Author: Alastair Millar

What a time to be alive!

Count Nicolas, as he’d been known for a while now, exited the flitter the way he did everything: elegantly. A casual wave, and the vehicle gullwinged closed behind him, taking itself off to a loiterzone as he walked away. The great thing about modern technology, he mused, was that servants were unnecessary, but he still didn’t have to expend any effort on the little conveniences he appreciated – there were machines and automatons for everything!

Standing at the grand entrance to Founders’ Hall, he smiled in anticipation. Melissa Azikiwe, head of the City Council’s opposition bloc, would attend tonight’s Civic Ball, and he planned to use the occasion to take their relationship to the next level. This one was special; she made him feel young again – which given his actual age was quite the achievement. And she was quite unlike the vast majority of the herd, who were thoroughly predictable, and therefore boring.

But how the world had changed! Rejuvenation treatments were accessible to even the lower classes, and it was unlikely anyone would be curious about his persistently youthful good looks, however long they’d known him. And if the uncouth asked where he had his work done, he could simply maintain the discreet silence expected of a gentleman, and cut them dead socially should they cross paths again.

During his lifetime, body modifications had come in and out of fashion, too, and while he presently had no need to hide physical oddities like his long canines, he appreciated the enhancements available to a man of means. His emerald eye lenses, for example, were not only fashionable, but fed him information on the body temperatures of those nearby – handy when adaptive makeup could otherwise hide those sudden, telltale flushes.

She’d evidently been waiting for him, as he was hardly inside when stepped up and slipped her arm through his.

“My dear Melissa, are we going public?” he murmured.

“Absolutely,” she smiled back. And going on tiptoe to bring her mouth close to his ear, whispered, “I know what you are.”

He wasn’t often caught by surprise, but his step nearly faltered. “Do you?” he replied calmly.

“Oh Nicolas, yes. At university, I took a minor in anthropology, with a focus on Eastern European folklore. Just for fun. So I do know the signs.”

“I see.” They walked on through the fashionable crowd, making polite nods as they went. “And you aren’t afraid?” he asked softly.

“I know what I want. It’s why I’m a politician. And I very definitely want you.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re a very attractive man, and I’m sure you’re very skilled after all this time. Very animal of me, I know. But I don’t want you just to turn me on tonight, I want you to turn me. Imagine all that we could achieve together; we could this make this city ours. Forever.” Her eyes sparkled.

“You know you’re taking a risk. I could just turn on you.”

“But you won’t. Because we go well together. Because I can help you hide your true nature in a world where the State knows almost everything already, and will soon know more. Because I think you’d enjoy a new challenge. But most of all… because it would be fun!”

He looked down at her in astonishment, and she laughed prettily. “Am I wrong?”

“No. No you are not.” It really was a chance worth taking, so he smiled back, and with mutual understanding they stepped out to face the long, long future together. What a time to be alive, indeed.