It was the year 1020 on the Novus calendar. It is probably the busiest time the world has ever been. The number of inventions and new added information is on an all time high. Even the history of who are the greatest mathematicians like Newton or inventors like Edison are now being disputed. The problem regarding technology causing loss of labor didn't happen. In contrast, there were more opportunities being created.
As for me, I am currently stuck at home cleaning my parent's trash. They made a part of our house their workplace for their investigative work. My parents are some kind of detectives. Most of the time, they are away on some month long operations. I just wish that they would clean up before going away. Why can't they just buy a cleaning robot?
I mostly only visit home on weekends since I usually stay at our school's dormitory. Compared to my room there, this place is a total mess. There are breadcrumbs on the floor. Leftover foods on the table. Unwashed plates and mugs. Crumpled plastic wrappers. Moreover, they just left these data chips and data pads without hiding them. They have always told me not to touch these things because they are confidential. Ironic, isn't it?
I checked some of the headers written in the data pads.
######################
History of Metamorph Industries.
Death of Reinus Hastings.
Development of Biological Weapons.
######################
Are these the things that my parents are currently investigating? Isn't Metamorph Industries the 2nd largest corporation after Quantech? Hastings? Where have I heard of that name? Oh! That's right. The family who owns Titanium Inc. One of the largest construction firm. This guy is probably some big shot. The last one is kind of concerning. Oh well! I really don't need to concern myself with this. I don't want my parents nagging on me.
I'll probably just store these things in this drawer. I tried to open the cabinet underneath my father's main desk and it immediately opened with a single press of a button. See, they even left the drawer unlocked. This is an electronic drawer, by the way, so that not just anyone could open it but it seems that its right purpose is not being utilized.
More data pads. Expected. Quantech employees. Cypher Labs Reports. Seems pretty confidential to me. Well looks like, I could just dump all of these other data pads and data chips here.
As for the trash? I'll just pick this up and this and this. What about this stylish paper? Is this a stationery? Well, nothing is in it except for an eagle design. Who even uses paper these days? I'll just throw everything in the garbage bin. There! Done!
I could finally rest. There is really not much that I could do at home but I could at least get a peace of mind. Silence is quite rare this days. From the streets to the school. From the cities to the malls. Everyone is somehow finding a reason to cause trouble.
I sat down at one of my favorite places in the house. Our electronic couch. It has an integrated speaker and a massage capability. If only I got money, I would probably buy one for my room in the dorm. "Lunax. Turn on the television." I nonchalantly said.
"Do you not want to have some silence?" A sarcastic sound of a woman replied. Its name was Lunax. The current installed AI on our house. My father said that it was one of the most advanced AI and the technology was taken from the security sector. My take? Its crap! Instead of making things easy for me, it makes it hard. Is this really the best AI that we can have?
"Just turn it on. Okay?" I sighed, lying my head on the backrest of the couch.
"Hehe!" Lunax seemed to have laughed with a creepy voice. "Alright! As you wish!"
Our large 65 inch transparent TV turned on as video of teenage students getting tortured and killed was shown. "6 students were recently kidnapped by a group of lunatics. They used the students for their experiments before being violated or killed-"
"The hell! These bastards!" I scowled at what I just saw. This is what I meant by people just want to cause trouble. There are a lot of things that they could do! Why is crime still rampart? Oh! I get it. Lunax definitely chose this channel to stress me. Calm down. I am here to relax. I will just move on and ignore this AI. But where the hell was the remote control?
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I started to looking for the remote control. It's not at the glass table in front of me. It's also not at the tabletop beside me otherwise I wouldn't have asked for Lunax to turn on the tv. This means that it is behind or under one of these pillows----and I am right. Here it is. I should have done this from the start. I sat back down and changed the channel.
"Quantech is looking for beta testers of their new Virtual Reality Game called Transcendence." A male news anchor was enthusiastically advertising what seems to be a fantasy game. "Slots are limited so you better start registering now."
When have Quantech dabbled in virtual reality games? Looks suspicious to me but this would definitely cause some disruption in the gaming industry.
"The testers would be given a substantial amount of pay as long as they do not disclose any information."
Definitely suspicious but I think a lot of people would definitely participate in this. Unfortunately, I don't have time for games right now.
I kept changing the channel multiple times but what I got are just boring or depressing news. I guess I'll just watch cartoons or anime. At least, some companies are still making this kind stuff which I think is a good way to relax.
---------------------- Two hours later. ----------------------------
Oh. I actually fell asleep. I stretched my hands and feet to help my muscles relax.
"Are you a failure as an evolved human? Are your peers too smart for you? Then take this Logus Elixer to show your true potential" A voice from the television greeted me. I actually left it open and Lunax didn't even care to turn it off. There was an attractive pink haired woman wearing eyeglasses while holding a small inverted-bulb shaped bottle with some kind of pink colored mixture inside. She was smelling the bottle like she was high and her voice was erotic enough to seduce stupid customers of the opposite gender.
Another one of these ads. How come there are lots enhancements being sold these days. Do they even work? What's also the point of wearing a traditional eyeglasses? Is that suppose to make her look smart? I finally turned the TV off. Maybe Lunax was actually right and it might have been better for me not to watch the TV.
"Lunax. Did my parents not leave any messages for me?" I asked, standing up from the couch.
"Oh they did. To be exact, they sent a message 4 days ago. A day after they left the house." Lunax replied.
"And you didn't tell me?" I angrily said.
"Well. You didn't ask before!" Lunax proudly answered. "I told you now. Didn't I?"
Chill Lizette. Chill. There is no point arguing with an AI. "Okay. Okay. Just tell me the message."
"Here it comes-- " The TV opened again. It was being used a replacement for a monitor. It was showing a woman with a straight black hair wearing a long brownish coat and a black leggings. "My dear Lizzy! We apologize for going away again. There seemed to be some emergency that we needed to take care of so we might be away for some time! We already wired you some money. Eat well and don't forget your studies! See you soon! Love you!" My mom made a kissing gesture before the screen blacked out.
"That's it? Oh well! It seems that they are fine. At least, I don't have to worry about them." I actually already expected it. I have received this kind of message numerous times.
"There is actually another message sent yesterday. Do you wish to view it?"
"Did they forget to tell me to clean the house? Because I already did." I sarcastically said, basing on my experience with their usual messages. "Okay. Play it for me."
This time. The TV showed a man in a black suit with a haggard look. His clothes are not well kempt. He was gasping for breath as he wiped the sweat on his face. He seemed to be in some kind of storage house or port due to the containers behind him. "Lizette. Listen to me. Do not let anyone in the house. Do not buy any consumable chemicals in the market. Do not entertain any guest while we are away. It would be better if you stay at your dorm and focus on your studies. Do not worry about me and your mom. We are fine ---- Arthur what are you doing? We need to go! ---- I'm sorry. I need to go." There was another man who appeared behind my dad before the video got cut off. He was also wearing a black suit but there was an owl logo embroidered on the top right of his chest. Additionally, he was holding a gun.
"My parents are in danger. Aren't they?" I unconsciously uttered. My mind was in a disarray. Judging from the raspy voice of my father, he was not in a good shape. Just the image of the gun is enough to have me start imagining of possible bad situations that might happen to them.
"They are fine. Your father just told you that they are fine. Didn't he?" Lunax with an emotionless voice, replied.
"That was a rhetorical question! You don't need to answer that! And can't you recognize their situation with his tone?" I shouted. My emotions started to get the better of me. I don't know how I would react if my parents would be killed.
"Of course I do. But you know that this isn't the first time that they are in a dangerous situation. Your parents are experienced officers. You should calm yourself down. Otherwise, you won't be of any help."
Lunax is right. I need to calm myself down. Wait. When has it been this rational? But I guess, I should be thankful to Lunax this one time. Anyway, I probably need to wait before I take action. Two months. No. That is too long. One month. If my parents still don't return, then they shouldn't blame me if I interfere with their work.