Are We Human?

Under the stretch of dark sky, Moon shine city is lit up with neon lights, giant electronic boards and holographic figures of celebrity advertisements. The streets are lined with clubs, a playground for the celebrities where they trade shining spotlights and flashing cameras are replaced with strobe lights and the cheers of adoring fans replaced by vibrating music and clinking glasses.

To enter these parties all they have to do is show their faces at the door, as long as they are well known. The hardest of them all to access being the sky lounge, everyone knows it and few have ever gotten entry to the events there. It stands in the middle of the city, a tall spire with a floating glass dome at the very tip. To take part one must be invited to be a member of the inner circle.

One thing the inner circle have in common? They are all non-noids, celebrities that have stood against the endorsment of humanoid body doubles called Demimortis. While other celebrities have joined the demimortis body double project the inner circle prides themselves on being authentic with their public.

Who would you trust more? A humanoid endorsing a dietary supplement when their bodies are made in a lab or an actual human who has dietary needs? That’s the argument the public has been having over the years since the rise of these new age celebrities. They are programmed with exuding talents and beauty far passing their human counterparts. One can only tell them apart by the small serial model codes hidden on their bodies and silvery tinted eyes.

The humanoids themselves have garnered a lot of discussion with the public. Even large fanbases have formed saying that they might even be better than the originals especially in the entertainment and modeling industries. There are others that question the ethics of having demimortis body doubles. People questioning what would happen if they start bleeding past the entertainment spectrum into everyday jobs.

It was a surprise to many that one of the inner circle members, Kale Witerman would be hosting an all humanoid rookie boy group called new Zion on his Tonight show. The live programme is already a buzz with bullet comments flying rapidly across screens with criticism from nonnoids all to be buried by the comments from enthusiastic fans. The studio roared with activity as well as activist groups protesting outside while lucky fans sat in the audience of the studio with excited faces and banners.

A set of technical crew wearing transmitter gloves and glasses guide the camera drones over the set. They angled them over a white desk. The words Late night with Kale Witerman float in front of the starry backdrop. Another set are faced with a blearing yellow letters flashing before their eyes warning them that they are nearing the max limit for teh light brightness.

The stage manager watching it all unfold through his task glasses. He receives their message.

[John, the lights are at max capacity, how are they looking?]

[Looks—- bright, that should do]

After sending his reply he goes over the last minute changes one more time with the other crew members.The show is already delayed by 3 minutes due to Kale’s unreasonable demands. John was so laser focused watching all the confirmations come in and the show runners asking if they’re going to air or not that he doesn’t notice he’s passed by Kale’s Dressing room. “Don come here for a second.”

He pauses hearing Kale’s voice, he curses under his breath knowing that I’m going to make another request tone anywhere. He silently screams, before walking back. He walks in seeing Kale looking at him through the mirror in his signature blue suit and tie in a makeup chair. He beckons him to come over with a wave a the hand.

“It’s John. The technical team have brighten the lights as much as they could, anymore and they might over heat and short circuit.”

“On that note Don,tell the lighting team that the lights should be dim as possible. We can’t have the station taking down my program after turning it into more of a horror show than it already is.” John inwardly sighs, if his rent wasn’t on the line he would quit on the spot.

“Whatever you say, and Kale before you go out there tonight, don’t say anything pertaining to tonight’s guest that would be out of line.”

“Don, you don’t need to tell me how to do my job. I’ve been doing this long enough to know the procedures. Maybe leave that for the boy group in the next dressing room?”

“Will do, and my names-” John pauses taking a deep breath finding arguinging with him would cause further delay. “You know what, never mind.” He leaves before Kale makes anymore demands. He sends the request over to the technicial team leader responsible for the lights.

[Carter, tell the others to dim the lights. Kale says they’re too bright.]

The team look at each other rolling their eyes with sighs, Carter sending a thumbs up. A drone almost hits one of the crew members. The others send back displeased responses. John sees their replys feeling sorry for them. The rest of the production team receive a message from him.

[Everyone we go live in 20 minutes]

Against Kale’s obvious stance against the all demimortis group the show runners had scheduled the guest showing despite his opposition. He glances at the makeup artist. “I’m sorry you had to do this much work for nothing Ashley. Also a little less foundation around the lips, it makes it look cakey.” The name badge around her neck lightly swings showing the name Jeanine. She knows he’s not actually sorry and actually wishes for tonight’s show to get cancelled.

Another staff member whose staff badge shows Thio walks in and clips a mic to his shirt. “This microphone will activate to your voice. Please do not say anything you don’t want anyone to hear.”

“Uh huh yeah, Ralph you’re blocking the way there.” His voice carries throughout the studio. John seeing a message from the showrunners telling him to start the show now or they’ll cancel it looks up a sense of dread washing over him. He sends a message to Kale.

[Kale get ready, you’re expected on stage in 5.]

Kale sees the flash of words before his eyes and looks at himself in the mirror one last time and clicks his tongue. He strides down through the backstage hallway, he sees them up ahead getting instructions from John on where they’ll be entering the stage. The members spot him the centre of the group Detri reaches out his greet him despite the managers warnings.

“Mr Witerman, I’m a fan of yours. Nice to meet you.” Kale reluctantly accepts the handshake, he’s aware that in this circle it’s better to act as civilly as possible no matter how much they dislike a person.

“Of course it is. You’ve got good energy save it for the stage okay? It’s better when it’s fresh.” Kale lets go and strides off fixing his cuff.

John and their manager stunned by his action while the memebrs were thinking he isn’t as bad as they thought. Before John could comprehend what happened a message flashes before his eyes from Carter.

[Hey John, we might have a little problem with one of the light drones. It seems the response signals seem to be jammed.]

The new Zion members, programmed with reading people’s emotions, he notices and helps direct them to their places secretly sending a message back.

[Worry about fixing it later, just keep it dim, we go live in 2 minutes.]

He lies. He’s more than worried about anything going wrong tonight especially with the activist group outside the studio causing quite the stir they had to turn on soundproof mode. He prays everything goes smoothly and that there will be no more delays. He sends another message signaling for everyone to start, the lights dim, small lights emerge swirling around the studio, the crowd exclaiming in amazement.

An enigmatic voice fills the air announcing Kale onto the stage, the crowd applauds as he steps on the stage. He charmingly smiles and wave, his light green eyes sheen under the light. He warms up the crowd making sure that they feel comfortable and engaged. John watches closely as he sits behind his desk cracking jokes, his nerves slowly calming down. He welcomes New Zion to the stage, one of teh light drones bobbing above his head.

One of the technical team members tries to steady the light clicking his fingers together but it refused to respond. Yellow words start flashing before his eyes slowly transitioning into red. He messages the head technician. John also notices, his heart thumping in sync with each dip. A message flashes before his eyes, they constrict with each letter.

[The drone is experiencing a transmission error. I think one of the wires got fried earlier.]

Behind the words on his glasses, he watches the drone dip lower and lower towards Kale. He tries to signal him from the sideline waving his hand and sends a brief message to his contacts. Kale absorbed in his conversation had muted his messages not wanting anything to disturb his flow. It was only when he briefly glances behind the group members when he realizes John trying to signal him.

He carries on thinking that it’s nothing important that was until he realises the light changing. He looks up a moment too late as the light comes crashing down on him. He’s knocked sprawled out on the ground. His vision blurs, flashing figures crowding around him, and chaotic voices. His world around moving quickly to the point its almost still. He feels himself being lifted off the ground and floating he closes his eyes for a moment to open them again and suddenly the scene changes within his hazy gaze as he’s being moved lights flashing above him and slowly turns to black.

Configuring Damage………………

Compiling damage report on Klaxis Model: K14x12IE7……………