Awakening

With a soft click echoing off into the distance, the vast city hall of Budapest came to life with blazing neon lights and classical music amplified by the intricately installed acoustics. People of all calibres and classes swarmed through the main door, their excited chatter almost drowning out the soft music being played. Among the crowd, CJ adjusted his wide brimmed hat and checked his coat pocket for the umpteenth time, patting his pocket relievedly on feeling his newly bought Tesla FQ8 satellite mobile in it's pocket. For some reason, he had developed serious trust issues ever since his wife of 4 years divorced him and made away with 60 percent of his entire assets and life savings for the silly excuse of being the less economically vibrant spouse. The judge's final words still persisted in his memory, a perpetual reminder that the system was never going to be fair and just. Meanwhile he made his way among the shoves and pushes of the crowd to seat 777, one he had specifically bribed the receptionist to reserve for him, it was the exact number that turned his rotten life from grass to grace a few years back. When everyone was seated, the light dimmed and the searchlights sprang to life, adorning the audience's faces with a lively hue in anticipation of the Prois de Dios, a concert by the Dancing Lights. CJ held his breath in an excited anticipation. It didn't take long for the multiple searchlights to converge on the stage, revealing a stunning artiste dressed in leather coats. Her long silky hair, dyed crimson washed over her face. Her skin reflected the light in a cool glow while her inner corset cupped her voluptuous breasts in a pointing manner. She carved an exquisite figure that made the watcher's breaths stuck in their throat. CJ exhaled deeply and fixed his whole gaze on her lips, ready to catch every melody and lyric that will emerge from it. That was when the whole hall went absolutely dark, and instantaneously the sound of gunshots rang out from the dressing rooms underneath. CJ's body felt strange and alien as adrenaline took over his system. The next second he pushed the lady still sitting in shock next to him over to get enough room, and then speedily crawled under the theatre's soft-padded seats, pulling his leg under him and silencing his breathing. More gunshots rang out not far away, growing louder and more frequent as several men in military gear-ups made their way into the main stage. Screams of women and teens filled the hall, amplified by the acoustics. *Some men tried to act brave and show off their kung-fu skills, but the 8mm bullets quickly put an end to their self imposed heroism*. Gradually the sporadic gunshots began to quiet down, with only a few bangs here and there, probably putting out those pretending to be dead, CJ guessed. Suddenly an automated tenor voice that CJ recognized to be the standard AI speech synthesis of luxury electronics sounded out not very far from him.

"Area cleared, Send in Gamma-e8 and begin search for Element-306". A 3-D holographic entity materialized in the middle of the hall, and placed something on the floor. Four androids walked to the four corners of the hall and simultaneously drilled a hole and fitted something that looked like a rod into it. The object in the middle sent out bright blue arcs that connected with each of the rods and formed a dome-shaped, solid light material that enveloped everybody in the hall. Instantly, the head of the entity made a 45 degrees turn to look directly at CJ peeping at them from under the seats, and shot out a laser beam that instantly penetrated his head and snuffed the light out of him.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!"

CJ felt as if his whole body was splitting into a million pieces. He had felt a rare annihilating type of heat invade his internal organs, vaporizing all his outer skin in the process. Just what kind of weapon had that strange lifeform shot at him? But wait, something was wrong. CJ instinctively felt his body, and everything was still intact. As a matter of fact, his wide rimmed hat still rested loyally on his head. Was he in a dream? But everything felt so real and tangible, and the pain just now, it certainly wasn't a dream. That was when the concert music started flowing into his ears again. With a sense of embarrassment, he realized some pissed off persons were still staring at him. His unnatural scream must have paused the concert they paid dearly for, but not for long. After a little time they turned their attention back to the show, forgetting about the short interruption. CJ felt increasingly uneasy the more normal things became. He had just been in a completely different environment just now and experienced the most excruciating pain known to mankind, but he was still alive and well. The mystery tortured his mental state and left him craving for answers, no matter how vague. Just then his Tesla phone vibrated. All guests had been required to put their devices on silent within the concert premises. Slipping the Hi-Tech phone out of his pocket, a very familiar name greeted his face. It was his wife, Genevieve, who hadn't contacted him once since their unceremonious divorce three years ago. CJ hurriedly put on his high-end headset and then connected the call.

"Hi sweetheart...". A sweet voice filled with charm drifted into his ear

CJ paused for a moment, unsure if those words of endearment came from someone their parting couldn't be more bitter.

"...." CJ maintained an eerie silence

"CJ I'm sorry. I really am. Can we just put the past behind us, I have something I want us to talk about" Celine continued

"Who exactly are you, why did you lead me on all our years of marriage if you know you just wanted my money. For fuck's sake you could have just asked me!, you're very much aware of how much I loved you and was willing to do anything for you. Why did you have to be so despicable and, and...", unable to hold it in any longer, CJ tried to squeeze all the questions that's burdened his heart for three years out in one breath.

The sweet voice went a little lower,

"Honey I said I'm really sorry, I didn't know what came over me".

"Whatever, you can't just show up out of the blues and start talking nonsense with me". With that CJ decisively folded the phone, disconnecting the call.

"I've seen through you bitches now", he muttered under his breath while pocketing the mobile. When the concert ended people started trooping out of the hall. Some stayed around the premises to socialize with themselves, but CJ was still pretty shaken up by the odd experience and didn't have the stomach to talk to anybody. Walking out the front gate, he immediately flagged down an automated taxi. The Budapest City's transport system had been highly modernized in recent years after J.J Coles had been appointed it's governor a year ago. He said that the more convenient the city's transportation network and management was, the more efficient the city's citizens would be.

"Northline Avenue, please. House 77G"

"Commencing ride. Do you want to be charged per time or distance?"

The tenor voice of the City's AI, Sigma drifted through from one of the many speakers hidden in the car. CJ was taken back for a moment. "Per time? Isn't there a lot of loophole to cheat me of my money with that method? Per distance please"

"Understood Sir. Please fasten your seat belt"

After fastening his seat belts CJ put on his headphones while silently feeling the drift of the vehicle through the streets of Budapest.

"Pls disembark Mister", the tenor chirp of the electronically synthesized voice jolted CJ out of his daydream. CJ stepped out of the vehicle, immediately jolted even more awake by the stark contrast of the taxi's air-conditioned atmosphere and the hot ozome-depleted atmosphere of earth. He swiped his card at the designated slot in the car and after a double beep the car slowly pulled away. CJ managed to pulled his admiring gaze away from the receding vehicle and turned to look at the building behind him. It was one of the recently renovated residential buildings in one of the projects that helped to firmly secure J.J Coles as Governor. CJ remembered how tirelessly he had searched for a house with a triple seven number before he resignedly settled for House 77G, consoling himself with the fact that G coincided with the number 7 in the English alphabet. Lifting his foot, he stepped into the building, oblivious to the blue sedan packed just a few yards away from him, which had been professionally tailing him from outside the concert venue. In the lobby room CJ flashed his charming smile at the receptionist who winked back, then quickly made his way to the holding section, where the room keys where kept. He scanned his retina and fingerprints, then entered his hostel_ID. A monotonous electronic voice drifted over from the system

"Welcome back, CJ. How did your trip go? Did you finally meet a new sweetheart?"

CJ ignored Seth, the AI residential manager of the City. It was always trying to engage in boring conversations and liked cracking expensive jokes. He simply grabbed the key from his room drawer when the system verified his identity and alid it open. He quickly made his way to the elevator section, the very strange out-of-the-world experience at the concert still beared heavily on his mind, and he wanted nothing more than to disappear to a quiet place and mull over it, hopefully he would discover answers, no matter how little surface the answers scratched.

"Hey psst, I'm talking to you CJ, don't you dare be rude to me"

CJ was already in the second elevator, which happened to be the only empty one at the moment. He pressed for the seventh floor but just as the door was about to close completely, an unbelievably thin hand slipped through and stopped it in time, with such an u bothered style that the word 'steeze' inexplicably appeared in CJ's subconscious. Following the hand, a thin face slipped through, carrying a wide hat, and then a thin body, wearing what could be considered the most futuristic piece of clothing known to humankind.

"Sorry, Mister" the figure revealed a calming smile that seemed to elevate the atmosphere and make CJ's heart brim with joy and peace.

"I hope I haven't offended you" CJ didn't believe it but he smiled in the exact same way and extended his hand for a very warm handshake, like old friends. At this moment he knew in the back of his mind that nobody could ever pick a bone with this strange figure, let alone a fight.

He stared curiously at the figure, who seemed to blush, and clear his throat

"Name's Steve, Mister. Pray tell me yours"

Steve said through glowingly white teeth.

"Christopher James"

CJ found himself blurting out.

"Nice name Christopher, glad to make your acquaintance" Steve shook his hand yet again, and then the elevator room fell terrifyingly quiet. At the very back of his head, CJ had an uncanny premonition that things were about to get very dangerous, but his subconscious, and even his survival instincts disregarded this bodily promptings. Very quickly the elevator made a ding sound, and the number 7 lit up. CJ was about to open the door and exit when Steve's palm covered his and his face met his with an alluring smile.

"Have you ever seen the hundredth floor, Chris?" Steve asked nicely

"Nope" CJ wanted to add, " I have no business being there, and besides it's the administrative floor" but something told him not to.

"You'll definitely enjoy the view" Steve said with his yet most charming smile, and the elevator continued climbing up. Upon reaching the hundredth floor both figures exited Elevator 2 and Steve guided CJ to the top of the roof, just above floor 100. There was a helipad there, which CJ never knew the Houses were allowed to have. Steve guided CJ to the waiting helicopter, which quickly, started up. Just before lift-off, a figure clad in void black at the back of the chopper slid a helmet onto CJ's head, and the gas inside it quickly put CJ to a very deep sleep.