Star Drifter

Year: 2057

Location: Section 10.25, Earth

Character: Drifter

This is a story of love and conflict. Due to poor food, air, and water quality, humans have depleted in number to about half of their original population. The focus of companies globally has turned to solving the Earth's problems in the interest of their survival. The Earth's temperature and rapidly decreasing population have made life replicas a necessity for the survival of the human race. Designed as anatomically specific testers and explorers to do everything humans could not do. However, they survived and did not succumb to the illnesses and famine that fated their originals. They survived the genetically perfect food, the smog-filled cities, and the life-threatening diseases. This made them invincible and infinite.

Replicas exist, and significant cities Manhattan, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney have been washed away, leaving significantly less earthly landmass. There was no atomic bomb ending. No Big Bang. The replicas don't know it yet, but they cannot replace humans. They exist, but they do not possess the same emotions or feelings. They have all of the same body and brain capacity but feel nothing. To combat this, they become hyper versions of their original identities but are not supposed to be susceptible to genetic virus and mutation until recently. A new virus has emerged that functions almost as a short circuit of the replica nervous system. The dash to solve the world's problems has made replica models and versions as frequent as the early-stage communication device, the iPhone. The market is set by the largest and most advanced manufacturer, Phi Corp.

Phi Corp functions as the largest distributor of replicas on the planet. Their receptors include some of the most advanced technology the world has ever seen. Other organizations offer replicas, but Phi is the gold standard. Phi replicas are guaranteed to be virus-free. However, no replica is currently wholly undetectable. Drifters have fought tirelessly to delineate and establish replicas and human rights. These rights require one distinguishing attribute to differ between the replica and its original. As such, replicas remain the number one target for replica hunters and drifters.

For the human species, the following two types of humans continue to exist: Replica Hunters, as their name implies, believe that replicas have been designed to replace human beings and are the reason Earth remains in disarray. They think that the emissions necessary to run the world require casualties. Casualties are just the margins of changing the world, but they refuse to be casualties. Drifters refuse to pick aside. They are perpetually undecided but mainly trying to survive. Their survival is paramount to them regardless of the underlying repercussions.

Replicas have versions. They are all worth more than humans by their pure cost to make and work to maintain a life of status and privilege.

I'm a drifter. Wiping out half of the world's population can have a drastic effect on those you might be close to. As such, I am alone with nothing more than intuition and information obtained from off-grid receptors. Experiencing but never really being anywhere is our goal. The exact opposite of a replica. Replicas are driven by specific finite purposes that end at their given expiration date for the greater purpose of more vital, more efficient replacements. If they are lucky, these lower-tier versions are eventually upgraded or replaced with a mid-tier replica that is equipped to last longer and be infinitely more resilient. Finally, the elite replicas, the highest tiers of the contrived evolution cycle, are invincible. They last forever.

Our story centers around a group of replicas friends, me, and others I meet along the drift. The replica friends are all lower-tier replicas. They know their expiration dates and work to see the benefits of their hard work immediately. Ryn wants to be famous. They've been on many of the network's distraction shows. These are enjoyed mainly by the mid-tiers and elites for entertainment. The lowest-tier replicas generally play the roles because they often have nothing to lose, including their lives. Since the synapse of their neurons, Ryn has always wanted people to know their name. Ryn or their type relebs are programmed for the pursuit of fame. They want the world to know their name with no familiar relations other than their friends. Relebs are also often re Olympians. Anything that requires physical stamina they have mastered. They were designed to. Their most recent physical accomplishment? Fastest re Olympian in Section 10.25, Earth. They specifically train for marathons. Their replica was a marathon runner. Never won. So their DNA includes similar desires. However, their programming is to be the best, so they train for it.

Cybil is the brain of most operations. Their type was specifically designed to maintain and retain new information. However, unlike elite versions of themselves, their information is limited by their financial status. They consume as much as they can without substantial cost. Cybils or Contelligents are constantly in the pursuit of knowledge. The more information they consume, the longer they live.

Finally, re-professionals or Que is a replica designed to provide services and skills that require human-like interaction. Re-professionals can quickly develop any activity's skills and provide replacement services for many roles. For example, Que has worked in various foodservice roles, as a lawyer, a doctor, and most recently, a pilot. Re-professionals can be trained to skillfully perform the most tedious of occupations as their design optimizes recognizance and attribute replication.

The government promotes developing familiar relations by offering only shareable housing facilities in major cities, and larger/private living quarters are reserved for elite survivors and replica centers. As such, our co-intelligent, re Olympian, and releb are also co-habitants and or roommates.

Other than their pursuits of perfection and connection to familiar nonexistent lineage, they operate similar to their former human counterparts.

Location: Section 10.25, Unit 407, Earth

Character: Cybil

Cybil generally arrives home first from a day of the pursuit of knowledge. They enter the team's government-regulated 400 square ft dwelling. To maintain air quality consistent with the replica's creation chambers, dwellings are air sealed and accessible via facial recognition. Each dwelling comes equipped with sustenance to last a replica for at least 365 days. A percentage of earnings procured by each unit inhabitant is allocated explicitly to their housing and sustaining their lives. This sustenance tax has replaced the traditional food, luxury, home, auto, and income tax of the past. The government quickly realized that the taxes they collected resulted in no substantial benefit for the government, the economy, or the people they were designed to help. As mentioned, the government is no longer composed of lifetime politicians. Instead, a committee of replica developers and human advocates has resulted in a more efficient form of taxation that has a clear and visual benefit for its recipients. Cybil thought about this evolved tax system compared to its arcane predecessors as they sat down for their sustenance pill and opened what appeared to be some form of a compost pile, which they had recently come to understand to be a book.

Book: noun, a form of a compilation of written pages commonly displayed on some form of tabulated script. Former information transfer mechanism.

Upon understanding this compost pile's purpose, Cybil had to have it. They collected the pieces from a trash shoot and decided to spend the evening piecing them together. The first "page" appeared to say "The Art of Solace," an instructional guide for practicing mindfulness by Randall Dudley. This appeared to be some kind of instructional guide. Cybil was perplexed by the need for such a guide and its form. A physical document rather than a computerized file is transferable to a receptive synapse drive or another processing mechanism. They struggled to understand the utility of this document as Ryn ran in from yet another run. "Hey," Ryn yelled over whatever fast past hype music they had blasting through their synapse extension or c-device. This replica adaptor connects replicas to any other device, informational or otherwise. Cybil looked up from their new guide and could not help but notice Ryn's muscular physique. They trained daily, and their physical ability was evident. Ryn stretched a chiseled calf across the length of the chamber entryway, glancing first at Cybil's pile of compost and then straight to their fast-moving lips.

"Have you had your s-pill yet?" Cybil said louder to ensure Ryn would hear them over their c extension. "Huh," Ryn said telepathically, instructing their c to reduce the volume and grabbing a glass of water to take the s-pill.

"I was just asking if you've had your s-pill, but I see you have. What are you doing this evening? Want to go out? Will Que be home soon?" Cybil states while scanning their newest information source. Cybil spent a lot of time studying information. Yesterday it was this single fact: many humans believed in a single creator to explain the creation of the universe and all its many facets. They struggled to understand this notion of their creator, creation place, date, and expiration date we're so clearly evident. They could not understand how their predecessors had such an ambiguous origination. They then questioned their origin in relation to original humans as Ryn responded to their questions.

"Sorry, what did you say?" Cybil asked clearly, having gotten lost in their own thoughts yet again.

"Oh, nothing, just responding to YOUR questions!" Ryn screamed and flopped on the pod next to then. "I said I'm down for whatever you want to do. Que won't be back till late. Want to check out the new lights show?" Cybil asked flippantly as they secretly preferred to remain within their living chamber and read. Light shows are trendy events that feed replicas origin and purpose. These events combine holographic images, ultraviolet light beams, and LED lighting to create a lucid dream experience. Cybil did not like the feeling they experienced during these shows. They felt that the light shows functions as a structured simulation designed to distract and detach. They knew that there were calculated reasons for these activities and wanted to better understand their motive. They often went to these events and attempted to avoid watching the show. Instead, they preferred to watch the viewers. Their attentiveness and, most notably, the engagement of their synapses. Cybil noticed that the receptors were generally active, which was evident through veins that become visible during times of brain activity. The veins become visible in different colors throughout the brain to indicate a different thought process. Blue is deep thought. This includes a cognitive function for understanding, receiving, and processing information, analytical or furtively thinking. Red is an emotional thought. This is the processing of emotions, love, pain, and other feelings are displayed by a distinct red glow. A combination of these colors or purple would be displayed for sleep with either controlling depending upon replicas sleep experience. Other vein colors were only possible by the elite tiers of replicas designed to experience all emotions without the limitation of a displayed and prominent pattern. Cybil again slipped out of this thought as they noticed Ryn had changed from their workout suit to a head-to-toe outdoors lounge suit to head to the show.

The smoke is black and thick. It surrounds the deserted platform as Cybil and Ryn travel to the show. "I'm worried about Que" Ryn comes as they both step into the tunnel, and the door shuts behind them.

"What's happened now?" Cybil snaps. Looking up from a few pages, Ryn notices Cybil fold and tie into the inside of their outdoor suit before leaving the unit.

"It's always something with you both. Maybe we should apply for reassignment? I hear section 73.34 is beautiful this time of year."

"No, we don't need to move. It's just that they have been spending a lot of time in the drift spaces and seem to believe a lot of their ideologies, and I worry we will be in danger due to their beliefs." Ryn whispers telepathically while scrolling through the market feed.

"Do you know if they are attending drift competitions?" Cybil blurts, looking up from their pages and the tunnel indicator. "We're here," Cybil says as their tunnel doors open, and they enter the passageway to the arena.

The show doors open, releasing them from the tunnel and planting them at the foot of the show arena. Looking up, they can see thousands of replicas, humans, and versers (holographic participants) watching the light show and show participants fill the holographic stage.

"This is a busy one tonight," Cybil says, headed straight to the top tier of the arena. Cybil believes this show will be a perfect opportunity to do more research. Cybil began their research following the "Dark Night" about five years ago. The Dark Night was a 24 hour period where all connected synapses were unable to connect. Darkness covered all sections, and no one could communicate, reach feeds or even leave their units. Phi Corp and other media outlets reported network outages without providing details of the cause. Cybil finds this extremely suspicious and begins research as soon as the network returns. For the first few years, Cybil studied the public information about Phi Corp, Board of Directors, 10k, 0-K, 10-Q, S-1, S-4, any articles or other information which referenced the name. With this preliminary search, they discovered that Phi Corp was, in fact, the highest-grossing replica developer on Earth. Although the Phi Corps board consisted of past country presents, the executive team incorporated top CEOs from pre-existing companies recruited to develop this new panel CEO structure. One member of the executive team stuck out to Cybil remarkably, Rg. For Wolfe. The Reginald had fine-tuned geographic targets for drones to aid in various earth historical wars and successfully assassinated many previous world leaders with this technology. Cybil's interest came from Wolf's expansive involvements and his striking resemblance to them. Wolfe is bald but appears to have dark hair to go along with his dark solid features. Wolfe, like Cybil, has a prominent jawline, a kind warming face, electric eyes, and a smile.

Cybil could not shake the resemblance as Ryn nudged them that the show was starting and that they should pay attention as they were about to miss the main event. They watch technicolor shows of technological and choreographic wonder on the cylinder holographic screen. The showrunner appears emerging from a cloak of ombre black to blue lights contrasted by a pattern of white and blue clouds above and fire below. The show stopper then begins a coordinated dance routine aligned to a repetitive, soothing sound intermixed with strong base beats. The routine continues, and Cybil studies the crowd. They noticed many relebs in the crowd, along with many humans. They then notice passive characters floating in and out of the arena "verses" and wonder where they are accessing the show's feed. What is really striking is the see-through quality of the skin of their peers. Cybil feels lost in the show's pattern against what appears to be the same color rotation that they see within the skin of other replicas in the arena. While Cybil has been consumed in their research, Ryn has enjoyed the show.

Location: Section 10.25, Unit 407, Earth

Character: Ryn

Ryn loves the way vinyl feels against their back while dancing to music that felt like it was inside of them. The bass was smoothing, and they loved the way the colors danced against their suit while dancing in the gravity-defying bubble of the arena. Ryn felt alive inside this event but wished that Cybil was more interested. Always the sexy silent type. Ryn also loved the smell inside of the events. The aroma was expertly crafted for an ambient, fun environment. You could purchase it for events. Ryn knew as they had purchased and attended many events like this. Being the life of the party required a party atmosphere. Ryn noticed many relebs in the building and wanted to be noticed. They had even partied with the showrunner once. This had been Ryn's first multiverse experience which permitted only avatar-based interactions. Ryn enjoyed playing someone else and found multiverse events the perfect opportunity to practice their skills. Their first character was a tiny effervescent being that resembled a fairy. More adventurous characters included dinosaurs, liquid, gas, and a reptilian princess as they aged. In each role, Ryn became the character. Ryn had to understand what it loved, hated, aspired, and believed to become a character. Ryn always got the most invested in the love part of their roles. Ryn has traveled multiple verses to play roles, and each has required time and effort. Ryn believes strongly in releb life. They believe life is about experiences, and their most recent experience has been the most advantageous. Ryn was to perform a show to demonstrate their "Belief in the Replica Future." Ryn found this prompt very creative and wanted to explore this prompt artistically. Arriving at the venue lacked the cinematic wonder they hoped for but was packed with individuals looking for a show. Ryn put on a show. Following their moving performance, they stayed for the session to follow. One holographic member spoke at the front of the venue and began to cry out, "OUR TIME IS NOW. WE CAN NOT CONTINUE TO ALLOW THESE OPPRESSIVE FORCES TO CONTINUE TOWARD AN AMORPHOUS AND DISPROPORTIONATE END." Others shouted in support, "OUR TIME IS NOW."

Ryn felt this show to be quite the following act and had to stay to learn more about what time it was. In fact, there were many participants of that event at this show. Ryn, at that moment, decided that they had to know more about this society and its beliefs. They then decided that gathering the Drifter they met and other verses or similarly identifying individuals would always be welcome to interact with them, but learning more would be essential to continued interactions. It would be great to get the unit to participate in this event. I'll need to find a space and a venue, thought Ryn. At the same time, they watched the show's final scene brilliantly displaying morphing shapes illuminated in a mist of colors dispersed like fireworks throughout the arena. Ryn quickly grabbed Cybil's wrist and began the descent towards the tunnels. They had to return home at once to begin planning for the party.

Location: Section 10.25, Unit 407, Earth

Character: Que

Que walked out of the tunnel doors skipping to the sounds of early Beethoven, Symphony No. 3, a song they came to love as a Sommelier for the Phi Corp regeneration center. To train replicas for service roles, this state-of-the-art center allows opportunities for obtaining teaching skills to advance beyond relegated units. Que sought solitude often and began to walk slower as they neared the unit. They wanted to hear what they might be walking into before they arrived. This required receptor interception which Que had not mastered. Instead, they relied on echoes that could be heard throughout the sections through receptor tuning. Que used this often to hear specific spaces before entering. Finally, they approached the door and entered the code to find the room filled with lively.

Ryn was lying across the legs of three individuals seated on the sectional. Cybil was actually talking to others as they described what appeared to be yet another research project. Many other individuals enjoyed the music, lights, and atmosphere of their unit while engaging in what appeared to be engaging conversation. Que walked up to Ryn, looking at them from upside.

"Guess we're having a party?" Que asked casually while scanning the room.

Ryn looked up at Que in awe. A lovely specimen. Small kind eyes hid behind large rimmed frames with swinging hair that forms to their thin, gawky frame. Ryn tried to hide their blush and began to apologize.

"I should have let you know. So sorry about that, Que. It all happened so suddenly we didn't even plan it. We went to a show earlier and invited folks back. No hard feelings?"

"It's okay, but who are they? Asked Que distracted by a glimpse of a goddess hologram they see from the corner of their eyes while glancing at the individuals Ryn is laying on the legs of.

"We're just having fun. There's going to be a speech. It's an informational meeting."

Que continues to scan the room and decides this may not be so bad after all. Ryn then jumps up to begin the introduction of someone Que could not remember ever meeting, but that seemed to be well known. The faces were reminiscent of digital billboards and holographic ads throughout the city. These seemed like a crowd Que should get to know. Since moving from Section 600, Que has struggled to make friends. They find going out and meeting people overwhelming and connect virtually much more quickly. Finally, they had to find that goddess hologram. Que went to look for the hologram while Ryn continued to be the life of the party.

Heading out to the lookout, Que decided to spend some zen time alone, change, and then join the festivities. The lookout functioned as a high-resolution view of the thermosphere to watch the aurora of the northern and southern lights. The rhythmic music of the unit, along with the views, lulled Que into a trance, reflecting on the day's activities of high-end fine dining while wondering if the goddess they'd seen was even real. Finally, que hears that the music has stopped in the unit and returns to see what is happening.

As Que turns to find the luminance being, they saw earlier but in full spectacular view. Their face resembles the moon, pale and wavering. Que could only describe their features as astonishingly beautiful and breathtaking.

"Hi, I'm Echo; I was invited to this party from the section show this evening. Do you live in this unit?"

"I do!" Que stammered after a long pause. Que was still in awe. The wonder of their face was mesmerizing. "It's a bit much, and it appears some speech is about to happen; I'm not big on speeches." Que spat, staring back at the lookout to avoid creeping out Echo with their incessant gawking.

"You won't be missing anything. The Drifter speaking is utilizing this event as an outreach opportunity. The Drifters Star Alliance was started to garner greater rights and for drifters. It is now an organized group of individuals actively attempting to overthrow PhiCorp and its subsidiaries. Que searches Echo's illuminating pixels for some sign of a joke or gotcha moment, but none comes. So instead, they both look towards the stars of the lookout.

"It was very nice to meet you” Echo says with a big smile, “but please excuse me, I need to leave, there has been an emergency." She then vanishes to reveal a hall of darkness leading to the unit door. Que headed inside to see if the outage was just in the corridor.

Inside the unit, Ryn stares adoringly at the Drifter, disheveled by life's travels and convicted in each statement.

"Thank you for giving us this space to congregate, Ryn. The powers of our oppressors include limiting our ability to connect. We are conditioned to attend their events and complete our roles but are not allowed to question." the Drifter states and stares intently into sections of the crowd as Que notices a perimeter form amongst the crowd, as if on cue. Next, drifters and replicas began to chant "OUR TIME IS NOW," and the roommates watched in awe as their innocent get-together turned from casual to a political rally. They could all feel specific energy as the chant became almost a war-like cry. Finally, the Drifter raised a hand above the crowd and silence, and darkness cloaked the room.

"Another dark night," someone yelled in excitement. "Our actions are working," declared the Drifter. This is our opportunity. Let's move to phase 2."