by AJ Vega
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Laina’s room was now vacant and the only sound heard was the air flowing out of a nearby vent. Packed boxes of Laina’s furnishings lined the corners of the room, along with various pieces of un-hung artwork. The environmental computer, sensing that nobody was present, automatically shut off the lights. Nothing stirred.
Within the dark silence, a glow began to emanate from the A.I. conduit. The glow brightened, and its luminescence painted the walls with a blue color that reflected back into the crystal. As the light became brighter, the A.I. produced a kaleidoscope of exotic colors and patterns that danced within its crystalline structure.
From the crystal a barely discernible haze appeared. It was a semi-luminescent vapor that began to snake out from the crystal and travel across the room. The thin nanocloud danced across the floor, then made its way over the furniture, taking micro samples of the material as it went along. It then settled into a locked drawer where it found an old picture. It was of a beautiful young woman, with long dark hair and piercing green eyes. The nanocloud studied the features of the picture for a long moment. It then slowly made its way back across the room’s floor, floated up a wall, and exited through an air vent. The light subsided and the room went dark once more.