The World of Stengam

“Gibberish. It’s just plain gibberish!” I shouted out loud with a heavy deafening tone. Did I sound confident enough? I had no idea what I just said. “He’s a bit disoriented,” said a humanoid shaped figure in the blurry shadows. It took me a second, but I realized this person looked like a machine more than anything. I was just born, so it makes sense that I’m a bit out of it, I guess. I’m not exactly sure about anything at the moment. At least it seemed like my birth was within the range of normality. My vocabulary was enhanced, and I understood my language, along with all the other basic functions of communication. It didn’t take long for me to remember all of life’s fundamental knowledge. Does it even count as remembering if you never knew it was there?

I soon realized how to describe my perceived reality; a largely empty, cold metal room containing only the machines who aided in the delivery of my birth, along with the robotic figures with skin of alloy. I remember feeling the icy cold and uncomfortably flat metallic feeling of the floor with my bare feet. I didn’t quite understand the exact process I was in, but I did know that I understood it all made sense. I stepped into a decontamination chamber where I was showered with liquids and gasses, containing disinfectants and vitamins for my body. I was clothed shortly thereafter and handed a small data chip. “Please do not lose this chip Adan. It’s not just a gift, it’s your life.” said an interestingly looking machine, greeting me with a mechanical smile.

I stepped through two beautifully crafted marble columns guarding the entrance of a large hallway and took my place in line. Everything just made sense. Yet for some reason, that’s what made me skeptical. It all felt so rushed, but everyone else around me seemed to be acting accepting of the situation. They were all normally waiting here patiently, and I just couldn’t accept the reality that I could afford to lose the same amount of time as them. After a good five minutes of waiting and standing in the same spot, I was bored and took notice of a small pile of hairs that were polluting the perfectly clean floor and waiting patiently. I figured if a hair has enough patience within itself to wait a few minutes, then surely, I could do the same, with a scalp full of them. I was finally attended by the final robotic helper and handed over my data chip for it to be verified. I was then given a summary of its purpose. Among the functionalities of this chip, were my identification, a magnetic transportation pass, and a sum of $20,000 to accompany me in my new thrilling journey I started today called life.

Was I excited? Uhm, yeah… but I was more nervous and anxious than anything else! I mean, as soon as I step out of this building I’ll be out in the real world, and to be honest I have no idea what to expect! I went through a large revolving door with heavily tinted glass and as soon as I experienced the exterior atmosphere, I was stupefied. An incomprehensibly massive distance from one side to another full of metal looking structures and skyscrapers. Among the silver and bronze hues, there were tons of other colors on holographic screens, stimulating the metal void of the mega city with life. “The Capital of Stengam!” I undoubtedly stated, even though I had no idea where I was earlier. How could I? I was just born not long ago! About thirty-two and a half seconds in, and I felt the sun blazing the whole area like if the entire city was being smelted and then forged by an unrelenting ferocious hammer. My forehead was dripping with sweat; silver droplets landed on the pavement looking like liquid metal, beginning to boil. I despised the repulsive feeling of the extreme heat piercing through my skin and penetrating my soul like a volcanic explosion on a molecular level. Looking around, I took notice that no one else seemed to be bothered by it though.

From a distance, I observed hundreds of miniature-looking people were walking around in a hurry going from one place to the next, like their life depended on it. They were dressed in their own unique fashion, each with their own personal charms. An element that stood out to me was the differentiation of their hairstyles and hair lengths, and the direct correlation it had with the wrinkles on their face. Curious. The first thing I did after admiring the view was continue down the steps of the Capital’s main building, the Apex Center. On my way down the repugnant number of steps, I noticed a sense of obliviousness on the entire rest of the crowd’s part. The people were acting like machines on autopilot, paying attention to their data chip’s holographic display more than the incredible environment around them or each other. These were also the same individuals who had just been born! “Their loss!” I aggressively whispered to myself, as I settled for the satisfaction of finishing all the steps downward. This was the only available direction to go, and I knew it had to be designed in this specific manner for a reason.

As I completed my journey to the lower level, I started heading down a wide sunny courtyard partnered with elegantly arranged colorful gardens along the way. As I kept on walking, I suddenly stumbled upon a vendor selling a variety of items. The vendor’s array of exclusive items included a selection of devices used for writing and reading, as well as bags for item storage, and a small compact tool used for the self-storage of personal data. The entire selection offered by this vendor truly supplemented each other and convinced me that they were critical for me in where I was in my current starting point. The combination of this merchandise was also perfectly suited for traveling, one of many great benefits. Currently, all I wanted to do was intently observe this magnificent world so utterly new to me and jot down as many notes as I could about its extraordinary features. I knew I wanted to write my observations down, at least for my own personal anecdote, and it also helped that I was supplied the funds.

Feeling more confident with the new gear I purchased, I strolled over towards the magnetic transportation area not far off. Fighting the brightness to always stay aware, I noticed that no one else had bought anything from the vendor. As I continued on my path, I suddenly remembered exactly how the magnetic transportation system worked. The system used galvanized steel to magnetically latch onto anyone who was in need of traveling from one point to another. Simply make your selections on the electronic display and wait for the magnetic device to take you where you chose. It looked like an exhilarating ride; nothing but blue sky and white clouds between the Apex Center and the rest of the mega city. A thought appeared in my mind vivid as daylight shining on my face. I immediately had an epiphany and started to write down what came to my mind so sporadically. I jotted down what I remembered about what my connection was to this land and how magnetism was a critical variable involved. The magnetism around this zero G world, is what keeps us all from floating off into the atmosphere. I mean, I won’t bore myself with the basics consisting of extensive intricacies involved with the intertwined relationships between protons, electrons, neutrons, isotopes, electricity, etc. In simple terms, in Stengam, we are all born with powerful magnets inside of us, and it’s one of our most vital human organs. This is what allows us to have the freedom to travel. “Crazy. How did I not think about this before?”

Once it was my turn to use the magnetic transportation, I inserted my data chip into the port of the electronic terminal. Its display quickly lit up in a series of bright red, blue, and green colors forming multiples lines in a holographic map, displaying the routes available for travel. For once, I finally had the freedom to choose where I was going next. “Why not try all of them?” I optimistically thought to myself, as if I had solved the most difficult puzzle in my life, “It’s not like I am in any kind of rush.” As soon as I was about to make my selection, a symbol appeared on the top right corner of the display and caught my attention. “Urgent!” The sign read, “Your life is in danger.” I hesitated for an instant while I tried to digest this uninvited announcement and then proceeded to navigate my way through the interface, attempting to investigate further. It was then when my data chip was forcefully ejected from the terminal with its holographic display automatically projecting a cyan glow of information. I did not have time to write down what I could see, I only hoped that I had enough time to quickly read what was on the display and be able comprehend it.

I looked back to see what the others thought about the situation, but to my surprise everyone had already turned back and started leaving the area. They were retreating back into the Apex Center, but I didn’t have time to worry about them. I took a second to understand the data presented to me and acted on survival instinct more than anything. My harmonious world had transmuted into a storm of chaos in the blink of an eye. Suddenly overwhelmed by the feeling of being trapped and in danger I looked around, panicking. My only option was to escape, and somehow, I knew exactly what I had to do. I felt an immediate shock, disabling me and rendering me immobile for an entire five seconds. I had never before felt what pain was in my life. Awestruck with agony, I got up with a bit of a struggle, although now I was completely certain I didn’t have a second to waste. A rush of cool wind rejuvenated me, and instinct took over. I was no longer myself. “Bypass the central network and retrofit my internal electro-magnet for repulsion.” I thought with stern determination. One of the security cameras observed attentively as everything unfolded. As the camera stalked tirelessly, Adan took a few large steps away from the edge of the magnetic transportation dock, only to start sprinting back towards the ledge and take a huge leap off the surface…

Somewhere in a dimly lit chamber with a pulchritudinous panoramic view of floating asteroids in the distance:

“He was our first successful specimen. Do you think he knows?”

“That’s irrelevant Dr. Schrue. Do you have his data chip’s location?”

“But the data files he discovered…”

“You and I both know the reason this project was established. This degenerative disease has caused a significant decrease to the human lifespan over time. The machines here in Stengam, have stabilized this disease to a somewhat limited degree and have been able to preserve human life by automating the process of birth, allowing them to comfortably live their shortsighted life before they are expected to perish, within twenty-four hours. Every second, a hair on their head is lost while we try to succeed in our mission of creating the first Android able to sustain life over the time parameters. It’s been a never-ending cycle of human stagnation and death, until today. He’s key to our survival. We mustn’t fail in retrieving the specimen, doctor.”

“I’ve finished analyzing the data we recovered. It seems the chip was inserted into his body, but only induced mild incapacitation.”

“A malfunction, how convenient. Anything else?” interrogated a mysterious voice.

“Yes, he is still in possession of the small black book.”