The Daughter of Eden

"It's alive, it's alive" the performer exclaimed as he pulled the lever to activate the monster. Monster starts thumping around and breaking all the equipment with its large filthy hands. All the actors run away, and the simulation ends when a burst of distant laughter grows near. "Heh low lives, you think that is life? Or fantasy? Oh, how I wish I could see their faces when they see this." a woman in a half button up lab coat remarks as she turns to look at a covered-up preservation tank. She flicks her half lite e-cigarette and signs as she shuts off her study. As she drifts off a cool calm gust blows through an open window, which causes the drape to flutter. It reveals the rim of an empty tank with a titanium plaque: "Aptrova "Eve" Curie N0.XXX-07".

"Lachia? Lachia?" A Portal calls from the far side of the room.

"Ughh what? What is so urgent that I miss sleep and at 3:00 am no less" The woman says as she drags herself out of her stasis vat.

"Eve she... she's missing" her assistant calls out worryingly.

"What? No, you've got... "She remarks as she pulls the drape.

"Oh no, just when I thought this version was full proof" She collapses and screams in pain with one hand slipping from the tank. All her memories flood in as she starts to destroy her work leading up to this point. Her assistant tries to cheer her up by showing her all the accomplishments of her work, but nothing would suffice.

First holo video: September 23, 2023; Yorkshire Café___ A news anchor with images of a potato with the headline "The new face of God" was broadcasted iridescently over the cityscape. While the people collectively roll their eyes and scoff, a much younger Lachia admires it in glee. Next to her is Claudia who almost spits out her tea with googly eyes. "What are you? Afraid? This is my calling! It's what leads man's accomplishments to galactic recognition."

"But BUT Lacy you know their rights and what this leads to?..."

"Sure, sure autonomy but we are their creator we.. you know what you're too cynical"

"Cynical? Cynical‽ have you not heard of AI, terminator, ex machina, Her?"

"Oh those, those are just fiction like they ever were.." A robot rolls over to pick up their trays.

"Thank you," Lachia says with a nervous laugh; Claudia sighs and pets her head as she hums "Caged bird".

Meanwhile back at the lab, " Cathy oh Cathy come back, I feel like a kid again; you were right all along." Lachia mutters as she watches the memories go into the trash. She stops for a moment "Maybe I should just give up, or at least take a 'holiday'? '' she sighs and drags herself outside and towards her old county. "Huh?" she exclaims sometime later in front of the café "It's still here? 'No matter how far away from home is always near ''' A tear drifts down as she swipes to the next video in her holotablet.

November 2nd, 2023 Charleston, NY-

Frantic typing could be heard from a dimly lit room on the far east side of the tristate area. " Whatcha doing?" Claudia asked as she leaned over Lachia's shoulder.

"Oh, just signing up for labs. What about this one?" Lachia points to a webpage with a forest background 'Eden: a new beginning"'

"Lacy, aren't you forgetting something?" '

'What?" "Nevermind, you know it requires you to have experience right?"

" What? Is assisting not enough... You don't think I can do it do you?

" No, I'm just being realistic" Claudia flicks to her own choice