Prelude: A Quiet Billionaire - Speculative Fictional Short Stories by Marica Quarsingh

 

A Quiet Billionaire

Speculative Fictional Short Stories

Marica Quarsingh

 

Fast Cars. Fast Mars

Trails of red dust in what could resemble to an artist silk scarves in the wind filled the red planets air. A mars terrain geared EV sped its way from one end of the dunes to the next. Close to follow was a second vehicle. Less fast in speed, but more advanced in driving skill. A more technical driver behind the wheel chasing the lead car whose driver seemed more out to have fun. Proving that having fun in the process could take you further, faster.

Eventually both vehicles about to stop in what can only be described as an earthly fast car movie scene with a dramatic driving end, but on fast Mars amplified with intravenous EV capabilities. They made donuts in the sand and the lead driver with one hand clench in an anti-Apartheid fist through the glass retractable roof as shrieks of glee echoed across the empty dunes. Both cars abruptly stopping with dust settling and eventually each driver stepping out fiercely towards one another. Maintaining eye contact,  they embraced.

“You did well Moira!” said the young man in a proudly firm yet warm toned voice while he lifted the small statured lead driver a few centimeters off the ground. Her boho boot clad feet dangling mid-air as she responded youthfully.

“You too my beautiful brother. Mosche, what do you say  to us having one more look from Mars edge and then head back to the city and catch up over an alkaline Mars water and cultivated fish burger?”

“Good idea sister but now I’m going to actually race you there!”. 

As they both paused taking in the clear stars visible to the naked eye and in the daylight too, the silence of their majestic sight broke with a laughter to Moira’s giggly voice.

“We’ll see about that!”. Her tiny frame bouncing back into her EV, both cars sped off. This time leaving mushroom clouds of red dust. 

Their apparent sibling rivalry in full gear.

The scenes drastically changing from dusty roads surrounded by vast red dunes and empty landscapes into clean but complex structured roads with cacti and Cape Town fynbos plants paving the roads. All imported from neighbouring planets to remind the people of Mars how far they have come compared to their other less sophisticated neighbouring planets with its people of limited notions. 

Eventually you knew you are in the city as the road’s infrastructure included mechanics to support electric vehicles weaning into auto pilot modes. Now at speeds to suit the passenger. The city lights in every spectrum of ultra-colors and on request to light a city as each citizen chose to view it in. Moira and her love for exotics went with unicorn colors. This meant that for her, buildings moved like receptors throwing back engaging adverts of interest to her profile. The power of data governments proved invaluable in understanding the people of Mars without owning them. After all, who wants adverts of no personal interest or a city viewed in a color which sucked to the individual's color palette.

This was life on Mars. Brilliantly automated and efficiently sophisticated to the peoples needs.

Moira’s EV sped to a grinding halt. Abandoning it in the center of the street, this time she eased out approaching Café Current in her now change of clothes. A yoga flexi bamboo tech pair of tights and DapperFx T. She looked freshened since the dunes but without taking a stop enroute. Thanks to her dual wearable clothes, her body borne computer apparel mutated into her next clothing selection on activation with the ChangeFit voice app

Leaving her on the street, her vehicle headed off in auto pilot to self-park in roads above stores levels. Keeping clear views of interactive store windows. Off-Old, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and MelerineRose still by far the most impressive window fronts.

Grabbing a seat in Café Current, the store staff all seemed to know Moira as they welcomed her in.

“Yo Moira, what’s fate bringing you today?” said the robotic manager named Slick. 

To which Moira responded

“Glad you know the meaning of my name! Now why don’t you decide what flavoured Alkaline water I’m thinking of grabbing while I await my brothers late arrival, again!”

 

“I got you Moira. I think it’s going to be Ugandan Coffee Bean infused water to give you the right dose of caffeine and alkaline”.

“You’re on the crypto with that!” giggled Moira while mockingly eyeing Mosche as he walked in.

 “Make that two” said Mosche while he grabbed the seat back to front and flopped into it.

 “Late again!” said Moira all smiles. To which Mosche simply smiled saying something under his breath to appease his baby sister.

 “Great space this Café Current” said Mosche.

 “Yea. You do know the receptive walls can pick up each patron’s mood through neuro-signaling waves and can play back content on desire to complement the mood you’re in or to enhance your mood positively. That’s why it’s called Café Current. It picks up your vibe or improves it!” said Moira.

 Mosche’s eyes looking as bewildered as his hairstyle.

After some shared silence and sliding over the digital menus integrated into the tables, both Mosche and Moira agreed to getting their cultivated fish burgers with a giant amazon jungle banana fries to share. Imported all the way from South Africa on Planet Earth by that monopolist and Mars title deeds owner, President Elon Musk!

Lots of great things from South Africa made its way to Mars including a giant holograph that was always on of universal struggle icon - Nelson Mandela. Serving as a reminder of him making it possible for all races to live together on Earth. 

A reminder of the less humane, human suffering known to other planets and never to find its way to planet Mars!