Tag: Story

Shadows in Neon City: This City is an Oaysis

Posted on by Zack
This City Is A Better World

 

Shadows in Neon City: Part Four

This City Is an Oaysis

 

Written by: Zack

 

This City Is A Better World

Art by  Hydra ヒドラ 

 

The Glitterdome came into view like the rising moon. Alabaster panels covered the dome of this pantheon-esque building.  In many ways, it acted as the heart of the city. The roads and highways snaked around it and several hotels had walkways bridging between it and the dome. Murph heard about the Glitterdome from co-workers and relatives. Apparently you could live your whole life inside that place and still find new experiences. The Glitterdome was one of the few structures in Neon City that no one MegaCorp owned. It was a joint venture and each MegaCorp contributed something. A gift from them to the city itself. 

“Even after all this time, I am still taken aback by the Glitterdome. Some might say it’s passé and that it’s a tourist trap. In some ways that’s true, but I think the Glitterdome is the perfect introduction for newbies who wanna live here,” Daaron said.

The car pulled into the roundabout and the two stepped out. Murph looked up at the staggering size of the gateway while Daaron spoke to the driver briefly. The car continued on its way and Daaron joined Murph in climbing the stairway into the main lobby.  

 The interior was just as lavish and grand as the exterior. The floor was spotted marble polished to a mirrored finish and lined with brass. Murph found a directory in the lobby. There were five levels, each one color-coded. The bottom level’s halls and carpet had a white and blue color scheme. The second level had green and red. The third level was orange and white. The fourth level was colored pink and blue. Finally, the fifth level was dark blue and black. Elevators and escalators took people to the respective levels. Daaron walked through the ocean of meandering bodies with purpose. Murph followed behind him, taking only brief moments to look at the dazzling lights and art on the walls. 

“We’ll be heading to the very top. The Sky High Lounge,” Daaron said over the crowd. Murph followed him to an open elevator shaft and the two managed to squeeze in before the doors closed. Murph tried to make himself as small as possible so he wasn’t bumping or touching anyone else. Daaron pushed the button for the fifth level. Before he knew it, the doors slid open to the floor’s entryway. Murph walked out of the elevator and looked up to see the very top of the dome. Up above him was the backlit night sky above Neon City. He could only look at it for a moment before Daaron directed him towards a side hallway, away from the main crowd. Down that hall was a sectioned-off stairway with some serious-looking security monitoring the entrance. 

“VIP area?” Murph said. 

“Basically,” Daaron said. As the two approached, Murph got a better look at the men guarding the entrance. Daaron reached into his pocket to pull out his wallet, showing the men an ID card. Murph couldn’t really make out too many details, but he could see it was some kind of barcode. One of the guards gave the ID a look, his eyes glowing yellow. After scanning the ID he gave Daaron a nod and moved out of the way for him and Murph to continue. 

“What kind of work do you do for Incubo now?” Murph asked. Daaron took the lead up the stairs, their footsteps echoing throughout the stairwell. 

“I’m off the clock, Murph. I don’t really wanna talk about work right now,” he said. Murph wanted to press on. Not just for his own curiosity but because he wanted to know just what Incubo offered Daaron to make him drop a job with Asutenki. It was all anyone ever talked about in Orion. Murph had this idea that from where he was, nothing else could top a job from Asutenki, yet here was Daaron five years later, working for a completely different company like he hadn’t given it a second thought. 

Despite his earnest curiosity, Murph dropped the subject altogether. He could worry about the working world tomorrow. Right now was all about having fun. They reached the top of the stairs and Daaron opened the door for Murph. 

The room was thumping with driving bass and the lights made a dazzling display around a checkered dance floor. Above the dance floor was a black sky dotted with twinkling stars. It was a holographic projection onto the roof of the Glitterdome. With the added security Murph was expecting a high class lounge. Daaron walked past him and to the bar at the opposite end of the entrance. 

“What’ll you have?” Daaron said. “I’m buyin’.” 

“Just a beer to start,” Murph said. Daaron hailed the bartender and ordered one beer and then a whisky on the rocks for himself. Once the two got their drinks they watched the dance floor.

“To new heights,” Daaron said offering a toast. Murph watched as the simulated sky changed and a swirling galaxy opened over the dance floor. A wave of cheers erupted from the crowd. 

“To better beginnings,” Murph said and clanked his beer to Daaron’s glass. Murph tipped his head back and took a long drink. He looked at the bottle and brushed his thumb across the label. It was Glarus Beer, a cheap domestic. He had plenty back home in the Yupe with his coworkers and family. He took another swig. It tasted the same. When he finished the bottle Murph felt grounded. 

“It can’t change me. It won’t,” he said to himself and put the bottle back on the bar and ordered another. As long as Daaron was paying, right? The music sent shockwaves through Murph’s heart. He was never into clubs, though none of the ones in the Yupe held a candle to this place. Fan or not, Murph found himself swaying to the beat. Daaron nudged Murph and nodded towards the dance floor. It was too loud to talk now. Any semblance of speech was drowned out. Murph watched as Daaron left his drink at the bar and headed to the dance floor. 

He watched Daaron take long, confident strides, his hips moved to the beat. It was another side to him Murph never knew about. Perhaps Daaron didn’t know either and only discovered how well he could dance after coming here. After joining Incubo maybe? The crowd parted as Daaron made his way into the dancing mass. It looked effortless.

The dance floor was enticing. As the sky above them changed, so too did the floor they danced upon. Murph saw the mirrored tiles shimmer and clouds began to rise up form beneath the feet of eager partygoers. It was like the adverts Murph saw before, and they looked just as real. He reached out to touch them, to feel the water droplets on his skin. He could have sworn he was at the bar. He blinked and found himself on the event horizon between the lounge and the dancefloor. Murph looked up and saw a wall of bodies twisting, undulating, stepping to the beat. A field of faces expressing a mèlange of emotions, all of them happy. He wanted — no, he needed — to be part of that. 

“I have all weekend to worry. To fear and dread. Tonight I want to be happy,” Murph thought and stepped into the crowd. He tried to do what they did. He moved his hips and loosened his shoulders. The bumps and shoves Murph accidentally inflicted on others told him his dancing was very much a work in progress.  He was given some space to work out the kinks in his technique. All the while wisps of smoke from the “clouds” kicked up around Murph. Soon it looked like he had his own little entourage of ghosts partying alongside him. With each awkward step, Murph felt the knot unclench from his stomach. He looked out along the dancefloor to find himself in a small lonely oasis. Now that Murph was in the belly of the beast, he could see that the partygoers were not all just one big dancing mass, but a series of cliques and groups dancing together that just appeared united from afar. In a sea of people Murph danced alone, and despite this he felt truly happy. 

After a few songs the night began to get away from him. Daaron managed to find him and take him back to the bar to recharge, only to find his way back with the ghosts. It was a vicious cycle of drinking, dancing, flirting and drinking again. Murph’s night became an entanglement of colors and noise. 

Faces stuck out to him. Daaron’s was first. It was important he not forget how he got here. Strangers began to become more familiar as time drew on; A woman with a half shaven head, hair bleached white and parted to one side. Another woman with the biggest and bluest eyes he had ever seen came into focus and faded away. The last thing he remembered was a man. He never got a clear look at him from his trips to the bar and the dancefloor, but his green suit looked amazing. 

Art By  Allure

A responsible man wouldn’t get drunk the night before an important, life changing interview. A responsible man wouldn’t have left the hotel at all in fact. Murph Bell was what some might call a semi-responsible man; smart enough to prepare and create failsafes, but aloof enough to still need those same failsafes. 

Ever the semi-responsible man, Murph set up not one, but two early alarms before he met Daaron. At six, the first alarm blared in his dehydrated mind. A droning fog horn echoed in his mind, playing through his cyberbrain and into his auditory system. It brought Murph to the edge of consciousness, but just barely. The drone wailed on, needing to be manually shut off. For thirty minutes Murph tossed haphazardly in his bed before a second alarm harmonized with the first. All Murph could hear was pain before he finally stepped into the waking world, kicking and screaming. 

“Fuck!” Murph shouted in both frustration and dread. Frustration that he finally shut off those alarms in his head, and dread that he felt like utter shit the morning before his interview. He dragged his fingers across his face and flopped back down on the bed. His whole body sent pulses of life up towards his head which pounded against his skull. He cringed and rubbed his temples. He brought up his interface and checked the time. It was just past six thirty. His interview was in four hours. 

“You just had to drink and have fun…you asshole,” Murph said to himself. His voice cracked and his lips felt like ripped paper. 

“Yeah I had to,” he said. 

“No you didn’t. You wanted to,” 

“Yeah and? What’s the difference?” 

“How did I get here?” 

“Don’t change the subject,” He argued with himself. He squeezed his eyes shut and just saw red. 

“Fuck it, I am,” He opened them and winced as he turned the lights on. That sudden movement awakened something deep inside him. 

“You’re gonna throw up,” 

“I’m not gonna-”

Murph threw up over the side of his bed. He looked at the sick that trickled down the bedsheet and onto the carpet. His first thought was something along the lines of “I feel so bad for the person who has to clean that up”. The next thought right after that was “You could clean it up?” 

“One mess at a time Murph. First I gotta get my life in order,” he said to himself. The next time he moved he didn’t feel like throwing up, which was an improvement. Between waking up dead and vomiting in his hotel room, Murph finally asked himself the most important question; how the hell did he end up back here?

There was an alert on his interface. He brought it up to see he had a new message. It was a video from Daaron. Murph’s face felt hot as he opened it up. 

“Please don’t let this be a montage of embarrassing drunk moments. That’s the last thing I need,” he said. The video oddly enough was just of Daaron sitting in the company car. He was alone and was just about to light a cigar. He exhaled a large cloud of smoke and looked at the camera. 

“Murph you really know how to party. You surprised a lot of people at the Sky High Lounge,”   

“That’s not a comforting sentence, Daaron,” Murph said back to the pre recorded video. Daaron let out a hearty laugh. 

“Had this been just another fling we could have fucked this town up hard, but I know you got more important things to do. Don’t worry though, I’ll give Lauren your regards,” Daaron said with a wink. 

“Who the fuck is Lauren, Daaron?” Murph said, expecting Daaron to respond to his questions. 

“We had fun, and I wouldn’t want your first night in Neon City to be anything else. However, I want you to stay here bud, I don’t want you sulking on the return trip to the Yupe on account of one hard party. So I left you a little something in your mini fridge. A gift on behalf of Incubo to you,” he said. Murph looked down at the mini fridge and opened it. Aside from the free bottled water he found a light blue aluminum can. 

“It’s a can of Oaysis. It’s a chem drink for when you fucked around too much and need to clock in the next day.” Darron explained. Murph rolled the can in his hand. It had a palm tree on the front and the leaves made the “O” in Oaysis. Apparently this was “Lemon Zep” flavored.

“Drink it slowly and in about an hour you should begin to feel better. Trust me, I’ve been slamming this stuff down for years and I always bounce back,” Darron said. Murph shook his head a bit and looked at Daaron in the video. 

“What the fuck have you been doing Daaron?” he said with concern. He watched Daaron take another puff of his cigar. When did he make this? The tint on the windows was too dark to tell so he assumed it was sometime last night. Daaron balanced the cigar between his fingers and looked down at it. He was silent for a while before he looked up at Murph, or rather the camera, with a more serious look. 

“You wanted to know what I do for Incubo? Well to put it simply Murph?” Daaron leaned back and gestured at the car “This is basically what I do. Professional partygoer…” He shook his head “Yeah, let’s keep it at that,” Murph studied the way Daaron moved, his look. He could tell there was more Daaron wanted to say. 

“Murph, this city is everything a guy like me could ever want. It’s something a guy like you deserves after all the bullshit he’s gone through. Don’t tell me you’re not relieved to be here,” he said. He took another puff and the cloud nearly obstructed his whole face. Murph could only see the outline of Daaron’s head as he leaned back. 

“Whatever they want from you, as long as your reward is getting to stay here, give it to them. What’s one little thing compared to the rest of your life,” he said. Murph saw the red glow of Daaron’s interface before the video ended. Murph looked down at the can and popped the top. The can hissed and a small spray of citrus wafted up to his nose. 

“I hate sour drinks,” Murph said. He closed his eyes and drank it slowly until it was empty. 

 

 

 

 

Written by: Zack 

Copy Editing By: Cerulea_d.lux 

 

Tune in next month, as Murph’s story continues in the next chapter: This City Is A Palace In The Sky. And if you missed the previous chapter, you can catch it  here as well as all of the future chapters in the series!

 

Recent Posts

BACK TO FICTION 

Shadows in Neon City: This City is Full of Late Night Delights

Posted on by Zack
This City Is A Better World

 

Shadows in Neon City: Part Three

This City Is Full of Late Night Delights

 

Written by: Zack

 

This City Is A Better World

Art by Hydra ヒドラ

The hotel room was welcoming to Murph’s tired bones. Red carpet lined the floor with gold swirls looping symmetrically. Murph kicked off his shoes. The fibers brushed under his feet. Soft pins and needles danced up and down his legs before climbing up his spine. 

In front of him was a window that overlooked the street below. He watched people pass under him. He had seen enough of the outside for today. Instead, his eyes were drawn to the twin beds that had just been made and pressed for his arrival. The cream and green colored sheets and comforter beckoned to him like a siren. Just looking at the bed made his knees weak. 

“If I lie down I ain’t getting back up,” he said to himself. Was that really a bad thing though? The question rolled around in his head before he remembered he needed to give Daaron a call. 

“I can do two things at once,” he said. Murph’s body crashed onto the bed and disturbed the pristine surface. With a disturbingly loud, tired sigh Murph felt his entire body ache. His knees and back cracked along his body like a series of explosive charges. Now that his whole body was at rest, all he needed to use was his brain. He brought up his interface again and dialed up Daaron. 

Daaron Stewart was an ex-Orion employee who was lucky enough to win the lottery to travel up to Neon City about five years ago. He and Murph started at the same time, in fact. Despite Daaron’s elevation to newer, better pastures, they kept in touch every now and again. It would be a long shot for him to pick up, much less make plans out of the blue. 

“You’ve taken tougher shots today,” Murph said to himself as he confirmed Daaron’s number and called him.

“Hello?” Daaron answered. A smile crept on Murph’s face. He closed his eyes. 

“Guess who just checked into his hotel?” Murph said. 

“Murph? Now, I know my geotags need to be updated because there is no way your number-crunching ass can afford the Scourge Suites,” Daaron said. 

“Well, it’s on Orion’s dime. I made it Daaron, just like I said I would,” he said. Murph could hear Daaron laugh on the other end. 

“Your golden ticket. Congratulations, man. Seriously, this is amazing,” Daaron said. Hearing that made butterflies flutter in Murph’s stomach. He let out a tired sigh. 

“Thanks. I needed that. I need that about as much as I need this bed I’m laying on,” Murph said. He patted the mattress. He tried to wiggle his toes but found they were not responding at the moment. 

“Oh yeah, the trip is brutal. I tried to stay awake when I got my ticket,” Daaron said. “I nearly fell asleep on the bus! When I finally got to my hotel, Orion could only afford to put me up in a capsule motel before the interview. Times have surely changed. Consider yourself lucky you didn’t have to struggle as I did,” 

“Struggle? I still have to survive the weekend and get the job offer. I can barely move as it is,” Murph said.  

“Well rest up then. When I get off work tonight, you and I are going to hit up some of Neon City’s best. It’s Friday, you’re in town and just about to embark on one of the hardest interviews anyone in this city has to go through,” Daaron said. 

“It’s really that bad eh?” Murph said. The knot in his stomach was beginning to form again. Before he left, Murph did as much research as he could on what kind of questions or tests he would have to take for this interview. No one gave him a straight answer. He pushed it out of his mind when Daaron began to talk about nightlife in Neon City. 

“I’ll be down by the Suites around seven. I’ll ping you when I’m close. Got it?” Daaron said.

“That should give me enough time to recharge. I only brought spare casual clothes so I hope we aren’t going anywhere too fancy,” Murph said. He heard Daaron laugh on the other end of the call. 

“I said we’re going somewhere fun Murph, not fancy. Just don’t show up looking like shit. Though with Yupe fashion…eh, it can’t be helped,” He said. Murph felt his toe wriggle free from the hole in his socks.

“I’m kidding! Hey, started from the bottom right?” Daaron said. Murph nodded “I’m on my way up. Alright, I’ll see you then,” Murph said and ended the call. He stared up at the ceiling and realized that he had been smiling for a while. Murph scratched the stubble on his chin and closed his eyes. It felt nice to hear Daaron laugh. The life in his voice. Murph thought back to how he remembered Daaron; dour, sarcastic. The man had a dry wit to him that was almost charming, but you could tell it was masking some pain. That wasn’t the Daaron he knew before. Murph nodded off to sleep. The last thing he thought of before sleep took him was all the things he still had to do before he could fully relax. 

 

Murph woke up hours later. The sun had done a one-eighty and just set when he opened his eyes. He brought up his interface and checked the time. It was just after six. Murph arose from his bed to a symphony of stiff joints and cracking bones. The yawn he let out was low at first and reached a crescendo when he stretched his arms above his head. 

 He walked over to the window. The dim oranges and reds of the setting sun were being pushed back by a veil of deep purples and near blacks. The city was shedding its business casual day to embrace its electric nightlife. The holographic adverts he had seen walking here now glowed vibrantly. The city and its citizens were undergoing a metamorphosis. People passed down below Murph sporting reflective coats and blazing displays. The way they walked was less uniform. While he may have described his morning walk as an orderly stampede, the crowd Murph witnessed now was nothing short of bulls proudly on parade. Rowdy, loud and full of passion, the people of Neon City were looking to get right fucked up. And Murph was going to join them. He got an alert on his interface. It was a ping from Daaron. 

“I’m down in the lobby. Get it in gear, my man. We’re hitting the streets.” He wrote. Murph blinked and opened up his messenger to reply. 

“Duck yeah!” He wrote. He shook his head and replied again. 

“Fuck,” 

“Yeah,”

“I’m game,” 

Daaron merely replied “That’ll do Murph,” This cyber brain still had a few odd bugs he needed to work out. Luckily, he wouldn’t need to use his brain tonight. He hoped. 

Murph stepped into the hotel lobby wearing his backup set of street clothes which consisted of just a pair of jeans, a white undershirt, and a maroon short sleeve button-down that he left open. Mild even by Yupe standards. The lobby was alive with people mostly going out. It seemed everyone came out looking their best. Murph saw a clash of leathers, silks, designer chic, and downright dangerous streetwear. 

“Ayo!” Daaron said. Murph turned and looked around towards the sound of his voice. It took a minute to get his bearings but Murph looked ahead to see Daaron walking towards him. Murph had to do a double-take. It had been years since Murph had actually seen Daaron. He had to take in five years of change in just one moment. 

The light caught a gleam off of Daaron’s shaved and oiled head. A silvered skull cap, covering the back of his head and neck, popped against his brown skin. His eyes glowed a deep red. His long face that often held a dour frown now held a grin full of brilliant white teeth that matched the brightness of his chrome. Murph saw silver veins of chrome run down Daaron’s bare arms. The sleeves of his black and red pinstripe shirt were rolled up. The top few buttons were left unbuttoned where Murph could see a silver chain hang from his neck. Daaron’s look was complete with a sleek pair of black jeans and some silver-colored shoes.

 

Art By Allure

“You said we were going somewhere fun, not fancy. You trying to make me look like an asshole?” Murph said. He hugged Daaron and clasped his hand on his old friend’s back. 

“I don’t need to try Murph,” Daaron said with a laugh. “Besides, this is just for fun. Lord help you if you think this is fancy,” He shook his head. 

“Alright. You’ll have plenty of time to bag on me tonight when I’m sloshed. Where are we headed?” Murph asked.  Daaron led Murph towards the door with a hand on his shoulder. 

“For tonight, we’re going to a Neon City institution. The premiere hotspot where a good time can be had by all. Any day and any age; The Glitterdome,” He said. Murph had heard about this place. In the heart of Neon City was a giant structure. It was large enough to rival a MegaCorp’s headquarters. The Glitterdome is said to be owned in part by every MegaCorp with each one adding a level designed for a different kind of entertainment. 

“Alright, lead the way,” Murph said.  

 

There was something different in the air when the two walked out of the hotel. The electricity from the hologram adverts and buzzing lights added something to the air. It was enchanting to say the least. Murph was led down the street where cars sped by. He looked over to Lake Scourge. It was now dotted with big party boats. Beyond that though, far past the last boat Murph could see, was nothing. Darkness met his gaze. The lights from the Yupe didn’t even hold a candle to the brilliance of Neon City. Murph turned away from the void and looked back at Daaron. 

“So are we hoofin it the whole way?” He said. Daaron laughed and shook his head. 

“No Murph. You’re with me, we’re traveling in style,” He said. He then walked towards the curb and looked out to the sea of cars. Murph watched him as his eyes glowed red — he was using his interface. A few minutes passed and a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The windows were tinted. Murph saw the doors had an Incubo decal painted on the side; a red devil head winked and smiled a sharp-toothed grin.  

“It’s a company car. Come on,” Daaron said. The doors opened. Daaron let Murph climb in first. The interior was backlit red and the black leather seats had that new car smell. He got in and scooted over to the window seat while Daaron climbed in next to him. The door shut and the car took off. 

“So,” Murph said. He felt the plush leather armrest “How long have you been working for Incubo? I thought you stuck with Asutenki,” Murph said. Daaron looked at Murph and gave him a knowing smirk. 

“I passed my interview with them, yes. However, that kind of thing attracts other offers. It’s a common practice for aspiring MegaCorp workers to be snatched up by rival Corps. I just heard what Incubo had to offer. The rest is history,” he said. Murph looked out the window. His eyes darted from one brightly colored advert to the next. It was a lot more to take in compared to the short morning walk when he arrived. He had so many questions for Daaron, and they all wanted to come out at once. He wanted to know what life was like living here. How had MegaCorp life changed him? Did he miss the Yupe? 

“What did Incubo offer?” Murph said. Daaron drummed his fingers on his armrest. He looked ahead, not at Murph as he answered. 

“They gave me a different kind of freedom. Asutenki’s got a lot going for it, but” Daaron said. Murph was waiting for him to continue. Daaron left his mouth open and his eyes seemed to want to complete that sentence. 

“Let’s just leave it at that Murph. Better hours, more freedom, and if I am honest, a better look,” Daaron said with a smile. Murph narrowed his eyes and tried to understand. 

“You mean like a better culture and shit?” he said. Daaron kind of juggled his hands. 

“In a way. Sorry to be so hush hush Murph, but MegaCorps want employees to be tight-lipped to outsiders,” he said. “Temporarily obviously. You’ll be one of us in no time.” 

“One of us meaning a MegaCorp worker?” Murph said. 

“Something you’ll quickly learn here Murph is that the real divide in Neon City is between Corpo and non-Corpo. Sure the logos and aesthetics change, but after a while the name matters less and less,” Daaron said. 

“So like, does that mean we’ll be seeing more of each other after this? When I get in?” Murph asked. Daaron looked to Murph and gave him a small nod. 

“Let’s hope. Come on, though, I’m off the clock and we’re about to get fucked up real good,” Daaron said. He pointed ahead. Murph followed Daaron’s finger and his jaw dropped. Nothing Murph had seen in Neon City compared to what they were driving toward now. 

 

 

 

Written by: Zack 

 

Copy Editing By: Cerulea_d.lux & Darkfez 

 

Tune in next month, as Murph’s story continues in the next chapter: This City Is an Oaysis. And if you missed the previous chapter, you can catch it here, as well as all of the future chapters in the series!

 

Recent Posts

 

BACK TO FICTION

Shadows in Neon City: This City is From Me, To You

Posted on by Zack
Shadows in Neon City Chapter 2

 

Shadows in Neon City: Part Two

This City Is From Me, To You

 

Written by: Zack

 

Shadows in Neon City Chapter 2

Art by Hydra ヒドラ 

He didn’t know what to expect. Murph Bell had gotten close before, but never this close. Perhaps the closest was when he visited the satellite cities. Everything was bigger than he imagined. The idea of a large building was so easy to envision. There were large buildings in the Yupe. Some got to be about six or seven stories tall. When he first heard the word skyscraper, it sounded so outlandish. The bus passed by a bright and decorated sign that read “Welcome to Neon City” in light blue and pink lights. Murph looked ahead out of his window to see the cityscape before him. The way the rising sun glinted off the many mirrored panes of the tall buildings only added to their splendor. 

It was like something off of a postcard, from where they were the city just seemed so unreal. The closer the bus got, the more detailed the cityscape became, but Murph didn’t need any further exaggerations to be overwhelmed by the city’s size and grandeur. Yet, when Murph looked to his left he saw the enormous lake that Neon City sat on. Back then, it was called Lake Michigan, but now it was known as Lake Scourge. Murph read somewhere that the MegaCorp Incubo had acquired the lake and renamed it about ten years ago. The article stated that they named it so after their latest product, Scourge Cola. To celebrate, Incubo had released a non-toxic dye to the lake that turned it blood red. When it finally made its way up to the Yupe, the people there had one hell of a scare. Murph looked out at the now calm blue waters in quiet appreciation.

“It can be a little overwhelming can’t it?” Simon said. Murph was pulled out of his sightseeing stupor and looked back at Simon. He smoothed out the wrinkles in his suit and combed his hair back. “I get it, really I do. I’ve lived in Neon City for well over two decades and I never get tired of the skyline. Of course, there isn’t much to see now because of this damn fog, but you get the idea,” 

“It’s more than I could have prepared for,” Murph said. His gaze returned to Lake Scourge. It still amazed him. This was the same lake he saw back home. But he couldn’t see his home when he looked towards the horizon, and he realized just how far from home he was. 

“Well look at that, an honest answer. Most people try to act like Neon City is so passe when they first come, yet they spend their first three days with a perpendicular neck,” Simon said with a chuckle.

h felt the city’s presence all around him. The sidewalks were filled with a clash of people dressed in everything from Corpo casual suits and slicked-back hair cuts to loose-fitting denim and pompadours. Murph brought up his interface to check his reservation with the hotel Orion had booked him. Simon walked into his field of view, hands in his pockets. He turned back to Murph and cocked his head. 

“Well Murph, I wish you luck. If you’re in a pinch or if you want another soul to celebrate with you. Hit me up,” He said. Before Murph could take another step, Simon blended into the crowd. On his interface, there was a contact notification. He opened it and it was Simon’s com-link number. Attached was a memo note. 

“Sorry to bud in. I made myself at home. Nothing fancy just stuck a post-it with my deets. -Simon” Murph shook his head and added the memo to his contacts. The addition of another contact took a back seat when Murph looked up to see first hand what exactly Neon City was. 

The morning sun cut through the rest of the fog and Murph could see the undertaking before him. Back in the Yupe, everyone worked and moved at their own pace. That rang true in Neon City but everything was kicked up to 11. Murph made sure to firmly grasp his duffel bag before he plunged into the crowd and walked with the flow of foot traffic. The sound of hundreds of people walking around him in close proximity jarred Murph’s senses. 

“One foot in front of the other. Can’t let your lack of sleep get you trampled now,” Murph thought. He picked up the pace but soon overcompensated and bumped into a woman in front of him. 

“Excuse you,” the sharply dressed woman said. She gave Murph a quick scowl and walked ahead before he could offer an apology. He adjusted his pace in order to keep up with the masses. The uneven rhythms of shoes hitting the pavement made it feel like he was in the middle of a stampede. He kept his bag at his side, his eyes darted to and fro to make sure he didn’t bump into anyone else on the street. 

After a half dozen blocks Murph’s calves were starting to scream. He pushed the aching down and fixed his gaze up at the skyscrapers. Insecure thoughts of looking like a tourist popped in his head. Until he was hired, he was a tourist. After that pill was swallowed, the rest of his anxieties about being in this crowd vanished. Murph’s eyes began to wander from the tops of people’s heads to the soaring buildings overhead. He took in the sights more authentically.  

Holographic advertisements played overhead. Some had well-dressed dancers leap from rooftop to rooftop, people larger than life floating as if made of vapor. Delightful lights began to write out various slogans that faded after a second in midair. They were a whimsical assault on the senses, one part explosive one part captivating wonderment. Murph took note of each as they passed overhead, but one stuck out to him that was coming up ahead. 

A waterfall cascaded down from one building and into a virtual grotto. Murph could have sworn he felt droplets of water mist his face, but he had to remind himself it was all just in the hologram. From the mist cascaded the words “Rain Temple” arranging themselves over the speed walking masses before the letters faded away into nothing. Murph nearly mistook the roar of the crowd for the waterfall. Adverts like that were only on billboards back in the Yupe. 

Orion had booked him a weekend stay at the Scourge Suites, a hotel that looked over the lake. It was a medium-sized hotel chain run by Incubo, a more affordable option than the more luxurious Scourge Palace that was just a dozen or so blocks down the shore. Medium hotel or not, it was far outside Murph’s price range had he paid himself. The lobby was lined with a purple and black marbled floor. Gentle piano music greeted Murph as he walked in. The gentle keystrokes of the piano created a kind of weightlessness Murph hadn’t realized until he stepped into the lobby. It was only when he slowed his steps did Murph become aware of the throbbing in his legs. He checked his map and the walk from the depot to the hotel was just over three miles. 

“I should have gotten a cab,” he said to himself. He would have had he not been swept up in the human rapids that were morning foot traffic. He sat down on a violet and black leather couch to catch his breath. Murph processed his arrival in full. He was here. The first but most crucial step in his plan was complete.

He passed the time by people watching. Of course, during his walk, he was looking up at the buildings and advertisements. Here, Murph could really get a feel for the people of Neon City. Just like his expectations for the city itself, the people within were a surprising mix of paths. Though, he wasn’t sure what people from this city might look like. Simon gave him an idea, but after what he saw the spectrum was a lot broader than he thought. From clothes to accessories, each patron in the hotel lobby showed an aspect of culture Murph had never seen before. He couldn’t help but notice the number of cybernetic implants. Some were subtle, like a chrome-plated finger or two while some showed entire limbs or parts of their bodies that glinted with a brilliant silver or metallic color. What was to Murph a symbol of high status, was seen as commonplace. It only added to his overall culture shock. 

“I wonder if I’ll ever get implants like that,” Murph thought to himself. He could barely afford the cyber brain implant, but if things went his way with this interview, he could let his mind wander. This idea of permanently modifying his body filled Murph’s tired head as he lifted himself off the couch. 

Murph spotted a sharp chinned girl manning the front desk. Her high cheek showed a tint of purple blush over her dark brown skin. Just above her left eyebrow was a purple metallic piece of chrome, an implant no doubt, with a wire that disappeared up into her neat curls. She looked straight ahead with a stance that said she was prepared for anything that might walk up to her desk. It was intimidating. Perhaps it was his lingering exhaustion that made Murph nervous about jumping into yet another social interaction. 

 

This City Is From Me To You 2
Art By Allure  

“Good morning sir,” She said.

“Hello, good morning. I’m uh…Here to check-in. Murph Bell. It should be under Orion Electronics,” He said. She gave him a small nod and looked directly at him. Murph averted his gaze again. Her eyes glowed with the familiar interface light. Her lenses were a smokey swirl of purple and black. 

“Yes, one standard room for the weekend. Our cleaning staff is just finishing up Mr. Bell,” She held up a silver key card and handed it to him. 

“You may go up to your room. I have been told that by the time you get to your room, the cleaning staff should be done. Room 247. We hope you enjoy your stay,” She said. He nodded and took the keycard from her “Yeah, um..have a good day too, ma’am,” 

“Thank you sir,” She replied. Murph took his bag and walked towards the elevator up to his room. As he pushed the call button an alert brought up his interface. He stifled a gasp when he saw that he had 10 missed calls. He dismissed his interface and let out a deep sigh. 

“Let me rest first,” He said to himself. He stepped into the elevator and the smooth life ascended him up to his room. 

The concierge was right, by the time Murph had gotten to his floor he saw that the cleaning staff were just about to finish up. Murph stood there awkwardly as the two older women apologized incessantly about needing to finish up. 

“Really, it’s no trouble just take your time,” Murph said in an attempt to calm the cleaning staff. Around the corner from his room was a viewing lounge where bay windows overlooked the lake. 

“I’ll just enjoy the view for a bit,” He told them. Before he could round the corner his interface popped up again. It was a phone call, one he’s been putting off since he got on the bus. He turned the corner and stepped towards a couch next to a window that overlooked the lake and answered it. 

“Hello Trish,” Murph began. 

“Well it’s about time you picked up! Jeez, I was beginning to think you skipped town altogether and were heading for the border,” Trisha answered. Trish Volka was a hard-working coworker of Murph’s back at Orion Electronics. Five years his senior and the first to crack open a beer, she made an excellent drinking partner after work. 

“I only had enough to get me here Trish, any more and I’d be in a foreign land without a penny or peso,” Murph said. 

“True. So how’s the view? You made it to the hotel and everything?” She said. Murph looked out of the bay window where the morning sun was out in full. From here Murph could see more of the lakeshore and the buildings off in the distance. Just at the far end of the shore, one building stood taller than the rest; Atsutekni headquarters. 

“Yeah, though I mean…you could have seen it for yourself,” He said. There was a long silence before Trish answered. 

“We’ve been over this Bell. It’s a gift. From me to you,” It was Murph’s turn to be silent. The more he thought about the exchange back home, the greater his sense of guilt became. 

“It was yours, Trish,” He said finally. 

“It was mine to give away too. I’ve been to Neon City Murph. It’s fine when you’re passing by or staying for a vacation, but to live there? It changes you. It’s not good for people like me. It’s not my city,” She said. 

“It’s not my kind of place either Trish, it’s no one’s. It’s about what you can take, and make your own,” Murph said. 

“We’ve been over this before Bell. You wanted it more than me, you always have,” She said. 

“I mean, you earned it though. You could have at least come with me for the weekend. We could have gone on a bender or something,” Murph said. Trish let out a bark of a laugh. 

“I’d drink you broke, Bell,” she said. “Besides, you gotta keep your head in the game. This isn’t going to be a walk-in-the-park interview. That’s why it takes up two full days,” Trish said. Murph rested back on the couch. 

“I know,” He said. “Still, I could use a friend here,” 

“Have you called Daaron yet? I’m sure he would drink with ya,” She said. “He’s only been in NC for a little over a year. I can’t imagine he’s changed that much,” She said. 

“I won’t let this place change me, Trish. It can’t,” He said. There was another long pause. 

“It will Murph. Maybe not now, probably not after a few months, but eventually, it will. You have to be ready to change on a dime and adapt to new things there. So stop being so stubborn,” She said. One of the cleaning people poked her head around the corner. 

“Your room is ready Mr. Bell,” She said. Murph waved to her and nodded. 

“I should get going. I could sleep for about 10 hours. I’ll call Daaron afterwards,” Murph said. 

“Alright Bell. Call me when this is all over. Good or bad,” She said. Murph hung up the phone.  

 

 

 

 

Written by: Zack

 

Copy Editing By: Cerulea_d.lux

 

 Tune in next month, as Murph’s story continues in the next chapter: This City Is Full Of Late Night Delights. And if you missed the previous chapter, you can catch it here , as well as all of the future chapters in the series!

 

Recent Posts

 

BACK TO FICTION  

Shadows in Neon City: This City Is A Better World

Posted on by Zack
This City Is A Better World

 

Shadows in Neon City: Part One

 

This City Is A Better World

 

Written by: Zack

 

This City Is A Better World

Art by Hydra ヒドラ 

 

The sudden jolt that made Murph Bell’s eyes snap open told him two things. First, that it was still early morning and the sun hadn’t come up yet. Second, they were outside the Yupe, entering the poorly maintained roads of the satellites, a stone’s throw away from his final destination: Neon City. Murph stretched and knuckled his back. He hadn’t really been asleep, but in that fugue state between waking and sleeping that made one extra tired. His duffel bag rested on his lap, the strap looped around his arm to make sure nothing moved during his long trip. The duffel had all he could carry from his old life: two sets of clothes, a laptop, and a small cache of toiletries and tools.  

Murph rubbed the sleep from his eyes and focused on his hands. With a thought, neon blue lights danced before his eyes and brought up his interface. He scratched the smoothed skin behind his right ear, a finger brushed past a scar and around a polished metal neural socket. The stitcher who installed Murph’s cyber brain told him to avoid picking or scratching around the neural port area for at least two weeks. He had given in after just eight days. Adapting to an interface like this was still a work in progress for Murph, but if he wanted to make it in Neon City, he would have to work twice as hard to make up for lost time. The lights settled down and began to form numbers and icons in the corners of Murph’s vision. A clock told him that it was 4:41 am and a little thermometer told him it was 52 degrees outside. He looked at the little phone icon with an “X” next to it to signify the “do not disturb” status.

“Not until I am in,” he muttered to himself and dismissed his interface. Murph Bell combed his hand through his black hair and leaned back against the cool window. The bus jolted and sputtered along the cracks and holes in the road. It would be a rough ride from here on out. Despite that, Murph tried to get some more sleep. Another sharp jolt had Murph bang his head against the window and he sat up rubbing the spot. 

“Mother fucker!” he said with a snort, still half asleep. The man sitting next to him let out a small chuckle. 

“The bus gave you a good one, eh,” he asked. Murph had been traveling on this bus from the Yupe since late yesterday night, and this man had taken the seat next to him when he got on with Murph. He perked up and looked around the bus to see there were a lot of available seats. Most people got off at the satellites outside Neon City. Aside from Murph and this stranger, there were about half a dozen other people. 

Murph hadn’t taken a good look at the man sitting next to him until now. The man’s teal suit warranted a second glance but, in Murph’s defense, he had had a million and one things to think about when they boarded. This man appeared to be well off, a bit too well off to be taking the bus from the dusty outskirts of Neon City. The man’s spectacles rested delicately on the bridge of his nose. His eyes matched his suit and glowed bright against the darkened backdrop of the early morning. Murph took that for the universal sign that it was; this man was on an interface too. 

“I know the satellite roads are shit, but I never imagined they would be this bad,” Murph began. “It’s my fault for wanting to sleep, really.” The man nodded and propped a leg on his knee. His eyes dulled and he adjusted his glasses. 

“Business or pleasure,” he asked. He gave Murph a good once over. If someone had looked back at the two, it would be like night and day. This stranger looked clean and pressed, fresh off an Incubo fashion advert. Murph, on the other hand, looked like a drifter who’d just bought his way into town with his last fistful of dollars. There was a trail of holes in Murph’s jeans, and his red jacket was more earthen patches than cloth. 

“A little of column A, little of B. Mostly A,” Murph said. The man nodded as Murph gestured to himself. “I may not look like it, but I have what some might call a golden opportunity.” 

“In Neon City, gold is a garnish on expensive desserts. There’s plenty to go around and it offers little in terms of fulfillment,” the man said. He held up his hands soon after. “I’m only saying this as a compliment. If you found something outside the Nu-Wave, it’s gotta be something good.” Murph was silent for a moment. Just what exactly was this character? 

“I think we got off on the wrong foot honestly, or in your case, the wrong side of the bus,” the man said. Just then, another jolt rattled them in their seats. 

“I guess it happens a lot,” Murph said “I’m Murph. Murph Bell.”

“Simon,” he said. Murph waited for a last name. “Just Simon I’m afraid. It’s a mononym, you see?” Simon said. Murph nodded skeptically. 

“So like, does that mean you’re somebody in Neon City? People don’t need to know you as anything else?” Murph said. Simon gave a half-smile and juggled his hands in the air. 

“In a sense yes, but honestly no. Nu-Wave is a game, Murph, and the ones who win play by their own rules, if you catch my drift,” he said. 

“You mean breaking the law? So you’re what? Some kind of gangster or merc?” Murph said. He smiled but he didn’t really want to know the answer. He had heard stories — everyone heard stories — of famous mercs, of hardened soldiers for hire that would do anything for anyone for the right price. Murph leaned in a little closer and kept his voice low. 

“Are you a Street Samurai? A Neon Cowboy even?” 

Simon let out a louder laugh now. Murph could see a chipped incisor tooth, a flaw in the man’s otherwise pearly white grin. 

“No no no, Murph, nothing like that. Only a very special kind of person lives long or well in that line of work,” he said. Simon smoothed out the wrinkles in his sleeves. “I solve people’s problems. Human resources if you will.” 

The way he phrased that set off more alarm bells in Murph’s head. He looked at Simon and brought up his interface. He looked at the icons on his display and connected to the net. His software wasn’t anything fancy — he could barely afford the implant at all — but Murph still pulled up the NCPD’s criminal database and scanned Simon’s face. No results came up. It put Murph at ease, but not by a lot. He had to give it to Simon; he was a smooth talker. He was sure Simon would have described himself as a “people pleaser,” but now Murph was just making assumptions. 

“That’s an interesting glow you have there Murph. I would have taken you for more of a cyan or even emerald green,” Simon said. His stare was fixated right on Murph’s eyes. He put away his interface. 

“What do you mean?” Murph said. 

“Your interface lenses. You know, the glow in your eyes you get when you’re surfing the net and shit,” Simon said. His eyes glowed that teal green again. He narrowed his eyes while he looked at Murph. 

“Heterochromatic lenses eh? One sky blue the other a soft pink. Did you want something more flashy or did the stitcher only have mismatched lenses? I only ask because you don’t seem like the flashy type and stitchers outside Neon City often work with what they come by,” Simon said. He scanned Murph’s demeanor again. Murph slumped in his seat and let out a long sigh. 

“They only had incomplete sets. I told him I didn’t care what the colors were, only that they worked.” Simon nodded and gave him an understanding look. 

“Well, they are a bold choice. I think we got off-topic, though. What was this golden opportunity you found yourself out in the Yupe? Chances to come to Neon City get fewer and fewer the farther up the Great Lakes you go,” Simon said. He seemed engaged enough. The two were beyond small talk now. He had to agree with Simon about the sparsity of opportunity in the far north. The Yupe, a span of land in what was once Michigan and Wisconsin, was just outside of Neon City’s direct influence. 

“I work in data entry mostly. I know it’s a job mostly dominated by AI, but I spot check and adjust when needed. My company, Orion Electronics, an Atsutenki subsidiary, recently had a lottery for some of us Yupe workers to join the corporate office.” 

“And you got the golden ticket,” Simon said. 

“Yep,” he said finally. “I earned it. After years and years of slaving away in a tiny cubicle, I got my golden ticket.” Simon flashed another smile and leaned back in the bus seat. He kicked his foot up. 

“Not bad, Murph. All things considered, that is about as golden as they come. To work for Atsutenki, a big MegaCorp titan that rules over Neon City with the rest of them. In another lifetime, I might have been jealous of you,” he said. Murph looked at the sun rising over the horizon. The sky was a deep orange that pushed the deep purple and black away. 

“It’s gonna be hard to get sleep now. We’re about two hours outside the city limits. You got arrangements when we stop?” Simon asked. Murph brought up his interface again. He opened a document he sent himself that contained his company-paid hotel room details. 

“Yeah, staying at a mid-level hotel for the weekend before my interview. By then, I hope I can steel my nerves enough to make it through. People at the office call it The Crucible,” Murph said. His stomach lurched a bit when he thought of the interview. It wasn’t enough that Murph had won a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; it was never that easy. Being picked was just the first step. After that, the lucky worker was sent to Neon City for a weekend to prepare for a lengthy all-day interview. Only then would you be welcomed as an entry-level Atsutenki representative. 

Everyone from the top brass to the lowly intern put their names in the lottery for a chance to be chosen. Even if the prize was an entry-level job at Astutenki, many saw it as the first real step to climbing the MegaCorp ladder. Until then, you’re just paying your dues until they begin to pay you. 

“Generous indeed! Even for a small fry that’s a lot of scratch,” Simon said. His eyes glowed teal green again and he looked out the opposite window. Even though he was looking the opposite direction, he still spoke to Murph with the same tone of engagement. 

“Best of luck to you, Murph! Lord knows, everyone needs that in Neon City,” he said. 

“Even someone like you?” Murph said. Simon let out a small chuckle and turned back to Murph, his glow gone for now. 

“Oh, especially someone like me, Murph Bell.”

 

 

 

 

Written by: Zack  

Copy Editing By: Cerulea_d.lux & Darkfez

 

Tune in next month, as Murph’s story continues in the next chapter: This City Is From Me, To You

 

Recent Posts

 

BACK TO FICTION