Ætherglow #166

You decide that you are in no real danger, and send the signal to Natali to leave you.

You climb in the other seat of the vehicle, and the Electrical System climbs in and sits in between you two, on top of the rail behind the two seats. Synth turns the machine on, and it moves forward smoothly. You leave the graveyard and drive down the dead magnetic track, into the tunnel ahead.

The vehicle emerges from the dark concrete shell into a glass train tunnel--very hot under the Sun. Synth takes their reflective sunglasses from their pocket to shield themself.

“I hate that thing,” they say, protecting themself further with their hand.

“I think it’s nice,” Lexi says, leaning back on her hands against another metal support beam.

“Well you have melanin,” Synth says.

“Skill issue,” she says.

“Don’t know why our ancestors settled here, they were from arctic Earth,” they say. “If anything you should be living here and we should be down at the south pole.”

“Oh, you wouldn’t like that,” she says. “Peak of eternal sunlight.”

You ride on across the Moscoviense under your glass shelter. As the main domes of the city quickly disappear over the horizon, the tranquility of your homeworld is undeniable--grey, still, quiet.

Lexi breaks the silence. “Anyone like Old Earth poetry?”

“We know you’re gonna tell us some anyway,” Synth says.

“Hmm...” Électricité leans forward and pats you on the head from behind. “Wanted: Aydan, Moonside: space. Hair: brown. Eyes: like glass. Age: five thousand three hundred days. Profession: none, or technopath.”

“What?” you say. “How’d you know my exact age?”

“You’re a Lunatic? I’m a technopath? Lunar New Year to 08-12. I did math.”

“Well, can’t argue with math,” you say.

“You can if you’re good enough,” Synth says.

“Now you’re sounding more and more like Synth zero three,” Lexi says.

“Hi Lexi,” Synth says.