System 2.0 - Division of Powers

Esther 1

Esther Certaine raised her glass and watched the sunset through a pale green cocktail. The last moments of this private light show cast a rainbow of colour onto her face which flickered and then faded into memory.

She silently toasted the architects of this virtual world and took a sip from her drink. Not for the first time, she wondered whether the taste had any equivalent in the "real" world. It seemed likely, but she couldn't be sure.

She placed her glass back on the wooden table and turned her attention to the waterfront. A thousand twinkling lanterns created a warm glow along the interconnected walkways and bars. Palm trees and jagged rocks cast dark shadows against the rapidly darkening sky and a couple of crescent moons were reflected brightly in the shimmering bay.

Not far away, a man and a woman were hunched over another table, deep in conversation. They seemed to be sharing a joke or an amusing story. A wine bottle stood open on the table and they were clearly settled in for the evening.

The man was Adreus Certaine, Esther's employer, creator, and the nearest thing she had to a father. His usually neat dark hair was casually ruffled, indicating a relaxed mood. He was wearing a loose-fitting navy shirt and dark brown slacks. She strongly suspected that he had chosen canvas shoes, rather than leather sandals - smart but casual - relaxed but in control.

The woman was less restrained and had chosen a free-flowing floral dress. Her light brown hair was falling loose at shoulder length and a pair of dark plastic sunglasses had been pushed up above her forehead. Her eyes sparkled as they talked and her enthusiasm broke out in little ripples of laughter.

Her name was Philippa Bartim, and Esther knew her almost as well as she did her companion. Certaine and Bartim were two surviving members of the Council of Six - and they were here on Pottorhittas for a working retreat.

Esther had been watching them for most of the day. The pair had entertained a succession of different visitors – individuals, groups and a couple of large delegations. Most of their guests were known to her – contractors, politicians or academics – while others had been less familiar.

In between the visits, Certaine and Bartim took time to relax in the sun, walk along the beach, or attend yoga classes. In amongst the business discussions, they were enjoying a very pleasant break.

Pottorhittas was a tropical archipelago of seven hundred islands, stretched out along a narrow crescent. The islands were criss-crossed by low wooden walkways held up by rope and bamboo. There were high-class hotels and retreat houses, intermingled with bars, restaurants and numerous recreational activities. It was the perfect destination for busy people needing to get away.

It was also a virtual world – an artificial reality which only existed within the digital vaults of the System. Although massive and complex, Pottorhittas had been crafted by highly skilled designers who had intentionally set out to build an exclusive holiday resort.

Philippa Bartim laughed loudly and her companion poured out another glass of wine. She fed Certaine an olive, while gazing seductively into his eyes.

Esther raised her eyebrows at this. While she was happy to play along with the whole "working retreat" scenario, she knew how easily Bartim could slide into something more intimate. She seriously hoped that her father would keep things on a more professional level.

She sighed, and decided that enough was enough. After eight hours of watching, she was about ready to call it a night. Her employers had more appointments lined up for the following day, and her turn would eventually role round.

She stood up, leaving her glass on the table. The sky was now dark, but the waterfront was well illuminated by moonlight and lanterns. She thanked the bartender and walked back to her room, taking a gentle stroll along the beach and up through an outcrop of rocks and palm trees.