Sunshine

A man in his thirties who is wearing a long, black silk robe with a large gold smiling sun on the chest strolls across the desert.  The blistering hot sand doesn’t seem to bother him even though he isn’t wearing any shoes.1

In fact, his face shows no emotion at all.  He merely keeps walking, seeming in a trance and empty of any signs of consciousness.2

Then he suddenly stops.  Removing a small, round silver sphere from his pocket, he presses a red button on the side.  It begins making a high-pitched sound and he notices the small digital dial counting backwards from a hundred in red numbers.  Before it reaches zero, he groans “Happy Rays!”  He tries, but just can’t manage to laugh.3

Where he is standing there is a brilliant flash of light before the sound of a tremendous explosion rumbles across the sand like an earthquake.  In the spot where he was standing the only thing remaining is a small crater surrounded by an aura of blackened sand.4

In the distant sky a jet-black helicopter follows the flash of light towards the location where the blast occurred.  The strange thing about this helicopter is that it doesn’t make any sound and has no propellers.  Moving incredibly fast, it slices through the air effortlessly.  When it reaches the spot of the explosion it hovers over the crater.5

A small object resembling a silver flashlight is attached to the bottom of the copter.  The object rotates until it is pointing at the crater.  Suddenly, a beam of red light shoots forth from the flashlight and strikes the crater.  When the light disappears, so does the crater.  The only thing visible afterwards is the undisturbed stretch of desert sand.  Turning around, the helicopter soars off in the direction it first came.6

The next morning and over a thousand miles away Mike Sturgis sits at the desk in his office cubicle.  He sips on a cup of coffee and instinctively tugs at his suit coat, hoping it will help take the chill off the air conditioning that’s biting at him.  Mike has always hated the cold.  Having to tolerate the air conditioning was one of those realities he accepted.  It was hard to convince anyone to shut it off when he was the only one who felt cold.7

Putting down his cup of coffee, he picks up to items off his desk.  One is his electric bill, the other a brochure about a place he’s seriously is thinking of relocating.  Every time he gets his electric bill it nearly gives him a heart attack.  The cost just keeps escalating no matter how much he tries to conserve.8

Which is why he sent away for the pamphlet for what he hopes will be a solution to his problem.  It is a planned community that is powered completely by solar energy.  The small city, which goes by the clever name of Happy Rays, is located out in the Southwestern Desert and is still in the experimental stages.  They gloss over some of the details in the brochure, but as best as he understands it they have mastered the use of solar power in some very creative ways.9

Between the cost of energy and unbearably cold winters, he truly welcomes the chance to relocate.  The main problem is that you can’t simply move there.  They have a waiting list, which doesn’t surprise him.  Plus, before you get added to the list you have to submit an application and be approved.  When Mike called to order the brochure he chatted with the operator enough to find out she thought living there was practically like being in heaven.  She also admitted that at the moment they were primarily looking for people with computer programming skills. 10

That for Mike was good news since it happened to be his specialty.  He could end up doing what he loved and in an environment that was less expensive to his pocketbook, but also WARM!  Now, all he had to do was hope and pray that somehow, someway a miracle took place and he got a chance to relocate.11

Three weeks later, Mike was reading then re-reading this one email.  It was from Happy Rays’ personnel and they were inviting him to contact them for an interview.  Somehow, it didn’t seem possible.  However, he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity if it came.  Picking up the phone, he dialed the toll free number.  12

Admittedly, he was nervous, but he did his best to hide his anxiety as he waited for someone to pick up the phone.13

A couple more weeks passed and Mike couldn’t believe he was actually on a plane headed for an airport near the Happy Rays community.  It all seemed like a blur in so many ways.  The interview had been followed by more paperwork and finally the invitation to relocate.14

When the plane touched down and he joined the other passengers getting off the plane.  Mike was told he was the only one from that flight going to Happy Rays so he did as instructed and looked for the person who would be holding the cardboard sign with his name.  There was the, a man dressed in black robe with the gold smiling sun like he was some kind of priest and also wearing dark sunglasses.  It seemed awful warm to be wearing a black robe, but the man wasn’t even sweating.  Ambling towards the man while trying not to look anxious, Mike introduced himself before being escorted to a nearby black helicopter.15

He boarded it to discovered not only on his flight was he the single passenger headed for Happy Rays, but apparently the only one to be on the helicopter also.  Oddly, the windows were painted black.  Mike was getting the impression that the folks at Happy Rays were obsessed with black.16

The helicopter’s motors whine and seconds later they lifted off the ground.  On a monitor towards the front there appeared the image of a woman also dressed in a black robe.  “Welcome to Happy Rays’ family.  We will do everything we can to make your participation in our community as pleasant and easy as possible.   Now let me spend the time during your trip telling you more about our family…”17

Mike only half listened to the woman.  Most of what she had to say was mainly found in the brochure as far as he could tell.18

It was then that he noticed the sound of the engines ceased and he couldn’t hear the propellers turning.  Up front, the door to the cockpit was sealed off, but he didn’t panic since they weren’t apparently falling.19

On the screen he suddenly saw an image of Happy Rays.  It appeared to be a cluster of huge black domes the size of hills.  They were linked together by black tube to create the community as they called it.  Sitting in the middle of the desert of white sand it truly was an amazing sight and very futuristic. 20

He was suddenly feeling incredibly stupid.  Nowhere on their brochure or web site did they show a single picture of what the community looked like and he hadn’t even bothered to ask when interviewed.  Not that he was upset about what he saw.  Somehow, it all seemed so natural for a community that was totally powered only by sunlight.  Plus, from what he heard they had some truly incredible little gadgets that went beyond any conventional state of the art technology.  Inside, he was getting very anxious to see this solar Oz and all its wonders.21

The helicopter slowly began to descend.  At least, that was the sensation he felt.  Seconds later, he felt the copter stop descending and then there was no movement whatsoever.  The door opened and two men dressed in long black robes with the predictably smiling gold suns and wearing black sunglasses were waiting to greet him.  It was almost as if they had cloned the same tall, lean thirty year old guy or something.  Mike pushed aside any sense of fear though, presuming it was just his imagination.22

He walked down the steps and shook their hands.  They knew his name, but didn’t bother to offer theirs.  Mike looked up and noticed the huge dome that was overhead.  There was giant slit in the center, which was slowly closing that apparently allowed the helicopter to enter.23

Glancing back, he saw the helicopter lift off again.  What really shocked him was the fact that it not only didn’t make any noise, but it also no longer had any propellers.  It passed through the slit with barely enough time before the slit would have become too small for leave the dome.  He didn’t have time to ask any questions as his escorts seemed intent on rushing him towards the doorway of a building that lay at the end of the black carpet.24

So far from what he could tell everything he had seen was either white, like the buildings, or black such as their robes.  The people he passed all wore black sunglasses.  But for the most part they did smile and nod when seeing him.25

His two escorts brought him to what looked like a hospital room.  It had white walls and the only furniture was one white metal chair.  One of his escorts tells him to have a seat and wait.  So he sits down.  Seconds later he can hear music coming over a speaker in the ceiling.  The tunes are mainly New Age instrumental music.  It is very relaxing, but otherwise not his tastes.26

Mike checks his watch.  An hour has passed since he was told to sit down and wait.  Time obviously wasn’t important in this place.  Perhaps with the serene climate they thought they were actually immortal.27

The door to the room finally opens and in steps a woman dressed in the standard black robe with black sunglasses and carrying a black clipboard.  Mike instinctively rises from his chair just as she comes in front of him.  “Mike Sturgis?”28

Yes.”29

To his shock she gives him a big hug and then afterwards says, “Hi, I’m Cindy Peel.  I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting.  Now, I promise as part of our family that this will be the last time you’ll be treated like a visitor.  Please sit down while I finish giving you all the details about our family.”30

Mike sits as requested.  “I have to admit that this has turned out different than I expected.”31

“That’s perfectly natural.  As you do know we are a community completely self sustained.  All our energy comes through solar power and we have some very special technology that allows us to do some truly incredible things in terms of lifestyle.  But before you can become apart of our family you will need to accept our implant.”32

“Implant?”33

“Yes.  It’s a simple operation, but what is does is allow us to put a special chip into your system that settles in your brain and responds to thought.  It is linked to our computers.  That will give you the ability to command all our different machines and systems by thought.  Trust me, once you’ve gotten used to simply thinking and things moving or doing as you wish it spoils you in so many ways.  Plus, we are looking forward to having you contribute to upgrading some of our software to meet our growing demands.”34

“Gee, I don’t know.  An implant sounds kind of scary.”35

“It’s not meant to be.  I had it done and I have no regrets.  It makes this whole experience so totally complete.  The only drawback is that it makes you incredibly sensitive to light.  So that is why you have to wear sunglasses and black robes.  But you get used to that so fast.  I think it is best if I let a few of our family members come in and share how great this is in order to ease you mind.  Afterwards, we can have you take our implant procedure.  Then you can start you life as part of our family.” 36

Hours later, Mike is lying on a table in a recovery room.  His head and entire body is numb from the operation, plus he has no sense of any emotion good or bad.  Looking down, he notices that they conveniently dressed him in the black robe with the smiling gold sun while he was still asleep from his operation.  It takes another second to realize he is staring through dark sunglasses too.37

The door opens and in steps Cindy.  She walks up to him, examines her clipboard and then looks at him with no expression on her face.  “Congratulations, the implant was a success.”38

“I don’t feel like it was a success.  In fact, I can’t feel anything.  It is like I’m dead inside.”39

“That is one of the little consequences we haven’t yet conquered with our technology.  The implant gives you the power to think and tap into our computer to do almost anything necessary for life.  But one of the side-effects it the loss of emotions.  I have to really put on such an act of pretending to still have emotions when I meet a ‘Newbie’ before they get an implant.”40

“I didn’t agree to losing my emotions.”41

Cindy holds out the consent form he signed.  “It was all in the fine print.  We just never bother to make a big deal of boring people with the details.  Besides, you fit the personality profile of our family so well.  You really weren’t that passionate before so it won’t be that much of a change.”42

“But I don’t want this.  I want you to change me back.”43

“It wouldn’t do any good.  The effects of the operation are irreversible.  The implant alters you metabolism permanently.  Removing it wouldn’t do any good.”44

“What if I want to leave?”45

“The nature of our technology makes you extra sensitive to sunlight.  It is one of those can’t live with it, can’t live without it things in terms of light.  However, your body will only truly respond to it properly and with balance when you are in transmission range of our technology.  Our black robes and sunglasses work as conductors to focus the energy through the implant in your head.  If you were to leave here for more than a few hours the signal would be too weak and your body functions would fail.”46

“Fail!  Oh my god!  You can’t be serious.”47

“Welcome to the family Mike.  That is the one nice thing about Happy Rays, you can pretty much know that people live a very long, stress free lives.”48

As Cindy leaves, Mike continues lying on the table.  His mind can’t manage any emotions to react to the truth.  But he knows he going to have a very long time to live with the reality.  Whether he could truly call it life when you have no feelings is something he’ll have to wait to decide.  As well as whether Happy Rays is more of a heaven or hell.49