Episode 120. Vista Ridge Dreamin'

Story

On Earth, in San Francisco, nine life-forms materialize in a beam of light. T'Met, Emilie, Charlene, Eric, Eros, Manu, Robert, Gornok, and K'hoka Khol'a find themselves standing on a paved sidewalk, in the heart of the residential district of Vista Ridge, a peaceful enclave nestled in the Presidio.
Freischwimmer - California Dreamin

The neighborhood is a model of futuristic architecture, where glass-and-metal buildings blend harmoniously with the surrounding nature. Vast, impeccably maintained lawns stretch beneath a brilliant blue sky dotted with light clouds. The Golden Gate Bridge dominates the horizon, its majestic arch bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. Winding paths cross the district, where joggers in brightly colored outfits pass families enjoying the fresh air. Young children play with floating drones, while anti-gravity bicycles glide silently along dedicated lanes.

Vertical gardens climb the facades of the buildings, and holographic fountains project rainbows of pure water, offering a soothing symphony of sound. Here and there, levitating benches provide spectacular views of San Francisco Bay. Passersby, dressed in modern and elegant clothing, exchange greetings or speak quietly with holographic interfaces floating at wrist height.

They are all shocked at the sight of the huge white cube planted in the middle of a poorly maintained lawn. In front of the facade stands a pedestal. T'Met invites the team to stand on it. Once everyone is in place, they are automatically transported inside the cube. The empty, austere space that greets them contrasts with the exterior, provoking another wave of astonishment.

Inside, the space is strangely vast, almost oppressive in its absolute emptiness. The smooth white walls extend without interruption, as if the building had been carved from a single block of matter. No decoration, no furniture, not even a partition to indicate a room. The place resembles an immense abandoned workshop, where the slightest sound resonates, amplified by the echo of footsteps on the bare floor. The emptiness is so total that it seems to absorb all warmth, all life, like a blank canvas waiting to be shaped.

No sooner has she spoken these words than partitions and frames begin to move. In a few seconds, the vast empty space is transformed into a luxurious apartment, including bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a bathroom, and, to top it all off, a terrace with a rooftop pool.

Each of them receives a padd containing a guide to help them adapt to the 26th century. The group settles on the living-room sofas and begins carefully reading the information provided.

T'Met then gets up to show her companions around. She shows them how to use voice commands to turn the lights on or off, open doors and cupboards, and even synthesize clothing or food from the replicator. All of them are fascinated by these new technologies, though they seem strange to them.

Immediately, the synthesizer emits a whistle, and five ice-cream cups appear on the tray.

For the rest of the weekend, each of them gradually rediscovers civilized life. As expected, Charlene and Emilie keep their bet and swim naked in the pool, enjoying the California sun, while T'Met isolates herself in her room to meditate. The meditation does not unfold serenely, since flashbacks from her past return, rekindling the terrible memories of her captivity among the Russians, the tortures she endured, the summary executions, events that made her lose a part of herself.