Chapter 16

  Visit To Prison

  Part One

  “Stop.” Manya stopped at the street’s corner. “Don’t I have to hide my face?”

  ‘No, Ms. Public places restrict natives from interacting with celebrities.’

  “And they follow? That’s some strong self-control. How do they interact, then?”

  ‘Through events or celebrity’s zones.’ Vega pointed at a decorated entrance to a street filled with dozens of people. Sooner, a man with few bodyguards entered the “Zone” and became the centre of questions. No regular person and paparazzi can enter the zone.

  Walking further, she came across shops selling a variety of handmade products. A strange or futile effort in a land where anyone could form such products with certain movements of their limbs. However, the perspective of the locals differed. They were having a great time shopping with their kids, who were captivated by the entire experience. Not a single person seemed busy scrolling through endless feed of entertainment. And it’s all blue!

  ‘Ms., we have arrived.’ Vega pointed at the glass water tubes by the edge. Without hesitation, Manya jumped inside. And she didn’t drown.

  The tube had temperature-adjusting features to create a pleasant experience. It also offered privacy feature, but Manya didn’t like the idea of being naked around Vega, even if there would be a layer.

  “They are connected to the entire land?”

  ‘Yes Ms., even connected to restricted or wealthy sectors, but not without access.’

  The world outside appeared more vibrant from the tube. It had altered the large crowd into a sophisticated one. “How do I select a destination?”

  ‘I can assist you with it. Please tell me the destination.’

  “Take me to prison.”

  Vega was surprised. ‘Prison? What business do you have there?’

  “Vega, however much friendly I appear to you, don’t forget the positions we both hold.”

  ‘Sorry Ms., destination has been set to prison.’

  The end of the journey was quieter compared to the start. Approaching the end of the tube, a tingling sensation enveloped her, a force field that cleansed her upon exiting.

  ‘Tube will be closed by 7 pm,’ a male voice announced by the exit.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Prison was a few hundred metres away from the tube exit but was clearly visible. According to Vega, the prison could only be seen by rankers from afar; otherwise, one has to step inside to view it. It had metallic designs and intricate patterns like other buildings. But was smaller compared to the prison on Earth.

  Her eyes scanned every safe path to evacuate Ira. She regretted for not bringing a car. Ira would have hacked it and left the planet. And there weren’t any taxi or cars anywhere around her.

  Vega’s cheerful and eager expression got replaced with a stiff and alert one.

  As Manya neared the prison, she was surprised to see many guards exiting, all of them dressed in a unique black attire that enhanced their agility and storage capabilities.

  “Where are they going?”

  ‘An order has been issued. Every public transport, activity and event, has to be shut down by 7 pm.’

  “Why?”

  ‘It’s Yajvan’s order.’

  “He issued this order? When?”

  ‘Few minutes ago.’

  “And I am hearing about this now?”

  ‘Sorry Ms.’

  “But what if a prisoner took this opportunity to break?”

  ‘Prisoners don’t have access to any information outside their cell. And even if they do, they can’t escape alive.’

  “There must be AI weapons inside?”

  ‘Yes Ms., and not just weapons, but every entity that has a right to immortality.’

  “Immortality?”

  ‘Yes Ms., as I have already told you about how, I am reborn with new brain, body and functionalities.’

  “So, if they die, they’ll be reborn like you, with all their previous assets?”

  ‘Yes Ms.’

  “But won’t it give a huge advantage to you guys? I mean, you could just reappear again and again, and overpower humanity.”

  ‘No Ms., we are created with the sole purpose of nurturing humans, and unlike humans, we aren’t allowed to create our kind.’

  “Ok, there would be restriction, for now, but what if one of you go rogue?”

  ‘Ms. We can’t even think of harming humans. I’ll demonstrate.’

  A notification appeared before Manya. It stated, “Will you allow Vega to show no harm protocol?” She pressed yes. A display materialised beside Vega. And a text appeared on it a second later. “I want to glare at my master.” In a blink, she disintegrated into dust-like particles. A test appeared above the debris. “Demonstration Complete.” The dust merged and formed a Vega.

  “Never do that again.”

  ‘Yes, Ms.’

  They continued their journey. “What about sex?”

  ‘We are allowed to form intimate relations.’

  “So, basically you guys are humans, but with permanent birth control or vasectomy.”

  ‘Yes Ms.’

  “And you are telling me it’s one of your goals to look after all the needs of us humans?”

  ‘Yes, Ms.’

  “How many times will this planet make me fall in love with it?”

  ***

  With their blue rank clearance, entering the prison and bypassing many security measures was a breeze. Manya’s popularity caused a delay; she had to take photographs with a few human guards who were eager to leave, and also with several AI ones. The people around were in a joyful mood, looking forward to the tomorrow’s event. Social media has been buzzing with excitement over the mysterious contents of this event.

  They stood in a lifeless lobby, waiting for an official to guide them to Ira. It was the first time Manya had been rude to anyone; she doubted Vega would quit.

  At the entrance, she heard a murmur of voices. A woman wearing a black attire with mask adorned with gold patterns entered the lobby. The figure hidden in that SL was no laughing matter; it humiliated Manya’s muscles. She had a slim rectangle case in her hand.

  Vega bowed her head. Should I do it too? But before Manya could show respect, the woman walked past her, and what startled Manya was a familiar feather peeking out of the rectangular case. It’s Ira’s! She hesitated to grab it, concerned about potential legal consequences that could impact her meeting with Ira.

  At a slow pace, Manya trailed the woman, who entered a guarded room.

  “Who was she?”

  ‘Personal information of higher ranks is restricted.’

  “Higher rank?”

  ‘Yes, Ms. She’s a black ranker.’

  “Does the difference in blue and black rank that big?”

  ‘Yes Ms., non-comparable perks.’

  “What’s an individual with such stature doing here?”

  ‘We are not allowed to interfere in matters of high rankers.’