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DARE! THE MUSICAL A SPACE-TIME STARSHIP arrives at the start of Universe 01 |
Written by Arthur Front, 2000-2005
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OPEN IN DISCO NIGHTCLUB, ON BOARD THE ANDROID-HUMAN ALLIANCE SPACESHIP “The Future Dead Daughters (Opening Ceromony Edition)” THE SHIP HAS TRAVELED HERE FROM THE YEAR 2130 A.D. (Human) OR 01 M.E. (PSL) TO CELEBRATE THE START OF THE ANDROID-HUMAN ALLIANCE BACK ON EARTH.
THE PEOPLE IN THE NIGHTCLUB LOOK GOOD. SIM, A tall, handsome bald man joins EVE, a beautiful black-haired girl sitting waiting at a table. Eve is drinking a glowing liquid out of a champagne glass while reading a PALMTOP PDA. Behind them, a CELEBRATING CYBORG has his eight arms connected directly to a music machine. The machine seems to make the alien pulse COLOUR THROUGH HIS SKIN like a cuttlefish. Sim puts two drinks on the table and takes his seat.
SIM:
“So have you decided? Put your hand in a party wave?”
EVE:
“Pass around.”
SIM:
“Are you sure? I mean, we've come all this way and you're not going to do it? Come on Eve, it's a whole new universe out there!”
EVE:
“Makes a shroud pulling combs. Combs through a backwash Brane.”
SIM:
“I know about the risks, and I know you're busy but where's your sense of adventure? Something like a clone replacement could always cover for you; I mean, we'll be there already so I'm sure you won't really be missed at navigation control.”
EVE (smile forming):
“Find the copies in a carbon mound...”
She circles her finger around the rim of the glass, causing the liquid inside to glow brighter.
SIM:
“Well why not? After all, there's plenty of energy and data here for a clone: it's shouting out to be heard. Want a look?”
Sim pulls out a PDA from his jacket, holds it up to his eye, then starts tapping it on the table in time to the beat.
EVE:
“Pass around.”
Eve shakes a hand to dismiss the palm-top device away.
SIM:
“We could start a clone, put her at your workstation, set some parameters. Leave her while we slip outside and check the start of the 'verse, then get back in time for the re-alignment. Who would know the difference? Come on Eve babe, it'd be great fun!”
Eve comes to a decision. She raises her glass to Sim.
EVE:
“Stroke a pocket?”
Sim downs his dregs then knocks his glass against hers.
SIM:
“Alright, excellent, a new voice! And I think I have a good print of a Laughing Sound I could add too...”
(Clearing the table out of the way, they both get up and approach the music machine.)
The CELEBRATING CYBORG gives AHH-AHH-WHOOOOHH PARTY WAVES as SIM and EVE approach him. The cyborg bows to the HUMANS, triggering two flaps to open in the side of the music machine. SIM AND EVE both reach inside, pulling out and putting on 3D-vision head-gear and special light-pad rubber gloves.
SIM and EVE clap their hands to switch on the light-pad palms in the gloves. This brings up a holographic SHIP COMPUTER display, A GLOWING DISCO BALL shimmering into life between them.
With their hands outstretched, SIM AND EVE CIRCLE the spherical display system, pushing imaginary HOLO-buttons in mid-air. Their palms light up whenever a “button” is pressed.
COMPUTER:
“Get in line now?”
EVE:
“Get around town.”
SIM:
“Identify: Sim and Eve. Create mixed clone of Sim and Eve, all attributes, accelerated growth to age based on timestamp of Eve's latest snapshot.”
COMPUTER (to Eve):
“Get around town?”
EVE:
“Get around town.”
COMPUTER:
“Permission received. Query: interaction parameters.”
EVE:
“Where the people look good.”
COMPUTER:
“Suggestion: Where the music is loud?”
EVE:
“Of course. Get around town.”
COMPUTER:
“Setting parameters...”
SIM:
“OK, that should do it. Computer, manufacture and allocate clone. Accelerated priority build.”
EVE:
“No need to stand proud.”
SIM:
“Well sure, not really; it'll take us a while to kit out for the trip. You have done this before haven't you?”
EVE:
“Add your voice to the sound of the crowd.”
SIM:
“OK, well it's pretty much the same as before only it's the start of the universe. You know, when our Brane is born? Some of the laws are still a bit fresh and there aren't enough elements, so it can be simple but unpredictable too. Imagine that – not knowing what will happen!”
COMPUTER:
“Designate Neve design paused at 60%. Query: Include shades from a pencil peer?”
EVE (shaking head):
“Pass around.”
SIM (lowering his arms to his hips):
“Oh come on, Get In Line Now, that'd be a laugh! All my clones are 90-10's. And a four-five-ten clone would be cool - something to check up on when we get back. You know, see how much deviation there is and whether anyone spotted the difference.”
EVE:
“A fold in an eyelid brushed with fear...”
She lowers her arms too so that no-one is questioning the computer. The display hologram flickers and starts to fade out.
COMPUTER:
“Caution: Need lines on a compact guide!”
Sim circles the fading hologram to take EVE's hands in his.
SIM:
“Please don't tell me you're scared already! There are countless folds already out there, one more won't make much of a difference. Plus there's no other way I could think of to get you outside. Come on now; are you sure? Or pass around?”
EVE:
“Pass around. A hat with alignment worn inside.”
SIM:
“Hey come on, re-align Eve, be fair! Hmm? Oh well. So join me outside if you change your mind, otherwise maybe I'll see you when I get back?”
Sim mimes Cut! to the computer displays. As the music and lights fade, Eve exits leaving Sim alone under a single spotlight. After a moment of reflection, Sim snaps his fingers to bring all the computers and the hologram ball back on.
COMPUTER:
“Get in line now?”
SIM:
“Get in line now. Proceed with four-five-ten clone, intermix Eve, Sim, and random sequencing from Avatar Prime.”
COMPUTER:
“Stay in time with the rhythm?”
SIM:
“Get around town. ”
COMPUTER:
“Get around town. Stay in time with the rhyme?”
SIM:
“Get around town. Add her voice to the sound of the crowd.”
COMPUTER:
“Voice added. Clone sent for manufacture.”
