It’s not like you said it would be at all. The ring is in perfect homeostasis. Most of the greenspace has been cultivated into wetland. I mean, if you think about it, the bots probably figured out that would lead to the most ideal carbon flux. If I had a few more weeks here, I’d—
You don’t have weeks. Keep looking.
I know I don’t. I’m just saying more people should know about this. More people should see this.
Just you. Keep looking.
#
Cutting through the growth took longer than I thought it would. I’m barely out of Arc 5. There are species of plant here that I can’t identify, which makes me think the gene splice labs are still active. How is that possible? They weren’t shut down when the ring was evacuated?
Everything was shut down except for vital maintenance. We made sure of that.
The bots must have restarted it then. I see them sometimes, crawling up the trees. The millipede model got pretty popular before the fall, I’m guessing?
It was the most suitable variation, despite some drawbacks.
Creepy as fuck.
Yes. That was one of the drawbacks.
Keep looking.
#
I know you said no questions, but I’m here, aren’t I? This place is pristine. It’s Eden in the middle of abyss. Back on Earth we grew up on stories about how beautiful this place was. Why didn’t you ever try to come back?
We transgressed. Keep looking.
All right, fine. I’m almost to the residential arc. You know, it’s funny, there shouldn’t be anyone here with me except the bots, but sometimes… it feels like I’m not alone.
You’re imagining things. The ring was evacuated in its entirety. It was a place where we once lived. If you’re feeling the weight of that memory, put it aside. I didn’t hire you to pay condolences.
That’s exactly why you hired me.
#
I’m at your apartment. Your wife isn’t here.
That’s impossible. She died there. We were on a call when — are you sure?
Her body isn’t here. Is there a chance she survived?
No one on that arc did. It was a catastrophic failure of the ventilation system. Swift and brutal. One moment she was asking me about dinner and the next…
Okay. I get it.
I’ll keep looking.
#
It’s not just your wife that’s missing. There are no bodies on this arc. They’re all gone. I’ll tell you what is here though. Bots. Lots of them. The most I’ve ever seen. I tried to get some sleep and I woke up to them swarming me, all up in my face, dozens of them. One of them tried to crawl down my throat. Hell of a wake up call.
That’s odd. They shouldn’t be concerned with you.
Could they have moved the bodies? Is that something they do?
Unlikely.
#
What was this place like before the fall? Was it as perfect as everyone said?
Nothing’s ever perfect.
Come on. Tell me something. Pass the time. I’ve seen the streets you walked. I saw the schools and libraries and swimming pools and train tracks. We never had any of that. It must have been nice.
That’s the thing about traps. There has to be something to lure you in.
#
Hey. I was right. I’m not alone. There’s someone here. I’m following them right now.
Who?
They’re walking too far ahead for me to see who they are. I’m in some kind of maintenance tunnel. Hard to see anything else, there’s just too many bots everywhere. Can’t even see the walls, that’s how thick they are.
I don’t think this is a good idea.
We’re getting closer to whatever it is. If this person survived, there have to be more, right? Your wife could still be alive.
Maybe this place isn’t abandoned after all.
Hey. Get out of there. Go back.
#
Talk to me. Are you there?
Yes. I’m here. They don’t like it when I talk to you, I think. There are so many people down here.
Survivors? After all this time?
No. Not survivors. There’s something wrong with them. They don’t move right. None of them are speaking. My god. A bot just crawled out of one person’s ear. I think—
Hello?
…Hello?
…