PACHELBEL’S PILOT - III.b.

Sleet fell in pellets- the droplets tapping wet footprints on the street, while others were plastered on the darkened, reflective buildings like watercolors splattered in droves- the luminescent flora of the capital bathed in golden, ivory warmth- glowing throughout the streets, pathways and structures.

At the core of Electropolis lay the monolithic Tudor corporation building, which was only surpassed by the heavens within its highest glory. Dusk was setting upon the many glass skyscrapers and their respective balconies, where some enjoyed fresh produce and fruits whilst gazing at the sun's fading light- while others moved on-the-wing, perched near the lit embellishments; still and steady.

The city grew ever-wondrous in twilight as a few pigeons flocked nearby; others were already roosting atop the roof-mounted sign with the logo 'Arc' imprinted upon it.

This wasn't New York, however. No: Electropolis was the mecca- the capital of the world, one could say.

The City of Light could be known by some as the 'PEAK' of human innovation and metahumanism. From ground-up, the tallest, modernistic-looking structures rose far into the heavens as far as the eye could see. Floating craft whizzed high overhead while speedster teams fought to claim 'victory' for 'legacy'- their insignias colored magenta, indigo, bronze, purple and turquoise blazing against the skies while jets with men and women of the sky, clad in bright spandex of deep blue colors darted the horizons from North to South.

It was glorious; the freedom not only for its people and civilization but for the benefits a wide spectrum, albeit niche and overqualified community did to modern transportation, food-sourcing, industrial innovations, economic growth and even entertainment outlets.

The burgeoning Artech base consisting of robots, holograms and droids had increased exponentially, whereas artificial intelligence continued growing exponentially due to advancement and sophistication in machine learning systems.

From video games to cooking and service programs in public places: smart kiosks, they were dubbed- everywhere you looked: One would find so many robots it was nothing but pure efficiency- so efficient, you would wonder why anyone bothered even hiring humans in the first place!

Especially when everyone can share resources worldwide- things like training drones can get as accurate as their human counterparts!

There were heroes and villains by the hundreds and thousands, each with unique powers fit for countless fields and applications: from construction sites, hospital care or scientific research- you name it.

‘But Artechs were on the cusp of claiming the same name to fame’ , Eric mused.

Despite the world's ever changing state, some things haven't changed at all.

There were plenty of benefits brought upon by the rise in technology for society. There was no questioning that.

You had the internet, the social networks, and tons of different forms of entertainment available to people of all ages. In addition to that, almost anything could be done through a screen with the use of holograms and virtual reality; going from the act of playing games- it was like heaven sent!

After all, you could just sit back and enjoy yourself. Or why even leave the house when you could play games and enter alternate realities. It was indeed a luxury within itself.

One might even say there was nothing more to desire.

Eric Rogers, however, had seen it all. That hadn't changed, ever since his childhood and the beginning of the rest of his foreseeable life.

The greatest contest, a century.

And he was but one of many, in a world bathed in harrowing light.

While flying objects were the fastest way of transportation, there was still the need for heavy baggage-like passengers as well as raw cargo storage- something Artechs had tried solving first-time-around.

Several such vehicles still ran on petrol or diesel, unlike the earlier jet cars of the past, fueling certain areas throughout time, and while it hadn't been long since he got there, no-nonsense activists were definitely in the process of shutting them down.

Even the gas, electric and non-combustion engines had advanced to include a high-speed delivery of raw resources directly to users using a wireless network system- with much less hassle.

It was hard to say if his company played a part in this or not: Artechs could potentially shift the entire balance back into the mainstream.

The robot-kind weren't a conglomerate, so much as mankind's distinct 'other' alongside the 'advancements' they had made. What really kept everyone guessing was the fact that they seemed more akin to technological toys than man-made creations. It didn't help that aside from the humanoid counterparts, they came in other shapes and sizes, from simple mechanisms of purpose to the complex-looking AI's behind the circuits- robots weren't an enemy.

They were their own side. That was the 'thing' with Artechs; they had minds all to their own and were unique- as vibrant and on par as humans; and unlike the myths and bed-time stories, nobody had ever come across an upright Artech in a position of threat or power past the 21st Century, but they had already proven themselves to be more intelligent than the average human, adaptable, resourceful and far quicker.

For some, these characteristics overshadowed their one flaw, which was simply the cold-hard truth.

Artechs were STRIPPED of genuine emotion.

But with emotion as the dominant factor driving every person on this planet, it was the 'soft' and 'flimsy' sentiments of humans that would continue to serve as the key objective.

Artech technology. They were always interesting. Always sought after. And they represented one of the biggest, most influential mega-corporations in the world today.

Of course, the overall improvements made would've given some politicians a heart attack- whether they were still around or not.

They weren't the robotic versions of humanity.

Rather, Artechs were what human beings were capable of being. They didn't bother the robots. Robotics didn't bother them.

Since the era between meta-territories and artificial intelligence, robots with free-will, free mindsets and emboldening of Artech rights had been a sore issue of state, following that, those who didn't fit the mold- the anomalies or 'supervillains' were thrown through a rigmarole or imprisonment into the depths- hence the 'demotion' of their former standing as 'just autonomous' from living, true-blooded criminals.

Peddlers on the streets obfuscating the fluorescent lights, street vendors knowing just the right amount to placate before the public.

F.ood, F.ashion and T.ourism.

Everything was meant for those within the limits of perfection, free to mingle and make a move as they pleased without harassment, dejection, or the kind where someone of lesser fortune might have to fork over their daily livelihood. There was a balance, just as society had it.

One Artech with a bowler's hat served takoyaki in a dark alleyway, the fragrance of vinegar, lemon and orange dancing in the air- another held a sign on the sidewalk- an aged-dressed one with the script: 'Artechs to the wall! Assemble!' written out like graffiti with its two arms linked- albeit with quite an overbearing number of middle fingers lifted and pointed towards a line of pedestrians and speed walkers. Another was redirecting traffic, waving signals to pedestrians and motorists alike, honking with horns from both sides.

A fashionista hung her overcoat over an Artech's scrawny shoulders, clinging onto her boyfriend's arm before being enraptured by the hotel's dazzling gleam coming from down below.

It illuminated them as silhouettes and shone brightest as the revolving door shimmered away into the pale mist and smog, whipping upwards with its silver-sheen- and there was more behind the entryway.

Another bore no face, head hidden underneath a hood while wearing an apron. This one owned a convenience store's counter- scanning items, placing them into bags for the regular consumer as if she was merely another human taking orders without facial recognition.

Still, here they were.

An anti-bias campaign.

Minding their business and doing their jobs.

It has only been thirty years since the war ended and already they were making strides. But he did care much about things, as they didn't bother Eric, and he didn't bother them.

They both were busy.

They both minded their own business.