LO, one of Earth's most popular young singers and Sophie's personal crush watched the Presidential Challenge from his spacious condo on the top floor of a Hong Kong skyscraper. He was, like everyone else, loosing to Emilio - but what an honor. The pop singer was surrounded by twenty of his closest friends, each connected in one way or another to the game. Cameras also floated around. Everyone sat silently, watching the President destroy the monsters.
In LO's contact lenses and his earbuds, the simulation faded. It was replaced by the image of Marilyn Monroe sitting in a vast empty room on a large white egg-shaped chair. Her hair, like LO's, was remarkably stylish, shot-through with spikes of color. Behind her, a classical string orchestra materialized; the musicians were warming up.
"LO, I am sorry to interrupt," began the artificial intelligence.
Even with a gradual phase out from the fantasy world, the change was difficult. "Marilyn? Yes?" Replied the young teenager in Cantonese. Marilyn spoke all languages.
"I have an urgent favor to ask."
The singer, even with his fame had never spoken to the creature directly much less been asked for a favor. Marilyn had never depended on anyone and made a point of it. He stood up out of respect.
"What is it?" asked the star.
"I need you and your band to play a song for me. The song you call 'Heart Shaped Wreckage.' It is for a friend."
"A live performance?"
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"Yes." In the singer's glasses, the sky of the digital reality next to Marilyn was replaced by black ledgers. It was clear what was going on. Marilyn was initiating a transfer of an indecent sum of money into his bank accounts. In two seconds, she had doubled the man's fortune.
"I do not need money.”
“What do you want?”
“Who is it for, Sophie?”
“Yes.”
“Keep your money, love this girl.”
Marilyn’s reaction was surprising. Emotions created up on her and hiding possible tears she turned her head. This was touching.
“When?"
"In about 823 seconds, plus or minus 15." The computer knew she had been too precise, "Fifteen minutes. The Challenge will not be over by then," she corrected herself. LO was surprised. Marilyn was not one to be caught off balance this way. She always knew months in advance what was about to transpire. He had to make a quick decision, and he did. Saying no to the digital goddess was not an option.
"Okay." He clapped his hands and yelled . "Everybody, we are gearing up, we are playing right here in a couple minutes. Broken Pieces, let's move!" Everyone woke up from the digital haze. The team came alive. They removed the headsets and set to work. Marilyn may rule the digital realm.
“You want the female voice too?” His song was often sang as a duet.
“No, she favors you.” She added, “sing to her. Draw emotions from her, I need that right now.”
The digital woman was focused, something important was about to happen. Through his contacts, the view of the orchestra behind the digital creature faded away. It was replaced a large wall covered by millions of red colored numbers ranging from zero to nine. They all moved quickly unable to settle. The only digits fixed were on the upper corner and in green. They began by 3.14159...
Marilyn’s chair vanished and she stood. Looking at the wall of numbers she wiped a tear and smiled. The number of green didgits, around twenty thousands began to shrink.
"It is starting," she uttered to herself in her strange world. She spoke again, but this time her voice changed. Her smile was replaced with a cringe of fear.
"The Sixth Attraction has begun." She flew a kiss in the air with both hands. "It has started."