My walk out of the med center building passed in a bemused daze. Back in the 21st century, nothing like this would've been even remotely possible. Yet now, here in this incredible future, I was walking the streets in a brand new body, one more feminine than any I could've imagined! In spite of the unsettling revelation about the replicator, this body felt so dreamily delicious… so exquisitely exciting… so soft, so luscious, so curvy, so sexy… so right! And, now, it was mine!
As I reached the city center and glanced about at all the futuristic wonders around me, I suddenly realized…
I don't know where my new apartment is! I silently gasped, whirling about in panic.
Damn all the distractions! Saru had said he'd arranged one for me, but I hadn't asked him where it was! Now what was I supposed to do?
Breathe, I silently chided myself; drawing a long, slow breath before letting it out. No need to panic yet. Still plenty of daylight left.
Once I'd calmed down a bit, I began to take in my surroundings. Not far away, near the boarding ramp for one of the hoverrails, I spotted someone using what appeared to be an information terminal of some sort.
Maybe…
Weaving my way through the crowd, I stood off to one side until the terminal was free then stepped up to it.
"How may I help you?" a disembodied voice spoke.
"My name is Jayden Découverte," I spoke to the display. "I've been assigned a new apartment, but I forgot its location. Can you tell me where it is?"
"Who made arrangements for the quarters?" the device went on.
"I only know his first name," I explained. "Saru… over at the med center."
"Records confirmed," the machine responded. "Your quarters are in Section A1, Level 22, Block G7. The apartment number is 2845."
"Thank goodness," I sighed, an intense wave of relief sweeping over me. "Can you print out a map showing me the way?"
"Unnecessary," the device spoke as a small compartment beneath it opened up, revealing what appeared to be an ordinary pair of glasses. "Simply put these on. The device has been programmed to display arrows for you to follow. Have a nice day!"
Shrugging, I picked up the glasses and put them on. At first, nothing appeared unusual.
"Hmm, maybe they're broken," I sighed.
As I turned, a bright pink arrow outline appeared on the ground a short distance away. Removing the glasses, I looked again but the arrow wasn't there.
"Hmm, only visible to the device's wearer," I whispered to no one in particular as I put the guide glasses back on. "Well, if it gets me where I need to go…"
I set off, following the neon pink arrows, wishing in the same breath that I also had a printed map of the city. It would've given me a better handle on the city's layout.
As I continued to walk, I did notice some distinctions in the layout. The central plaza seemed to house mostly businesses and other such city essentials. Made sense. Very similar to Walt Disney's E.P.C.O.T. idea.
Following the arrows, I boarded a self-propelled train that headed out along an elevated path above what appeared to be some sort of park; trees and pathways and small bodies of water visible below.
A recreational area, I concluded.
The train eventually pulled into the station of a smaller replica of the central plaza. The difference here is that the stores I encountered as I followed the ever-present neon pink arrows seemed dedicated to human needs: restaurants, department stores, spas, and the like.
That's when I noticed the guide arrows had subtly altered. This new one bore some text inside it.
"Section A1," I read as I continued walking in the indicated direction.
I looked about. Off in the distance, the spires of the central plaza were just visible. I also judged that it was early afternoon, the sun slowly setting to my right. That placed this community plaza due north of the city center; assuming, of course, that it resided in Earth's northern hemisphere.
Turning a corner, my guide arrows pointed to a glass enclosed elevator. I stepped in and was rapidly whisked up to the 22nd level. Seems my guide device was somehow communicating with the city devices, taking me where I needed to go.
The neon pink arrows led me around to a rather wide corridor on what I realized was the eastern side of this building.
"Block G7," I read on the latest arrow. "Now I just need to find Apartment 2845."
Starting down the long hall, I abruptly stopped in my tracks when I realized my new apartment had the same number as my first duty code in the Air Force! Coincidence?
I continued to follow the arrows until one bent and pointed towards the door of one of the apartments. The number on the outside showed 2845.
"Well, I found it," I muttered, glancing about. "But how do I open it?"
"Greetings, Miss Jayden," a second disembodied voice spoke as the doorway slid open. "Welcome home!"
"Uh… thanks!" I replied as I passed through the opening.
The moment I stepped into the apartment's main area, a single word escaped my lips. "Wow!"
This… was a small apartment?! There was more room in here than any of the houses I had once owned!
But… it was also very spartan… devoid of any furniture or decorations. There appeared to be a kitchen area, but the appliances were totally foreign to me.
I found a sliding glass door leading out onto a balcony. The view from here was breathtaking and visually stunning! Sunrises would be stellar from this vantage point. Like the rest of the apartment, there was no furniture out here to sit on… something I would have to take care of. Heading back inside, I closed the patio door.
I quickly discovered the apartment also had three bedrooms. For guests? Or roommates, perhaps? These were just as spartan as the main sitting area. It made sense. Saru, in spite of having my psych scans, probably had no idea what my tastes in decorations would be, so he'd left that to my discretion.
The bathroom was pretty much what you would expect, but far roomier than I was accustomed to. In fact, it was very reminiscent of some of the Japanese style bathrooms I'd once seen. The room was tiled throughout; a small stool to sit on next to what appeared to be a hand-held shower head. And, of course, the waist high bathtub that also sported Jacuzzi jets. There was even a stand-up shower stall right next to it.
"This is… incredible!" I sighed, fingering the edge of the tub.
I returned to the main sitting area, flopping down on the solitary piece of furniture that every home seems to possess… the couch.
As I sat there, images flashed through my mind… of different living rooms… in different places… different times. My homes, my family, my friends, even my pet cat, Daisy… now impossibly out of reach, lost to the inexorable forward march of Time.
For nearly an hour, I sat there, not moving, quietly weeping, mourning in my own way the loss of everything I had ever known and loved. I had discovered a wondrous and beautiful new future, but there was no one for me to share it with!
Slowly, however, the weeping did ease. Once I had the sobbing under control, I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and looked around.
"So, what now?" I said aloud to no one in particular.
"How may I help you, Miss Jayden?"
"Who's there?" I demanded, whirling to look about. "Show yourself!"
An image of a young woman in a maid's outfit shimmered to life to one side of the room.
"How may I help you?" she asked.
"Who are you?" I demanded. "How did you get in here?"
"I am C.I.N.D.I.," she responded, "Citizen Intelligent Nanotech Digital Interface. I am responsible for all aspects of your apartment's systems. This image provides a visual means for you to interface with me."
"A computer!" I realized. "You're a computer!"
"Indeed, Miss," Cindi replied, throwing in a brief curtsy. "Now, how may I serve you?"
"I would like to contact Saru at the Med Center," I replied, recovering some of my composure. "Can you contact him for me?"
"Of course, Miss!" Cindi cheerily replied. "One moment."
A few seconds later, a 3D image of Saru from the chest up appeared next to Cindi.
"Hello, Jayden!" he greeted me with a wave. "Nice of you to call."
"How did you know it was me?" I asked.
"The body rep let me know about your choice and filled me in on some of the details," Saru responded. Then, with an appreciative look and a knowing nod, he added, "It looks good on you!"
"Thanks!" I replied, preening a little.
"How's the new place?"
"Oh, fine, now that I finally found it," I chuckled, shaking my head. "I forgot to ask you where it was!"
Saru's response was a grin from ear to ear.
"Wait! You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Given the test scores I saw in your psych scan, Jayden," he explained, chuckling as he did, "especially those relating to intelligence, imagination, and adaptability, I was certain you would find your way."
I burst out laughing!
"That was a dirty trick, Saru! I'm not sure if I should kiss you… or kick you!"
"Maybe it was," Saru chuckled, "but I was confident you would succeed."
"Thank you," I said, smiling.
"Listen, Jayden, I'd like to throw a little party for you here at the med center on Saturday."
"A party?"
"Yes. Some of the staff here have been dying to meet you, and it'll give you a chance to get out and mingle."
"Wait, what day is this?"
"It is Wednesday, Miss," Cindi replied.
"Think of it as a way to celebrate your birthday."
"My sweet sixteen!" I chimed in, grinning from ear to ear. "Alright, Saru, you're on!"
For a moment, my friend from the med center hesitated; a puzzled expression on his face. "What exactly am I on?"
"Just a 21st century figure of speech," I chuckled. "Alright, I'll be there. What time?"
"I'm thinking noon. That way we can make it a leisurely affair and you won't feel rushed or overwhelmed."
"Saturday it is, then!"
"Great! See you soon!"
The vid faded out.