Visit to the Twenty-first Century

Obsidian gazed out the panoramic window at the vivid blue and white of earth ten miles below. He turned to his friend Blato, who was propped up on one elbow on a floating sofa being fed grapes by a lovely female android. "It's certainly a splendid vista. Nonetheless, I prefer my apartment on Enceladus with its spectacular view of Saturn."

"Ah, but is any scene worth being away from the civilized centers of the inner system. Besides, I could see the same view from here, only slightly delayed."

Obsidian chuckled as he floated over to the second couch. "How true. These days most of us live identical lives regardless of what part of the system we live in. You speak of civilization, but my fully automated apartment provides whatever I wish. Tell me, Blato, how often do you actually leave your home?"

"Well. Now that you mention it, I've gone below only once in the last two years -- to attend my mother's funeral." He sighed.

"That's the problem. We live like hermits."

"Not really. I see my friends and acquaintances all the time."

"Their holographic images, you mean. I'll bet you haven't touched anyone in the flesh for a while."

Blato let out a nervous squeak, a suppressed giggle. His face became flushed. "To tell the truth, I don't think I want to. Even having you here bodily gives me an odd feeling."

"What about women? Sex?"

"You mean real women? I prefer androids. They'll do anything you want them to and never complain about anything. You don't have to worry about catching anything."

"But android flesh is not the same as a real woman. It's because of people like you that our population keeps decreasing."

Blato made a sour face. "Let's change the subject. All this talk about touching, feeling gives me the creeps. Have you heard about the newest fad? The time travel experience?"

"That's why I'm in the inner system. I've signed up for the twenty-first century."

"Really? The twenty-first century? Aren't you frightened?"

Obsidian lay back on the floating couch and signaled the android to serve him a drink. "Frightened? What's there to be frightened of? In fact, I've always considered myself a throwback. It'll be a grand adventure experiencing life as people lived it a thousand years ago."

Blato shuddered. "But, the danger. Didn't they have wars and terrible diseases and other awful stuff back then?"

Obsidian chuckled. "Where we're going, there was no war. Its a city called New York around the year two thousand. We'll wear filters against every known disease of the period. Besides, I'm bored. A little danger is what I need."

Blato shook his head. "I wish you luck. Frankly, I don't even like to be around sharp objects. I never go near the kitchen when the androids are preparing meals. You're a brave man, Obsidian, to venture into the unknown."

***

The first half day at Time Adventure Central, Obsidian spent in an interview room with an android, who checked his medical records and other data about his history. He had to swear to abide to the company rules, such as not revealing that he was from the future. There was a long list of these. "It's to prevent creating a paradox," the android said.

"I've read fiction about time travel. It seems that any contact with the past could create a paradox."

"You're correct, but we try to minimize the paradoxes.