THE HEARTBREAK COMMISSION - Part 2

CHAPTER 2: OLD WOODS

I left the flower garden and made my way to the old woods, they were special as they were one of the longest standing woodland areas in the UK and there was no modernization in progress here and no genetic alteration, just a fresh old wooded area with signs, flowers, trees and sometimes wildlife. I checked the map stored in my implant, there were several trails you could follow. The easy short one, the really long one, the medium one and the special one. The special one I fancied but my TCSA was due in a few hours and I could imagine how long it could take by where the trail went on the map.

I chose the easy one and had to follow the green arrows. It was a beautiful walk and I felt refreshed with the clean air. There were elegant tress all around, flowers and I kept seeing a bird or two in the tress. I managed to get a few shots with my camera but not very good ones. I saw something move in the undergrowth so again I snapped. I thought I heard voices, but I could see no one around, I checked my implant. It told me no one was near, I must have been hearing things. I nearly tripped over a fallen tree branch, then nearly slipped on some wet leaves and then something dripped on my from above, I laughed as I wiped the watery white liquid off my head.

I left the woods after what seemed forever, good job I didn't try one of the other trails I thought to myself. I decided to go and get a coffee and a bite to eat at the cafe . I had to wait a while as it had become busy as more and more people came to visit the park. I ordered a Deluxe Mega Burger and a cappuccino which was only minutes in arriving at my table via a service bot. Again I had been DDP scanned and the bill would be sent to me. I enjoyed the burger which was surprisingly tasty but the cappuccino didn't seem right and I wasted most of it. I then went to the toilet inside the cafe. The toilets were nearly all automatic now and no toilet roll was needed you just sat down, let it out and it did the rest. These toilets were not very clean though and in need of repair and many of the cubical doors would not latch and some of the automatic systems wouldn't work, I checked before I used it.

I left the cafe and made my way to the modern art building. I passed the children's park on the way and it was really packed. I had never had any children, I would like one but I wasn't going to pay for a genetically made one which cost millions of credits and I wanted a natural one anyway but the chances of me finding a single women in the UK was highly unlikely and I didn't want to take on a child bride, children were often married on when they reached there thirteenth birthday. I entered the modern arts building and was immediately DDP scanned, I wondered just how expensive this trip out was likely to cost, I erased it from my mind.

CHAPTER 3: FACES IN THE MIRROR

The modern arts were truly bizarre. There was a giant spider In the centre of the room weaving colourful webs all around itself which shone around it and a huge alien looking thing with big green eyes which would transform into a monkey and regrow, it was weird. Again I took some snaps. “No photography sir!.” I jumped. “You will be sent a fine and a warning sir which must be paid immediately of face court proceedings.” the man said. “That's ridicules.” I muttered and walked away. That was all I needed credits lost, I new I could appeal but that would also cost.

I wasn't in a good mood after that, I scanned the pictures on the walls, there were some magical paintings by someone who initialled them G.M. They were of castles, angels, people and one strange one caught my eye. The painting was of what looked like a science lab of sorts with a man asleep on a chair sat in front of a strange computer screen, around him were strange machines and things. I wondered what that was about. I scanned faster now knowing my car was due in around an hour. There was a universe picture viewer, I put my eyes to the binocular like eyepieces. It was amazing, it showed me views of earth from above, I could see the various space stations orbiting and all the continents of earth. I found the UK in all its glory with its shield cover shining in the sunlight. The shield cover was designed to reduce global warming which in my view was nothing short of interfering in nature and the statistics proved that the earth through time fluctuated anyway and that global warming was nothing but a myth, the argument had been going on for hundreds of years. I was able to view the planet X1576 which was the first earth-like planted to be discovered many many light years away. I viewed dust clouds, black holes, different solar systems and even a video of what all the governments thought to be the first sign of other intelligent life in the universe, it was a small view of some kind of UFOs flying close together then vanishing but they just looked like lights to me.

I then went on to look at some mirrors. They were of all sizes and shapes. Some made you look bit and fat or thin, others turned you into a monster which made me laugh. There were even one that coloured you in and changed the colours of everything you wore, I wondered how it worked. There was one normal mirror, I looked and saw myself. I looked rough, my light brown hair, or what was left of it, my green eyes with lines around them and dark patches under and my big nose. I didn't like how I looked but I didn't care that was me. I heard footsteps and through the mirror I saw a lady who stopped and looked through the mirror I was looking at. I stared at her through the mirror, she was so beautiful with shiny long blonde hair, her face was heavenly, her lips so sweet and kissable. I turned around but she was gone, I scanned the room but could see no sign of her, I checked my implant but could not find her with it. My heart raced, I felt funny, that was all I could describe it as. What was happening to me. I couldn't get her face out of my mind, those lips I longed to kiss, her eyes so bright, I wanted to gaze into them forever but she was gone. I couldn't explain how I felt but I knew this wasn't like me and I knew even if I found her she would be married, that was a certainty.

CHAPTER 4: MESSAGES

I left the park soon after and waited for my TCSA car it wasn't too long in coming. I headed back home to my apartment and upon entering ZAKs voice rang out, “twelve new messages sir.” I decided to leave them for the time been and went into my kitchen console unit and selected the “real coffee” menu. I had several to choose from and they would all be made automatically providing my supplies were up to date and that meant that my supplies account had to have been paid. I had chosen Harolina Supermarkets PLC due to there extensive range of old goods like the coffee and old style meals. They were expensive but always on time and there automatic supply system was easy to use and configure. I could choose espresso, latte, cappuccino, macchiato, mocha, instant decaf, instant regular or Harolina latte special, or Harolina cappuccino special. I chose the Harolinia cappuccino special as it then gave me the option to add some brandy and cream with it too. They were all far superior compared to the cappuccino I had at the park. I relaxed and drank my drink on my luxury white leather sofa which I had bought a year ago when I actually had wealth of a sorts, before the work dried up.

I decided I better check the messages and see what bad news I had. I went to my office room, which was small but did the job and asked ZAK to play all messages on the screen and not in my implant. The first was from GPSL as I thought it would be, they were demanding I pay my bills or they would first reduce power for a week then cut me off. The man on screen was a snobby rich kid must have only been eighteen, I despised him already. The second message was from CrazyDaisy Publishing who had put me some ads up online to help me get work in, they said that I must pay my bill as soon as possible if I wanted to continue using their services. The lady on screen seemed pleasant enough but they would have to wait. The next few messages were from the Royal Garden park as I expected and to my surprise the prices I had to pay for my visit weren't that bad, although the fine for me taking snaps in the modern art building were silly.

The next message was from my sister Lucy she said she would call back later about my finances or call round to my apartment later, I didn't looked forward to that. The next message was from a Mrs Newton who said she really needed to speak to my about a job I might be interested in, I jumped for joy then reseated myself and gained my composure. I asked ZAK to call the number she had left which was a normal mobile number, no video number. It rang and rang but just went to the answer phone. “Hi its John Envers replying to your message from earlier. I would love to help in any way I can, ill be at my apartment until tomorrow morning, feel free to call back or visit any time.” I left the message feeling a bit down hearted but I hoped for a reply back. The last message was from ZAK himself saying that updates were available for the security systems but would cost around 1000 credits and would take only a day to update. If I was really busy with work, I would need the update but at the moment it was impossible with income non existent. The remaining messages were just Ads which I really was not interested in like an apartment suite extension costing around only 19000 credits, only, I laughed and the pets for free service which offered free natural pets but always failed to mention the cost of keeping a pet and the registration fees etc.

I went to make another drink, same again. I returned to the office. ZAK reported incoming message from unknown source, no Vid. “Accept.” I said, I was met with a blank screen. “Hello, John Envers Detective Services”. “Good evening Mr Envers, I will be coming to see you tomorrow morning, make sure you are in please.” The line went dead. The voice held a air of mystery it was clearly a ladies voice but why cut the line? I thought about calling back but thought better of it. “ZAK can you do me a trace on that last call.” I said, I doubted it would come up with anything. A few seconds later ZAK said that it couldn't be traced, it didn't surprise me.

I sat in my office thinking about the beautiful lady I saw at the park, she was haunting me, I just couldn't make her leave my mind. I questioned myself, was this love? I jerked up from been lost in thoughts when ZAK reported “incoming message from your sister, vid.” “Vid reply.” I said. The screen showed my sister looking lovely as always. “Hiya John, I have good news and bad news for you.” I sighed. “Bad first sister.” “OK your debts are bad, really bad, your over a thousand credits down John and the bank is not happy and are thinking of taking action.” “is that all, they keep saying that.” I said calmly. “John, if you cant get work then your going to have to do something like sell the apartment and rent somewhere. The bank will hit hard eventually, I have seen it done.” “OK Lucy, what's the good news then?” “I have a small job that will help a little, say 200 credits for you.” “what is the job?” I asked. “Its picking up a parcel of documents from Scunthorpe that's all, and delivering them to my client.” she said smiling. “And what's the catch?” I asked. “There could be trouble, but its unlikely John.” Great, an easy job but possible trouble I thought and knowing my luck I would end up in it. “OK sister send me the details and ill do the job.” “Thanks brother, will do, oh and John, me and Anne are going to come see you on Friday if that's OK?” she asked smiling like she had a secret or something. “No problem sweet sister of mine.” I said mockingly.