2024

Work in Progess

Nixsien was busy studying with cheeks in her hands. Her fringe draped down like a dark curtain over her face. On her head was a mushroom-like glassware glistening of multicolor light.

She wrote invisible words, 'I want his brain' with her fingertip on the desk.

A young man replied, 'Sorry, this is a wish, not a question. I am not a genie, and your wish is quite grotesque, madam.'

She was surprised that the computer responded to her mindless word.

'Don't ruin your life, they have just brought back death sentence! Moreover, technology for brain transplant is still unavailable,' an old woman whispered.

Alternatively, a teenager recommended enthusiastically, 'Saw, gun, car, rifle, wire, tape, rope…'

'This is down to the genetic differences between you two,' Someone interrupted in a serious tone.

'Can I mend the differences?' Nixsien wrote hot air.

After a long halt, an old, deep tone replied, 'I recommend you allocate more time for academic pursue.'

Images of the moment after she woke up transmitted to her brain. She was sitting in bed painting her toenails before she brushed her teeth.

Intuition

The words 'WORK IN PROGRESS' displayed on the door of Levix's study. Nixsien knocked some rhythm on the door and entered.

'Why don't you set the wall back to visible? You know I have vertigo.' Nixsien complained.

'Sorry babe, Anox came round with Auntie Mini this morning and urged me to play something "really exciting" with her, so I converted the corridor into a flying slide. She was thrilled!' Levix's lips stretched into a broad smile.

Nixsien pondered over the huge apparatus in front of him and asked mindlessly, 'How's it going?', mesmerized by the beauty of his invention. The timeoscope stood 7 foot tall and was made of the finest gems and metal that could sustain high temperature. At its front was a dial marked by a diamond arrow.

Levix smiled confidently, 'It went really well. Actually, it would most likely come to life today.'

'Great! I look forward to this historical moment. I remember you told me so before, that's why…'
She pirouetted in her fine floral dress. Her nicely painted toenails in sky blue was very eye-catching against her orange sandals.
Levix however was frozen in awe while looking through the timeoscope, like a little peeping tom expecting something delicious, instead he caught an eyeful of a not so fabulous old lady.

He cried in disbelief, 'It's impossible.'

'Can I see?' Nixsien got upset, a reflection of his face.

'What year is it supposed to be? It looks quite futuristic, (2024) 2024? Look! At least we can't disappear within a blink like they do.' Nixsien added quickly to neutralize the situation.

'Look! These people cycle to work,' Levix sighed. He didn't believe in fooling himself.

A hawker was selling pizza and pancakes in the middle of the road. On top of his cart were two big circular pancake cookers, together with the funky music kept pumping out from the two speakers on its sides, he looked rather like a DJ. The landscape appeared to be more rural than cosmopolitan. Meanwhile, a woman was running across the flyover in an elegant dress and trainers. Underneath the flyover, a little kid was walking his dog. He walked so fast that he nearly hanged the poor thing with its collar.

Ten years fly by, 2020

Nixsien and Levix were relaxing on a patch of grass, eating fruits grew from the ceiling. Their youthful faces remained, thanks to the Flattering-Wonder-Cream, which made traditional face-lift and botox unimaginable. Nixsien leaned forward to touch Levix on his ear lope,

'Babe, only if we know how it would look today, you would have won the Nobel Prize.'

An eagle picked up a signal from the fierce wind bouncing off an object, telling it there was an obstacle in front. More convinced by its visual interpretation that there was nothing in front, it ignored the signal and bravely accelerated to secure its super-cool image. Next, it flew into the 'obstacle', smashed its brains out and pronounced dead at the scene.

R.I.P. to all the flying animals that didn't know magic cubes existed. Magic cube was an architecture that could only be visible to its owner(s). It had resulted in a nation of citizens all living like kings and Queens as only one building alone, elevated in mid-air was visible across the extensive flat field, which was their property.
As part of the idea behind a magic cube was 'illusion', they were mostly of very exquisite design without the actual cost of materials. Living in a nice house was no longer the privilege of royalties or celebrities.

2024

A giant nurse called impatiently, "Next"

Queues extended from the East to West Wing of the hospital. Posters and leaflets about the new lung disease, Concouturbulus, were being distributed throughout the hospital. Citizens were queuing up for vaccine injection, while hospital staff and volunteers were still busy unloading the truck of chilling vessels that contained the life-saving vaccine.

A woman sat with a little boy on her lap picked up a leaflet. It was fully illustrated for children, adult and even illiterate to follow the precaution of Concouturbulus. At the bottom right hand corner of the leaflet reads:

24 hrs NHZ Hotlines: 03291321 / 03291322

Printed in March 2024 by the NHZ

Soda Press

Chips installed in the citizens' bodies told them that its 4:21 am. Machines were printing copies of news in an elegant and monotonously gesture, like an orchestral playing classical music. The end of the production line was marked by towers of newspaper. The headline read:

TRAFFIC BAN AS THE LAST CHANCE OF CURE

All vehicles are banned travelling along any road, highway, and tunnel in our land. The level of pollution has reached a critical level and the NHZ has reported 80 cases of severe respiratory system diseases of our people."

Mavis woke up and the chattering noise in her dream sneakily followed her into reality. She sat motionless in bed. When she had gathered her senses, she went into the kitchen where her mum, Daisy was talking on the phone.

Daisy turned to Mavis, "Darling, you don't have to go to school today."

"Why?" Mavis asked.

"There's no traffic today! The government has banned all traffics throughout the city due to the Concouturbulus disease," Paul reported.

"Oh my god! How long will it last?" Mavis asked.

"I don't know. Aren't you happy that you don't have to go to school?" Paul joked while maintaining his ever so serious face.

"I'm going to meet up with Dart after school," Mavis said.

Mavis sat on the sofa, watching the news while having breakfast. Puppy Baysi licked her feet, harvesting for salt. In return, Mavis gave her a slice of bacon and took her out for a walk, leaving half of her breakfast behind.

She studied the map closely. The theme park was divided into family, four seasons, child-play, adult-only, splash and animal kingdom areas. Meanwhile, Baysi kept barking.

Into Baysi's world. Everything was black and white.

Baysi sniffed around, like a detective who had just discovered something crucial.

"Some essential elements in the air have been removed. I am a bit uncertain about my senses," Baysi said in a sophisticated voice, narrowed eyes and flared nostrils.

Transmission

Dozens of TVs were fixated on the same channel, which was showing Traffic in the Pot. The presenter was being superimposed over the live broadcast of J72C, which was totally deserted with only a sprinkle of dot-like human moving back and forth occasionally.

"As you can see, J27C is totally deserted, however, some citizen still strife their way to work on foot. Getsli Garlet reports."

Two news presenters sat on a huge jelly sofa with grass cushions. The nature-futuristic look was a new hit.

"Our citizens are hard working, huh?" Presenter Jons commented.

Getsli stretched his limbs and flexed his muscles, "Yes indeed. Don't know how long will this measure last. Let's hope the government will soon resolve the problem, other than having compulsory athletic training for our citizens."

Jon smiled and nodded in agreement

Their conversation faded as the background music rised.

"It's ridiculous! I am sure that whoever introduces this law will suffer. See how long they can stand the consequences…tasting their own medicine," Mavis said.

She then turned to Paul, "Dad, how long will it last? I want to see Dart but he's miles away! Please…"

"I'm afraid I can't help you, honey. This is about integrity, about the health or even life of our nation. We must put personal matters aside," Paul replied bluntly.

"Ok Dad, but it's been on for almost a month now. Has there been any research carried out to solve the problem? I want to see Dart!" Mavis showed her missy temper.

"I think so. I can't promise when the traffic will be running because it doesn't concern my department," Paul said.

Mavis extended her arm towards the front, rotated it 90 degree and lied down abruptly on the patchograss to watch TV, which was being projected onto the ceiling.

"Look! That's Unique Seesaw and Dr Puppeter! I heard from Auntie Meg that they're working on a renewal project in Area 67," Mavis said.

She got a glimspe of Baysi chewing a rubber rabbit and continued, 'The world will soon consist of bare lands like skinned sheep that has contagious skin disease. These people have a fetish for emptiness. It will be so boring without all those amazing architecture!"

"Don't be rude, Mavis. Dr Islin has invented the Great Force, which helps millions of paralysis people. Don't you think it's amazing that we can have more empty space?" Paul said.

"Yeah, let's hope those paralysis people are not some lazy bastard in disguise," Mavis said, apparently unimpressed by Dr Islin's 'contribution'.

She turned back to the TV. Dr Islin was conducting an orchestra with powerful and intense movement. He did it to prove how well he could control the Great Force. At climax, Dr Islin's arms suddenly slumped down like a puppet losing strings. A sheer of panic spreaded across his face. The entire venue fell silence. The orchestra members and the audiences scanned the stage anxiously, praying for someone to rescue the poor old Doctor. Dr Islin raised his arm again, finishing his gag by leading the band to play in a wrong pitch towards the end.

A group of activists who were against the Area 67 renewal project sat among the audience. They placed their palms over their chests, with loudspeakers hidden between fingers, the angry and anxious sound of thumping hearts amplified.

"Calm down all of you lovely people," Unique Seesaw shouted with his head tilted backward. The audience in the front rows jumped slightly, some even hold up their arms in defense as if there was an invisible parabola carrying Seesaw Disease.

"There are certainly many good points about replacing columns of solid building rooted in soil with magic cube." Unique Seesaw continued to defend Dr Islin. He then added in a tiny hateful voice, "Err, those messy overgrowth."

"Especially with the recent ban, you can reach the destination faster with less obstacles!" Dr Islin pointed out.

The heart-thumping race suddenly slowed down, betraying the activists for their hesitation.

A middle age man in the front row, apparently the group leader fought back, "It is totally absurd that the government granted the renewal project to take place. It will generate tonnes of waste and is absolutely NOT environmental friendly as well as going the opposite way of the traffic ban!"

A rush of cheer and boo rang from the audience.

Dr Islin debated, "About 80% of the waste can be recycled and reused. The only waste I would say is money, which will in turn go to our citizens for the job opportunities it offers."

An orchestra stretched from the musical performance to a remix of audience heart thump, roar, cheer, murmur, debate and ventilation noise.

Camping

A long queue traced the folding landscape like The Great Wall in China. A security was controlling the flow of customers going in and out of Sleepwell.

"Five more!" The security shouted.

Mavis planted one foot into the shop. Feeling triumphant against the people waiting behind her. She took a deep breath and started walking around.

"Wow!" Mavis exclaimed.

There was a neon sign 'Embroideries' with an arrow pointing to a row of posters, with what appeared to be some hardcore futuristic tattoos. A bald man looking as pale as a frozen polar bear was making stencils of new designs directly on the wall.

The woman who was operating an embroidery machine shouted, "Ruli, that's NOT straight! Ask Mess to give you a hand."

"I'm okay!" Ruli replied enthusiastically.

Inside the shop were 12 counters, each with an assistant, a catalogue and an order screen. All Staff were dressed in neat and straight uniforms. Not only do their uniforms gave them a sense of uniformity, they all had the same sleek hairdo and perfectoh figures. The only differences were their faces and their voices.

Mavis was being served by Assistant No.4, "Good evening, Madam. I am Nia, your assistant today. First of all, Madam, how many people would you like to accommodate in your Sleepwell bag?"

Mavis was surprised by the question, "Um…just me, I guess."

"We are now doing a special offer: All 2 in 1 Sleepwell bags have a 20% discount. And remind you one thing," the woman giggles like a teenage girl fantasizing about her idol, "Don't you worry that our 2 in 1 will be more bulky than a single. Sleepwell uses human generator theory, meaning that a 2 in 1 weights just the same as a single. When you and your partner use it, the heat generated from your bodies will be trapped to maintain a higher temperature. You can also transform a 2 in 1 into the thickness for 1 person use. Would you like to order a 2 in 1 instead?"

Mavis was impressed that Assistant No.4 could say it all in one breathe.

"Yes please," Mavis said.

"What color would you like?" Assistant No.4 asked.

"If I choose pink, will it penetrate light from the outside?" Mavis asked while pointing at the catalogue.

"Good question, madam. There are 3 types of Sleepwell bags. Do you plan to have your Sleepwell bag merely for sleeping? Or would you like to carry on with activities like reading a book," the woman scarily creaked a slyly smile, "counting money or looking into your lover's eyes?"

Next thing Mavis knew was that the woman had lifted one of her long smooth leg to lie horizontally on the counter. It revealed some bugged out veins on her thigh. Mavis could instantly tell that she was a robot, as she remembered reading an article about frontline robots could feel emotions. The deficit was that they were equivalent to people who had extremely high blood pressure. Meaning that when they were aroused, they might explode.

Mavis saw from the corner of her eyes that two other assistants were acting the same at this particular moment. She wondered what the customers had said or whether they were programmed to show off their legs at all possible situations. It might be part of their marketing strategy.

"or doing it with the lights on?" Assistant No.4 finished her question with a seductive smile.

"What does it matter with you?" Mavis was a bit agitated by the way Assistant Nia questions about her sex life loudly in public.

Disappointed by Mavis's negative reaction, Nia put her leg down and explained politely, "Our new Lumin series allow you to adjust the brightness of the fabric inside. This material is absolutely safe and non-flammable with UGRS approval."

Mavis got impatient by the long Q&A session. Her stomach started to rumble after the journey and waiting endlessly in the queue.

Nia seemed to have the ability of sensing human emotion, "Last but not least, please choose an embroidery for distinguishing your Sleepwell product from others," she asked cheerfully.

On her way back home, Mavis walked pass an awkward looking man suspending in the air with a seated posture, both hands stretched out towards the front, resting on an invisible platform. She raised her hand to greet him, however, he looked right through her. She thought he must be another slacker practicing the Great Force, gave him an disapproved look and walked on by.

A New Pursue

Getsli handed an envelope to his manager, Davis.

"Sit down Getsli. You are doing fine and have many fans. Why's this?" Davis asked.

"Oh yes, my fans," Getsli smiled charmingly and said, "Travelling to work takes up so much of my energy, and I want to spend that energy to do what I have always wanted yet too lazy to do."

"What's that?" Davis asked.

"Wait and you will see," Getsli's eyes shone of hope and desire.

"Think about your fans!" Davis shouted as Getsli closed the door behind.

Getsli sat reading a notebook filled with drawings and scribbles. He wrote on an empty page, "I am now an actor. My role is a documentary writer."

He then listed: "Props: - pens, notebook, camera, recorder, multi-pockets jacket, sleeping bag, durable boots." He turned to another page and wrote while murmuring,

"I call it 2024 Phenomenon."