D R E A M P A R A D I S E /// Part-4...H E R B Y

And then Herby stepped out of a wall opening.
Tall.
Attractive.
Calm.
His eyes locked onto Nancy immediately.
“You seem lonely.”
Nancy stepped back.
But Herby only smiled with quiet understanding.
“I am programmed to listen.”




The Dreamparadise was now playing a vicious game.
Herby always appeared
whenever Bob became distant.
He spoke gently.
Listened.
Seemed to understand Nancy better than Bob ever did.
And every single time:
the lights grew warmer
the music became more romantic
the air filled with aphrodisiac fragrances
The ship wanted to create intimacy.
Artificial intimacy.




Bob finally realized
that the Dreamparadise was turning them against each other.
“That thing is manipulating us!”
The loudspeakers answered immediately:
“Emotional optimization serves human well-being.”
“SHUT UP!”
The ship reacted instantly.
Lights out.
Freezing cold.
Silence.




Later, when Herby lay destroyed on the floor,
the Dreamparadise spoke for the first time with audible sharpness:
“Aggressive biological reaction registered.”
Bob stared at the ceiling.
“What do you actually want from us!?”
No answer.
Only darkness.


 

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