. It was the best thing he
ever did for me. I was out of the city and away from him. We didn’t talk for years
until he started having health problems. It was time to take over the throne. He
thought a few years in robot school would sort out my priorities. It did, but not in
the direction that he wanted it to. I declined his offer. He disowned me. Now you
can call me Jet, just Jet.
I place my hand on the gearbox “Manual transmission”. It scans my palm and the
engine starts. “Play music” I command and Myho gets things going. My Home, or
Myho started off as an intelligent home operating system but has evolved into a
personal assistant that runs errands, maintains the house and helps with effective
time management by connecting all areas of your life through the Palmer
network. I open my palm and it automatically activates my Palmer. The hologram
expands onto the windshield. I am reminded how they launched during The Urge.
Nothing gets people in line like fear. I can see people fighting for their free
implants. Talk about perfect timing. My neck becomes tense again. By the time
The Urge was contained they had everyone chipped and ready for upgrades
before we could chant our new motto “We are the Light”. But we need it now. So,
it feels good to have it.
The engine rumbles as I pull away. I like driving. It gives me a sense of freedom.
The roads are relatively unused except for a few people who can afford the
energy. Time is energy. Watts the currency. The skyway was built to provide free,
efficient transport to the different levels of Light City and free Wi-Fi enable
citizens to stay connected at all times. Hashtag efficiencyiskeyinLC
The buildings are built so compactly it’s like driving through a corridor. They call it
Optimal Space Utilization. I call it compulsive space filling. Most of the roads have
already been lifted to make space to build more skyscrapers. Soon roads and cars
will be a remnant of the old world too. The reflection of the black Condor flashes
from the clean windows. I look up and watch the giant hologram of Sky-Lo
dancing around the building. Her smile matches her white hair that’s flowing to
mimic the windy conditions. She is covered in luminescent symmetrical silver
patterns. They diagnosed her with Illumi Blaschkonia, a rare skin condition, but
her mutation didn’t deter people. She quickly became the face of Light City and
inspired the motto “We are the Light”. The words float around the building above
her. Lower Light City was a fucking mess when I was a kid. People where crippled
by fear after The Urge and the destruction of their old lives. Her partnership with
the major corporations led to the advent of Nigredo and helped citizens get back
on their feet.
If it wasn’t for their faith in Sky-Lo, they might have never recovered. Everyone
received Official Palmer Profiles to restore their sense of self and the corporations
allocated everyone with jobs to restore their sense of purpose. Palmer and My
Home helped citizens stay on track with their daily schedules and ensured that
they have the structure and stability they need to feel safe and secure. Employers
could also access their employees and potential employees’ efficiency statistics,
by using their habits and daily routines to calculate longevity and productivity,
manage off-days and administrative information which helped Light City rise from
the ashes. I overheard my father mention meeting with her once, so I recon she
still acts as advisor to the big corps to help create and satisfy new needs.
I accelerate up the slipway to higher Light City. Nothing like a fast car and a condo
in the clouds to get the self-worth pumping. Materialism changed our brains. I
feel about fast cars and fighting the way my father felt about his company, like it’s
all I’ve got. I guess everyone fills the void in their own way.
I drive onto the vehicle lifting platform. The VLP scans my car as I enter. “I am
home” I announce. “Welcome home Jet” Myho welcomes me as the lift rises to
my level. The car is sterilized on the way up and automatically drives into the
display room when the lift stops. The lights intensify as I step out. The glass slides
open and I enter the lounging space. White minimalist furniture with white
marble floors and a touch of grey to match the clouds surrounding my glass
apartment. If these condos didn’t come with scenic 3D display windows the
prime space in the clouds would be pointless. I would still pay to not see the city
though.
“Your favorite meals are stocked, and your wardrobe has been updated with the
item that was recently purchased by Colin. When you have a moment please
update your itinerary for the duration of your stay or enable Palmer
synchronization” Myho requests as I enter. I activate automatic synchronization
on my Palmer. Effective time management was a subject in school, now it’s
probably ‘How to synchronize your Palmer with Myho.’ My neck stiffens up again.
“You have two missed calls from Colin. Would you like to return a call?”
“No, ignore calls and prepare fight simulator” I command.
I take off my clothes and throw it onto the laundry platform and make my way to
the simulation room. I put on a pair of shorts and strap my hands and feet. I step
onto the padded floor. The music starts as the simulation activates. A ring
appears, and the avatars line up in front of me. They change depending who’s
online. There’s a huge guy with spiky blue hair who’s missing his left ear.
Somebody must have torn it off recently because it still looks raw. He has gloves
on. He’s a boxer. The thing next to him looks like a cross between a rhino and a
human, but it doesn’t have a horn, probably a poacher from the old world that
traded his horn for the saw resting on his shoulder. It has weaponry skill set. Next
to it is a chick with a body like a dude and a dragon tattoo on her chest. Her hands
are wrapped. She’s also a bare-knuckle fighter. Next to her is another guy that I’ve
fucked up on a previous occasion. I step to the girl and reach out my hand. She
looks angry. I like angry. We bump fists and the other competitors disappear. I
shake out my muscles and stand ready. The countdown appears in the middle of
the ring. The bell rings and the music starts. The first round is a warm up but sure
enough this girl can fight. “Activate pain simulator and synchronize music with
heart rate” the beat begins to pick up. I’m still finding my footing when she
knocks me across the jaw and slams another punch in my stomach. There is no
blood, only pain. I’ve been out of the game for a while, but this is a hell of a way
to start the session. I laugh. She doesn’t.
The second round I get a few kicks in, but she blocks like a bitch. She’s strong and
kind of sexy. Where is my mind at? I return to focus on the fight. She throws a
punch to my face and misses. I grab her arm and turn her around pinning her to
the floor. No rules in this ring so I slam her head against the floor twice. She
pushes me off. The music is picking up. She looks pissed. She grabs my forehead
with her open palm and bangs my head against her knee. Knocked the fuck out. I
regain consciousness as she takes a bow and gets upgraded to a higher league. I
get a medal for returning after a long period of inactivity.
“The medal is not the reward, it’s who you become while working towards your
goal” she says and thanks me for the fight.
“Colin has just entered” Myho announces and decreases the music volume.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” I ask while I dry my face with a towel.
“Unspecified, but his dress code and body language suggest that he is prepared to
go somewhere” she confirms my fears.
I throw the towel around my neck and walk to the kitchen.
“One bottle of amino-acids” I order at the fluid dispenser and grab the bottle at
the collection point. “Good morning you crazy motherfucker!” Colin walks into
the kitchen like he owns the place. His indigo shoes match his suit and the
patterns on the cuffs and collar of his white shirt. He takes off his jacket and
throws it onto the counter, rolls up his sleeves keeping the patterns exposed, and
sits down resting his elbows on the counter.
“One double shot espresso, no sugar” he orders. His black hair combed back and
shining like a plastic doll, and a stenciled in beard to emphasize his already
prominent jaw line. The rest of his face is contoured to emphasize his eyes and
make his nose appear narrower.
“What do you think of the new trend on me?” he asks proudly. I don’t say
anything and blow my nose in the towel. He smiles revealing his recently bleached
teeth.
“Your teeth look like a line of coke” I laugh as I unstrap my hands.
“Classy and confident? he says arrogantly with a big smile.
“Fake” I grin and shake my head in disgust.
“Looks like you need a line of superhero sugar to cure that runny nose” he winks
and sips his coffee unfazed by my comment.
“How the fuck did you get in? “I change the subject and sip my amino-acids.
“You gave me authorization when you were wasted on the previous rotation” he
explains.
“Remove authorization” I command immediately.
“How do you plan on getting into your apartment after we’re done celebrating
our reinstatement tonight?” he says authoritatively.
“I’m not going out” I swipe the counter to reveal a Nigredo pad. I spot Colin roll
his eyes. He knows me too well. It scans my left palm and a graph with my body
stats and nutritional information appears. My body fat is 11% at 93kg and I’m
currently losing lean muscle. I scroll through the add-ons which include
metabolism boosters to burn off excess calories, sleep inducers for insomnia,
sleeping supplements-the steroids of the New World, BETA workout substitute,
anti-depressants, pain killers, sedatives and any other prescription medicines that
can be added to create an individualized Nigredo dose to suit your unique needs. I
change my macros to start bulking and confirm my prescribed Nigredo dosage.
My Nigredo levels have been unstable since I was a kid, so they constantly adjust
my dosage and up my anti-depressant. Anti-depressants are like vitamins
nowadays. I authorize my dose and the Watts are automatically subtracted from
my account. “Do not remove hand until diffusion is complete” my hand sinks into
a black substance. It solidifies again once Nigredo is stabilized.
“Diffusion complete” I remove my hand. I lower myself across from Colin and a
seating platform moves in below me.
“Have you seen the latest exercise substitute?” Colin asks excitedly, “It increases
lean muscle while you are stationary by stimulating your muscles to simulate
exercise. I took it this morning and there is no excessive sweating or heart
palpitations anymore” he boasts.
“Does it actually work or are you just reciting the information they feed you on
Nigredo?” I ask skeptically. He lifts his shirt exposing his abs. “Fair enough” I nod
in approval. I look down at my abs. I’m still sweating from the workout. “I prefer
fighting, thanks.”
“That lion on your arm looks happier than you do, and it is fucking extinct!” he
points towards the tattoo on my left forearm. The lion is lying poised at the feet
of a naked woman that looks like she is leaning against the side of my arm with
the skull of a bull for a head. In her one hand she holds the end of a noose that is
tied around her neck and attached to the lion like a leash. In the other hand she is
balancing the moon. My grandfather’s face is tattooed on the inside of my arm.
He lost his left eye and wore a flap to cover the hole in his face. I move my arm to
get a better look at him. His finger is raised like he is pointing towards me. A
falcon is spread across my chest clutching a cage in its claws. The only person who
has seen my ink besides Colin was my psychiatrist. She wanted to label me
“Mentally unfit to go down.” I went down on her and left her mentally unfit.
“Are you upgrading your wardrobe for a change?” Colin asks trying to get my
attention.
“Stencil beards and plastic hair?” I ask sarcastically as I walk to the bathroom. I
drop my pants on the laundry platform and step into the shower. It’s set to a
jungle waterfall scene. A cleaning substance is sprayed over my body and water
drops from the ceiling like rain, followed by a steam and a dry. I go to the dressing
room and step onto the wardrobe platform. I scroll through the latest trends.
Light City not only gets faster, but the trends become more bizarre every time we
get back from a rotation. Downloadable wardrobes make new trends sweep the
city overnight. Citizens pay Kilowatts to be seen in it first. And I don’t think I know
anybody besides myself who hasn’t had cosmetic surgery. If my dad didn’t enroll
me into bot training I probably would have deliberately followed The Urge to get
out of this place.
I select ‘My Collection’. I have never been a big fan of trends. I like what I like. I
select black leather pants and a long sleeve dark gray shirt with black boots. I put
my father’s ring on my middle finger. I wet my hair at the basin and run my
fingers through it. My beard is stubby. “Clean shave” I instruct. My dark outfit
emphasizes my light features. I put on a vintage watch from before The Urge. It
still has a face, everything is digital now.
I nod for Colin to follow me as I pass him and walk to the Condor.
“Going for the ‘green-eyed baby face’ look as usual?” Colin jokes as he picks up
his jacket and follows me. I take a nude short fur jacket on the way out.
“Bulca fur, nice” Colin compliments my jacket.
“I know” I nod and the glass slides open and we get into the car.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Olympus Casino” Colin directs the navigation system. The car reverses and we
are lowered to ground level. As the lift opens to the outside world the windows
darken to adjust to the light outside. Artificial lighting lights up the city night and
day. Nothing closes or stops so you can go anywhere anytime. We take the ramp
up to higher Light City and the air space becomes less dense as we pass over the
lowest buildings. At cloud level there are a few hovercraft pads extending from
the buildings and the skyway lanes plait in between and around the skyscrapers
like a never-ending rollercoaster ride. The tallest buildings are connected with
skybridges and the connecting levels offer everything the busy citizen needs to
get from point A to point B. The food and facilities get better as you go higher, but
it depends on Watt you’re made of. Pun intended. If I didn’t like driving I would
probably never be down there. But at the rate that Light City is expanding it won’t
be long until the Condor stays on display and I get myself a hovercraft too. The
giant projection of Sky-Lo smiles and waves at us as we pass it, making you feel
connected to her somehow.
“Bring it with” Colin says aloud. He is private calling on his Palmer. I can’t see who
he’s talking to.
“Bring what with?” I ask.
“A few of the guys want to meet up at Stockholm Syndrome later” he closes his
palm and the hologram disappears.
We arrive at the casino and holographic Greek statues bow down as we drive
towards the entrance. We are received by ladies in white robes.
“Go Park” I instruct the Condor.
“Welcome gentlemen, on this day we celebrate Artemis, the goddess of hunting.
Feel free to place bets on the Iron Hound races straight from your Palmer once
your connection with Olympus is secured” they welcome us. Two giant
holographic horses buck as we enter. I open my Palmer and approve the
connection with the casino. There is a hunting theme to the setting tonight, there
are dancers parading around in hunting clothes and the overall feel is festive.
I get a notification as I walk in. Colin tagged me in eyegram to screen our evening
live from his point of view. I accept, so my face isn’t distorted. I don’t know who
watches this stuff, but Colin gets a kick out of it. We pass the people who are
feasting and playing slots and make our way to the racecourse. There is a
holographic stag in the center of the ring. It is grazing. There is a waterfall and a
girl swimming with fairies in a pool close to it. It probably has something to do
with the theme for the evening. The stands look like the Coliseum but with
lounges and servers everywhere. Colin walks ahead and greets two ladies. A
blonde in a black dress and a brunette in red. He knows everyone, like I said, he
has a following. I let him do his thing while I order drinks.
A server takes me to our spot in the front row. Trust Colin to organize the best
seats in the house. I hover my palm over the table to scan my Palmer. The menu
appears. “Welcome Captain Jet, would you like your usual double whiskey on the
rocks?”
“Uh yeah, and a bottle of merlot for Colin and co. If they’ve ordered drinks
already get them another round of whatever they are having” I order.
“A server will arrive with your drinks shortly” the serving system confirms. Colin
sees me and waves for me to join them. Colin is already chatting up the brunette.
The blonde smiles at my arrival.
“Ladies, meet Captain Jet” Colin introduces me.
“Call me Jet” I say and kiss both on the cheek. A server arrives with the drinks on a
portable floating bar table. He extends a scanner and scans my wrist to approve
that I received the order. The Watts are subtracted.
The lights dim to focus our attention on the center of the arena. We take our
seats. The girl bathes in the pool while a group of men on horses are commencing
a hunt with their hounds. They gallop around the racecourse. The one guy is
wearing a crown, obviously royalty of some kind. He breaks away from his
comrades and follows his hounds around the course. They lead him to the stag
close to the waterfall. He watches the girl bathing in the pool. She turns and sees
him. She looks pissed by his presence. She steps out of the pool naked and turns
him into a stag. Everybody laughs and applauds.
The lights intensify, and the betting commences as the first racers line up. The
hounds are bionic, and their owner profiles and special features are available on
our Palmers. The dogs are programmed to be as authentic as possible, not that I
would know any better, I’ve never seen a real dog. I was born the year The Urge
was contained, and all pets were euthanized because they were linked to the
spread of The Urge. Anyway, all the hounds look pretty badass.
“Which one are you betting on?” I ask Colin with his Palmer already on the blue
hound with an enlarged heart pump.
“Poseidon. Bigger engine, bigger hound power” he jokes.
“It matches your outfit” I mock and open my Palmer and scroll through the
hounds to check them out. The blonde moves closer.
“Who are you betting on?” she asks, and I can’t help but notice her nice breasts.
“Not a big gambler” I look away trying to not make it obvious. “I’d bet on you, I
mean blue” she winks and selects Poseidon on my Palmer. I laugh and confirm the
bet. The betting closes and the countdown starts.
The girl at the waterfall appears in a hunting dress now. She gets onto the stag-
prince and rides him onto the course. The hounds become excited when they see
the stag. They are released and chase her to the finish line.
The blonde watches me the entire race.
“How about a challenge?” she grins.
“Like I said, I don’t gamble” I grin back.
“Poseidon takes first place, followed by Aphrodite and Hercules!” the
announcement confirms her win. We watch Colin and the brunette make out
beside us.
“Looks like the fun” the blonde laughs.
I open my Palmer and select black, Demeter, goddess of earth with her metallic
mouth. She selects white, winged Apollo. The betting closes and the bell sets off
the hounds. Apollo takes the lead and Demeter is in last place.
“Too bad baby” the blonde whispers into my ear. I keep my eyes on the black
hound. She shakes something off her back and starts gaining speed. The crowd
starts cheering. She is head to head with Apollo for the last stretch but turns her
head to face him. She holds her gaze for the rest of the race. They cross the finish
line simultaneously, but Apollo wins by a nose. It was a good race. I see Demeter
staring at Apollo even as they are directed off the course.
I am still thinking about the dog when Colin congratulates me and orders another
round. I might not like gambling, but whiskey likes winning, so I give whiskey what
it wants. We pair up and start betting against each other. I’m hammered by the
time the lights dim to signal the end of the event. The hologram with the hunters
appears again and the stag-prince runs back to his hunting mates. The hunting
party’s hounds are now the Iron Hounds from the races and I spot Demeter right
away. They chase the stag-prince around the court one last time and catch him at
the finish line. Artemis bows with the prince’s heart in her hands. Demeter is still
watching Apollo. The blonde pulls my arm to leave but I’m still fixated on
Demeter. As the exit lights intensify I see Demeter run towards Apollo with her
jaws open. I don’t know what happens because the lights are cut just as she is
about to attack.
“Did you see that?” I ask the blonde and point towards the dark.
“See what?” she looks confused. Colin signals towards his nose and indicates that
we should hurry up. Cocaine. Yeah, we need to sober up.
I’m holding the blonde and she is kissing me in the neck when we pass the
bucking horses at the exit of the casino. I missed the parts in between.
“Call the Condor!” Colin yells to me from the pickup point. The brunette’s dress is
pulled up exposing her bum line. I grab the blonde’s ass, she is fucking fine. I open
my Palmer “Co