Neon Hearts

Chapter 4

The sun, barely above the horizon, was breaking through the dense web of neon signs, billboards, and drone couriers hovering in the air. The rays of light, refracting in this haze, coloured the streets of the metropolis in bizarre, almost unreal shades – from deep purple to electric blue.

On the outskirts of the centre stood another NeuroHub, a colossal complex combining elements of a residential skyscraper. Its walls, mottled with thousands of windows, reflected the surrounding city, creating the illusion of an infinite urban landscape.

It was here, in one of the many corridors of the NeuroHub, that the four friends – Faza, Dash, Nova and Anna – leisurely descended the wide staircase covered with a soft, muffled covering.

Dash, walking in front, was the epitome of the beauty and grace of the future. A tall brunette with precise facial features, she moved with feline fluidity, turning every step into a small performance. Her tight synthetic leather jumpsuit, changing colour depending on the light, accentuated every curve of her slender body. Dash’s long eyelashes cast intricate shadows across her high cheekbones, giving her look depth and mystery.

Following Dash, holding hands and whispering animatedly, were Nova and Anna. Their ringing voices, imbued with notes of fun and slight excitement, echoed through the corridors.

Faza was at the end of this small procession, but his confident gait and attentive gaze showed that he was not a casual traveller.

Passing by the automated kitchen, where the girls were starting to prepare NeuroHub’s breakfast, the company heard a ringing female voice:

– Hey, girls! Where are you going this early?

A young woman in a snow-white jumpsuit looked out from behind the counter, looking curiously at the company passing by.

Dash, without turning round, only turned her head slightly, tossing it over her shoulder with a slight chuckle:

– We’re going to the cottage, honey. Sometimes you need to get out of this plastic bag and get some fresh air. Although I must admit, I’d love to take your pasta with me.

Faza winked slyly at the girl in the kitchen as he passed by:

– «Don’t worry, Marie, we’ll definitely be back. Your culinary masterpieces are something worth living in this NeuroHub for.

Marie, a young girl with freckles on her nose, instantly blushed at the compliment and, smiling embarrassed, disappeared behind the kitchen door.

Suddenly there was a loud, almost deafening ringing in the corridor. The neural network controlling all the systems of NeuroHub ostentatiously sounded it, imitating the sound of an ancient telephone set of the beginning of the XXI century. After a long beep, which seemed to make the walls vibrate, the artificial intelligence spoke in a voice remarkably similar to the voice of a famous announcer of the last century:

– Greetings, you are calling at the real presidential palace. What can I do for such an early guest?

Nova and Anna, unable to stand it, burst into loud laughter. They began to clap each other on the shoulders and hug each other, almost falling down from laughter.

– Oh, Dash,“ Nova said through her laughter, „this is all because of your recent request, remember?

Anna, wiping tears from laughter, added:

– Yes, now we officially live in the palace. Maybe we should order crowns?

Dash, unlike her friends, clearly did not find the situation amusing. She pressed her plump, perfectly shaped lips together, knowing perfectly well that the neural network was mocking her, remembering the conversation when she had asked, foolishly, to call this NeuroHub a palace to impress the next suitor.

– NeuralNet,“ Dash said through gritted teeth, „you’re out of line. I won’t let it go.

The melodious voice of the AI echoed down the corridor in response to her threat:

– «I apologise, Mistress Dash. Just trying to lighten the mood at this early hour. Just a reminder, someone is trying to call you. Judging by the ID, it’s someone called Vox from the GV24/7 holovision channel.

Dash narrowed her eyes, a dangerous light flickering in them. She slammed her palm against the nearest wall, as if chastising the neural network, which, as everyone in NeuroHub knew, was present in every socket, in every system of the vast complex.

– Let the call go,» she gritted through her teeth, nodding her head sharply.

Immediately a cheerful male voice sounded in her personal audio system, implanted just behind her ear:

– Hello, Dash? It’s me, Vox. I hope I’m not too early?

Dash frowned for a moment, trying to remember which of her many admirers and acquaintances bore that name. Several faces flashed through her mind before she finally remembered the tall blond man from television she’d met last week at the launch of the new neural interface.

– Ah, Vox! – she exclaimed, instantly changing her tone to playful and flirtatious. – From television, huh? What a surprise!

– Did I just walk into the presidential palace?

She threw a mocking glance at her companions, who were watching the conversation with interest.

– No, no, it’s our neural network joking, – Dash continued, not letting Vox get a word in. – We just have relatives from Africa, so it’s crowded like in a real palace. You wouldn’t believe how many cousins and brothers and sisters I’ve got!

Faza, Anna and Nova stood by, watching this improvised performance of one actress with undisguised interest. Nova, unable to bear it, began to nibble on Faza’s shoulder, trying to hold back her laughter.

– No, I can’t meet you today,» Dash continued chirping, lowering her voice coquettishly and twirling a strand of hair around her finger. – My family and I are going to the dacha. Can you imagine, a whole day in the fresh air, away from these skyscrapers and eternal noise.

– Which road are you taking? – Vox’s voice came from the speaker, in which disappointment was clearly audible.

Dash was confused for a moment and looked questioningly at Faza. He grinned and said silently: «By magnetic.»

– You know, I don’t even know,» Dash said playfully, pretending to be a frivolous beauty. – The neural network is driving us, and I never look at the road. I just enjoy the view and the company. Ah, it’s modern technology, isn’t it? You never know where they’ll take you.

She paused, as if listening for something, and added with feigned regret:

– Oh, Vox, I’m sorry, dear, but I can’t talk any more. They’re waiting for me, you know – family, obligations. But don’t worry, I’ll contact you as soon as I get back. Maybe even bring you a souvenir from the slums.

With these words, Dash sent a kiss to the void and cut the connection with a sharp gesture.

Faza laughed, shaking his head and not hiding his admiration for Dash’s acting skills:

– What a chatterbox you are! The poor guy is probably already rushing along all the magnetic roads in search of his mother’s dacha.

Dash, proudly erect and demonstratively swaying her hips, walked past him, tossing over her shoulder with a slight chuckle:

– «Faza, dear, don’t teach me how to live better. I’ll be more experienced in these matters than you. You’d better do something useful, like finding me a husband. But be warned, I need someone of real status. Not some TV presenter, but at least the owner of a TV channel.

With those words, she headed for the exit of the NeuroHub, leaving her friends looking at each other with smiles on their faces. Nova and Anna, still laughing at the situation, hurried after her, and Faza, shaking his head, followed.

In the rays of the early morning sun shining through the dense foliage of century-old trees, the magnetic taxi glided smoothly along the winding road, taking the four friends away from the noisy metropolis. Anna Buyanova, Nova de Kart, Dash, and Faza were comfortably seated in the spacious salon, enjoying the unusual peace and quiet, so rare in their usual city life. The soft hum of the magnetic cushion on which the taxi was travelling provided a peaceful backdrop, allowing them to relax and sink into their thoughts.

Dash, dressed in a tight electric-coloured dress that accentuated all the curves of her slender body, sat next to Faz. Her long legs were elegantly crossed in dizzyingly high heels. She cast playful glances at Faze now and then, clearly enjoying the company of the attractive man. Her long eyelashes, accentuated by the latest generation of shimmering make-up, fluttered slightly when she turned her whole body towards him and said with a sly smile:

– «I see you’re an enviable groom, Faza. – Her voice, low and velvety, was full of feigned admiration. She ran her hand through her long hair, tucking a stray strand behind her ear. – I paid for the taxi, my parents have a summer house… If you’d known before, you’d have taken me to visit, not Nova and her company.

Faza did not take his eyes off the scenery passing outside the window. His profile, clearly outlined against the green trees, seemed carved from stone. He only grinned, and the wrinkles in the corners of his eyes deepened:

– Calm down, Dash. You’re not my type. – He turned to her, and in his grey eyes played cheerful sparks. – And the dacha… it’s just a name. Just an area with a few trees. All that was left after construction forty years ago. You shouldn’t expect anything grand.

Dash, clearly not expecting such a straightforward answer, pouted her plump, perfectly shaped lips and began to feign anger. Her thin eyebrows drew together at the bridge of her nose, forming a small crease. Suddenly she reached for the steering wheel, which was still in the cockpit for the possibility of personal control, even though the machine was being guided by a neural network. Her manicured fingers with long fuchsia-coloured nails gripped the leather braided steering wheel.

– Hey, neural net! – she shouted, trying to turn the steering wheel. Her voice soared an octave higher with feigned indignation. – Turn back! We don’t want to go there! I’ve changed my mind!

The control panel instantly lit up bright red, warning against such behaviour. A melodious female neural network voice said: «Please do not interfere with the operation of the vehicle. It could be dangerous.» Dash, noticing this, immediately pulled her hands away as if she had been burned, but continued to sulk with her arms crossed over her chest.

Anna, who was sitting opposite, trying to defuse the situation, spoke softly, leaning forward and putting her hand on Dash’s knee:

– «Faza, come on, why are you scaring her like that? – She looked at Dash with a smile, her brown eyes radiating warmth and understanding. – Our beautiful girl’s face stretched out. No, it’s the new implants, isn’t it, Dash? – In her voice you could hear a slight irony, but without malice.

Dash, instantly changing her mood like a chameleon changing its colouring, turned to her friend with a mischievous smile. Her eyes, emphasised by perfect arrows, sparkled:

– Don’t chicken out, Anna. We’ll get him now, you’ll see. – She winked at Nova, who sat quietly in the corner, almost blending in with the upholstery of the seat. – Let’s protect our modesty, shall we? Let’s show that stuck-up boy that we’re not just pretty dolls!

Nova, dressed in a simple pastel-coloured summer dress, only smiled embarrassedly, lowering her eyes. Her blonde hair, gathered in a simple ponytail, softly framed her delicate face.

Faza, watching this scene, only shook his head, his painted temple catching a ray of sunlight:

– What lookouts, girls? Just going for a visit. For clean air, a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. No need to look for a double bottom here.

So, joking and teasing each other, the company spent a few hours on the road. Gradually the landscape outside the window changed: skyscrapers and neon signs were replaced by dilapidated buildings and unfinished houses. The people here looked different – they were engaged in hard physical labour; their clothes were simple and shabby. The contrast between the splendour of the metropolis and these suburbs was stark, as if they had crossed an invisible boundary between two worlds.

The taxi skilfully manoeuvred between people and dilapidated buildings, its magnetic cushion allowing it to smoothly overcome any obstacles. Several times they drove past huge piles of construction debris – concrete, bricks and charred beams, silent witnesses of the former construction boom. The air was cleaner here, and the taxi passengers involuntarily began to breathe more deeply.

Finally, the car stopped outside a small house surrounded by tall spruce and fruit trees. When the door of the taxi opened with a quiet hiss, the friends saw a marvellous picture: a veritable green carpet of grass and ferns was spread around them, and the air was filled with the chirping of birds and the distant chirping of woodpeckers. This soundscape was so unusual for the inhabitants of the metropolis that for a moment everyone stood still, enjoying this symphony of nature.

They were met by two elderly people, a man and a woman, dressed in old-fashioned but neat suits. Their faces, mottled with wrinkles, bore the marks of a long and difficult life, but their eyes shone with kindness and wisdom.

Dash, spectacular and confident as always, jumped out of the car first. Her high heels sank deeply into the soft earth, but she straightened up gracefully without a trace. She stood in a modelling pose with her hips slightly swept back and her hand on her waist, showing off her beauty and sexuality, waiting for the reaction of those she met. Her bright smile glinted in the sunlight filtering through the trees, and her long hair fluttered in the breeze.

The elderly couple, however, remained unperturbed. They only glanced at each other, the man raised his bushy grey eyebrow slightly, but showed no other emotion. Their gazes seemed to penetrate through the outward glare, assessing something deeper.

Faza, unloading the voluminous luggage from the spacious boot of the taxi, said with a warm smile:

– Come on in, girls. Make yourselves at home. – He looked at his parents, and in his eyes, there was a mixture of love and slight embarrassment at the behaviour of his guests.

Dash, realising her mistake with her choice of shoes, awkwardly tried to walk on the soft ground in her high stilettos. Each step was difficult for her, and she struggled to keep her balance. In contrast, Anna and Nova, who had taken care to wear comfortable trainers, walked easily on the grass, enjoying the softness of the natural carpet beneath their feet. Faza, noticing Dash’s predicament, held back a smile – after all, she knew where they were going, but preferred beauty to practicality.

Approaching the hosts, Faza began to introduce the guests:

– Let’s get acquainted. – He gestured for the girls to come closer, his voice warm and confident. – These are my friends from the city.

Each of the girls in turn extended their hand in greeting. Anna did it with dignity, Dash with some coquetry, and Nova… Nova, the most modest of them all, said quietly, barely raising her eyes:

– Hello, I’m Nova. – Her voice was barely audible, like the rustling of leaves in the wind. As if seeking protection, she pressed herself against Faza’s shoulder, her nose against his leather jacket. Her cheeks were slightly pink with embarrassment.

The elderly hosts smiled kindly and openly as they shook hands with their guests. Their eyes showed the sincere hospitality so rare in the cold world of the metropolis. They seemed to radiate warmth and calmness, which gradually began to be transmitted to the guests.

The golden rays of the sun softly caressed the tops of the trees, colouring the sky with delicate hues. Nova, a graceful and refined girl, accustomed to the metropolis, listened with genuine interest to every word of Fazu, a young man whose life was so different from her own. Her slender figure, clad in a simple but elegant dress, seemed alien to the countryside. But there was something about her – perhaps the genuine interest in her eyes or the slight smile on her lips – that made her presence here seem remarkably harmonious, like a delicate exotic flower that had accidentally sprouted among the field grasses.

Faz, waving his hands now and then, pointing now and then to one patch of land or the other:

– «Here, Nova,» he gestured with a wide gesture around a small plot of land covered with lush green grass, «I plan to plant a vegetable garden. Just imagine: fresh vegetables, grown with my own hands! Tomatoes, juicy and fragrant, cucumbers, crunchy and cool, carrots, sweet, as if honeyed…

His eyes lit up with genuine enthusiasm, and a dreamy smile appeared on his tanned face, revealing a row of snow-white teeth. Nova, unaccustomed to such conversations about land and plants, but genuinely wanting to keep the conversation going, timidly asked, rubbing a strand of her long dark hair:

– A., what else do you want to plant, Faza? Tell me more about your plans.

Her voice, soft and melodious, seemed to dissolve into the evening air filled with the scents of herbs and flowers. Faza, encouraged by the girl’s interest, began to talk with even greater fervour, his eyes glistening and his hands flying into the air as if trying to draw a picture of the future garden:

– Oh, Nova, I have grand plans! In addition to vegetables, I want to plant here various spicy herbs – basil, thyme, rosemary. Can you imagine the aroma in the air? And over there,“ he pointed to a small vacant lot a little further away, where wildflowers were swaying in the breeze, „I want to plant an apple orchard. Ten, no, fifteen trees of different varieties! Antonovka, white plum, pear… Can you imagine how beautiful it will be in spring when the trees blossom? Everything will be drowned in white and pink colour, as if in a fairy tale!

Nova, trying to visualise this picture, smiled involuntarily. Her eyes, accustomed to the neon lights of the metropolis and billboards, had difficulty perceiving this simple beauty of nature. But something in Faza’s words, in his sincere admiration, made her heart flutter. She felt something new, unfamiliar stirring inside her – maybe a longing for something simple and real?

– It must be very beautiful indeed,» she said quietly, looking at Fazu with unexpected warmth. – I’ve never seen apple trees blossom, you know. In Cyber City we have parks, but they’re… different. Artificial or something.

Faze, touched by her words, gently took Nova’s hand. His palm was warm and rough from working in the vegetable garden and with the circuit boards at the production facility of the corporate NeuroHubs, and that contrast with Nova’s soft skin caused both of them to shiver slightly.

– «Then we should definitely come in the spring,» he said with a smile. – I will show you the real beauty of nature.

He led her further, to a small hill covered with soft grass. From the top of the hill there was a breathtaking view of the whole village – the scattering of wooden and brick houses in the green of the gardens, the winding ribbon of the river glistening in the setting sun, and the endless fields stretching to the horizon.