Project Tickle

Icarus and Electra are in the monolith. The inside, apparently another simulation or an entirely different system, is a big strange place. Far from them, the walls of the monolith are covered by overlapping curvy surfaces. They see big holes on the soft ground; they're pretty deep and dark too. Above them, they see a similar almost mirrored pattern. Its bigger difference with the one below is that white beams of light come through the holes. Although they can't see the light source, the beams form a luminous grid that allows them to view their surroundings. Icarus total O.D. connection is bombarded with smells and sounds. He feels like he's in a living, breathing organism. He stays motionless for a couple of seconds and focuses on his virtual sensors.

  "Such a bizarre construction? I feel some sort of moisture and I get this distinctive smell. Can't figure out what could it be?"

  Electra sees a soft light at the center of the system. She carefully approaches it and after examining it for a while she nods for Icarus to join her.

  "What the hell is this? What are we supposed to do now?" She seems entirely lost and confused.

  "Ha! Guess I know what it is?"

  Icarus bends his knees and takes a closer look at the small mushroom close to their feet.

  "I think I know where we are? Moisture and smell of wet soil; light above and darkness below. Organic construction with infinite branches just like the world web. We're in a tree and to be more specific?"

  A deep male voice interrupts him.

  "We're at the root? "

  A dark skinned man walks right between Icarus and Electra. He is tall and thin and although he's completely nude, he doesn't seem to have any male reproductive organs. Strange man has Gray eyes big nose and a tiny mouth. A small triangular beard on his chin moves along with it, as he speaks.

  "You do know what a root means in a virtual, digital world. Absolute access. From this place you can delete world's biggest web sites and simulations with the same ease you would erase a simple file from your personal computer."

  Gray observes the tiny mushroom.

  "One of you two should connect. It wouldn't be a nice idea for me to use this system. Tempting but?"

  Electra looks at it with a puzzled expression on her face.

  "Gray, what are you doing here? What's this thing?"

  "It's a mushroom! Obviously a simulation of a hallucinatory drug. Chocolate Fighters Group's biggest motive is money, but that doesn't mean they're worthless. Judging by what I see here, I have to admit they're geniuses. If anyone wants to handle all this massive information and power, he has to let his mind free; away from tame thoughts and needs. That's what this mushroom does. I guess the few people using this, must be trained or something. You have to be extremely careful?"

  "I'll do it? I guess one should also use a total O.D. connection to operate the system."

  Icarus spreads his hand out and cuts a small piece from the mushroom's cap.

  "Besides, I've prepared approximately nine hundred addresses for my program's upload and sharing."

  "And that's why I'm here. The links you have aren't enough; your code will be traced and deleted in no time. What would you say for about half a million web pages?"

  Electra looks at Gray with her eyes and mouth wide open.

  "So you are the man of the year you had us searching for? Is this the reason Icarus was so mad when he found the answer to your riddle?"

  Icarus puts the mushroom in his mouth.

  "No. It wasn't Gray. You'll see in a minute?"

  He stands still but fails to hide his anticipation. He moves his head and hands nervously.

  "If I say or do anything stupid don't get me wrong?"

  Seconds later he feels a strong shiver in his spinal column. His ears buzz for a couple of seconds and all he hears after that is the beating of his own heart. He is forced to take two deep breaths to continue. His vision is also affected. Everything looks brighter; different. Icarus sees Electra and Gray. They look anxious but he realizes that he can't speak to them and doesn't want to. Two paper thin screens appear before him. One has risen from the roots and the other has come down from the branches and trunk. They get smaller and stabilize right in front of his eyes. Icarus feels very strange. He rises his hands and realizes he's becoming transparent. He breaks in loud laughs. Electra makes a step to come closer to him but Gray gently stops her. Almost the whole robotic body is now transparent. Only parts visible, is the user's brain and spine; they also emit a soft blue light. A dark film covers the two vital organs. Electra watches the sight with her mouth open. She was at first repelled by the idea but now she's almost certain. While Icarus disappears a familiar shape emerges. It definitely looks like?

  "A male reproductive cell!"

  Gray observes Icarus with an ecstatic expression on its face.

  "He is connected?"