Leaving Detlan

By John Gaffield

In the future, Detroit and Lansing, Michigan merged into the megacity of Detlan where Brent and Zammi work and live alongside a small custodial team in a huge corporate complex. The team consists of outdated androids and humans who cannot compete for better positions held by newer androids. The endless monotony of their work may change, due to the team being relocated outside of the city. With little knowledge of anything beyond the city, they are not sure what to expect after the move.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Gaffield
• Release date: Nov 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005315276

John Gaffield

John T. Gaffield is an automotive engineer from Southeast Michigan. John uses his engineering background to create realistic ghost stories with an interest in haunted houses. He published his first novel "Heir to Winston Manor," in October 2010. Subsequent novels include "The Wahl House Curse," and "Alone Again." John has published three Science Fiction novels, the first of which involves Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). "Valerye". He also published a novel about an AI unit in the Science Fiction story, "Synthia." The latest novel is a dystopian story called "Leaving Detlan." John has several short ghost stories available. Some of which are free. They include, "The Ghost of Birch River Cabin," "Winter Visitor," "Slow Down," "Denning Swamp - A Short Ghost Story," "The Haunting of the Charles F. Campton," "Disconnect," and "In Remembrance." To connect, John is active on Minds.com with the channel JohnG76. See the link in Where to find John Gaffield online below.

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Leaving Detlan

John T. Gaffield

Published by John T. Gaffield at Smashwords.com

Copyright 2020 John T. Gaffield

1st Edition – November 2020

Smashwords Edition License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your own use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments and References

Chapters:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

About the Author

Other Titles by John T. Gaffield

Connect with the Author

Acknowledgements and References

Cover

Created by John T. Gaffield

Background modeling created on Blender version 2.79

Figure, lighting, and rendering software Daz3D version 4.10

Genesis II female and male figures

Photo editing software Photoshop Elements version 10

Acronyms

VR – Virtual Reality

AR – Augmented Reality

AV – Autonomous Vehicle

I

Brent smiled slightly as he slowly scanned the beach from one end to the other. A variety of people were in the water, resting or playing on the white sandy beach. From his lounge chair, he reached his hand into the sand, picked up a handful, and slowly let it cascade through his fingers back onto the beach. After bringing his hand back to his side, he slowly closed his eyes and listened to the peaceful ambient sounds surrounding him. The sounds became muted.

Your time will expire in 15 seconds, a female voice said.

Brent opened his eyes and exhaled in frustration. The beach view darkened and was gone within a few seconds.

Just as I was starting to relax, he mumbled to himself.

He took off the VR headset and hung it on a hook near the reclined chair. He removed the VR gloves and set them in a bin to be cleaned for the next user. An android approached him as he started to get up from the chair.

Did you enjoy your getaway, sir? the pleasant android asked.

Yes, but it’s never long enough, Brent said.

Perhaps, you may be interested in one of our overnight getaway packages, sir, the android said.

I’d like that, but I wouldn’t be able to afford it. It takes me a month to save enough to even pay for the 3-hour session I just completed, he said.

There are special payment plans that would allow you to pay over a longer period, the android said.

Brent thought for a moment, then replied, well, I could consider it, but I really want to avoid being in too much debt.

Please remember the options are here if you change your mind and you are always welcome to utilize our 3-hour services again, the android said.

Yeah, I’ll probably be back in about another month, he said as he started making his way past the other chairs with people experiencing various types of VR experiences. Soon he was at the entrance to the theater. The door slid open as he approached it.

The stale smell of the city caused him to pause in the entrance.

Back to reality, he mumbled as he darted onto the crowded sidewalk.

The nighttime sky was barely visible through the smog and various canyon-like buildings and connecting structures surrounding him. There was a flurry of autonomous vehicles on the ground and between the buildings above him.

Sometimes he had enough available Credex to pay for a trip back to the CARA-ELT building #271, but having just spent the money on the VR experience, he knew that he would be walking again this time.

As he continued walking through the dense crowd, a hand grabbed his shoulder, causing him to quickly look toward the individual.

Care to join me inside for a hot experience, mister? a pleasure android, with plenty of makeup and a soft smile, asked.

Brent looked away, then quickly back to respond, I can’t. I’m out of Credex.

Well, then just look for me again right here when you have more, she replied while continuing to smile at him.

He just turned and continued walking away.

After walking several blocks, he arrived at the CARA-ELT building. He made his way to the far back of the massive complex to the service entrance. Being an off-hour, no one else was using the entrance. Only the omnipresent cameras were around if they were working. He raised his arm as he walked by the scanner. The service pedestrian door slid open after a tone sounded. He paused in the entrance as two armed security androids scanned him. After a few seconds, the closest one waved him to proceed. Passing through the entrance, he entered into the dimly lit service corridor and made his way to the elevator station.

After exiting the elevator on level 12, he walked to a nearby line of Porta-Shuttles. He stepped onto the open-topped vehicle and took one of the eight worn seats in the unit. Reaching his hand toward the scratched screen in the middle, he selected the custodial services room, then sat back in the seat. The shuttle whirred to life and gradually picked up speed to take him to his destination.

As he rode through the vast building on the familiar trip through, he noted that many of the previously occupied spaces were now mostly empty and without tenants. The hallways were occasionally dark when the lights were broken in the walls. After a few minutes, the monotonous trip was over. He stepped out of the shuttle and walked toward the door to the cleaning crew quarters. The heavy door slid open as he approached it. As he walked in, he briefly gazed at the simulated night sky and calm country scene integrated into one of the walls. It was the only way they could have anything like a window this deep in the build. The effect would have been better, but portions of the screen did not function and were dark.

Back from the beach, I see, a female said, as he walked into the room, the lights gradually got slightly brighter in the room.

He could tell it was Zammi, a younger woman, likely not too much younger than himself.

Yeah, everything but the tan, he replied in a low voice so as not to wake the others.

Too cheap for that, huh? Zammi replied sarcastically.

Would have looked funny with the VR helmet blocking my face anyway, he said.

Still cheap, Brent, she said.

When was the last time you were on vacation? he asked.

Where are you taking me, darling? she asked.

That’s why I’m trying to save my money, dear Zammi, he said as he sat down on his bed.

She sat up in the bed next to his and watched as he removed the light jacket.

Can you two just go to one of the empty bunks down the hall? another female voice asked.

It was Tenna, an older woman, likely in her sixties.

No, I’m making him work much harder than that, Tenna, Zammi said before grinning widely for Brent.

Well, that may set up his next VR trip, if you keep putting him off like that, Tenna told her.

Oh, he wouldn’t dare, Zammi said.

I’m just ready for bed now anyway, he said as he pulled the covers back on his cot and sat down ready to get in.

Is there trouble over there? another female voice asked from the charging area.

No, Lexi. I'm just getting ready for bed. Sorry for waking everyone, Brent said.

"It will be the standard 6:30 am wake up for