First Day Out - [I]

After stepping out of the door, I found myself in a dimly lit tunnel with some train tracks on the ground. I had never seen the outside of my home before, and this was certainly not what I was expecting.

A few moments later, the laser created door I had exited from was reabsorbed into the wall, leaving me with no way back inside.

That was it. I would really never be able to return to the life I had always known. With nowhere left to go I headed forward through the tunnel.

The tunnel was broken down, with rusted pipes, debris, and broken lights lining the walls. There were also cracks in the ground and ceiling that had beautifully grown plants through them. It was clearly abandoned.

I made my way through the tunnel until I reached a station platform. I used my strength to pull myself up from the tracks and climb onto the platform.

Although the platform itself was in a similar state of disrepair, it was cleanly kept and neat. In the corner was a red tent with a light on the inside.

I approached the tent with little concern for what was inside. My sneakers noisily hit the concrete as I walked, echoing through the platform.

Suddenly I could hear movement inside the tent. It sounded like someone was shuffling around.

"Who's there?!" A startled voice called from inside.

I didn't respond. I wasn't sure if I should answer or not. This situation was entirely new to me.

"Give me a second! I wasn't expecting someone today!" The voice replied.

After a moment, the flaps of the tent opened, and a young girl stepped out. She was around my age. Her skin was pale with neat brown hair with a white headband in it, a pink cardigan, and tan pants.

She looked me over for a second, then smiled.

"Hey! What can I help you with today?" She said in a cheerful tone.

I wasn't sure what to say. This situation was like nothing I had ever seen in a movie.

"Ah, I'm sorry. Are you new around here? Here, let me help you!" She replied as she came out from her tent and grabbed my hand.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kanna." She said as she shook my hand.

Her smile was infectious. I couldn't help but smile back. She had this overly friendly and trusting demeanor about her that calmed my nerves.

"I'm Meteor."

"Meteor... That's a unique name. You're not a Bolty by chance, are you?" She asked.

I thought about the word she had used, 'Bolty'. I had never heard it before, but it seemed important. I didn't know what it meant, and didn't want to use it incorrectly. I decided to play it safe.

"No, I'm not a Bolty." I responded.

Kanna giggled. "Oh, thank goodness. Sorry, those stinking piles of robotic garbage have unique names like yours, so I had to make sure."

I tensed up. I remembered what my father told me. I wasn't oblivious to the fact that humans and robots hate each other. Not wanting to complicate this first meeting I decided not to tell her what I actually was.

"I see... Anyways, where are we?" I asked.

"You got lost trying to navigate the abandoned train tracks? This is the Neo Tokyo Train Station." She explained. She seemed to think I had some prior knowledge about where I was, but this was my first time hearing any of this.

Neo Tokyo was Japan's capital. I remember watching many movies based in it. My dad would always talk of how it was famous for its mix between modernity and traditionalism, and how he always wanted to go there. I guess we had always been here?

"Quick question. If it's abandoned, why are you down here?" I asked.

She gave me a blank stare before she started to laugh.

"Can't you tell? I'm homeless. The tent didn't give that away?" She replied sarcastically.

Her comment made me feel foolish. Given the context of the situation, it seemed obvious, but her clothes were nice and clean, and she didn't give off the air of someone who was homeless.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you." I said.

Kanna shook her head and smiled again. "It's ok. I can tell you're not very familiar with the area around here. You're lucky you found me."

After her comment, a huge realization hit me. She was a human, an organism I had only ever met through a tv screen. I had never talked to a human (except my father) before. I quickly became extremely interested in her and this interaction.

"C'mon. I'll show you around." She grabbed my hand again and led me up a nearby staircase. Her overly friendly demeanor was hard to ignore, she was acting as if we were already friends.

The staircase was long, I could tell that this platform was very deep underground. When we made it to the top a beautiful scene awaited me.

It was like nothing I had ever seen before.

The space in the station opened up in every direction. People poured in and out like rivers crossing each other. Their faces were focused, each person moving with purpose.

The walls were littered with neon lights and high-tech machines and holographic screens. It was a technological wonderland.

"Wow." I whispered. I was mesmerized at what I was seeing.

Kanna laughed. "Impressive huh? That's not even the best of it!"

She tugged at my hand, but I didn’t move right away. I was trying to take in everything and appreciate it.

She led me through the crowd of people. We entered a train car and sat down in an empty seat.

The train was more like a floating bus than anything. There were no tracks, and it was emitting glowing blue squares as it hovered above the ground. After a bit, the train started moving in a calm but fast motion.

"Ready to see the best part Meteor?" Kanna asked. She pointed out the window.

Outside the window was a beautiful view of Neo Tokyo. I could see the city skyline. The city looked like a modern metropolis, with buildings that pierced the sky. The tops of the buildings had holographic advertisements and lights that brightened up the sunny sky. Floating cars and other various vehicles orbiting the buildings. And in the center of it all, a massive tower that seemed to be the center point of the city.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of the beauty that was right in front of me. Only when Kanna was showing me something different was I able to tear my eyes away.

Each sight that we passed was just as amazing as the last. I wanted to explore everything one by one.

The train finally came to a stop at a station that was in the heart of a heavy entertainment area. Kanna led me off.

She brought me to a crowded street that was filled with brightly decorated buildings and stores. She stopped me in the middle.

"I can tell that you're a fun-loving guy, right Meteor." She said.

"Yes, I think I am." I replied.

She smiled. "Well, you're going to love this then!" She pulled me into a store that looked like an arcade.

Kanna and I spent the rest of the day going to various different attractions, trying out food, and exploring the city. I was already having more fun than I ever had couped up in my living room.

She showed me everything. From hoverboard races to gravity bending rooms. She seemed to know exactly where to go and showed me what things excited her most.

I could tell that she was trying her best to show me a good time, and I was. I saw it in full effect when she repeatedly bumped into me in hover bumper cars, telling me we were playing tag.

We ended our day in a park. It was already dark outside, and the neon lights were glowing on the buildings all around. We sat down on a bench and just watched.

"I'm so tired." Kanna said. "It's been a long day, huh?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it has."

"Did you have fun at least?" She asked.

"Definitely."

Kanna sighed. "Good. Robot trashcans could never have fun like we just did."

I had completely forgotten what this society was like. She had distracted me all day with fun and excitement.

I observed the park for a moment. There were people everywhere, walking around, and just enjoying the scenery. However, upon further inspection, I noticed something peculiar.

All the people in the park were robot-like. They looked like humans, and their movements were lively. I only started to question it once I saw chip slots I had seen in robot movies on their chest.

Feeling a little uneasy, I decided to ask Kanna.

"Hey, is everyone here a robot?"

"Hmm?" Kanna scanned the area for a second then relaxed on the bench. "Yeah, this is a mixed park, but I guess there aren't any other humans here right now."

I turned my head to observe my surroundings again. I had now perceived everyone differently, but it still felt as if nothing changed.

I was still curious about something Kanna had asked.

"Mixed park?"

"Oh right, you're not from around here."

I tilted my head in confusion.

"Around the city there are segregated areas for humans and robots. Humans aren't allowed in the robot areas, and robots aren't allowed in the human areas. This one happens to be an area where they both can go." She explained.

Her explanation didn't sit right with me. I didn't understand why humans and robots were so divided.

"What areas were we in today?" I asked.

"Mostly human areas, I didn't want any Boltys ruining our fun." She replied. "I would've taken you to a human only park, but the next one is a super far walk. I'm beat."

I turned my head to observe the robots again. I had thought they were humans until I noticed their chip slots. Their chip slots weren't like mine though. Mine was smaller and on my head, theirs was in the middle of their chest.

I wondered how Kanna knew they were robots. She had only looked for a few seconds and instantly knew. I decided to ask her.

"How did you know they were robots?" I asked.

"Every year they look more and more like humans, but they always have those weird badge things on their chest." She explained. "It's easy to spot once you know what to look for. You get good at it after a while."

She didn't seem to think anything of it, but it gave me a strange feeling. If they looked just like humans, moved like humans, acted like humans. How could anyone have an opinion on them based on a characteristic as simple as a card slot?

"What time is it?" Kanna asked.

"Uh," I looked around for a clock. On a holographic billboard I saw the time. "It's 8:59."

"8:59!? We have to go!" She shouted.

She grabbed my hand in a panic and ran out of the park. We frantically started running down the street. As we did, I heard a bell chime. I could feel Kanna's entire body tense up.