B.8 Goodbye Earth
Webnet transmission in progress. Audio to text function on.
“Hello? Hey I can see the words on the screen. Cool.
“Um… Hi everyone. I got my recording unit installed yesterday, as I’m sure you can tell. It’s the ObAudio3 model. Pretty fancy if you ask me.
“It wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be getting it done though. They froze the skin on the side of my neck, right below where the skull and jaw meet, and basically shoved a huge needle with the recording unit into my neck. I still have a lump but it’s not that bad. You won’t even be able to tell I had it done in a day or two.
“Anyway if I have the video model I’d give you a visual tour of my apartment. But I guess I can describe it. It’s pretty basic really. 450 square feet. One bedroom, bathroom and a kitchen unit in the living room. I’m on the 15th floor which means I should have a descent view but my living room window faces another building so I’ve got nothing.
“But if I go into my bedroom…”
Ambient noise recorded: Shuffle shuffle
“I have an amazing view of downtown Edmonton. The sun is setting right now and it’s…”
Ambient noise recorded: Zooommmmrrrrrr
“Hey! You’re going to crash into my window one day you…. um… right. Ummm… Delete last passage?”
Pause
“Oh well, I’m going to have to figure out how to record and then go back and edit something. And since you’re likely wondering what I was yelling about, some kid on a hoverbike just buzzed my bedroom window. That’ll be one thing I won’t miss. I’m getting a space side window, which means nothing but space and earth outside my window. That’ll be a great view. Plus my new apartment is going to twice the size of this one, with an office if you can believe it.”
Ambient noise recorded: Knock knock knock
“What the?”
Ambient noise recoded: shuffle shuffle shuffle click creeeeeeek
“Katlynn, what are you doing here?”
“Mom and Dad are downstairs with the truck…. To pick up your furniture, remember? Or have you decided to let them take the transport charge off your pay checks for the next year?” Female voice remembered. Label: said Katlynn
“No I just didn’t think they were going to be coming until tomorrow. I’m not leaving until Friday morning, remember? What am I… Hey…” said Dalton.
Ambient noise recorded: Shuffle-shuffle shuffle-shuffle
“You haven’t even packed! And your place is a mess. I’m going to have to help you clean before Mom and Dad come up,” said Katlynn.
“I have too packed. Look at all those boxes,” said Dalton.
“And let me guess what’s in them. Your books?” said Katlynn.
“Books are important. Aren’t they?” said Dalton.
“And what about him? Have you thought about what you’re going to do with him?” said Katlynn.
“Mr. Goldman is coming with me. We are allowed pets you know,” said Dalton.
“I still can’t believe you named your fish that,” said Katlynn.
“He’s a goldfish. What else was I suppose to call him,” said Dalton.
“Hey what’s that?” said Katlynn.
Ambient noise recorded: shuffle-shuffle-shuffle SLAM
“Don’t touch my laptop, Katlynn,” said Dalton.
“But on the screen. The words were typing automatically and they looked like.. oooooo you’ve got a Mod!” said Katlynn.
“Do not” “do too” “do not” “do too” “do not” labels unclear
“Do too! What is it? You know Dad’s gonna kill you. You’re just lucky he’s not a full purist,” said Katlynn.
“Whatever, it’s for work and it’s not a Mod,” said Dalton.
“For work! And it is a Mod if it’s advanced organics or a mechanical aid,” said Katlynn.
“It’s just an Observer,” said Dalton.
“Video! Ok that’s kinda cool. I bet you were walking around giving a tour of your grubby little apartment. And this is the couch covered in popcorn kernels and old pizza boxes,” said Katlynn.
“Shut up Katlynn. And no I was not giving a tour because it’s audio only. I told you it’s for work,” said Dalton.
“No it’s not. Why was that screen recording everything?” said Katlynn.
“I was recording work stuff before you got here. And I don’t need your help to clean up. I’ll have it all clean by the time you go down and come back up with Mom and Dad,” said Dalton.
“You’re lying. I beat it’s broadcasting to the webnet too. Should I tell everyone about the time you wanted to be ballet dancer and…” said Katlynn
“END RECORDING,” said Dalton
Webnet transmission ended.
