Love is Love

JR-709 stood in front of the bathroom mirror for the third hour. He ran a hand through his long, smooth and freshly conditioned hair, with thick strands that felt like silk. He let it fall to the left instead of the right. Unsurprisingly, it looked the same as the last ten times he swept it to that side. A sigh of frustration forced his fringe from a floppy eye-covering position to floating briefly in the air like a flag in the wind. A quick smearing of wax to solve the problem, a final head tilt to inspect all angles, and he was ready.

             He waved his hand over a small black sensor, activating a servo that made the bathroom section of the wall withdraw inwards. Sliding into its place, a large video panel displaying images of people performing different duties with the subtitle, Musk’s Patriots. JR-709 paused for a moment to take in the scenes of people on battlefields, in large offices, and in streets burning multi-coloured flags.

One scene depicted a crowd of people in a city park, all waving cardboard signs. Their mouths were wide open with inaudible screams and spit flying everywhere. The placards above their head had words splashed crudely in paint saying, love is love, freedom, and equality for all. It ended with an opposing crowd, all wearing blood-red hats, circling the angry slogan carriers. The surrounding gang then pressed in on the crowd, fists flying and eventually guns firing. The screen overlayed with shades of red, white, and blue, followed by one word: FREEDOM!

JR-709 crinkled one corner of his lip and waved his hand over the sensor, bringing the mirror back so he could fuss over his hair again. A compulsion he struggled to justify to himself. Whilst it was a courtesy to look appealing for what was about to happen, it was not expected. Still, he continued to pick, pluck, and shake various aspects of his appearance. He was a tall man. Well, taller than most. His sharp jaw held itself at a full ninety-degree angle. His eyes were a deep emerald green. His shoulders broad, tapering off to a narrow waist and slender legs. Any physical companion would be lucky to share an evening with him, especially if it resulted in a successful pregnancy.

A loud chime that filled his small apartment interrupted the constant preening.

“Visitor awaiting entry. Registration number confirmed as CG-1256, female,” came the deep male voice of JR-709’s digital assistant.

“Entry permitted,” JR-709 replied. “Set living quarters to physical intimacy mode,” he asked.

“Compliance,” the assistant replied.

The mirror vanished. Replaced once again by the video screen. This time, it displayed a kaleidoscope of pink shades that bounced around the cube-shaped apartment. Occasionally, words would appear saying things like duty, honour, and patriots of the future. Meanwhile, another section of wall containing a kitchenette also retreated, plain beige-coloured paneling appearing in its place. Finally, a sofa facing the video screen rotated, eventually transforming into a bed big enough for two.

“Intimacy mode activated. Your guest is ready to enter,” the digital assistant said.

JR-709 took a deep breath before saying, “Access Granted.”

A wall panel next to the video screen slid sideways, revealing a dimly lit corridor and JR-709’s guest. A woman, much shorter than JR-709, with dark curly hair and sky-blue eyes. She wore a one-piece dress shaded entirely in grey. A single spotlight above the entryway illuminated her olive-coloured skin. JR-709 gave her a nod, and she entered the apartment.

As CG-256 approached, she pulled a palm-sized transparent device from her pocket. She raised an eyebrow towards JR-709, and he reacted by holding out his arm. She hovered the device over JR-709’s wrist, illuminating a small tattoo of a QR code.

“I have registered this intimate interaction with The Musk. Would you like to do the same, JR-709?” she said. JR-709 stared blankly at her with a half-smile, causing dimples to appear on his face. “You are aware we can not begin until you do,” she continued. JR-709 fumbled in the pocket of his navy-blue jumpsuit, searching for his device. He almost dropped it in his haste before scanning CG-256’s wrist.

“Registration with The Musk complete. Our intimate interaction can begin,” he said. “Would you like a beverage or refreshment?”

CG-256 raised a single eyebrow before saying, “An unusual request.”

“Apologies. We can, of course, begin our intimate inter…”

“Some water would be appreciated,” CG-256 interrupted.

JR-709 nodded and moved towards a rectangular device fixed to the wall. He verbally requested a glass of room-temperature water. Which then appeared in a small opening.

“You seem to be distracted, JR-709. Is everything ok?” CG-256 asked.

“Yes, everything is fine, of course. I have just been looking forward to our intimate interaction.,” he said, handing her the drink. “My fertility metrics are in the upper percentile this month.”

“Well… That is good news,” she replied. She took a sip of water. “It is indeed pleasurable to see you, too.”

“Would you like to make yourself comfortable?” JR-709 said as he gestured toward the bed. CG-256 took a beat before accepting the offer. “How was your trip to Red, White, and Blue Land?”

“You remembered that?”

“Well, of course,” JR-709 said as he joined CG-256 on the edge of the bed. “You mentioned during our last intimate interaction that you had a re-education mission. I find your work very intriguing.”

She regarded him for a moment before replying, “It went well, JR-709. Thank you for asking. The patriots there have become valuable assets for The Musk.”

“Well, of course,” JR-709 said with a smile. “They have a wonderful educator.”

CG-256 shifted her position slightly, putting distance between them. “Is everything OK, JR-709?” She asked. “This seems like a lot of detail for pre-intimate interaction activity.”

“Foreplay,” he replied.

“Excuse me?”

“Foreplay,” he repeated. “I work in The X Archives, removing immoral references. I found that intimate interactions used to be proceeded by something called foreplay. It was a way to build the necessary arousal for the act to commence.”

“That seems… Unnecessary,” she replied as she wriggled even further away. “Have you had the right dose of RFK today? You seem to be in a heightened state.”

JR-709 leaned in close to CG-256 and whispered, “I must confide in you about something. I have stopped taking RFK for the last few weeks.”

CG-256 stood up and backed away, her eyes open wide. “This interaction is at risk of getting a dislike. Or are you using some form of humour, JR-709?”

“Please do not be scared,” JR-709 said as he inched closer.

             “I should report this to The Musk,” CG-256 replied.

             “Do not be scared, CG-256. I have seen things in The X Archives that made me curious about RFK and its effects. Many of us have found a way to manage our dosage unnoticed. And what we have experienced… Is wonderful.”

             “Why are you telling me this?”

             “Did you know that I spent many hours working on my physical appearance for you this evening?” He said, brushing his fingers through his wavy hair.

             “You always have a pleasing physical appearance. That is why I frequent you for intimate interactions. A successful pregnancy would produce a superior patriot.” CG-256 realised she had allowed JR-709 to close the gap between them. She responded by widening it again.

             “But this was about more than breeding,” he replied. “Since limiting RFK, I have had reactions to your presence that are beyond physical. I find myself distracted by memories of our interactions when I am working. One time, it even resulted in an arousal.”

             “I must leave,” she said as she moved towards the exit. JR-709 swiftly placed himself in the way.

             “Please, CG-256. Do not leave. I believe I have developed a permanent connection with you. What we once referred to as love.”

             “Such a state of being is irrelevant,” she replied with increased volume. “We exist only to serve The Musk and expand The Empire. Love is forbidden.”

             “But why?” He pleaded. “I have felt it. I am feeling it. It is extremely… Pleasant.”

             “Please get out of my way, JR-709.”

             “Jerry.”

             “Excuse me?”

             “Jerry. It is a name I have given myself. Did you know in the western states, they do not use registrations? They have names for each other. It is even possible for two people to have the same name. I think you would have been called Michelle.”

             CG-256 held out her device and said, “If you do not allow me to leave immediately, I will report this interaction to The Musk.”

             Jerry took a deep breath and replied, “All right, I have great love for you. You are meant to do anything for people you love.” He stepped out of the way and watched her stride towards the exit. “Before you go,” he said. “Has anything I said this evening made sense? Would you like me to teach you how to reduce your RFK dosage?”

             Michelle stopped, stared at the ground and said, “We die without RFK.”

             “As you can see, I am quite alive. I have never felt more alive. Does that not convince you?”

             “I am leaving now… Jerry.”

             “Will you report me to The Musk, Michelle?”

             “I think we both should find other patriots for intimate interactions,” she said as she exited the apartment.

             Jerry stood shrouded in the pink lighting of the apartment’s intimacy mode. He felt an unfamiliar sensation building inside like a great wave of energy swirling from the tips of his toes to the top of his head. It continued to intensify until it was eventually released from an unexpected location. He felt a dampness on his face, like rain or shower water. No matter how much he wiped it away, more emerged. It increased in frequency in the same way his heart began beating faster. All his secret research in The X Archives had not prepared him for… Whatever was happening.           

             “Deactivate intimacy mode,” he called out. The pink lighting dimmed, replaced by a white glow.

             “Compliance,” came the voice of the digital assistant.

             “And prepare a dose of RFK,” Jerry said.

             “Compliance.”