Author: Hillary Lyon

The Holographic Wildlife Museum was a major draw for the city, with its representation of Earth’s extinct and endangered animals. Vera loved the idea of viewing facsimiles of majestic creatures in their natural habitats, even if it was through holograms. Besides, hologram technology had come a long way since her youth, when the staticky images were assorted shades of blue, gray, and white. Now holograms were presented in living color; they appeared fully three dimensional.

Vera was most interested in seeing the much-advertised Apex Predators of North America exhibit. She loved the idea of brute physical power and cunning confidence embodied in these almost mythic fauna: The alligator, the gray wolf, the wolverine, the mountain lion, the grizzly bear…

She paid ten extra credits to engage a personal tour guide. His name was Ollie, and she chose him from a list of museum-supplied androids. He was tall and gregarious, with shining silver eyes. His model was very popular at the museum.

Ollie led Vera through the various exhibit halls, spouting facts and entertaining trivia. When at last they arrived at the Predators of North America exhibit, Vera skittered ahead of Ollie, dashing from hologram to hologram, gasping with glee as she viewed each one. Fierce monsters with stereoscopic vision, wielding deadly claws that rend, and fangs that pierce—this is what she came for!

Noting their time was almost up, Ollie interrupted her excitement. “We have one final predator exhibit—the most fearsome of all.”

He steered her towards the lone illuminated figure at the end of the darkened hall. “These beasts were intelligent, creative, and bipedal with opposable thumbs. Organized, they were true masters of their domain. And though they all possessed the same basic physiology, they came in an astounding variety of shades, shapes, and sizes. Even their eye color varied from individual to individual.”

“They were the only ones on Earth who could’ve explored and colonized the stars,” Ollie said, turning to Vera. “We’ve gleaned that, for whatever reason, this species lost interest in mating and reproduction, committing a sort of mass suicide. We still don’t understand why.”

“I suppose that was good news for us,” Vera added, her eyes glowing greenly with the thought.

Ollie nodded in agreement as he extended his arm towards the glass doors at the end of the hall. “This concludes our tour. Please exit through the gift shop.”

* * *

Vera walked between the shelves of the gift shop, scanning all its offerings. Her eyes drifted to a collection of molded plastic souvenirs lined up on a shelf: A moose, a buffalo, a cougar, a mustang…

She reached for the bipedal toy standing among them. Vera moved its articulated arms and legs into various positions. Satisfied, she chose six of these amusing human dolls, one for each grandchild. The colors ranged from light beige to dark brown. The kids will love them! She would make sure the toys reached Zeta Reticuli just in time for the holidays.