It had been a long time since I left the comfort of my home, the EC legs plodded along at a nice slow pace. The fresh air was refreshing, I never realized how stale the air was in my home. My mind wandered for a moment if this really feels refreshing or is it more so outside the dome. I looked up at the sunny sky above and the Honeycomb of gray beams that held the clear dome plates in place.

“Was that a real sky or a projected one? I am pretty sure it is real.” I mumbled.

“It is real.” The system replied.

The buildings were hundreds of floors tall and peaceful, some silver other white with an accent of blue, they reached into the sky here and there, they were all people, all living in a little room, just like me. My EC continued on the path down the block. The EC would stop and turn to windows that had preprinted products in the window. Sometimes there would be a recorded message just for me touting the benefits of what I was viewing.

Then we would be on our way again. We skirted a park, the green was vivid and the trees were amazing. I forgot how beautiful something organic was or how big it was out here. There were little round silver machines zooming across the grass keeping it manicured. My current path did not include the park, we started to veer away from it.

“Park,” I requested.

My EC stopped and turned to the park.

“The Park is sponsored by Williams, the better Helper Hands,” The System said.

An ad flickered to life in my visor and I was treated to a visual feast of deluxe helper hands that I thought could really benefit my EC. I was weak today and ordered them.

“The Williams Deluxe Helper hands are being printed and will be available for installation when you have returned home,” The System conveyed.

The EC faithfully marched me forward down the preprogrammed path through serenity. It was a great trip, I loved sponsored trips, One long ad, and then silence. I took in the sites, the green grass smelled good as it was cut, sour but pleasant. The trees towered over me and for a moment I lost sight of the dome and buildings. I was feeling content for a moment and I don’t think it was drugs.

We continued on and the park path until it ended. I was a little sad for a fleeting second and then I was distracted by a window display of gaming controls enhancements. I fought not to spend because I saw that I was already close to my spending budget for the day. I started to lose interest in window shopping and I began to notice what was around me a little more. Nothing, emptiness, I saw maybe one or two others in their EC's walking about but that was it.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

I wondered how many people even have traveling legs. I knew Robert didn’t but his whole life was the game. Mine too, for the most part, except for today.

"Advertising has become ineffective, re-calculating a path to return home," The System said.

“Agreed,” I said.

The EC turned back and we started back down the sidewalk only stopping for a moment or two to see an advertisement. The EC seemed a little more rushed now. The EC tromped down the walk and something caught my eye. A sign over a window, “Mason House”. That is the place the maintenance fellow lived. There was a store window there but the EC was going to pass it by.

“Wait, View,” I commanded.

The EC stopped and pivoted. There was an antiqued concept in the window. A book. Not an eBook but a real tangible book called “Real Life”. I looked at it carefully.

“The allotted time for this Window has expired, do you wish to move on?” The System asked.

“Purchase,” I said.

“Would you like this as an eBook?”

“No, Tangible,”

“This does not fit your profile, do you need a Med Check?”

“No, just trying something new,”

“The book “Real Life” is being printed and will be available for your enjoyment when you have returned home,”

The EC turned and started to march away. The EC passed the door of the Mason House and it seemed unusual, it was on hinges and it did not slide open. There was no way an EC could fit through such a small door. I saw it for only a second, but I was sure that was for Purists only.

“Why else would you subject yourself to opening a door under your own power?”

“Just another wonderful service provided to you by your EC,” The system replied.

I finally had returned home and my EC was settling into my spot. Ads flickered on the screen as one of my Helper Hands reached out to the new deluxe ones that were freshly printed and placed on a small table.

“Maintenance has been notified for the installation. Williams would like to once again thank you for the purchase of The Williams Deluxe Helper Hands," The systems stated, "What would you like to do now?"

The list of available items appeared in front of me again. I scanned the items and I saw that Robert was still gaming. This time at the bottom of the list below “Walk”, was “Read Book”. I had never seen that item before, ever. I had never seen a tangible book. I’m not sure why I ordered it. I scrolled to my favorite show. And I started to watch the ads and waited for the show to start, but I was thinking about the book.

“Do you wish to continue to watch?” The System asked.

“Yes,” I said trying to pay the proper attention, I did like my show.

I did eventually get involved in the story. The ads were particularly funny tonight and I forgot about the book and my walk.