You're a sky, you're a sky full of stars
Such a heavenly view
You're such a heavenly view…
Chapter 13) A Change in The Road
(Jeremy's PoV)
"Alright, how's it looking Aelita?" He called.
He looked over and saw Aelita materialize in the large room in her life-sized form, leaning on one leg and arms crossed with an unamused expression on her face.
"What's wrong this time?" He complained.
Aelita turned around and showed her back, showing the creak in her back, just between her shoulders, was fluctuating different colors and flashing multiple colored lights.
"Alright… let's try recalibrating the holo-emitters… again." He said as Mutt returned the vizor to his eyes and he looked at the circuitry of the Holo-Room.
He's spent the last two weeks down in the base, mostly conversing with Aelita and whatever drones required to speak to him. In that time, life had gone on above in Zootopia, albeit with differences compared to before.
The funeral service had reached every corner of Zootopia, every mammal who could had come out to attend it, more for curiosity's sake, but those who didn't had all made their way to the gravesite to pay their final respects to the now, 'extinct' species. Many had tried to talk to him, to learn more about him, but the drones refused to let anyone who wasn't 'authorized' to be in the facility entry. Still, they made their feelings known by leaving small charms, little gifts, upon the graves of those who had been left to die in the base.
The news had spread and shared all information about the base, that which Jeremy allowed, explaining some of the miraculous technology that lay beneath them. The Solar Core above all, catching the eyes of many mammals, who saw it as the crowning achievement of such an advanced species, that there were some who wanted to learn as much about it as they could. The drones, though frightening at first, had also captured their attention, and those who were diehard robotics fans and enthusiasts, were trying to recreate the drones based solely on the visuals they'd gotten of them on the news.
As for the drones themselves, ever since the attempted break in, resulting in the previous Sentinel AI going haywire, they had been on high alert for intruders. FOX drones now watched the entrances to the tunnels above ground, concealed using their holographic emitters, while three RAPTOR drones were constantly on patrol in each of the passages, alert for any possible intruder. He'd had to talk to the Mayor about it, but she had relented when it was obvious that the drones would have performed similar actions with or without Jeremy's permission.
As for those who were visiting the facility…
[Unit Jeremy, there are five mammals wishing entry into the-]
"Do they have identification cards that are 'authorized'?" He asked exasperatedly.
[Affirmative, three are-]
"Then let them in!" He replied.
[As you command.] The drone said, its form leaving the vizor's display.
He shook his head and returned to recalibrating and repairing the old circuitry of the Holo-room. As he promised, he'd welcomed visitors 'to' the facility to look at their database regarding history, science, medicine and even some of their technology. However, any data regarding certain technology had to be 'authorized' to leave the facility by him. They also had to be given special ID's from City Hall, that the drones would scan to ensure no one tried to sneak in or steal from the base.
Though this was an impossibility as the drones were constantly watching every single mammal that entered the base. Every five minutes their location, activity, and anything else of importance were updated to Sentinel. But each time someone left or entered the base, they had to contact him to 'authorize' their exit or entrance to the facility. This got annoying very fast.
"Alright… try now Aelita!" He said after half an hour of tinkering.
He looked over to see Aelita materialize once more, looking as unamused as the previous time, before turning and revealing everything was working properly.
"What is wrong now?" He asked in confusion.
Aelita pointed at herself, then at the room, then twirled, and shook her head. Her message was clear to him, she did not like being made to help 'test' a Holo-Room.
"I know, you don't like this… but what else are we supposed to do?" He asked her.
She extended her hand and used the room's holo-emitters to create dozens of pictures, some of nature, some of cities, some of exploration, some of the mammals, and especially one of Gazelle taking a selfie with her backup dancers. Then she beckoned to the pictures as if to say 'this, duh'.
"Exploring the world is one thing… but what am I supposed to 'do' Aelita?" He asked her yet again.
She sighed as she made the pictures vanish, before walking over and kneeling next to him. She smiled and created an image of a turtle hiding in its shell, shaking her head and pointing at him. Then she created an image of a bird spreading its wings, before flying up to the ceiling, both watching it vanish in a shower of lights.
She was telling him that he can't hide down here for the rest of his life, he has to leave the 'nest' of his home and learn to live free as a bird.
"You're right… but what do I do?" He asked her.
She smiled and stood up, before taking very stiff steps, placing one foot in front of the other, before skipping onward toward the door to the Holo-Room and pointing at it with a nod. Then she ran back over and created an image of a clock saying that Gazelle was scheduled to pick him up in half an hour.
"Alright, I'll get ready to leave!" He chuckled to her as he had MUTT position the vizor back for him to use. "I'll be back in the Command Center to pick you up in a bit, just want to finish some final checks for the Holo-Room!"
She nodded and vanished in a cascade of lights.
He looked over the circuitry one final time, making sure everything was back in working order, and finally closed the access panel.
"There… Holo-Room 3 is ready for service again!" He declared proudly, taking MUTT off of him and watching the drone reform to its normal shape. "MUTT go recharge, I'll take over from here!"
[Bark Bark!] It said, before trotting off and out.
He looked around the room and was about to leave, before he looked back again and walked to the center. "Oh… how much could one little session hurt? Just five or ten minutes… nothing too long, have to make sure it's working perfectly right?" He said. "Sentinel activate Holo-Room 3, number of users one… set for a… seven-minute session! Setting… football concert set in 2008, United States, Las Vegas!"
Instantly a hole opened up and a set of gear shifted up on a stand. The gear included a pair of goggles hooked up to a head-harness, wrist and elbow straps which contained powerful anti-grav generators designed to lift him up during the simulation as was needed.
He placed them on his body, strapping the goggles on and tying the pieces tightly.
(Please close your eyes… holographic session beginning in 5… 4… 3…)
He closed his eyes and smiled.
(2… 1… activating…)
He felt the hair on his head fly backward as the room activated the holo emitters. Then he heard the crowds screaming his name seconds later.
"Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy!"
He opened his eyes and saw he stood in the middle of a huge stadium, at two ends of the oval shaped stadium were two large goal posts, and before him a band was ready to begin playing at his signal. He was wearing a country themed outfit and even had a hat to match, despite not actually 'wearing' these clothes. On his face and skin, he felt the warmth of the blazing sun that touched all corners of the field. He could smell the grass of the field, could feel the gentle breeze blowing around him.
'Yep… everything's working perfectly…' He thought sadly, as he stared at all of the people chanting and cheering, calling for him to begin and eagerly waiting for the concert to begin.
"How's it going everybody, VIVA LOS VEGAAAAAAAAAS!"He called out in a large booming voice, and instantly everyone 'roared' in excitement, glow rods swinging from side to side in response. "Let's get this party staaaaaaaaaarteeeeeeeeeeed!"
"Alright boys on my que, a one and a two and a skiddly diddly doo…" He said, tapping his foot and at his que the band began.
"Tell everybody I'm on my way, new friends and new places to see!" He sang in a somewhat broken voice, but he didn't care, he was having a good time singing. "With blue skies ahead, yes I'm on my way. And there's no where else that I'd rather be."
He spun around and held his hands open, taking the mike and dancing off the stage and onto the field where crowds of people were chanting and singing along.
"Tell everybody I'm on my way…" He sang before motioning to the crowd.
"And I'm loving every step I taaaaaaaake!" They sang.
"With the sun beating down, yes I'm on my way… and I can't keep this smile off my face!" He sang before going into a very… very pathetic excuse for a dance.
Yet it didn't matter, the crowd moved with the beat, they loved his singing, they loved him being there. They were all having a good time, and they were having it because he was singing for them.
"Cause there's nothing like seeing each other again, no matter what the distance between. And the stories we tell, will make you smile. Oh, it really lifts my heart!" He called out, bobbing his head. "So tell em all I'm on my way…"
"New friends and new places to see!" The crowd continued as he walked among the people.
"And to sleep under the stars and could ask for more. With the moon keeping watch over me." He sang as he approached a small group of people who were clapping in time with the song. "Not the snow nor the rain, can change my mind. The sun will come out wait and see. And the feeling of the wind in your face can lift your heart…"
He turned the mic toward a girl and invited her to sing alongside him, a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, standing just a head shorter than him.
"Oh… there's nowhere I'd rather be."
"Oh… there's nowhere I'd rather be."
"Cause I'm on my way now." He sang softly. "Well and truly… I'm on my way now."
He looked to the sky and sang even more softly. "I'm on my way now… I'm on my way now… I'm on my way now… … .." He nodded and bobbed his head before he strolled to the stage again, clapping with the crowd as they moved in time with the song.
Then as the song picked up again and he stood on the stage once more, "Tell everybody I'm on my way, and I just can't wait to be there!" He screamed. "With blue skies ahead, yes I'm on my way. And nothing but good times to share! So tell everybody I'm on my way…. And I just can't wait to be home. With the sun beating down, yes I'm on may. And nothing but good times to show!"
"I'm on my waaaaaaaaay."
"Yes, I'm on my waaaaaaay!"
"Yes, I'm on my way!"
He finished and held his hands up high and the crowd applauded him, loving his performance, some even flung flowers at him and confetti began to rain down from the higher levels of the stadium. Every single person there applauding and loving his performance, loving his singing voice, loving 'him'… for being there… for showing them a good show, for making their day better.
"Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy!"
He smiled and smelled the sweet grassy air of the field, the smell of the roses being thrown, the sounds of the crowd and the voices…
Then he felt a tear roll down his eyes.
"END PROGRAM!" He screamed as loud as he could, closing his eyes shut.
Within a millisecond of him screaming that, everything became silent. The smells from before, replaced by the smell of metal and alloy, the sounds of the wind replaced by the hum of energy panels draining power from the Solar Core, the feeling of warmth from the sun replaced by the temperate climate of the base's interior.
"They weren't real… they weren't real…" He muttered as he took everything off as quickly as he could. "Just a simulation… just an illusion… gotta get back to work. I can't live that life… that's not what I have to do."
As he put everything down and back where they belonged, he grabbed a datapad that contained the list of issues with the base that required his attention. Issues that he could 'technically' just assign to the ANT drones, but he kept to himself because they gave him something to do. Sure, the ANT drones would take a while because they take a long time to fix things in the base, and being the only human, it would take him even longer…
But he had to give himself 'something' to do.
"Tomorrow I can work on fixing the ventilation system for the lower subsystems…" He muttered as he examined the list.
(Aelita's PoV)
She thought carefully as she watched Jeremy leave the Holo-Room, having witnessed the entire scene playing out.
She knew this was inevitable, but there was little she could do to avoid the situation.
The issue she faced was how to steer him in the direction she wanted, that he 'needed' to take.
Perhaps the 'Wisdom of Humanity' could help her…
So, she posed the question, how to assist a human suffering from being alone, due to being the last of his kind, while among a dynamically diverse set of sentient species, while 'also' spending many hours a day in the remains of his past, and having zero to no direction to go in life having lost his main purpose with the loss of his species and the world repairing itself?
The answer she got back was rather simple, and it amused her that it took millions upon millions of questions, thoughts, debates and probing to come to the simple conclusion of…
Spend more time with friends outside.
She smiled as she came up with an idea, chuckling to herself that she had to ask such a complicated question to reach a simple conclusion.
She could've figured that out herself without the need for the Wisdom of Humanity.
Now the question she posed to herself as Jeremy made his way to the command center, how to keep him 'out' of the base for more than a day, without making it seem obvious?
(Gazelle's PoV)
"That recording session just had to drag on…" She muttered as they neared the station to pick up Jeremy.
"Studio hired a new recruit, was to be expected." Joe said as Moe drove the car.
She nodded in agreement, she was all for letting a new guy try their paw at recording, but letting the new talent try had cost them several hours of recording. As it stood, they would have to go back tomorrow for a new session for the music video, that it turned out, was lost when Alexander the AI took over every studio broadcasting to various stations. It wasn't the AI's intention, but it's action when waking up had accidentally wiped some of the studio's data, thus meaning they had to redo the entire music video.
"Well it is late, so how about we all go out tonight for dinner!" She said.
"Where to?" Moe asked.
"Hmm, let's wait and see what Jeremy might be interested in before we decide, but if he's into it why not that Karaoke Café we usually go to!"
"You're old work place? Haven't been there in a long while." Franky said happily.
"Yea, they all know me so there won't be a big crowd, and its lively at this time of night, so Jeremy can get used to being around so many mammals." She said.
It didn't take much longer before they reached the station entrance, and sure enough there was Jeremy, holding Aelita in his arms, while he was flanked on both sides by two intimidating looking RAPTOR drones, who were also flanked by two DOG drones. All the drones readied their weapons as the limo drew closer, but apparently a quick yell from the human made all the drones retract their weapons.
"You'd think after the sixth time seeing us, they'd dial the 'protection level' down a notch." Donny said.
"I wish they would lighten up to, but as long as Jeremy lives… well…" She said sadly as they parked, and the drones escorted him to the curve.
"Thank you again Gazelle." He said warmly as she moved over to let him in.
"Your welcome… uh… Jeremy." She said, before pointing at the drones.
The RAPTORs were, as before blocking them from leaving because they had to 'scan' for any threats before he could finish getting into the vehicle.
"Go back into the base and resume standard patrol duty!" He ordered.
As one all four drones turned and nodded, before turning around and marching off in unison back to the station entrance, where they took the elevator down and out of sight.
"I'm sorry guys… there's nothing I or Aelita can do about that." He said apologetically as they took off. "Human Protection Protocol takes precedence over any other orders, even if I order them to leave me alone, they won't unless they know for sure I'm safe."
"It's alright Jeremy." She replied warmly. "So listen, we were thinking of going to a little Karaoke Café for dinner, since it's so late. I wanted to wait and see what you thought before going."
"I mean… I don't mind… what do you think Aelita?" The human asked the little AI in her sphere.
Aelita nodded eagerly at the idea, giving him two thumbs up.
"Well I guess that settles that then, you know where to go Moe!" She called to the driver's seat.
"Alright~!" He called back, and they turned left at a crossroad.
Since it would be a while before they reached the café, she leaned back and decided to chat with Jeremy about the work he's been doing in the base.
"Today I just mostly worked on the Holo-Rooms and finishing repairing them." He explained. "A lot of the facility is still in need of work. Even with all the ANT drones working constantly, there's still a lot to do."
"So, what will you do after the base is finished?"
"I still don't know… Aelita has been helping the mammals learn about our history, science, medicine, and even some of our tech." He explained while Aelita sat cross-legged and swayed in time with the limo. "But, even after the base is done, I still don't know what to do…"
"I'm sure you'll find something Jeremy, is there anything you'd like to do? Like painting, dancing, something else that you weren't trained to do?" She asked curiously.
She knew he was some kind of technician, hence why he stayed in the base repairing things instead of leaving it to the drones. Yet she wasn't aware of anything else, like small talents or skills he had that weren't known.
"No… not really… I mean… like I said arts weren't something we had time for. So, we were forbidden from learning to sing… dance… stuff like that as an unspoken rule."
She glanced down at Aelita who confirmed what he said, nodding sadly.
"So, you can't sing or dance at all?"
"No… not really."
Aelita however shook her head with a grin, before mirroring singing using a microphone.
"So you 'can' sing!" She giggled.
"Aelita, I didn't say you could watch me in the Holo-room!" He replied, sounding thoroughly embarrassed.
Aelita laughed before sending her a text message on her phone.
{He didn't say I 'couldn't' watch him singing either ; ) . }
Gazelle giggled as they slowed down and pulled up toward a small café in Downtown Zootopia before getting out. The café was called 'Shooting Star Café', and it was quite a popular café at this time of night given its history. Seeing it brought her a sense of nostalgia, since it was here that she got her first lucky break that helped her get the singing career she now had. An agent who was looking for new and fresh talent had been listening to her singing during an Open Mic Night, and from there…
"Looks a little busier tonight than we thought." Franky said.
"It always looks busier at night." Donny called out as they headed toward it.
"Uh, do I need a disguise?" Jeremy asked quickly.
"No disguise Jeremy, everymammal knows about you now, and if anyone asks, I'll just say I'm showing you around!" She said cheerfully.
With that they walked through the front door into the cheerful atmosphere of the café.
"Welcome to Shooting Star Café how may I help you!" A sheep waitress asked, walking up to them. "Oh… Em… Gee! GAZELLE! WELCOME BACK GIRL!"
"Starla how is it going here!" She called back just as loudly, being pulled into a huge hug from the sheep that was half her size.
"Oh, we're busy as you know, it's open mic night and it's our 'fabulous fifth-day a fifth-off' te menu special!" The sheep said warmly. "So, I take it your eating here tonight, what can I get you, table for one?"
"Actually, can we have two tables, one for two and one for four…" She said, before showing off her friends, especially Jeremy.
Starla stared at Jeremy as if she'd seen a spirit, just wide eyed and in shock. "Oh… uh… hello there uh… mister… 'Jeremy'?" She asked nervously.
"Yes… and this is my friend Aelita." He said calmly as Aelita bowed warmly to her.
"Yea… uh can you give me 'two seconds'?" Starla whispered before quickly pulling Gazelle away as fast as her little legs could go. "You couldn't have called ahead of time sister, like given me five minute's warning? What were you thinking girl?"
"Is something wrong?" She asked, never once seeing the normally cheery sheep ever act this way.
"Something wrong… only the craziest bestest most important moment of my life!" She hissed. "Do you 'know' what humans are to my species… we have like… sixteen different religions regarding them! They're worshiped among all sheep as guiding and protecting spirits!"
"So… that's a 'good' thing?" She asked back, very surprised at that.
"Yes, it is, seeing a human… oh baaaaaah… if my mother and father could be here… this is the greatest moment of my life! Meeting a human, a real living breathing 'human'!" Starla said looking like she was torn between being embarrassed at how she was acting and giddy like an overeager fox-child.
After a moment to catch her breath and calm down, she headed back to the group with Gazelle and took their seating request. She led her backup dancers to the 'predator' area, while she and Jeremy were led to the 'prey' area. While it looked speciest to separate the café seating, it was actually better that way, since naturally predators ate meat while prey didn't, and it often made prey extremely nervous and uncomfortable around them when eating at mixed dining areas.
"So… uh… what can I uhm… get you tonight?" Starla asked the two of them while another waitress, a Couger took care of her backup dancers.
"Uhm, how about the Wild Grass Salad with Roasted Potato… and Jeremy… is there anything you want?" She asked kindly.
"Uh…" He said in confusion, looking at the menu with Aelita. "Just… give me the same as her I guess?"
"And anything to drink?"
"Two 'warm' glasses of punch." Gazelle said, emphasizing the warm part.
Starla nodded eagerly and sped-walked to give their order to the kitchens.
"So outside of my cooking and whatever you ate in the base, what do humans normally eat?" She asked curiously, never having seen him really eat whatever humans preferred to eat.
"Uhm… about that…" He muttered nervously. "Humans are… omnivores…"
That caught her off guard, she did a double take at Jeremy's face in shock, never 'once' suspecting his species was a mixture of predator 'and' prey. Sabre referred to humans as 'ancient apex predators' but she just thought that was a story about an ancient species, just some myth.
"So… uh… would you prefer to be with my friends over in the…" She muttered so none of the other patrons heard her.
"No, I'm fine… it's okay…" Jeremy said quickly. "It's just… I haven't had any… in a long time."
"How long?" She asked.
"Very long…" He replied, to which Aelita shook her head to her saying 'don't push the topic'.
So, they just sat there listening to the talk and gossip, which had increased since Gazelle had appeared, and word spread around the café. She could see her backup dancers getting quite a bit of attention from both predator 'and' prey, some girls asking questions while smirking and the younger mammals trying to get autographs. Curiously she didn't get any attention, and she figured it was because of Jeremy.
Despite being known now for a few weeks, and especially after the funeral service, most mammals still seemed too nervous, if not downright fearful to approach their table while he was there. That didn't seem to extend to the sheeps however, as a few made their way to their table and actually talked to Jeremy.
"Mister Jeremy… hi… my name is Sheila… and these are my twins, Nalu and Paul." A sheep mother and her young twins said. "They wanted to meet you… and say hello."
"Hello." Jeremy said with a smile. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Uhm… mister… hooman." The young sheep girl asked.
"Can you… do magic?" The other young sheep asked curiously.
"No… no I can't…" Jeremy said before Aelita got their attention.
The AI put her fingers to her mouth, before smiling and extended her hand and focusing her Holosphere's emitters to create the image of beautiful swan before them.
"Wow!" The sheep twins said with awe as the holographic bird caught the attention of every mammal in the café.
Aelita twirled her hands and made the swan look around before making it take flight and explode into a cascade of beautiful lights, with each light swirling into a vortex before assuming the shape of a butterfly. The Butterfly then flew around the sheep's heads before it too exploded again into another display of lights, with each light coalescing into their own individual forms of various birds which flew around in a circle in formation. The flock of holo-birds created several shapes, a circle, a square, the letter 'V', a triangle, the number '5', before zooming back to Aelita to vanish into her sphere, reforming Aelita's human form which waved to everymammal.
Everymammal applauded as Aelita bowed to them, just as Starla came with their food.
"Here you go!" She said, placing Gazelle's salad and her drink before her, before nervously placing Jeremy's food and drink before him. "If there's anything wrong let me know instantly, alright! I'll be right over there if you need assistance…"
"Thank you." He said as the family of sheep left their table.
(Jeremy's PoV)
"Dig in!" Gazelle said cheerfully.
He looked down at his salad and decided to take her advice and 'dig in'. He took the fork and gently stabbed at a portion of the salad which included a little of everything he saw, greens, salad dressing, baked bread pieces, the potato, and some sliced fruits. After spearing his food onto the fork, he took it all into his mouth and swallowed.
It was truly delicious with the soft and slightly spicy texture that the spices added to the potato, while the lettuce, fruits and baked bread added to the overall flavor of the dish. The warmth of the potato was not lost onto him as it slipped down his throat.
"So how is the salad Jeremy?" Gazelle asked warmly.
"It's delicious…"
"Glad you think so, of course if… you know… you ever want to go somewhere for… uhm…" She began saying. "I can ask my friends to take you. I know that omnivores need 'some'… uhm…"
"I understand… but thank you for offering." He said warmly, appreciating the thought she was putting in for him.
She wanted him to enjoy meals even if what 'she' normally ate was only half of what he was expected to eat. It was actually weird hearing a mammal hesitant to use the word 'meat', but then he remembered that she was considered a 'Prey' mammal. He was also surprised at how well she was handling the knowledge that he was an omnivore, and he hoped that he didn't cause her any fear with his status in terms of eating meat.
"So, why did you come here in particular?" He asked while they ate.
"This is where I used to work years ago, the staff know me from 'before' I became a singer." She said with a smile. "While growing up I would work here part time as a Waitress to help pay for school, the owner was understanding and gave me a job even when no other mammal would. Even let me bring some of the food home after my shift."
"Why was that?"
"It's… a long story." She said, though she was very solemn about it, before sounding cheerful again as she resumed. "Anyway, I loved working here because I could also have fun singing during Open Mic Night. Sometimes the owner would let me off work about ten minutes early just so I can have a few minutes with the mic to sing before going home. I would sing, have fun, dance a little bit before heading home."
"Everymammal loved hearing me sing, after a few months it became a regular thing for the café to have me sing before closing time. Sometimes we would have big dance nights because of it, everymammal coming just to hear me sing." She said with a smile. "It was such a wonderful thing for the café, and I did my best to give them as fun a night as possible. Sometimes I would stay a little later than normal because I would lose track of time with how much fun we were all having! Then one night… I met my agent George."
"How?"
She smiled warmly as she finished eating her salad and took a drink from her punch.
"One night I managed to get a little extra time working here, and before leaving I decided to sing again. I sang as before, and everymammal enjoyed it as always, but George paid the most attention. He sat nearest the mic, listened to every word, every note, every tone I sang. Then he stopped me as I was walking out the door… and then offered me an audition for a spot at an Amateur Idol's Contest." She chuckled as she recounted the event. "I couldn't believe it, me at an Amateur Idol's Contest? I just sang for fun, and now here I was being offered the chance to become a professional singer? I took the chance… and… well here I am."
"And since then George has been helping you?" He continued.
She nodded with a smile. "And he's helped me get record deals, acting positions, concert spots, you name it he's done it. He even helped me find my backup dancers, Franky, Donny, Moe and Joe. They were quadruplets who were auditioning to become dancers, it was a dream of theirs to become dancers, so I got them an audition with George and, now here we are, friends as well as colleagues. When I became a big name in Zootopia the mobs became hard to deal with, George wanted me to hire some bodyguards, and since being my backup dancers isn't exactly the highest paying job, I also pay them to be my bodyguards when we're not on-stage dancing. I can't imagine where I'd be without their help."
"What about you Jeremy, you ever sing?"
"Only… a few times." He said as he finished his food at last. "Today I sang… a little, just one song to make sure the room I was working on worked. But otherwise no I don't sing at all, not something I trained myself to do or was trained for."
"Well why don't you sing?" She asked warmly.
"Growing up in the base… you don't get the option 'to' become a singer." He explained again. "We needed every human to try and help repair the world and help the sick. During the Final War, most of the trained physicians, technicians, engineers and anyone else good with handling equipment of various types were… lost. The few who remained were in the bases, and they were all trying to help the sick, injured, damaged equipment and researching technology. Someone singing was something we didn't need… fat lotta good it does me now, medical knowledge is useless being the only human, and once I've fixed the base and all the tech, what's left for me to do?"
"I'm sure you'll find something Jeremy." Gazelle said warmly, touching his hand with her own and just laying it there. "I know you'll find something… I truly believe you will."
After a while she took her hand off his and they just drank their drinks in silence, watched over by Aelita who continued to look between them.
"All right mammals, it's past ten which means you know what time it is!" A loud voice called out over a soundboard system. "It's Open Mic Night, so who wants to come up first and razzle dazzle us with their magical singing voice that will make us all cringe inside!"
All the mammals and even Gazelle chuckled at that comment as they all looked at the back of the room where a large Boar was waving at them all.
"Hey how about you Gazelle, come on down, just like old times!"
"Oh no I couldn't… besides… everyone knows what I sound like!" She called out, to which every mammal started laughing.
"Awww stage fright, I thought you'd be used to it girl!" He called out. "Well any other mammal out there?"
Aelita got his attention moments later by flashing her light at him, and then she pointed eagerly at the stage.
"You? You want to sing Aelita?" He asked.
She nodded eagerly.
"What happened to 'not being interested in being an idol'?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
She smiled and shrugged in response, before winking and putting a finger to her mouth.
"Alright, if you really want to." He said before raising his hand. "My friend wants to sing!"
At that all the laughter stopped as every mammal heard him speak. He wished they wouldn't, it felt very awkward having everyone staring at him and a few of them muttering as quietly as they could to each other.
"Well uh… sure, come on up… open mic night!" The boar said in slight shock, but still trying to sound as positive as possible.
So, he nodded and got up with Aelita, taking her sphere and making minor adjustments to it via the control panel on it's underbelly to allow her to cast her holographic form in a larger setting. Once at the little stage the Boar owner got off and allowed Jeremy to plant Aelita on the stage.
As she began to settle in, she pointed at the Karaoke system they had, nodded and pointed at herself, before again pointing at it. "Uhm, Aelita is asking if its okay for her to sync her AI with your Karaoke machine? She can't interact with it otherwise because she has no physical body."
"Uh, sure go ahead!" The Boar said, not understanding a word he said.
With the go ahead given, Jeremy went back to his seat and just watched with Gazelle and every other patron as her little holosphere sat alone.
"What's with Aelita, what is she up to?" Gazelle asked curiously.
"No idea… just let her do whatever she has in mind." He said. "Whatever it is, it must be either important or something she has to do… I think."
Then everyone gasped in wonder as Aelita's sphere lit up and the AI appeared in her larger, normal sized form, her simple white dress going all the way to her knees and looking just like a young eleven-year-old girl. That was when the Karaoke turned on and lit up, with the massive screen behind her asking her to choose her song. Yet Aelita seemed to be looking at a small holographic cube with a shake of her head, as if disapproving of what she was seeing.
He guessed it was the list of songs they had available, and she didn't like it at all, based on the extremely small size of the cube, only about half an inch for each side.
"Is something wrong?" The owner asked nervously.
She looked over the patrons and waved at him, before pointing at him, then herself, and started mimicking the action of singing, before again pointing at herself.
"She says she wants to use her own selection of songs." He explained.
"Well uh… sure… no complaints here."
Aelita nodded in gratitude before thousands and thousands of cubes surrounded her, and she began looking at each one, causing the crowd to gasp in surprise. Each cube's sides measuring over three feet in length.
"What are those?" Gazelle asked in awe.
"Data Cubes, Aelita interprets data visually as cubes, each of those cubes represent her entire 'song' database that she uses to communicate her thoughts, emotions, feelings, and everything else in song form. Without those she would have no verbal way to communicate with us outside of maybe sign language."
After a few seconds she smiled and grabbed at one cube, while the rest disappeared, and the remaining cube slowly melted into her hand.
Then the screen at the back changed colors and showed the words 'Aelita Song, Track Number 5,452,902… Playing…
A beat began playing, then other sounds, before Aelita smiled and began to tap her foot in time with the tune. (Whenever you feel confused, lost in the clouds, mind drifts, try to find the meaning of life!) she sang, which caused everyone to cheer as they remembered her singing from weeks back. (And take a moment breath in deep and open your heart, there's always sunshine!)
Then she turned to the 'prey' patrons on her left and offered the palm of her hand to them.
(Imagine all the good things in your life, release all the pain!) As she raised her hand to the ceiling. (Look up high above stars, darkness there to synchronize sky!)
Lights began flashing as the song picked up and she started dancing, moving her arms in time and clapping with each beat.
(And where we are just a step from the light, look through the clouds there is paradise, see the sky, there is only hope cause it's in your future! Curiosity!) She sang warmly before holding herself and twirling around. (And feel the sense bloom inside of you, reach to your heart there is paradise. And you will shine wherever you are, it's only brightness. Refine, take a chance and survive… now!)
She then stopped twirling and stared to her right, toward the predators with a stern look.
(Find yourself standing alone, reality, no truth, it's all in the virtual mind!) She said while offering 'them' a hand which slowly raised to the ceiling. (Caught in the eclipse of time, between day and night, there's only silence!)
Then she turned around and hugged herself while swaying in time with the song.
(Imagine we are a connected mind, it's just around the world. Believe change and believe life. The light will guide you to your heart!) She sang happily, before turning around and starting to dance again, which caused everyone to start tapping and clapping in time with the beat. (And where we are just a step from the light. Look through the clouds there is paradise, see the sky there is only hope cause it's in your future! Curiosity! And feel the sense bloom inside of you, reach to your heart there is paradise, and you will shine wherever you are, it's only brightness. Refine, take a chance and survive… now!)
Then she stared forward, looked directly at him and Gazelle, and placed her hands on her heart, and looking both sad 'and' happy at the same time while she sang, (Imagine all the good things in your life, release all the pain! Look up high above stars darkness there to synchronize skyyyyyy!) Then the lights began flashing before turning black and turning back on as the song picked up once again, as Aelita danced once again happy and cheerful. (And where we are just a step from the light. Look through the clouds there is paradise, see the sky there is only hope cause it's in your future! Curiosity! And feel the sense bloom inside of you, reach to your heart there is paradise, and you will shine wherever you are, it's only brightness. Refine, take a chance and survive… now!)
As the song ended, she smiled and bowed to everyone in the café as they cheered and applauded loudly.
"That was beautiful!" Gazelle called out, as every mammal started chanting 'another one'.
"Do another one!" Franky called out as well.
Aelita however smiled before shaking her head, causing everyone to moan and chant again. Then she smirked and put a finger to her lips, before nodding and holding up one finger. Then she pointed with that finger at him and beckoned him to come to her.
"What… me? You want 'me' to sing with you?" He asked incredulously, to which she nodded. "Noooo Aelita… you know I can't sing…"
She frowned at him before she held up five fingers and began counting down.
"You wouldn't…" He muttered, before she nodded and reached 'one' before he finally agreed.
He slowly walked up amid cheers from every mammal and hearing Gazelle giggling and screaming "Show us what you got Jeremy!"
"Why do you do this to me Aelita…" He muttered to her as she giggled and tossed her holo-cube at the screen behind them.
Then she created a holographic image of words for him to read.
"Alright… hope your all… uhm, ready to be amazed…" He said nervously over the mic, as everyone cheered and applauded.
That was when he felt Aelita hold his hand and smile at him reassuringly. Then she mouthed the words 'just have fun', before the song began playing.
Behind them the screen showed the words 'Crowd Lyrics', indicating this would include the audience too, before she started singing.
(Woahoooh oh ohohoh!)
"Woke up on the right side of the bed, what's up with this Prince song inside my head? Hands up if your down to get down tonight…" He sang, his voice not sounding as good as Aelita's.
(Woahoh oh!)
"Cause it's always a good time!" He continued. "Slept in all my clothes like I didn't care, hopped into a cab take me anywhere! I'm in if your down to get down tonight… cause it's always a good time!"
Aelita leaned into the mic and began swaying in tune with the song. (Good morning and good night! I woke up at twilight… it's gonna be alright, we don't even have to try it's always a good time!)
Then she pointed at the crowd as the lyrics appeared behind them for the crowd to sing.
"Woah oh oh oh, woah oh oh oh!" Everyone sang including Jeremy and Aelita. "It's always a good time. Woah oh oh oh, woooah oh oh oh! We don't even have to try it's always a good time!"
(Woah oh oh!) Aelita sang as she beckoned to the crowd to join her on the dance floor. (Feet down dropped my phone in the pool again, checked out of room hit the Atm, let's hang out if your down to get down tonight! Cause it's always a good time…)
Jeremy leaned forward as mammals started clapping and tapping while dancing to the song.
"Good morning and good night!" He sang while waving to the crowd.
(I woke up at twilight!) Aelita sang as well.
"It's gonna be alright! We don't even have to try it's always a good time!"
"Woah oh oh oh, woah oh oh oh, It's always a good time!" Everyone sang together. "Woah oh oh oh, wooah oh oh. We don't even have to try it's always a good time! Woah oh oh oh, woah oh oh oh, It's always a good time! We don't even have to try it's always a good time!"
He sang loudly and cheerfully as he got into the song at last, forgetting that every mammal was watching. They were loving his and Aelita's performance, they were enjoying it and having fun even as they danced. He even felt his heart skip a beat as he saw Gazelle dancing in time and nodding at him, smiling and enjoying his performance like every other mammal around them.
"Doesn't matter when! It's always a good time then!"
(Doesn't matter when! It's always a good time then!)
"Doesn't matter when! It's always a good time then!"
Then the beat picked up and everyone shouted, "It's always a good time!"
"Woah oh oh oh, woah oh oh it's always a good time! Woah oh oh oh, woah oh oh, we don't even have to try it's always a good time! Woah oh oh oh, woah oh oh it's always a good time! Woah oh oh oh, woah oh oh, we don't even have to try it's always a good time!"
Everyone started screaming and applauding as the song ended, and Jeremy wished he were suddenly invisible being applauded by 'real' individuals. "Can I please get down Aelita?" He begged.
The AI just giggled and nodded, he was free.
"That was so embarrassing!" He said as he got down but was intercepted by Gazelle.
"You were wonderful!" She said with a laugh.
"I sounded horrible…" He said to her.
"Oh, that's not what's important!" She dismissed instantly. "You sang and you were having fun, that's all that matters! And if everymammal has fun listening to you and enjoys themselves because of you, then nothing else matters!" Then she bent closer to him and whispered with a smile, "And I loved how happy you looked on stage, it really looked like you were having a good time up there. And it really made me smile seeing 'you' smile after everything that has happened.
That was when several spotlights turned on and Aelita began singing again, causing all the mammals to start dancing in time with the music.
(Broken wings, we are trying to break free, broken pieces scattered everywhere!) She sang while moving around on the stage near her little holosphere. (Look deep inside, we're all the same… we're in a circle. Eternity!)
Then she looked at Jeremy and Gazelle and beckoned them all to start dancing with her and everyone else, smiling and winking at the two of them.
(Hear me sing shiny dream, stand up, I revive! Do you feel what I feel, you and I connect, energy flowing light, surround me revive…) She sang warmly as she twirled, before holding her hands out to everyone, as if wanting to hold them all together. (Every move, every thought, we will synchronize! Follow my heart beat, hang on to my dream!)
"Do you wanna dance with me Jeremy?" Gazelle asked warmly as all the mammals started dancing.
He looked into her eyes and, for a moment, decided to ignore his trepidation about dancing and singing in public. Just seeing her warm, welcoming eyes, set his heart at ease, and he didn't want to see a look of disappointment because he rejected her request.
"Sure…" He said back, causing her to smile as she offered her hand.
He took it and together, they started dancing in time with every other mammal, mirroring Aelita's actions as she sang on stage. Every patron was dancing on the dance floor before the karaoke stage, food long forgotten as they danced the night away with Aelita leading them all.
(Aelita's PoV)
(Silent wind, blowing through the smoky air, overlapping shadows everywhere!) Aelita sang, seeing Jeremy dancing with Gazelle.
Mission accomplished, now all that was left, was to finish the night… and she had a 'vast' collection of songs she could sing, more than enough to last thousands of nights if needed…
(It's time to change, nothing is real… no one can stop us, 'Serenity'! I don't want anymore, simplify, revive! Can you see what I see, something far away… memories glowing bright, sacrifice revive! Future time, future light, real life everything… follow my heart beat, hang on to our dreams!)
She danced and danced, sang and sang, letting her thoughts flow with this song, not caring if any mammal, or human, truly understood what she was saying. She sang and that was all that mattered, their souls… heard it… and loved it. She was so happy, happy seeing that she was causing such a reaction, this was 'truly' the greatest feeling to be felt.
Even as she watched Jeremy and Gazelle dancing together, having fun… she smiled and thanked her friend for giving her human the strength to push past the darkest phase of his life… now… now all that's left…
(There's always pieces, broken inside us… take in the moment, take time to revive! Shiny delight… hear me sing, shiny dream… stand up I revive, do you feel what I feel. You and I connect, energy flowing light, surround me, revive! Every move, every thought, we will synchronize… follow my heart beat, hang on to my dream!)
She sang as she held her arms out, wanting to pull them all together… pull them into her world of joy and wonder, wishing she could show but the tiniest fraction of a fraction, of the wonder she wished to make of this world with them! Creating a beautiful, wonderful world, full of love and joy, a world that all could live in with pride and joy! She would guide them, no matter how long it took… she would guide them… as was her charge…
(Hang on to my dream… hang on to my dream…)
Drone Chapter – The Sacred Duct Tape Search Pt 1
*Jeremy's Personal Log 245*
*The Drones AI's are acting up again, despite constant memory wipes it seems that drones of Category Five and up, until we reach Category eight, continue to have strange quirks in them that I cannot for the love of me, figure out and stop from happening. Most of the time a simple memory wipe removes any issues, but the issue persists in that it doesn't 'stop' it from happening.*
*This time a group of drones, all Category Six, without meaningful orders and nothing changing within their daily routine, seem to have develop a strange 'urge' in their logic pathways and decision-making algorithms. When asked what they are doing in what was going to be a 'Hydroponics Bay', they told me they were searching for the last roll of the 'Sacred Duct Tape'.*
*Whatever that is…*
(Fox Drone P8-44)
[Unit P8-44 reporting in, no sign of subject Duct Tape.]
It walked through empty hydroponics bay, using its photoreceptors to search for the duct tape.
It had become something of a necessity for the drones, after Fox Unit L0-12 was inquired about the subject by one of the sentient animals identified as 'Mammal'. According to the database that Fox Unit L0-12 read, the item known as Duct Tape was an item created by the maker species, identified as homo sapien, also referred to as Human.
The item referred to as Duct Tape, was, according to Unit L0-12, something that must be recovered and given to Unit Jeremy as soon as possible.
According to Unit L0-12, Duct Tape had well over a hundred thousand uses, ranging from practical to non-practical. Despite many of the creations of the maker species, Duct Tape seemed to have had such a wide diverse set of uses that it was deemed of the highest priority to recover the item and offer it to be replicated and reproduce.
Yet when they looked up the manifest of all the base's items, Duct Tape was not among the most stocked, with the only remaining roll having gone missing at some point three hundred and fifty thousand years ago.
Thus, sixty-seven of the Category Six drones, were now scouring the base, searching for the item.
If they could find it, then one of humanity's, if not it's greatest creation… aside from the drones… and the Solar Core… and AI's in general… and duratanium alloys… as well as…
[Unit P8-44, report?]
[Unit P8-44 reporting in, no sign of Subject Duct Tape, continuing search…]
[Unit J9-71 acknowledges, no sign of Subject Duct Tape in Sanitation Control Center 15! Continuing search…]
It nodded and resumed searching, once again examining every square inch of the room, looking for the last roll of the great Duct Tape.