A Sunset On the Horizon

"Good morning!"

Anon jolted at the sudden greeting, rubbing the sleep from his eyes

"What time is it?" he groaned

"10:04 AM" Sunset said

He cracked one eye open, looking at the dim light coming from outside his window. It didn't take long for him to get up though. The smell of Sunny's cooking was simply irresistible. He looked out the window. Sure enough, earth was far behind and they were speeding quickly through the emptiness of space.

"I supposed I'll just get this out of the way now." he said "When will the dreaded hour come?"

"Tomorrow at 5:34 PM."

"Alright. Then let's make this another day to remember."

"Lets."

Sunset set the table. An amazing smell of eggs, bacon and coffee.

"How'd you enjoy last night?"

"It was absolutely magical. If I could go back, I'd not change a single thing."

"I'm glad. Anything you want to do today?"

"I'm not sure. What is there to do?"

"A lot of things. This ship is absolutely massive. Some of favorites include the aquarium, the interactive history museum, and the zoo. The garden is pretty spectacular too."

Sunny looked surprised

"You can fit that much on the ship?"

"Oh yeah. And more, as you can see." he said "I want this to be your day though. So just name what you want to do and consider it done."

"I want to go to the center of the sun." she teased

"Oh, Sunny."

He got up and kissed her cheek

"But really though. Anything you want to do?"

"The history museum sounds lovely. So does the garden."

"We have time for both. I'll just finish eating and we'll be out."

Anon quickly finished the food, got dressed and followed Sunset out the door. She had transformed into a pretty all white sundress, complete with a brown purse. However, unlike the dress, the purse wasn't just the reskin trick she did. It was real.

"Where'd you get that purse?"

"I bought it. I thought it looked cute."

"You weren't mistaken. I really like it. It really completes your outfit."

Sunset erupted into a fit of excited and nervous giggles

"I'm glad." she said "I was a little nervous it wouldn't look good."

"Sunset, anything you wear looks amazing."

"Oh stop, you flatterer."

He smiled and kissed her. As they went down the elevator he looked at her.

"How do you feel?" he asked "You know. After last night."

"You mean the sex? It felt really nerve wracking at first, almost terrifying. But you reassuring me helped me get comfortable. I'm glad we did it. I feel even closer to you than before. It's hard to explain."

"I think I get it. It's just such an intimate experience. We got to see each other at our most vulnerable."

"Exactly. Was I ok?"

"You were perfect, Sunset."

The elevator doors opened and they walked down to the history museum. To Sunset's surprise, it was a long line of chairs and headsets.

"Human history is awfully limited."

Anon laughed

"This isn't the museum. At least not literally. It's a VR experience."

"We'll still be together throughout right?"

"Right."

They both took their seats and hooked in. Within a moment it was like they were in a new world. It was the distance past. The very distant past. Back when humans took their first steps. They saw all sorts of scenes. Beauty, glory, war and death. Sunset, surprisingly enough, kept a somewhat deadpan stare throughout it all. They took the headsets off and went outside. Sunset's expression remained muted.

"Are you alright, Sunset?"

"I'm fine just... processing."

"Processing what?"

"Never mind it. I have an idea."

"What's that?"

"Let's get a camera."

"A camera? Sunny both of us can take pictures by blinking our eyes."

She tugged his arm.

"Come on. Trust me it'll be fun. I have an idea."

"If you insist."

The couple walked down to a shop. This worked very different from the shops of old. There were no humans manning the stands, not even an android. Instead it was a line of cylinder type objects. With the press of a button, and adequate payment, they could take atoms and form them into anything. After getting the camera, Sunny put it around her neck.

"Say cheese!"

Having barely any time to react, Anon half smiled as the camera flashed.

"Ok, so do you mind telling me what this is about?"

"I want to make a scarpbook. A physical one."

She paused

"For you to remember me when I'm gone."

Anon hugged her close

"That's a wonderful idea."

"Shall we go to the garden?"

"Absolutely."

In a hop, skip and a jump, they went to the garden. It was a large green house type building with a clear view of the sky, or shall I say, space above. The air was hot and humid. It was rather nice compared to the average temperature of the ship. Sunset began obsessively taking pictures. It was strange, yet charming. Anon knew she had access to all sorts of databases and the internet. There was no way she didn't have a record of every plant here, maybe even the entire ship. Was she feigning her ignorance?

"Sunset?"

She clicked a few more shots, including one of him

"Yes, love?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

She kept clicking away. It was like she was trying to capture every single centimeter of the garden.

"You have full access to the internet right? And untold numbers of databases?"

"Correct."

Click. Click. Click.

"Why do you act like this is your first time seeing things? There's no way you don't have numerous records of this. It's not like it's not public knowledge."

She stopped clicking, just staring through the lens, completely still.

"Sunset? Are you ok?"

He pulled the camera down, to see tears running down her face. Anon immediately embraced her.

"Tell me what's going on."

"I... I don't it's just... just..." her lip began to quiver

"Shhh. Come here. Let's sit."

He guided her over to a bench and sat down, not letting go of the embrace all the while

"Talk to me."

"Humans... when they get older their memories aren't as good."

"Sometimes, yes."

"And... when they... go... they can't remember anything at all."

"Yes."

"So these pictures... these..."

Sunset began to go into hysterics

"Shhh. It's ok. Take as many pictures as you want. I'll personally see too it they will last till the end of the universe."

"You will?"

"I will."

Anon reached back and plucked out a flower. It was a large white bloom, found on a galaxy billions of light years away. He stuck it right in her hair.

"What's this?" she asked

"A little something for us to remember this occasion."

"It's beautiful."

"Want to know something especially cool about this flower?"

"What?"

Anon smiled

"It's best if I show you, rather than tell you. Come."

Guiding her by the hand, he ushered her back up to the room.

"Now watch closely."

He flicked off the lights and like that the flower glowed a beautiful neon blue. It was such a pungent glow Sunset's face was slightly visible in the pitch darkness.

"Wow. It's beautiful."

"I couldn't agree more."

He leaned in for another kiss which Sunset happily reciprocated. He turned the lights back on.

"You still haven't told me the reason you seem to know less than you should."

"Well..." she said "You really want to know?"

"Of course."

"I wanted to be like a human. Experience things without prior knowledge. So I've shut down most of my internet functionality."

"How is it?"

She paused and paced back and forth about the room

"It's nice in a way. A little scary at times. But nice."

"Scary how?"

"It's just unknown. My internal systems keep yelling at me."

"I've got a grand idea."

"What's that?"

"Want to play some games?"

"What games?"

"Why not the age old intellectual tradition of chess?" he asked "But you can't turn on the internet to cheat ok?"

"As if I'd need too."

"Is that a challenge?"

She smirked

"I'm just saying that I could read you like a book."

"Well now I have to try this."

Anon reached into his closet, pulling out an old wooden chessboard

"This is a chessboard my grandfather gave me for my tenth birthday. It's been in his family for close to nine generations."

"That's impressive."

The two sat at the table, setting the pieces on the board

"You know how to play?" he asked

"Yep. And you'll see that soon enough."

"Well then, make your move, white queen."

"As you wish, black king."

The two began to play. At first it was an even match, Anon even having her on the ropes a few times. Only for Sunset to come out with a big finish, putting him in check within a few minutes.

"That was excellent." he said "led me to a false sense of security."

"Hardly. You just got to cocky at the end."

"Best two out of three?"

"Best two out of three."

In the next two games Sunset was even less forgiving, wiping him out faster and faster each time.

"You are one tough customer."

"What can I say? I am still part computer."

"I did pretty good though right?"

"I'd say so."

The two of them spent the rest of the day, cooped up in the room, playing various games till bedtime.