Lost City/Story

Overview
 • **Story**

This is the exclusive story that comes with Lost City.

01
--

Type of stage: Styling

Mars: Program optimizing... Space construction complete!

Mars: Stage of completion 70%, stability 30%, adaptability 10%.

Mars: No-op instruction to be entered-

Having received the prompting, Gerald finally loosened his fists, and his hands were all sweaty.

He endeavored to calm himself down but could not hide his excitement anymore.

That was the first time that a data space had been successfully constructed.

Though it was not as stable and adaptable as expected, it marked a breakthrough.

He could not wait to share his delight with others.

It was all dark and dreary outside. Raindrops were pattering against the window.

Minutes ago, Gerald called me saying that he would bring me somewhere.

Me: Where will Gerald take me on such a rainy day?

As I was pondering over that, a trace of light broke through the rain, and a sports car speeded toward me.

Gerald was here.

Gerald: Are you ready?

Me: Yes, but where are we going?

Gerald: Somewhere no one has ever been to before.

*(Location: Gerald's office)*

Shortly afterward, we arrived at Gerald's office. He was showing me his research study with much enthusiasm.

Gerald: This so-called consciousness space is a stable data environment into which people can upload their consciousness,

Gerald: and transform the data space through it.

Me: A consciousness space?

Me: Is this the place that no one has ever been to?

Gerald: Yes, this technology is still under research.

Gerald: What I am constructing right now is just a framework.

Gerald: It's not fairly stable and adaptable.

Me: Then is it safe for us to go inside?

Gerald: Don't worry. I won't let you get hurt.

Gerald: But it's all up to your choice whether to get in or not.

Me: Of course I want to!

Me: Our first attempt into space is just as significant as Armstrong's first step onto the moon!

Me: And I believe you can keep me safe and sound.

Gerald: Great, let's get started then.

Gerald: You have to put on a conduction device first. Flexible and simple outfits might be the best choice.

Me: Well, since we are exploring a new territory, I think it's better to be more dignified and elegant .

### Styling requirements

Tips: Simple and Dignified

Main style: , Sub style:

02
--

Type of stage: Styling

### Transcript

Me: It's so dark that I cannot see anything.

Gerald: This is the original state of a data space.

Gerald: Now we can build cities with conscious data.

Me: Uhmmm... Let me think... First, there are the skyscrapers.

Gerald: Right.

Gerald's fingers tapped the air, and a virtual keyboard appeared at his fingertips.

As his fingers flew across the keyboard, the darkness around us gradually faded away.

Skyscrapers rose from the ground, and a magnificent city gradually unfold behind him.

### Investigation

Me: What an adorable drone!

* Drone: Uploading city data...
* Drone: No sign of activity yet...
* Gerald: It can aid us in city construction and provide real-time feedback on city dynamics.

Me: I hear something from the buildings.

* Gerald: It is the sound of the wind. The space simulates a natural climate environment.
* Gerald: When air currents pass through skyscrapers, the sound of the wind is formed.
* Me: The sound of the wind is not enough. We have to add something else.
* Me: For instance, the hustle of the city and the bustling of people.
* Me: With the hustle and bustle of urban life, this is what a city should be like.
* Gerald: Right.
* As Gerald busied himself, the city bustled with the noise of people, and dazzling lightings.
* The city is becoming more lively and vivid.

Me: You made this keyboard?

* Gerald: No, this is the holographic keyboard projection that comes with the kit.
* Gerald: The space is currently still in its infancy and still requires manual data entry.
* Gerald: When the space is completed, people can build cities with their consciousness.
* Gerald: Then we will access the external weather data and synchronize the weather in space with the real world.

### Transcript (cont.)

As Gerald's fingers pressed down, the sky darkened.

Countless neon signs lit up in the darkness, gloriously decorating the city.

Me: How beautiful.

I couldn't help but look at the sight before me and marvel at it.

I felt drops of rain on my face. They were a little chilly.

Me: They were actually cold! Just like the real ones!

Gerald: Thanks to the sensory equipment, everything you feel in the space is the same as reality.

Me: Then why don't I change into a cool cyberpunk outfit? It will be more immersive.

Me: It would have been nice to have some sexy and mature touches to it.

### Styling requirements

Tips: Cool, sexy and cyberpunk

Main style: , Sub style:

Label:

03
--

Type of stage: Dialogue

### Transcript

The puddle after the rain reflected the glorious neon. A couple ran across it, disturbing the calm surface.

People were eating and chatting by the barbecue stalls along the road, occasionally bursting into laughter.

Everything was surreal. Ordinary yet lively.

Gerald: Do you want anything to eat?

Gerald asked, probably judging from how attentively I stared at the barbeque stalls.

Me: Right here?

Gerald: Although there is no psychological need for you to eat, your appetite can still be triggered.

Me: That's to say, I can enjoy the feast without having to worry about the physical burden of food?

Gerald: Good explanation.

Me: Then I want… some ice cream that I once had at Annie's home!

Gerald: Ice cream?

Me: Yes, an ordinary-looking but tasty vanilla ice cream that could shower you in bliss upon tasting it.

Me: I have never tasted the same ice cream again no matter how hard I searched for it.

Gerald: Follow me.

Gerald takes me to a dessert shop.

Just when we step inside, a chubby levitating robot flies over.

Robot 0: Welcome. Welcome.

Me: How adorable!

Gerald: I had once developed a multifunctional service robot. This is the first generation, Zero.

Gerald: For some reason, Zero was not put into mass production. So it is the only one in the world.

As he speaks, Gerald walks straight to the operating table, ties his apron, and skillfully whips the cream.

Me: What are you doing?

Gerald: Ice cream is only tasty when it is made fresh.

Gerald concentrated on the ice cream, his lineament softening under the light.

The little robot hummed merrily, whilst a delectable and exquisite scent filled the room, and time flowed on.

Gerald presented his homemade ice cream to me when little Zero next to us sounded an alarm abruptly.

Robot 0: Beep - interference - direction lost -

The robot rampaged through the room. I dodged in panic and dropped the ice cream ono the floor.

Before I could mourn, the robot rushed out of the dessert shop, and I followed suit without thinking.

Gerald: Watch out!

Just as I stepped through the door, a gust of wind hit me and made me stumble, then it swept my body up.

The buildings around me began to spin and collapse, and Gerald's voice was lost in the chaos.

Swirling and tumbling in air currents, I saw chaos. The city was gone, and the wind was howling in my ears.

04
--

Type of stage: Styling

### Transcript

I woke up to a dreary sky, tall buildings, and neon lights…

Everything was exactly the same as a moment ago, but there are no people… no traffic, and no noise.

The flying machines passed through the dark night as if they were ghosts.

Me: (What's going on…)

Robot 0: Welcome. Welcome.

I turned around to see Zero, who had escaped from the dessert shop, floating merrily in the air.

Before I could get any closer, it suddenly turned around and flew deeper into the city.

At the same time, a small robot identical to it rushed out from behind and disappeared among the skyscrapers.

Me: Two… Zero robots?

*(flashback)*

*Gerald: I had once developed a multifunctional service robot. This is the first generation, Zero.*

*Gerald: For some reason, Zero was not put into mass production. So it is the only one in the world.*

*(another flashback)*

*Gerald: Yes, this technology is still under research.*

*Gerald: What I am constructing right now is just a framework.*

*Gerald: It's not fairly stable and adaptable.*

*(flashback ends)*

Me: Is it possible that the space is unstable so it causes a misalignment?

Me: In any case, I need to find Gerald first.

I walked along the road based on memory. I didn't hear anything else besides the wind and my own footsteps.

Up ahead is the intersection. As far as I remember, there will be a dessert shop on my left.

Me: Wait, turn left?

I looked to my left, where flashing neon signs stretched to the end of the street. There was no dessert shop.

And on the right side of the street stood the dessert shop.

Everything is just like… a mirror image?

Me: Should I turn left or right?

* *Right*

* *Left*

Me: This way then!

I took a deep breath and walked forward.

Just one step forward made the pavement collapse, and tall buildings on both sides tumbled down on me.

Someone pulled me out of danger before I was buried underneath the rubble.

Gerald: Are you hurt?

I was in a familiar embrace enveloped by an aura I knew of. I was on the verge of tears.

Me: I'm fine. What about you? What's going on?

Gerald: The consciousness space data has self-replicated for unknown reasons.

Gerald: The chaotic data flow draws us into a replicated mirrored space.

Me: If we can't figure out why it's replicated, will we be trapped here forever?

Gerald: We won't. I knew the root cause of the problem.

Gerald: Soon I can get you out of here.

Me: Really?

Gerald: An arduous journey is right ahead of us. A light and sporty outdoor outfit might help.

Me: Plus, sweet and lovely dressing will help reduce my stress. Let me give it a go.

### Styling requirements

Tips: Lively and sweet sportswear

Main style: , Sub style:

Label:

05
--

Type of stage: Dialogue

### Transcript

I held Gerald's hand tightly all the way. Although my hands were wet from sweat, his was still dry.

The buildings on both sides were thinning out, and the road was craggy.

Me: Where shall we go?

Gerald: Where the data is in error.

Gerald: We are able to leave after the data is repaired.

In the midst of conversations, we reached a church.

The church was dilapidated. The primitive design stood out from the rest of the modern buildings.

Gerald: Here we are. Let's get in!

Perhaps it was that we had reached the targeted destination, I could sense the excitement in Gerald's voice.

Peering at Gerald and touching his less than warm fingertips, I felt a weird sense of emotion inside.

Me: (Shall we get in?)

* *Enter*
	+ Me: Right.
	+ I looked at Gerald. He was gazing unblinkingly at me.
	+ I fought back the uneasiness I felt, pushed the door open, and walked in.
	+ It was dim inside, and I could barely see a thing.
	+ Me: Gerald?
	+ There was no response.
	+ I turned around only to find the door being shut, and Gerald nowhere to be seen.
	+ I suddenly realized something…
	+ Me: that probably he is not Gerald.
	+ Right at this moment, the light above me was turned on.

* *Escape*
	+ In a flash, a sudden thought hit me.
	+ Me: You are not Gerald!
	+ I shook off his hand, turned around, and ran.
	+ Me: (Gerald's hands are always warm and firm, never as cold and emotionless as that.)
	+ As soon as I escaped, I felt a jerk and my body was being pulled back by a strong force.
	+ Me: Ahhhhh!

Lights from the dome shone through the stained glass, reflecting colors with a touch of romance and majesty.

A girl stood under the light in the center of the church. Having matching outfits, her back looked familiar.

Me: Ummm… Hello?

Slowly she turned around, and I was struck dumb. She was ME.

Or rather, she was an exact replica of me.

Me: What's going on?

We had the same voice and the same expression. Even I was caught in a momentary trance. Who was the real me?

Just then, the church door opened abruptly, and hurried footsteps barged in together with the chilly wind.

I and "I" turned around simultaneously.

Me: Gerald?

Gerald stood at the doorway, his eyebrows furrowed, his fingers hovering above the holographic keyboard.

I traced his finger and saw that he was about to press… Delete.

It seemed that Gerald was not surprised at all.

Gerald: *Player*, listen to me.

Gerald: Because of some data errors, this building, which shouldn't have existed, was created.

Gerald: As long as I delete them, everything will be back to normal.

Gerald: But when they are deleted, all unprotected data in the building will be deleted along with it. So…

Gerald's words were left unfinished. But I got him.

So, he needed to identify the real me and added me to a protection mark.

Me: (But… is he the real Gerald?)

Me: (Even if he is the real Gerald, how can I get him to recognize me?)

At that moment, the stained glass began to rotate, its patterns changing like a kaleidoscope.

I can't figure out what will happen, but my instincts tell me there is no time left.

Me: *Player*, trust me!

At Gerald's voice, I turned to look at him. The moment our eyes met, I suddenly understood his intention.

Having no time to ponder upon Gerald's identity, I gritted my teeth and ran toward him.

My finger almost reached the Delete button when my replica, whose actions were in unison with me, hesitated.

There and then, Gerald swiftly entered a code and pressed delete.

The moment he pressed the button, all lights were out.

Then, the stained glass cracked and the church was tumbling down. Gerald held my hand and rushed out.

His hand was warm and tight. Although tremoring slightly from the stress, it was as reliable and dependable.

He was Gerald!

06
--

Type of stage: Dialogue

### Transcript

Gerald: You're awake?

As I opened my eyes, I saw Gerald next to me and the dark clouds that densely covered the city had faded away.

Bright and warm sunlight sprawled over the sky, rendering a thousand miles of rosy evening glow.

Me: Are we back?

Gerald: Yes, we are back.

* Me: Looking at the sunset, I am all immersed in the aftermath of the havoc.
	+ Me: But at least...
	+ Gerald: Yes?
	+ I swiveled around to look at Gerald. His delicate and imposing figure was basking in the setting sun.
	+ Me: But at least, we get to see the sunset.

* Me: I have a question. Do these replicas know what they were doing?
	+ Me: First, a replica of you led me to the church.
	+ Me: Then, there was a replica of me to confuse you would not delete any data rashly.
	+ Me: It's just like everything had been preordained.
	+ Gerald: It should have something to do with the protection system of the data space.
	+ Gerald: Data errors had replicated the protection system automatically
	+ Gerald: To prevent themselves from being destroyed.
	+ Gerald: They learned from the conscious bodies in the space and then worked out a feasible plan.
	+ Gerald: And protecting themselves from deletion was given top priority.
	+ Gerald: Therefore they would definitely hesitate before the Delete button.
	+ Gerald: They are not conscious, but their actions are indeed worth studying.

* Me: Ice cream? Is it to make up for the one that fell on the floor earlier?
	+ Gerald: Yes.
	+ Me: It's sweet and a little sour. It felt warm in my mouth.
	+ Me: What flavor is it?
	+ Gerald: Sunset-after-the-rain flavor. I just got the idea.
	+ Me: Would you like to make a real one for me after we get back to our world?
	+ Me: We shall call it... the Fiery Sunset.
	+ Gerald: Right.
	+ Me: Don't you have any opinions about it?
	+ Me: It sounds like a show for seniors.
	+ Gerald: I think it's great because you name it.

As we talked, the sun vanished below the horizon. Lights on the streets and buildings bustled the city.

Everything about the city looked adorable and cozy after today's adventure.

Me: I wish everything here were real.

Gerald: Your wish will come true.

Me: Huh?

Gerald: Someday, humans will be free from their bodies, living in the city of consciousness, realizing eternity.

Gerald: And this is the first city of consciousness.

Me: Will we live here too?

Me: In a city we constructed until-

Me: the end of time.

Gerald: Of course, as long as you want to.

Myriad twinkling lights were kindling the vigor of the city. My heart swelled with happiness beyond words.

This was OUR city, and someday in the future, we could embrace our eternity in it.

In the future...

I glanced at Gerald.

The future might not be too far to fetch.