JULY 9, 2014.
Post by Saegusa Kotone on Dec 17, 2013 10:41:39 GMT -5
A city of radiant neon lights, illuminating the black metals which composed nearly everything. Here, somewhere in this city, existed a street, lit brilliantly just like the others.
Here, sat a woman, clad entirely in black. Her head and her figure were the only signs of her gender. Glowing lines of neon blue drawn across her outfit lighting her presence. She sat on a seemingly floating plank of black, positioned much like a bench. Solemnly, she stared at a stick she held in her hands. She felt... defeated.
Slowly, a man approached her, clad in the exact same outfit. He was about her height, and with him he carried a black chakram-like item lined with the same glow as their clothing. Spinning the "chakram" casually around his finger, he approached the woman.
"Excuse me, do you happen to know where the "Photon Tower" is?" He asked as he waved at the woman, trying to catch her attention.
Looking up, the woman displayed a rather confused look.
"What do you mean "where the Photon Tower is"? Are your visual senses not working correctly? Even those not from these parts know the "Photon Tower" when they see it!" The woman exclaimed, baffled at the man's question.
"Hey, don't snap at me! I'm a- I mean, I came from a place even further than that, okay?" The man snapped back.
The two sighed in unison. This conversation was getting nowhere. Unwilling to argue any further, the woman caved in and answered.
"The "Photon Tower" is that huge building over there." The woman pointed at a nearby skyscraper, towering high over the rest of the city. It, too, was composed of black metal and lined with streaks of bright neon blue.
"I assume you don't know anything about it, so I'll tell you: One cycle that tower just popped up out of nowhere. When you go in, you are asked if you wish to proceed or retire. Whenever you proceed you go up one floor. Then you do a test. Sometimes it tests your logic functions. Other times it tests your processing power. Usually you have to get through a fight. They say once you get up high enough, it gets real dangerous: You only get to retire if you clear the test. Failure means you're a goner." The woman explained.
"Sounds like a game." The man cut in.
"More than just a game, I tell you: The Programs inside say when you get to the top you can get anything you ever "wish" for, whatever "wish" means; some say you can even become a User. Apparently, no one who's gone in ever seen the top though."
"Well then, looks like I'm going to be the first." The man boasted, gripping the chakram-like item. The light it gave off glowed brighter when he did.
"That's what they all say... Good luck. You'll need it." The woman commented, going back to staring at her stick.
"Have a nice cycle, miss." The man bid farewell to her.
"You too, Program." The woman replied.
Kotone lifted her headphones, heaving a sigh of relief. She finally managed to get through all her lines without missing a beat, stuttering, or lapsing into a Japanese accent too thick for her superior's liking.
"Good work, we'll take it from here. Come back tomorrow, same time, 'kay?" A man dressed in a business suit was quick to dismiss her, patting her back as he proceeded to say the same line to the other man Kotone exited the recording room with.
A short distance and an elevator ride later, the Japanese lady exited the building. Looking up at the sky, the sun was still shining.
"Still afternoon, huh" Kotone mused to herself. She was already thinking about having a coffee and a snack before heading home.
And that was exactly what she did: Entering some random nearby shop, the smell of fresh donuts got her appetite going. Without hesitation, she walked towards the counter to order.
Kotone searched left and right, tray held between her hands. Mounted on it was a cup of steaming coffee and two donuts; one with a chocolate topping and the other peppered with cinnamon.
Finally finding an empty seat at a half-occupied table, she walked over, approaching whoever it was who occupied the other half:
"Excuse me, is this seat occupied?" She asked, motioning towards the empty seat.
