Unfinished scifi project

The year is 2198. A virtual reality apparatus has sprung the world into a new technological Renaissance.  Although tested for over one hundred years, the Viaggi has had an effect on humans, sending users into a comatose state.

“Mom, the Viaggi made me sign out AGAIN.” B64-867 yelled downstairs.

“Honey, you know you can’t stay inside for more than 12 hours.  You have to spend some time with your family.  Now come downstairs and eat something.” C11-984 yelled to her child.

B64-867 rushed downstairs, slightly upset that he had been kicked out of the Viaggi yet again.  He sat at the circular globe with his parents, and made his selection for dinner.  Tonight consisted of partially dried tomatoes, raw potatoes, and a protein paste.  For dessert, a sugar cube, dissolved in water.

The globe dissipated, and trays ejected from slots inside the cube.  From there, the cube flattened, and images of current events, alongside news articles, were projected from the now flattened cube.

“Mother, why does it always kick me out?  You can stay in as long as you want.”

C11-984 sighed. “We’ve gone through this a thousand times, son.  Your brain has not fully developed.  Your frontal lobe is still in development.  More than 12 hours inside the Viaggi could potentially harm you, cause seizures, or even worse.  That’s why these people are going into the hospital.  You don’t want to go to the hospital, do you?”

B64-687 knew all about the hospital.  People only went there when the Universal couldn’t cure you.  And the Universal could do anything.

B64-687 finished his delicious dessert, and thought to himself.  Tomorrow was a special day, and he needed his rest.  He kissed his mother goodnight, and headed upstairs.  He shut the door, and turned off all the lights.  But the Viaggi was still turned on.  Sometimes B64-687 tinkered with the Viaggi, and sometimes if he was careful enough, he would bypass the child-safety override, and could do anything he wanted.  Maybe tonight he would get lucky.

After a few minutes, he was back inside the Viaggi.  What would he be this time? A dog, his favorite, or something new? He remembered being an adult one time, and it was no fun.  So he decided to be his favorite dog again.  He inserted the needles into his arms, which pumped the relaxing fluid that sent him to sleep.  The Viaggi hummed for a few seconds, and turned on.  The slow humming lulled him into a deep slumber, and soon B64-687 was playing in the biggest dog park in Haven.

C11-984 had finished her meal late, and after sending the plates into the Universal, she went upstairs to her room.  She usually kissed her child good night, but there was no light on, and she could hear B64-687 deep asleep.  She went to her room, shut the door, and lay down on the bed.  She still had a few hours left in the Viaggi, so she sat in the seat.  She sighed, tired of living alone.  She browsed the massive library, went into the “Adults Only” section, and inserted both needles.  Before five minutes, she was deep asleep.

Good morning, dear.  The universal said.  B64-687 rolled over, beside his owner.  The beautiful woman sat underneath the covers he slept on, and she sighed.  Today was Monday, and that meant double-time in the Viaggi.  She rolled out of bed, and went into the restroom.  B64-687 usually looked inside, but this time, he decided to go outside and play some more.  But a loud knock at the door startled him, and he waited for his owner to come downstairs.

The owner ran downstairs, hoping it was her partner.  She opened the door only to find two men in suits, flashing badges at her.  They then pushed past her, and immediately started rifling through every piece of furniture.  The Universal quickly asked for a reason for the intrusion, but one of the men simply walked over to the control panel, and snipped a few wires.  The Universal shut down, and the apartment turned dark. 

It was too dark to see anything, so B64-687 hid behind some furniture.  He then heard a scream from the owner, and after a few minutes of hiding, decided to leave the Viaggi.

The darkness of his room not at all comforting, B64-687 quickly took out his two needles, and ran to the light switch.  What had he seen?  He walked outside into the hallway, and down the stairs.  The Universal’s clock read 4:50 AM.  His mother would be up soon, he knew. He went back upstairs and crawled into bed.