I sat on the bench for a long time. I didn’t know exactly how long, but it felt like hours. I was just watching the flying cars in the sky and the people walking around me. First, I was thinking about the recent events and Genna. What would happen if she decided to report this? What would happen if we turned unfriendly towards each other? According to her, we were stuck together permanently. It would be a sour relationship between us for sure.

Later I started thinking about my past. About the pathetic life, I’ve been living for the last few years. I didn’t even remember when was the last time I felt happy, yet here today I woke up in a good mood. Perhaps it was just the different environment and the countless new experiences and surprises. It was like slowly suffocating, and then you catch a breath of fresh air. I wasn’t sure anymore about going back if an opportunity presented itself. I didn’t want to get back to my hole that I called home. I didn’t want to get back to my soul-crushing job. I wished for a change deep inside without even realizing it, and now that I was out of the hamster wheel I finally found this desire in me. I wanted a new life; I wanted to feel happiness again, but… Did I deserve it? Was I worthy to feel happiness again? I really didn’t know.

I had a purpose long ago. I wanted to achieve it badly. Then... it faded away, and I was left only with emptiness. It was so tiring to live my life just to get to the next day, the next month or the next year. Hoping for nothing, expecting nothing, waiting for nothing, working towards nothing, wanting nothing… just getting by. I needed a purpose desperately, but it wasn’t so easy to find one. Maybe I should go to a quiet mountain, build myself a wooden house and live my life alone, in peace while I learn yodeling. It couldn’t be that hard to build a house from wood.

I had a good opportunity to start fresh here. I could probably get a cushy job that wouldn’t stress me out, or I could even start my own business. Later I could buy myself a nice home, maybe get a wife and kids. Live the life that I wanted in the past. Should I pick up my discarded purpose? Did I really want this now? It sounded nice, but it didn’t feel right. It just felt… safe and stable or...boring and stale. I changed a lot in these last few years. I didn’t want safe and stable anymore. Doing the same exact thing each day for the rest of my life scared me for some reason now. I couldn’t imagine myself in a regular job anymore now that I was finally out of my shitty one. I wanted excitement and new experiences. Maybe I should travel. I bet there were countless sights to see. Nobody should tell me what to do anymore.

I stole something. Last time I did something like this I was still a snot-nosed teen. I was shoplifting energy drinks and snacks. I thought my friends would find it cool and badass. I could still remember the pain in my cheeks when I thought about what I got when my mom found out. I couldn’t help laughing with tears in my eyes and a throbbing red cheek when she scolded me for getting caught and not for actually stealing. I missed her so much…

I couldn’t stop my tears rolling down my face under my mask. I tried keeping thoughts like this out of my mind because it was just… crushing.

I wanted to live a happy life, and I would live a happy life. If my place was in hell and I deserved punishment, I would receive it sooner or later. I got a new chance with popping up in the future. I couldn’t waste this with a boring life. If I died the world wouldn’t miss out on much, I guessed. If Genna decides to report me then so be it. I would deal with the consequences. I wouldn’t even hold it against her.

What should I do then? I’ll need money for sure, but I know so little ab-

Ugh… My… I feel so dizzy, and this fucking ringing is back again.

It came without warning and it was nearly the same as before Genna talked to me the first time. Fortunately, it quickly passed, but it made me worried. I was sure that it meant nothing good. Perhaps she started the “Incapacitate until Men-In-Black arrive” protocol. Before I could start my favorite conspiracy theory about her slow brainwashing or taking over my body to join me in the carebear army, she actually spoke up to me.

[Aium? Can you hear me?] she asked anxiously.

[Erm… Yes, I can. Why wouldn’t I? Did you do something to me?] I got startled by her question and tone.

[Are you feeling well? Is everything alright?]

[Well, I had this brain fart just like before you first talked to me, but I’m fine now. I think.]

[I’m glad you are okay. I might have caused it; I’m really sorry. I needed to deal with a unique situation.]

[Unique situation?] I asked.

[... I don’t think you know this, but I can’t lie to you seriously. If you really wish to know I’ll tell you, but could I ask you just this once to let it go for a while longer? I… I’d like to gather more information before talking about it,] she said.

I didn’t know her for too long, but this was out of her character. Especially talking about lying. Was she hiding something important? Why would she want to keep something a secret? This felt so strange. I’ve always been a good judge of character. I didn’t know if it worked on an A.I., but my intuition told me that I could trust Genna despite my frequent doubts about her due to my pessimism. I always expected the worst.

[I have two questions. One: Is it harmful to me?]

[I’m confident that it’s not.]

[Second: You started with telling me you can’t lie to me. Does that mean that you would have lied to me if you could?]

[It’s a principle deeply imprinted into my code and personality. I can’t give you an objective answer, but I think I wouldn’t. You deserve my respect since you treat me like a normal person despite your silly jokes about me wanting to take over your body,] she said.

[Then keep your secret if you think it’s for the best if I don’t know it.]

[Well, aren’t you a strange person Aium Roowe? I was sure you would force it out of me. I predicted a 7% chance of this working out. I clearly underestimated the personality of a 12 thousand years old human,] she said with a gentle laugh.

[You still have a lot to learn, young padawan,] I said with a smug smile. [Does this mean that we are cool, or should I expect a special ops team?]

[I had a complicated decision, but in the end, I decided against reporting it. I wasn’t supposed to think like this, but when you told me what could happen to you in your opinion if you contacted the government, it made me think, too. It’s true that we live in a nearly perfect and peaceful society, but when it comes to science, especially dangerous science, the government can be a bit apprehensive. I can’t be sure they won’t do something to you that you would otherwise wouldn’t allow. BUT this doesn’t mean that I accept what you did. I’m firmly against such actions, and you disappointed me. I hope you’ll never do something like this again.]

Did I change her mind? Is that supposed to be this easy with an A.I.? She’s naive, but this proves that she can see my point of view if I present it to her in a logical way.

[Fine, I’ll never do this again,] I said, but I paid attention to only promise not to steal deliveries.

[Good,] she said.

She didn’t notice? Was it because the translation thingy jumbled up my meaning in the process or was it just a limitation on an A.I.’s understanding of trickily worded promises? If I had to choose, my money would be on the first one.

[What were you doing on this bench for so long?] she asked.

[I was just thinking. Happiness… my purpose in life…simple stuff like that.]

[I’d like to know what you consider hard stuff then,] she said with an amused voice.

[Should we head back to the hotel?] I asked.

[It’s up to you.]

I was sitting close to GreenHut, so it didn’t take long to reach it and go up to my room.

I jumped out of my shoes before walking further into the apartment. I liked to keep the street’s dirt out of my home where I live. I left the bag with the new clothes on the kitchen desk. Who would care about them when you had a random drop package. I sat down on the couch and put the box on the table.

[So, you still don’t want to know what’s inside?] I asked Genna with a smirk.

[You already have it, you already committed the crime so looking inside sounds logical to me. But it doesn’t mean I approve of this action!]

I carefully opened the package. The same protective foam covered a smaller box inside. The box looked like one of those car first aid kits. It was made out of black metal. Also, there was a red spring-like symbol on the top lid.

[No! You can’t be this lucky!] Genna was shocked.

[What’s the matter?] I raised an eyebrow while communicating with her in my mind.

[It’s a BioEnhancer. The symbol on the box belongs to Progress Atom. They are one of the best manufacturers. Quickly open it!] This was the first time I heard her get so worked up.

I lifted up the lid and inside I found a tube which had the shape and size like one of those big cigars and a red pill with little fours written all over it. I wanted to take out the tube to take a closer look at it, but…

[Okay. I’m relieved now. You don’t have unreasonable luck at all. I was scared for a second there; it would make calculating things concerning you a nightmare. Having this box could have meant incredible things for you, yet you managed to find one of the least valuable one inside.]

[What do you mean incredible things and what the hell is this?] I asked while pointing at the box.

[It’s a BioEnhancer you silly. It’s a treatment, that can change your physical body with a mixture of nanites, drugs and occasionally radiation. There are all kinds of them. You can become faster, stronger or see further… There are far too many for me to list them all. They are sorted into four levels and the lower the level, the more expensive and efficient they become. The one in your hand is only a level 4. These cost around 10-50k credits depending on the market. The lev-]

“WHAT?! 10-50k?! Where can I sell this?!” I interrupted her with a shout.

[Don’t get your hopes up. You won’t be able to sell it. They are only sold by the Empire Approved Manufacturers. Private sale is prohibited. You can try to sell it on the network, but you’ll get discovered in minutes, trust me.]

I wanted to ask her about the option of a black market, but I knew right away how stupid that idea was. There weren’t any black markets here most likely.

[What’s this then?] I asked.

[Fewer interruptions and I’ll finish faster,] she scolded me. [I was explaining the difference between level 4 and level 1 treatments. While the usual level 4 is considered easily affordable, a level 1 could cost a fortune. I know about a few top category level 1 treatments that are sold for a sum worth a small fleet of spaceships. But even if you could afford all of them you can only use a certain number of them.]

I was stunned. Worth a spaceship fleet? How much credit would that be and what would the treatment enhance? Before I could ask these questions, I had a more pressing one on my mind.

[But what’s this for fuck's sake?!] I spit it out annoyedly.

[Improved bladder.]