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A few quick things before we begin our journey. This blog serves 2 puposes.
1. To review and chat about movies/tv shows/video games/and anything else I rant about.

2. To promote our upcoming comic Z.K.S.

The Apartment chapter 4

The Apartment:



Jim was a complete ass. He hated the restrictions set on to him by society. He had spent his entire life scrapping the bottom of the barrel. A feat that was, in this day an age, hard to do. Being a bottom-rung lifeform actually took some work. Even a 4-year-old child had the opportunity to earn a decent income. Job choices were plentiful in Upper Redlands. All one needed was a standard input chip and they could access the upperweb and download any choice of job skills and advance. Yes, being a bottom feeder took supreme effort and Jim was a man that took pride in that.



He was a black market extraordinaire. The black market was an extremely dangerous business. It dealt with having the true knowledge of the ground world and interacting with it's fabled residents. Hundreds of years ago stories and myths of the groundworld were passed around. They became law and eventually hazardous. Stating that the ground world was toxic and those that journeyed to it were forever banned from SkyLife. It had been taboo for long that people took it as gospel. No one gave a second thought to what lay beneath the clouds. Jim on the other hand saw profit from this fear.



City counsel members were his best customers. Presidential hopefuls begged for his services and silence. With drug induced simsticks and open access websites now made legal, people had to find another way to live on the edge. So they came to Jim to play with the devil. They came to Jim to purchase some of the most outlawed items in human history. Pets, plants any form of organic life. Jim loved it and they loved him. In every complex there resided at least one Rose bush. Only the richest of families had a cat or dog.



The care of these items was intense. To hide the fact that these were indeed real items and not synthetics created from replicators to the most sneakiest of handleing. That was where the real money flowed. Synthetic plants never died or shed leaves. Synthetic animals/pets never created a mess or made a noise or left excrement. They were all self-sustaining creations. Jim's job was to come in and care for them or replace them in due time. He loved it.



He wasn't a stupid man. He wasn't a man that would be is destitute. He had the same opportunities in life as everyone else. But like the higher up snobs, he lived for the thrill of being on the other side of the law. He knew that by being captured he would be banished to one of the penal colonies below. No big deal. He was already so entrenched in the underworld that imprisonment would be like being sent home. And that was the way he wanted it.



He had his vehicle outfitted with a high gravity adapter and stealth unit. This allowed him to disappear from radar and journey to the forbidden planet below. Something he did on a regular basis. The excitement appealed to him and sometime he would pop down there for no reason what so ever. His life of crime afforded him to live a luxurious lifestyle, one he chose not to exploit. For the most part he charged very little for his services but would only deal with clientele that had the most to lose.



Jim lived in one of the most average complexes in the city. Complex 8814 was not the classiest of places but it afforded him the anonymity he needed. Because of it's central location he was able to slip to the underground unnoticed. It's antennae array housed a storage facility that very few visited. Being completely automated by maintenance droids no one would notice the few odds and ends that he kept there. One of which was a grape vine he was keeping for himself.



He planned on harvesting the grapes to create wine. He found the instructions one day while hacking around the web. He knew that organic wine would cause the socialites to burst into frenzy. Make them to appear classier. And cause their downfall to be greater than before.



He had planned on going down to the storage compartment when he woke up that morning. He wanted to run down and begin trimming some of the vines and picking grapes when there came a knock on his door.



"Crap", he thought and he scurried about to cover everything up.



"Who is it" he called.



"Rene" said the voice "I wanted to talk to you about my daughters party"



"One second” he said.



Throwing a sheet over his porn collection, which was made of paper another illegal item in the Skyworld, he walked toward the door.



"Open" he said and the electro door slide open revealing an averagely beautiful women with a look of worry on her face.



"Come in" he said. "Excuse the mess I wasn't expecting company."



"My apologies, I would have called to let you know I was coming but I didn't know if you would see me"



"What can I do for you?” said Jim, cautiously



"Well", she hesitated” I understand that you.... see my daughters birthday's are coming up next week and I wanted to get them something special"



"What the hell does that have to do with me?” he said adamantly



Her body shifted as she began fidgeting with her blouse. Searching for the right words she said "Word around the complex is that...you have the ability to...procure sp.. special items. Items that would otherwise be considered...improper"



He could tell she was nervous about having to interact with someone of his caliber. Jim wasn't a big man, nor was he even remotely intimidating. Standing just under six feet, light skin and light hair one would almost consider him a kind soul just by looking at him. No, he knew that discomfort she was feeling was due to his reputation and was fine by him.



"Special items? I have no idea what you’re talking about" he said. '"Are you a cop,” he said vehemently, knowing full well that she wasn't.



"N..No, I'm not a cop", she said



"Your that single mother that live in 1414 right, the one with the twins daughters?" he asked.



'Yes" she said proudly.



He liked her immediately. He knew that life as a single mother was almost as bad as being a criminal. His respect for her was instant.



"My work isn't cheap. And I usually don't deal with people of your social standing"



"Excuse me what the hell is that supp...." she reared up on him



"But, since you have the balls to come down here maybe we can work something out" he said cutting her off.



"What exactly are you looking for?"



"Well", she said calming down instantly but determined to not show any fear "I was hope for.... a kitten" she said staring a whole through him.



"Hmmm..Those are very hard to come by. What sort of timeframe are you looking at?”



"Well next week obviously, as I said before. It for their birthday and I would like it to be the first thing they see when they wake up"



'You do understand that organic animals are complexly forbidden and that if you are caught you and your daughters will be banished"



"Yes, I kno..."



"And that just having a pet is no easy task. You have to clean up and care for them and then there are the possibilities of allergic reactions that you have to take into effect. It’s not like you can walk in to any hospital and say 'my daughter is allergic to cats' or anything"



"I know I know I understand all that. But don't you offer services in that area?" She asked.



"Yes...yes I do. But pardon me for saying it doesn't look like you can afford my prices, nor can you afford to care for these creatures your self." He said while looking her up and down...grinning



"Well", she paused." Maybe we can come to some sort of arrangement, I meant how much is it, can we work out a payment plan or something"



"Payment plan", he chuckled "Darlin, do I look like a department store?'



She glared at him. She hadn't wanted it to get to this point. She had expected some sort of embarrassment for her social standings but had hoped a price could be negotiated. She knew now by staring into his hungry glare what it would take. She took a deep breath and said, " Well, maybe there is something...else ". She put her hand on his shoulder.



He grinned. "Are you sure you want to do this.... is a kitten that important? I mean you can run to the synth store and just pick one up,” he said letting her hand wander.



"No", she said.” It’s not special enough, to ordinary. My daughters deserve the best and that's what it going to be...no matter what the price.” she said with a determinded look on her face.



"Sweet" he said as he picked her up and threw her on the mess of a bed. "I'll get right on it then...as soon as I'm done getting right on you that is"...



This looked to be a profitable day after all he thought. His mind wandered to the possibilities of the payment methods he would be enjoying. Picking grapes being the furthest thing from his mind.

The Apartment chapter 3

The Apartment:



Gerard was an old man. He had spent his days as a janitor in the old elementary school. It didn't pay well but he didn't care. He enjoyed being around the kids. It reminded him of his youth. But in the past 2 months that had all changed. He was old after all and was often tired. He had gotten sick. So sick that it had wiped him of his energy. The doctors said that he was suffering from cellular degeneration. Basically his body had reached its end and was beginning to deteriorate. Soon, within the next month or so, he would be dead. And there was nothing he could do about it.



For the past week or so he was bedridden. He hadn't the energy to work much less reach the toilet. He was so tired. It was during this week that he began to reflect on his life. He was never one to speak up, to cause any trouble or attract any undue attention. In fact if it wasn't for the fact that the classes were always clean in the morning you wouldn't even had know Gerard was there. Dark as night and gray as a ghost, this man had managed to blend in to the scenery. He was not always proud of this fact but as long as he was left alone he didn't mind. He was taught a long time ago to cause any trouble unless trouble cam e looking. Even then he would just hold his head down and continue about his business. Yes the old man was nothing more than a shadow.



"Soon" he thought.



He woke up bright and early in the morning (though you couldn't tell because he always kept the shades drawn in his house) and set about his determined path. The school released him a month ago when they found out that he wouldn't be returning. True he could be replaced by any number of automated droids out and about nowadays but the school always felt a loyalty toward their oldest employee. It was because of this that he had lived so long. People nowadays retire at the age of 50 and reside in rest homes and were never seen or heard from again. Another way to handle population control. Gerard was indeed a shadow, a reminder of a government policy that no one sought fit to question. No matter though.



"Soon"



As he walked across his living room he began to go over his plans. Sitting at his desk he looked at his computer. "Old like me" he said as he look at his prefabricated monitor, keyboard, mouse. He was to old to have an implant. One that would cause the fibrocables laced in each home for the past 10 years to come to life. No, no video game downloads, no touch screen control, no monitor floating randomly in some darkened room obeying his call. Just him and his desk, which was probably for the better seeing how standing had become a chore for him as of late. He sat comfortably in his old leather chair. A chair that was smooth and comforting unlike his skin. Replicated leather never needed oiling but skin did, and he just didn't care anymore.



He looked at the monitor and began to call up images in his mind. Stories. Stories he had heard as a child. Folklore and myths about a world below. About a time when creatures flew through the air. When you had to look up to see the clouds instead of below. He began to imagine the images his father had told him about. Trees, mountains, bodies of water just beckoning to be enveloped in. Grass to run through barefoot. A world where water fell from the sky. He remembered as a child how much he had loved these stories. How his father would sit the family down after dinner and tell them the tales of mythical creatures called birds that flew through the sky with no centralized computer to tell it where to go. He knew he father had embellished in some of the stories, after all, his father had heard them second hand as well. These were stories that were passed down from generation to generation. And they were always followed by the horror stricken reality that the land below was barren and poisoned. They lived amongst the clouds. They were the remains of a race that destroyed itself and the land it walked on.



Even as these thoughts entered his mind, he could feel them leaving just as fast. He wondered if this was the last time he would be able to picture such images so vividly. It was all fading so fast nowadays. Time called on his body like a tooth fairy collecting her dues. His eyes darkened a little as he felt his brow furrow. Gone was his youth, his memories and his innocence. The skin wrinkled and course. Joints that ached upon a thought a thought that faded as the life was slowly being drained from his body.



"Soon" he thought, "It will be all over soon".



He began the pained process of stretching his aged fingers over the keyboard. Glasses sliding to the brim of his nose as he tried to block the ache from his padded fingertips. To old for ocular implants and cosmetic readjustments, he pushed his antiqued glasses back into place as he looked on the screen. "Soon", he thought. The words appeared on the screen, slower than he had hoped but expected nonetheless. "Last Will And Testament" the screen blinked at him.



His family had "retired" decades ago. He had no wife or children of his own and knew there would be no bereaved when his time came. He wanted to leave everything to the school, which had treated him so well. Invisible and old as he was, he still loved being around them. The laughter of children and they ran down the hall to class had always brought a smile to his graying beard. He planned to leave what little he had to them. His worldly possessions, which barely made an impact in this lonely studio apartment. Small and forgotten...much like him.



He couldn't go on like this. He couldn't let something claim him as his anonymity had. He never caused a ripple in the fabric. Always did as he was told. But he wanted to control this. He wanted to be in charge just once in his life, even if it was a matter of how to end it. No more pain. No more forgetting. No more tears flowing down his face relieving the dryness of age upon it. It'll be all over soon. He can finally sleep in peace. Because he said so. He would have the final word and today that word was soon. He finished the arduous task and looked up at the screen.



"Soon" he said



"Soon"

The Apartment chapter 2

The Apartment





Rene was perfectly happy with her life since moving here. She was a single mother, which was unheard of in these days what with population control and all, but loved her daughters greatly. Kitty and Tabby were about to turn 8. Next week to be exact and Rene was deep in party preparation. It was much easier to do now that she had moved here. Her last apt was so expensive and costly that she could hardly cloth her daughters much less throw them a party. Plus, living in such a high priced area meant the people were fairly snobbish. They often looked down on Rene for being a single mother and not a day would go by where she wasn't called some derogatory name. All under their breath of course. When you deal with that class of people they think money brings them intimidation instead of actually having the balls to say something.



Rene didn't care. It wasn't her fault that the fathers seed carried twins, much less daughters instead of the sons he always wanted. Upon finding out the sex of his children he promptly buried himself in work. He spent so much time there that he was rarely home to help out. Which was fine by Rene. She had her unborn daughters which whom to lavish her time and love on. When Tony literally worked himself to death Rene saw it as a godsend. Industrial accident or not he was gone, and so was his hatred. Not like she missed him anyway. But it was the hospital costs which finally got her. The money left from his death got sucked away by the surgeon fees that were charged to try and save his life. That, coupled with the cost of delivery, had nearly wiped Rene clean. She had to find work immediately after her daughters were born. Luckily for her she had attained a teaching degree 2 years earlier and was able to find a job teaching Planetary Literature Composition right away. One which allowed her to bring her newborn daughters to work with her.



But teaching didn't pay much. Not even in this day and age. She had to find a new place to live. When an opening came in this complex she fell to her knees and thanked the maker. Even though the rent was a lot cheaper, the quality of the complex and amenities made it seem like a costlier place. It was a pure miracle that she happened to come across it when she did, and she never let herself forget that.



The tenants here were much friendlier and more open to her plight. Most women in Rene's situation would have remarried immediately but not her. She had all she needed with her two daughters and let everyone know that that was the case. Her daughters were able to make friends quickly once they were old enough. Enough friends that Rene knew the birthday would be a smash.



With the invitations already set Rene had begun to get her daughters ready to go to the sitters. Today was the day she had planned on gift shopping and entertainment arranging. Having the girls around while shopping would ruin the surprise. She had arranged for the girls to stay over at her neighbors house. Jim and Rose were a wonderful couple with a daughter, Toni, of their own. As Rene dropped off her daughters, she knelt down to kiss and hug them good bye.



"Have a good day mommy, we'll miss you!" , they said.



"You behave for Jim and Rose and have fun. And don't worry, I plan on having a wonderful day".

The Apartment

The Apartment.









It was a beautiful morning in Upper Redlands. The sky was clear, as it always is at that elevation, and the weather was a nice 77 degrees. And while the air was filled with the usual morning traffic, Joe was ready to get his day started. Today was the day. Today was the day he was going to ask his boss for a raise. He had spent the entire weekend pacing around in his apartment trying to figure out the best way to go about this task. He worked at Improved Optimistics, a video game conglomerate that had won the console wars of 2119, and was an advanced engine builder. Being that he worked endless amounts of hours creating new gaming engines on which game developers would base future games on, he felt he deserved more benefits and more pay. True he already made more than any other employee of the company, but his rent was decreased recently which meant that more less than desireable tenants would soon be occupying his building. He didn't want to be associated with lesser standards of living. He was 27 years old and felt he deserved to be cut of a higher cloth.



Getting dressed that morning was no simple task. The normal gears and servos that made up his outfitting machine were in pristine order, it was Joe that was out of sync. He found it hard to stand still for more that 30 sec to let the machine do it's job. Having had the same problem in the shower with the autoshaver had already provided him with nics all over his face. After what seemed like an eternity and getting a fair scolding from the machines Joe was ready to work. He hit his vehicle call button on his watch and waited patiently for his '17 Vista Cruiser to arrive for pick up. Once it did, Joe sped off to work bound and determined to make this day happen the way he wanted it to.