System 2.0 - Division of Powers

Dance

There were millions of islands in the Domus Ocean; each one surrounded by an invisible cubic frame. From above it was possible to see that the multitude of defined spaces all had a different climate or time zone. On some islands, people were enjoying a warm summer day, while on others it was night, and tiny lights twinkled or shone in the enclosed darkness.

Esther hovered over the patchwork of worlds, watching the flow and throb of life taking place beneath her. Many residents had created simple locations, like her own island home, while others had built huge complexes, tall towers or vast experimental constructions. There were facsimiles of real-world sites, like Stone Henge or the Eiffel Tower, alongside sprawling beach resorts, abstract shapes or bulky apartment complexes.

She had travelled back to the Domus by transit box, but didn't want to go home just yet. Flying gave her space to think, so she had borrowed a small scooter and taken to the air.

From above, she could appreciate the scale of this virtual world. The ocean continued in all directions, disappearing into a seemingly infinite horizon. The water had been parcelled off into millions of small blocks which could be rented or owned, developed or rebuilt.

For tens of millions, like Esther herself, this flat universe was home. Residents could create their own unique living space, or spend time together in a wide range of vibrant social areas.

She played back the events of the day in her mind: her father on Pottorhittas; Sitrep and his simulations; the twisted wreckage of a monorail track. Events were moving fast, but she had no sense of direction. It was hard to know what was going on without knowing why, or how, or who.

She allowed the scooter to drift over the random tapestry of human dwellings. Beneath her feet, she was vaguely aware that hooded figures were gathering around a large moonlit bonfire, while in the neighbouring zone, six lines of women were practising Ti-Chi on a bright sunny day.

She flew west, dodging between tall apartment buildings and a pink floodlit Statue of Liberty. The System was filled with complex and ever-changing life. Nobody could possibly understand or follow it all – even the Council of Six. How was she going to get to the bottom of a plot which made no obvious sense?

Esther brought the scooter down on a traditional beach-front. She logged the vehicle for collection and joined the crowds who had gathered for a night's entertainment.

She had been to this resort before. Sixteen miles of night clubs and casinos wound their way through some of the more fashionable districts in the Domus. Nearby apartment buildings and hotels could be glimpsed faintly through virtual barriers, and she could sense the steady flow of people back and forth, over bridges, through transit boxes or by air.

She bought some noodles from a stall she had visited a few times before and wandered along the walkway, picking through the seafood with disposable chop sticks. She sat on a wooden bench and watched people pass by.

The stall-holder was a sprite; a one-dimensional virtual character programmed to mimic human behaviour and perform basic tasks. It was possible to have a reasonable conversation with a well-programmed sprite before its lack of depth became obvious. Sprites were classed as artificial life forms, but lacked full legal rights. As such they were ideal for "decoration" but could also useful as servants or low-cost employees.

There were many sprites on the island. They worked in bars and restaurants, kept things clean and tidy, and serviced the local sex industry. Esther understood their value to society, but didn't like spending too much time with beings that lacked any real humanity.

She finished her food and walked a few blocks further on along the seafront. Her destination was a sprawling club with verandas and bars which overflowed out into the street. It had a carefully cultivated aura of decayed opulence, but it was the music she came for.