The Necklace

Saturday 3rd of November 3027

Emma and Nyco were chilling on the couch waiting for AI-Juliet and Silvy.
When they appeared in Emma's portal, Nyco and Emma greeted them with a smile.

-Hi, AI-Juliet, hi Silvy-, said Emma.

-Hi sweety-, said AI-Juliet as she hugged her lovingly with her robotic body. The AI then turned to Nyco and hugged him too.

-Hey-, greeted Silvy raising her hand. Nyco got closer and saluted the Star-finder with a handshake. He knew she wasn’t big on hugs.

-How have you been?-, asked Silvy. -Thinking of joining the Planet-Gazers again? We could really use you up there-, she said.

-I will… eventually. The urge to conquer the stars is really kicking in lately-, Nyco acknowledged.

-That’s good to hear. We Star-finders belong in the sky-, Silvy added.

Nyco was surprised when they told him he was an experiment made of the genetic information of the best Planet-Gazers in the galaxy. This time, AI-Juliet had explained everything, making sure he understood that its love for him, or the love from the real Juliet, had nothing to do with his genes.

Nyco felt overwhelmed at first when he met AI-Juliet. It was an AI generated from the memories of a woman he didn’t remember but who loved him as a son. But in time, he looked at it as a second chance to feel the love of someone that had sadly passed on. Emma had made sure to also tell him countless stories about her mother. Nyco ended up having affection for both, the human and the AI.

While Nyco and Silvy talked, AI-Juliet put Emma aside and started gossiping with her.

-So? How did it go?-, it asked with excitement.

-We were dancing around the room, right over there-, Emma said pointing at a corner of the living room. -And then, when our song came on he just… He just leaned in and kissed me-, Emma announced.

-Eeeeeh!-, the AI screamed gaining the attention of the two Star-finders. -I’m so happy for you two. Emma-, the AI said hugging her.

Silvy rolled her eyes at how loud the AI was.

-Yeez, I swear. I didn’t remember Juliet being so noisy. I think they did something wrong with this AI-, the Star-finder joked.

-Hahaha-, Nyco laughed. -From what Em has told me, she was always like this. I think they are talking about my first kiss with Em. Well… My new first kiss-, he corrected himself.

-You kissed huh? Did it feel good?-, Silvy asked.

-... like nothing I could ever describe-, Nyco said, full of joy.

-Well. Good for you both then-, added Silvy

Nyco was a little disappointed by her response but then remembered that Star-finders never seeked intimacy with others. As Nyco was also a Star-finder, they told him he would also lose any need for human connections. Nyco looked at Emma’s face as she explained their kiss with pure bliss and thought: “There is no way I’ll ever stop loving this woman”.

The two planet-Gazers had come to inform them that they still couldn’t find Juliet’s body. They had been trying in between missions but still failed. Emma had told them it was too dangerous but they insisted that it was the right thing to do. Nyco thought that he would help them when he felt ready to reach the stars again.

After a few hours of talking and having a good time, the guests teleported back home.

Emma told Nyco to sit on the sofa. The woman then went to her bedroom and took a big helmet out of it.

-This is for you-, she said as she handed him the helmet.

-A helmet? Why?... Wait… Is this?

-Yes… I’ve made a 3D recording of the first time we met-, the woman said with a smile. -It took me longer than I intended. Me and Gyanna are now busy with a new project and we are already behind schedule… Anyway, the thing is that I was finally able to make this recording. You won’t fall asleep or anything. I still don’t want you near any virtual neurolinked experience. This is just a video. I know you haven’t had a syncope in over a year. But I don’t want to risk it.

-... Thank you so much…-, he said with excitement.

-You want to try it now...? Or are you tired and would prefer trying it tomorrow...?-, she asked teasingly.

-Screw tomorrow! There's' no time like the present! Let 's go!-, Nyco cheered.

Emma put his helmet on and pressed play.

Nyco then saw himself as a 6 year old. When he moved his head, he saw the scenery move with him. The recording was in the POV of him as a kid.

He then saw a crying girl sitting on a bench and saw how the camera got closer and closer to that girl. It was Emma as an 8 year old. He could not believe he was meeting her for the first time as he did back then.

Emma watched Nyco with a warm smile on his face. When he chuckled, she knew that he had just seen the part where she said: I wasn’t crying. My eyes are sweating.
She loved watching him relive the special moment when they first met.

When the experience was over. Nyco took his helmet off.

-So?-, Emma asked

-It’s perfect… I’m so happy right now, Em… I…-, Nyco the saw Emma’s necklace with a new light.

-That’s…?-, he wondered.

-Yes it is-, Emma said, showing him the shell necklace she made from the first present he had ever given her. Nyco felt another wave of love hit him right in the face. He had always seen her with that necklace but always thought it was just a random thing she liked. But seeing the necklace’s history…

-I… I love you Em-, Nyco said. The man loved her so much that the words just overflowed from his heart.

-And I love you too. Now and always-, answered Emma.

The two adults came together in a warm and passionate kiss that made them feel like the world and the whole universe was made in order to let them have that magical moment.