Humanicity (English version)

Chapiter 3 : The playing card

Back at my hexa, I began to take a closer look at my landfill treasure. I took the card out of the lining of my green uniform and placed it carefully on my work surface. I took off my jacket and shoes, but kept my gloves on before settling down at my little desk. I pulled out a drawer and took out my cleaning kit. Using a small robot and a brush, I carefully removed the mould from the card. One side showed the sun and moon surrounded by small white dots, which surely represented the stars. On the other side, however, the drawing was more interesting and much more detailed. There were four small figures with blue hair. One of them was in the sky with wings and a trumpet and the other three were standing in a circle, their hands clasped and completely naked. At the top, it clearly read 'XX'. Initials perhaps? At the bottom, the letters had faded a little, but I was able to reconstruct a word: 'IVJEMENT'.

It didn't sound familiar. 'This word comes from a dead language. Probably from Latin, judging by the alphabet', I thought.

Analysing the card with a magnifying glass, I noticed, despite the half-faded ink, that the figures on the ground were standing in boxes. 'I wonder what kind of game at the time featured people in coffins? I made a mental note to look it up on the internet later. For the moment, I placed the card between two glass plates to preserve it. I was going to take it with me tomorrow to Plant Resources to have it carbon-dated.

I was just putting my find away in my false ceiling among notebooks, scraps of paper and cardboard when I received a video call from my parents. I hurriedly closed my hiding place before picking up.

The hologram of my parents appeared in the middle of my room. If it weren't for the bluish shimmer of the Humaniverse, you'd have thought they were face-to-face with me.

'Hello darling! How are you?' my mother asked.

'So you've had your results? Did you get into L.2?' added my father.

My parents were extremely affectionate and concerned about me. They were both in L.2 and wanted more than anything for me to stay with them, even if they never told me. If I ever leave plant resources, they'll never see me again and I know it would break their hearts. I'm their only child...

'I haven't got my results yet. They're given in alphabetical order. Do I need to remind you of my surname?

My real name is Anne Astra Xi.

'They could have used your first name, Anne, instead of your surname. my father pouted.

'Don't worry, Da, I think I've done well and I'll have my results at the end of the week.

'That's good, dear. My mother said, pretending to stroke my cheek. 'Are you coming tomorrow? 

We've got a little surprise for you!

'Aaaah Ma! I said no presents on my birthday!

'It's not a present, it's a surprise!' she retorted.

'I can't wait to see you! I'm bringing Ram and Margue to show them around. At the same time, that's what this week is all about: discovering the different levels of the city.'

'What a great idea! Kisses, darling, we're hanging up now,' says my mother, blowing me a kiss.

'Don't forget to go to the doctor too! my father worried.

'Yes, I've already made an appointment for Thursday,' I replied.

The hologram disappeared. I immediately lay down in bed and switched my AR glasses to VR mode.

The room disappeared around me and I found myself in a vacuum of space. A melody I knew all too well was heard and the message 'Welcome to the Humaniverse' written in metallic 3D letters appeared in front of me. The pixels of the message disintegrated, as did the black background, to reveal a circular room with several doors. Each of them led to different parts of the Humaniverse: a construction game, the school, Teams Party, FashiaNova, the customisation menu for my avatar... But the one that interested me was the one directly in front of me: 'The Cabin'. A free code space that Margue, Ram and I had set up.