The Outside

My field of view was limited, just a narrow slit in the helmet to see through. Alba had warned me that the air filter would restrict what I could see, but even so, it was enough.

So far, I felt fine. The outside of the apartment looked like the hallway of any ordinary building. They led me to the elevator, and judging by the descent, we must have started on the fifth floor before reaching the ground level.

Until then, the only androids I had seen were quite different from what I was used to, but I had already grown accustomed to their appearance. Downstairs, even before stepping outside, more people appeared, displaying an even wider variety of forms. Some resembled bipedal animals, others looked like 2D figures. It was clear that anyone could now look however they wanted, in whatever shape they chose. No wonder my outfit didn’t seem strange to anyone.

We walked through the entrance hall and stepped out onto the street. The air felt heavier, though still manageable. I had expected the mist to give everything a purplish hue, but it all looked surprisingly normal.

“How are you feeling? The pressure’s higher out here because of the mist,” Luna asked gently.

“I’m fine for now. I can feel the difference, but it’s not making it hard to breathe.”

“Alright. I’m monitoring your vitals, and everything looks normal,” she said, glancing at a floating monitor I couldn’t see.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Straight to my place. Don’t worry, we’ll fine-tune your outfit there,” she added.

I hoped so. On my own, I still wouldn’t be able to get away if anything suspicious happened.

Rei had stopped interacting with us; he must have fallen asleep. At least Alba and Dom were still with me.

“Alright, we’ll walk there. I need to check your physical endurance and cardiorespiratory capacity,” Luna said.

Alba took the lead, I followed behind her, Luna stayed at my side, and Dom watched our backs.

The sensation outside was much like what I had felt upstairs — my eyes were deceiving me. What I saw wasn’t real. A massive tree towered above us on the street, but it was nothing more than an optical illusion. I only noticed because there was a small glitch in the branches. 

Everything around me was futuristic and visually overwhelming. Towering buildings loomed overhead, yet the place still had the feel of a residential city.

People around us walked along the ground while others soared through the sky, some with wings, others in ways beyond imagination. Many still chose to resemble humans, but Alba stood out as the only one who looked flawless.

It seemed we were in the center of a seaside city, heading toward the coast. The sun was already leaning into late afternoon, yet the heat still lingered in the air.

“Inertia, are you feeling hot?” Luna asked, noticing my discomfort.

“Yes, and it’s getting a little harder to breathe.”

“Alright, we’re almost there. Can you hold on a little longer?”

“I can.”

As we walked, many people glanced at Alba but quickly looked away. No one dared to stare for long, while she ignored them completely. It was probably something she was used to. I couldn’t tell if their reaction came from her being dressed as a civil defender or simply because she was well-known.

I could hardly see Dom; my field of vision was too restricted.

“Luna, is there any way to expand my field of vision? I feel like I’ll always have to rely on you since I can’t see much,” I said, trying to look at her.

“Alright, I’ll try to upgrade your helmet, but it might take a while.”

“Thanks!”

We walked for another five minutes before finally arriving.

Her house sat right by the sea, and from the outside it looked extravagant. I remembered from Dom’s memories that she had designed his current appearance. It made sense that her work had earned her such a spacious and beautiful home.

“Come on in,” she urged.

We stepped inside, and the place was enormous, filled with familiar things — including a stunning grand piano. We went down a flight of stairs and ended up in what looked like a laboratory.

The lab was fully equipped, with several cameras and various parts scattered across a central table. She grabbed some tools and started working on my outfit.

“I need to adjust the suit’s thermoregulation. Inertia, you’ll have to take everything off. It’s safe here, but you both need to detox over there for a minute,” she said, pointing to machines similar to the detox unit in the apartment, except these stood upright.

They went in, and I removed the suit. Luna quickly made the necessary adjustments, and I put it back on.

“Inertia, you’ll need to replace this filter every three days, or sooner depending on how much you use it. It helps remove mist compounds that bind to oxygen molecules. I’ll link your suit to Alba so she can monitor your vitals and other parameters.”

“Alright.”

“Let’s go for another walk to see if the adjustments worked.”

The two of them had already stepped out of the detox machines and rejoined us.

“Luna, can the filter be replaced if there’s a problem, or if it runs out while she’s outside?” Alba asked.

“Yes, but replacing the filter means removing the helmet. Exposing the suit’s interior to the mist would contaminate everything inside,” she explained.

So, as I understood it, if there was a malfunction or I stayed out too long, I’d end up contaminated.

“As a precaution, I’ll leave a spare filter with you. Whatever you do, don’t let the mist come into contact with the suit’s interior.”

“Understood,” Alba replied.

We stepped outside again and walked along the beach. The sun had already set, and it was already dark. Then Dom spoke up.

“Inertia, look to your right, up there.”

I turned as far as I could with my limited field of vision. When I finally caught sight of it, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

There it was, a replica of the Christ the Redeemer statue, standing between the buildings and the mountains, its lights just beginning to flicker on.

“Amazing,” I said in awe. 

“Right? It’s the Chefe’s latest work, along with this Copacabana-style boardwalk he designed,” Dom explained.

“Really… and where is he?” I asked, though I figured he’d be busy.

“He’s meeting with some of the local leaders,” Luna replied. “We’ve decided not to disclose your presence here yet, so we’re hoping things stay the way they are…”

“Inertia? Where are you? Can you hear me?” Rei’s voice cut in. He seemed to have just woken up, having missed a lot once again.

My phone was tucked away in the pocket of my inner suit.

“Rei, it’s me, Inertia. We’re outside, so I can’t get to my phone, but we can hear you from here.”

“You’re already outside?!” he exclaimed.

“Your lady is very well protected here, don’t worry,” Luna teased.

“So everything worked out… that’s good. Was that Alba speaking? I can’t tell your voices apart; the sound’s muffled.”

“It was Luna; she’s back with us,” I clarified.

“Well… I’d love to stay, but I need to head back. I haven’t slept in almost four days. I’m leaving Inertia in your hands. Take good care of her,” Luna told Alba.

Four days?! She had stayed awake all that time just to create this special suit… I could hardly believe it.

“Thank you for everything!” I said, still in awe.

“I’m getting paid for this, so no need to thank me. Just let me know if you need help. The filter timer starts today, don’t forget. Goodbye for now.”

I tried to bow in gratitude, but my suit wouldn’t allow it; I could only manage about a sixty-degree tilt.

Alba ran after Luna, and they spoke in private.

Meanwhile, Dom and I waited. Night had already fallen, probably past 7 p.m., which explained why Rei was awake.

“Rei, do you have class today?” I asked.

“Not today. It’s Saturday.”

“Great, you’ll be able to come with us, then,” I said.

“This time I will, though I’ve already missed quite a bit…”

Alba returned, and Luna waved goodbye as she headed back home.

End of Report 14