The Creatures that We Are

Ten minutes later, both Sha Ye and Gao Yang had changed into identical outfits: simple white t-shirts, jeans, and white sneakers. Sha Ye explained this was company policy—Surnamed Li didn't want Jupiter Travelers to be identifiable as patients after discharge, preventing potential discrimination.

They passed through the full-body scan checkpoint and stepped out through the automatic door, leaving the rehabilitation center behind. It was Gao Yang's first time outdoors. Yan, the AI pet, watched him leave, its big round eyes shining with reluctance to part.

The night air hung heavy with turbid gray mist, carrying a faint pungent smell. After just two breaths, Gao Yang's throat began to itch.

“Here.” Sha Ye handed him a surgical mask with two petal-shaped air filters. “Remember to put this on outdoors unless you want your lungs replaced by an artificial one in three months. The new model is quite convenient with little side effects, though. Even I am considering getting it.”

Gao Yang took the mask. The moment he held it to his mouth, the air filters attached themselves to his cheeks, purifying each breath. Sha Ye donned her own mask, then raised her hand. The I Chip embedded in it projected a screen, and with a few quick gestures, she navigated to the vehicle interface and made a click.

“The car will be here soon.”

“Okay.”

Gao Yang looked ahead at the empty plaza connected to roads in all directions. There was no natural greenery, but only street lamps shaped like trees.

Buildings of different unusual shapes stood around them, covered in screens that played the company’s commercials. Drones flew past in an arrow formation every once in a while.

“This is the third branch of Closure, located in a large industrial park. It’ll take a long time for you to walk out.”

Sha Ye pointed at the closest building to them on the left. “That strange building that looks like it’s double over, see that?”

“Yes, I see it.”

“It’s the R&D building, where I slave away working.” Sha Ye gestured to another building. “And see the one shaped like a lunch box?”

“The canteen?”

“Yes, the canteen. Closure provides all employees with free comprehensive nutrient capsules, but most still prefer spending their credits eating at the canteen. Hunger is difficult to quit.”

“That hemisphere in orange is a research center we nickname Green House. There, we study the neural systems of plants and animals outside of humans. It’s quite interesting. I’ll give you a tour when we have a chance.”

Sha Ye talked more, obviously in a good mood. Perhaps it was because Gao Yang was cooperating, or it might be because she was celebrating her daughter’s birthday with her husband.

A few minutes later, a flying car double the size of a regular car descended from the sky. Its four doors opened to the sides like butterfly wings, equipped with spiral jet engines. There were four others installed beneath the chassis. They could generate powerful currents no lesser than a helicopter’s rotor.

It was a new-energy triphibian vehicle, capable of air, land, and water travel—a luxury beyond most people's means, but one Closure provided to all their middle and higher managers.

The car landed smoothly, engines retracting as wheels extended. The doors folded into normal configuration.

“Hop in.” Sha Ye took the wheel. Gao Yang claimed the passenger seat—well, there was no actual steering wheel. Sha Ye told the car the destination instead:

“Head to the south exist first.”

“Please confirm the destination,” said an artificial voice. The console projected a holographic map with the destination marked.

“I confirm,” Sha Ye said.

The map vanished. As the car started moving, segmented safety belts emerged to secure them firmly in their seats.

In a more earnest tone, Sha Ye said, “Liu Li, you needn’t be in such a rush to get out of the hospital. You’re a special case. You could rest longer and receive training in how to survive in this city.”

“Don’t worry,” Gao Yang said carelessly. “I’m adaptable.”

“Ha.” Sha Ye laughed bitterly. “I heard you are a Moon City native, but without your memories, you don’t know what the place is like, do you?”

“I’ve learned about it,” Gao Yang said.

“Alright. Just be careful.” Sha Ye sighed and shook her head. She didn’t press further.

Five minutes later, the triphibian car emerged from the south exit of the Closure Industrial Park, passing between two mirrored β-shaped structures that formed a set of high-tech gates.

As Gao Yang stepped out, Sha Ye offered one final warning. “If you run into any problem, just contact me. Calling the police will be the best, of course.”

“Okay.”

“Goodbye. Godspeed.”

“Goodbye.”

Gao Yang watched the car vanish into the night before turning toward the riverside scenic area. Across the wide river sprawled a metropolis of advanced technology—Moon City, the place where he had allegedly been born and raised.

Tall buildings sprouted in dense clusters. The city looked like a wild jungle of steel and concrete. Neon light fixtures and signboards of different styles and texts grew out of the buildings. Holographic sceneries and moving mascots hovered in the air. Reality blended with projections to paint a bizarre picture.

In the oppressively dark sky above hung a massive artificial moon, golden and gleaming. Tens of thousands of small drones circled it, projecting holograms that mimicked lunar phases from new to full. With serious air pollution having robbed most cities of their view of celestial bodies, Moon City had created this artificial wonder, both to showcase its technological prowess and to offer the world a dream.

This megacity, independent from all nations, operated under its own master and laws. Tales circulated of overnight fortunes, instant fame, and meteoric rises from obscurity. They said all dreamers should make their way to Moon City, regardless of their background.

The reality said otherwise, however. In dark shadows untouched by the beautiful, dreamy neon light and the light of the golden moon, the city’s true colors were shown—a place ruled by the law of the jungle, with no order but fraught with corruption and dirty business.

The city had no walls. It was always open to all, no visa needed. Whether one was poor or rich, an elite or a criminal, the city welcomed them with a cold smile. When one naively entered with the belief that they would be the city’s next legend, they found themselves merely fodder for the city.

The fodder helped the Moon City grow beautiful poisonous flowers to attract more fodder for growth. The cycle was endless and permanent.

That was according to Yan’s unofficial, dramatic introduction to Moon City.

Gao Yang took the elevated walkway across the river. Twenty minutes later, he reached the city's north gate, where a wide road stretched beneath a holographic arch displaying “Welcome to Moon City.” The automatic checkpoints for vehicles and pedestrians stood as mere formalities; a quick body scan, and he was through.

The moment he crossed the threshold, his citizen status triggered a welcome message and several warnings.

Gao Yang shook his head and projected a 3D holographic map from his I Chip. He intoned, “94 Darkhorse Street, District 7.”

Beep.

A second later, a red cross appeared on the map with an attached explanation: Search failed. Unable to locate the address.

Gao Yang frowned. Clearing his throat, he repeated, “94 Darkhorse Street, District 7.”

Beep—

Search failed.

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