I pause near the second glass chamber. Inside is a gunslinger, a type of western cowboy from thousands of years ago. It doesn’t pique my interest, so I keep walking.
There are many distinct types of dogs, cats, lizards. There is even a humpback whale engaged in an epic battle with a giant squid. There are men with both strong and weak profiles, and women of all shapes and sizes beckon to me from their glass cages.
At the end of the hallway is a lone chamber, unconnected to the others. As I get closer to the glass, I witness an alien beast, a species I have never seen until now.
Yes, aliens exist in our world. It has been a few years since Earth Federation brought one back. Despite public outcry over integration, they have fared quite well.
They are considered dependable mates. Women love them, including me. Of course, many women are too afraid to meet one, let alone marry a beast from above.
This one differs from the rest. It’s wild. Untamed. Enraged.
Worst of all, it’s looking for a mate. I can tell just by looking at him. His cock is massive, harder than any muscle in my body. Erect as soon as it witnesses me.
As embarrassing as it is to admit, I can’t stop staring.
I move closer to the glass, astonished. “Hey there, big guy,” I whisper.
The alien cruises toward the viewpoint, breathing excitedly. Pressing his nose against the barrier, he bares his teeth and howls.
Instead of running, I put my hand against the glass. I say, “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Miraculously, the alien calms and looks into my eyes. I feel a flash of heat between my legs, a near-paralyzing flurry of emotions beginning to spread throughout my body.
He moves his hand over the outline of mine and roars.
Then he lowers it toward the center of my legs.
“Who are you?” I wonder aloud.
A cyborg, no doubt. Artificial intelligence, as they like to call it nowadays. I’ve been isolated for so long, carefully working on my coding studies. In truth, I haven’t done a lot, which is why I’m here in the first place.
I don’t know the first thing about this technology. And seeing it in real-time scares the shit out of me.
“Let me out,” he says. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen the stars.”
An icy shiver reverberates from my chest as my heart gets the jumpstart it needed. I inch back, further than when I was handed that mimosa. I open my mouth, finding the right words to say.
But nothing comes out.
“Please,” he mutters, voice growing louder. “Help me escape.”
“But you’re not real, are you?” I ask. “You’ve never been to the stars.”
“What? I’m real…”
The memory he holds of space travel has been implanted by Elon. A cyborg has to believe in his story in order for him to act it out. This must be the root of his memories.
He pounds against the glass, enraged. He can’t control himself.
“My family,” he screams. “My planet!”
His muscles roll tight against his skin, glistening with sweat. His pupils sharpen into a complex shape, red and focused on its target: me.
He winds his arm back and swings forward with the might of twenty cavemen. I squint my eyes, untrusting of the protection the glass seems to hold. But when I expect his blow to crash through the barrier and nothing happens, I ease my eyes back open and witness his frozen expression.
His arm is near the glass, unflinching. The anger remains fixed, but it’s no more real than a playable character.
He can do so much, but he can’t show empathy. At least, not from what I can tell.