Morpheuships

Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE: CHARLOTTE

                Perhaps it was the comfort found in the reassurance that peace and order will be kept when our dreams come true after we've gotten what we have always wanted that the human race has not raised doubts about the rule of the RITMEN Corporation for thousands of years. During Anthropology class, in one of the classes of Ms. Joireman, she has once told us about the natural drive of humans to create and develop for themselves, - for self-satisfaction and with the aim of bettering the world that they are a part of. This is why our old guys from the past have begun creating inventions that soon changed and crafted the world that we live in, today. After thousands of years, the world have developed so much to the point that our ancestors wouldn't have thought would be possible.

Artificial intelligence is found in almost anything. In order to keep crime rats in check, the RITMEN Corp. has released a device that is designed like eyes with red orbs created with the purpose of keeping an eye on the criminals. It is still a wonder how the protestants still manage to do what they do though. "The protestants" as the people have branded them, have started their rebellion after the thousand-year of RITMEN's rule. No one knows who started it, just like no one knows who their Goddess is.

                 The academy holders avoid as many issues as possible, which is why we as students are mandated to stay away from the protestants and if we ever knew one, we must not converse and cut contact with them, because apparently for the school, these people are dangerous. The image of the red-eyed man popped up in my head as the thought came to me. What about him? He was a protestant. How come they still let him in after he publicly paraded his identity? The academy seriously needs to make up their minds, I giggled. My brows puckered as I wonder about these things. The cold feeling brought upon by the green cotton pillows as I lay under my fluffy covers solaced me.

"The week had been hectic," I told Amiya.

I stared at her while she looks at the flowers in front of our house outside. I have altered my reality that my room is now in front of our house, leaving an open area that somehow mixes the garden and my room together. "Has it?" Amiya looked at the flowers. "Yeah, we've been given so many tasks. Luckily, I've done all of them so I wouldn't cramp at the passing schedules." The corners of my mouth curled a tiny bit while I silently cheered for myself.

"Why don't you go out for a change, you have always stayed here whenever you're free. You deserve a change of scenery. Visit a grove, or go have a picnic with your parents." Amiya suggested.

                   I couldn't comprehend what she was saying. A grove? What is that? It was my first time hearing something as such. Out of curiosity, I decided to ask my AI friend what she meant about it. Maybe she had it programmed in her when the microchip was given to me... is what I expected her to say. But her response gave me literal chills in the body. My thoughts have shuffled in my mind as she gave me her response because instead of answers, she only drew more questions in my head.

"A picnic grove is a place where there are a lot of trees. People spend their time there with their families. At least I have, back when I could still be with them." Amiya might not have noticed, but it was the first time I saw her smile.

                   Her smile wasn't warm but instead, it was subtle and sad, as if she was actually a real person reminiscing about a real memory. "Wait... real memories?" My body jumped off my bed, almost straight after I asked that question in my head. Why? Why have I never thought of it before? Why didn't it bother me when this person had always been inside my reality despite the fact that no one can enter unless they're invited to? How is she...here? My heart pounded fast as I feel my hands go cold from the sudden realizations.

What scared me was that this person knew me more than I probably know myself. She had been inside my subconscious for my entire life and she could have been monitoring me and doing bad things. My train of thoughts was soon cut off as Amiya called for my name, tilting her head to the side out of confusion.

               "What's wrong, Charlotte?" I could hear the concern in her tone, how is it possible for a robot to be concerned? Concern is a humane feeling. This is not possible. But before I drew conclusions in my head, my trust for Amiya got stronger. I decided that I will wait for the right time to ask her these, but when will the right time be? "Oh, nothing... I was uhh, thinking about what a grove could be." I lied.

"You haven't been in a grove? I'm sure they have ones in the central park. They even have more flowers, prettier than these." She rubbed the petals of Mrs. Cristina's flowers, but it only confused me more. "What do you mean?" I asked. "The central park is filled with nothing but metal roads, big screens for free movies, and robot janitors to remove the dust of the old benches where the people seat on. This is the first time I've heard of a grove in the central park. So, whatever do you mean?"

              Amiya fell silent, so silent as if she was making things make sense. "Oh, and those flowers are fake." I pointed to the ones she was admiring. "We don't have real flowers anymore. They were left on earth, this place can't really sustain that much agricultural life. The seeds Mrs. Cristina used were actually just pebbles that the government has provided to cater those who still want to plant here in Flotacion." I explained.

Amiya's mouth went gaped. "What did I do?" I asked. "What do you mean left on earth? Where are we? Where are you?" She suddenly asked.

             No, what is she talking about? Why is she suddenly asking me these things? She hasn't been acting normal lately, could she be bugged? But how will that be possible? The firewalls protecting each individual's morpheuships cannot be breached, RITMEN made sure of that, didn't they? My surroundings swirled around and I could feel my head throb, I'm getting lightheaded. So many questions are coming in my head and I don't have answers for them...No, it couldn't be that I don't have the answers. For all I know, they could have been there since the beginning, and I'm just ignoring them and not paying any attention.