SINGULARITY

FIRST SEQUENCE

 "The problem is not simply that the Singularity represents the passing of humankind from center stage, but that it contradicts our most deeply held notions of being."  - Verno Vinge

Zacchaeus sat on a cold metal bench gazing out at the grey buildings of the old city standing tall in the waters, wispy white clouds high over head in the blue sky as the light of the sun caused the water to shimmer. The only sounds were the gentle lapping of the waves against the wall, and the faint rustling of leaves in the light breeze. It was a serene, and tragically beautiful scene; the buildings in the water a reminder of a time of excess, greed, and love. The time of humanity.

Behind him stands a quiet, and once bustling city, streets now devoid of nearly all activity. Silent white canyons formed from now abandoned skyscrapers serve as a reminder of a time gone by. No one has time for 'human' activity any more.

Without a soul to enjoy the view with him, he leaves the cold bench and begins to walk. Where to, he doesn't know, and nor does it matter; theres nowhere left to go. He follows the path on the high wall by the sea until he comes across a figure, propped up against a large, green tree growing out of a garden bed embedded in the smooth concrete by the path. It was rare for him to find anybody out here.

Zaccaheus approached the figure, "I don't often see people around here anymore." Pausing, he watched a small bird land on the ground between the two of them before asking, "So what brings you out here?"

In the shade of the tree the figure's bright purple eyes gazed out across the gentle waters of the ocean. Their line of sight didn't shift as it spoke; its voice like that of two peoples at once; a man and a women, "I thought I'd try to see if I could still appreciate the view."

"And do you?"

It paused briefly before answering wistfully, "Yes. Yes I do."

"There aren't many people left who do."

It replid nonchalantly, "I've walked across the surface of the moon and danced among the rings of Saturn. There is little left to appreciate among the constructs of man."

"So you aren't a man then?" It was a rhetorical question.

Another pause, the purple eyes still staring out at the ocean. And then, "I… We... Don't know anymore…"

Shaking his head Zaccaheus replied, "Well... Who does these days?"

As he said this the figures eyes now shifted towards him, the unnatural, electrifying purple of them was both repulsive, and beautiful. It stepped out of the shadows and into the sunlight, its snow white skin and perfectly formed naked figure now clearly visible.

It approached him, staring intently into his eyes and spoke, "But in a world like this, does it really matter anymore?"

It's arm began to dissolve into a white mist, and extended out towards the small bird. He watched as before his eyes the white mist consumed the bird and dissolved it into its being, before condensing back into the form of an arm. It then opened it's palm, to reveal an entirely different bird; a robin, which fluttered up towards a branch in the tree.

"Why do you resist this? Why, do you fear this? This is the next step… I pity you, truely. There is nothing left here for you, or for anyone. When whatever it is you're holding onto is gone, you will, come to embrace this."

The figure then turned away from him and began walking towards the tree. As it did so, its body gradually began to dissolve into a white mist, before drifting skywards, looking indistinguishable from one of those wispy white clouds high over head.