Detective Nova was never an early riser, but his client was.

        In this world of 22nd century where everyone's awake during night time, he almost didn't believe it at first. It was bizarre but when he heard his clients' address. He could only say a dumb 'Ah'.

        She was what you call an almost forgotten term; an Early Bird.

        Or was it an Early worm? he thought as he trying to remember the term was used. Well, it didn't really matter now. It didn't contribute anything now.

        Not for the lack of persuasion on his part:He did try to compromise. Well, his client won because sometimes a struggling person must make adjustments to make his ends meet.

        So, here he was, in his client's porch and had been knocking the door for good ten minutes. His lungs welcomed the chilling cold air of February and exhaling a good chunk of puffs as gratitude.

        It's true that the fresh air in this side of the country side was always good.

        He tried to knock again but his folders fell from his chilled grasp. Some of the research clippings fell down the floor. The gusty winds hushed some of the papers from him. The dark haired woman with spectacles came to his view. The subject of his investigations.

        He picked the papers one by one. The cup of coffee he had wasn't good enough to improve his morning mood. His patience was already on the verge of thinning.

        If only the commercial devices never register any of his digital footprint, he would have bought a Power Watch a long time ago. And if he didn't know what hackers could do these days, he would have been bought two. Thanks to the nature of his work.

        The budding irritation was immediately deflated when he heard the door knob turned. His eyes a little surprised to see his client. Compared to the last time he saw her a week ago, she the well put together.

        "Mrs. Smith?" He asked hesitantly.

        The woman in her fiftties was in front of him has a very drooping dark eyebags. Sloppily dressed in a cashmere. Her hair sticking together shiny like it had been doused with oil. But based on her face structure, it was indeed Mrs. Smith.

        He had hoped that his client didn't misunderstood his face.

        Maybe I was way too early? He thought.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

        He slyly looked at his watch while pretending to be looking at his disheveled folder. It was a quarter to 10:00 AM. Thought it was a respectable time to arrive in this part of the country.

        He should have made his research more as he didn't venture much here.

        All he knew was this part of the country that he was freezed in time. It has no official name, but current generation was calling it The Old City. A remnant of yesterday's war. The people of this city in the previous century did a mass suicide rather being under of the Super Global Power. And since then, people come here because they want normality from any technological.

        "Good morning, Detective." Mrs. Smith said in a short while after rubbing her tired looking eyes. The sudden heavy smell of coffee came from the door found his nostrils.

        "Sorry for the wait, I fell asleep while for my daughter to contact me this evening." She opened the door wide for him. "Please come in."

        "Did she made attempt any contact since last week?" He said looking the personal assistant watch of the elderly female.

        "No, s-she he didn't." She shook her head while she closed the door. He noticed how she stuttered. It's a bad case of over drinking of coffee.

        "Would you like some coffee?" She offered him while clutching the coffee jar. Putting a coffee to the transparent mug. He could see.

        "Thank you, but I already had coffee, Mrs. Smith." He smiled at her gently declining her offer.

        He sat on the leather chair and looked at the expanse of the living room. The coffee maker is on the table and charging smart watch at the center indicating that she had been drinking coffee throughout the night.

        "I insist. One coffee is not enough to keep oneself alert."

        She's like an addict offering him fabricated drugs.

        She didn't wait for his answer and hurried went through a door. The coffee induced energy Mrs. Smith displaying was imminent. He heard clacking of porcelain wares. And she came back with a mug.

        When she tried to pour the jar, her hands visibly twitched as her hand took on the weight of the coffee maker. He stood up and gently got the jar from her hands. Poured the coffee himself.

        "You need to get sleep, Mrs. Smith." He started. "We can reschedule. We can do this tomorrow or this noon."

        "No, we need to do this. Just give me a second." She quickly went to a room and before he can stop her. He heard the loud slam of the

        Not five minutes had passed the woman was now in front of him. She was wearing a hat effectively hiding her oily hair. He proceeded to look at her face. No hint of her sleep deprivation shows on her face. He surmised she used the Age Masking skin mask, like one of his exes used.

        The search for beauty will always trump the fear of technology.

        When he first knew about it, he felt cheated. He knew that the technology backed by human want is somewhat end up with products like these. Sometimes, it scares him what more humans can make.

        He had first hand experiences on what it could do.

        "I've already called the Research Facility yesterday. They are ready for us at any time this day." She informed him. "I hope you understand. I need this Detective."

        "Of course. We can use my car to get there." His rented old electric car outside to be precise. He was sure if she can drive well with her hand twitching like that.

        The drive had been smooth. But he was distracted by Ms. Smith sharp snoring every now and then while he drove on the way to the Research Center.

        She must've been really tired.