Elizabeth Bear - Future Visions - Original Science Fiction Inspired by Microsoft

“Have you seen any movies lately?” she asked. On their two dates they’d gone to a play and a concert.

“A few. Sure.” In fact, that was what he did when he wasn’t driving around in the cab: sat home watching movies and TV shows. He’d reacted to losing his girlfriend by treating himself to a new TV, which incorporated a virtual reality component. It used a sensor to analyze the color, shading, and general appearance of his living room and of the on-screen images. It then blended the two, projecting visuals across walls, floor, and ceiling, creating an illusionary reality that placed the viewer in the center of the action. Walter literally sat on the bridge of the Enterprise with Kirk and Spock. He saw that Diana’s television was equipped with the same technology. “Why do you ask?”

She arched an eyebrow. “Anything you enjoyed?”

He shrugged. “Let me think about it.”

Diana turned on the TV and the screen filled with movie titles. “Have you seen The Avengers ?”

“A few years ago, yes.”

“Did you like it?”

“Sure.”

“Would you be willing to try it again? I can promise you a surprise.”

“I’m playing Thor?”

She smiled. “I guess you have me figured out.”

“It wasn’t hard to guess.”

“That’s okay with you?”

“Sure.”

“Good. Now, I need you to stand in front of the television.”

Walter complied.

“Good evening, sir,” said the TV. “Please identify yourself by the name your friends use.” Walter nodded. “My name is Walter Peacock, and I appreciate the very nice birthday present.”

“Excellent. Please smile at me.”

Walter smiled.

“And provide me with some expressions, demonstrating how you might react to different emotional situations.”

He tried to look as if he sensed danger. “This is how I might respond if I hear a strange noise in the house at night.”

“Just provide the expressions if you will, Mr. Peacock. I can manage the interpretations.”

“Perfect,” said Diana. “You want a snack before we start?”

“No, thanks. I’m still full.” The Avengers didn’t seem right for the occasion. Diana just wasn’t the type who’d be a fan of action movies, but he was certainly not going to do anything to spoil the mood.

She tapped a keypad, picked up a remote, and dimmed the lights. “Off and running,” she said, sitting down beside him. The TV screen brightened.

A blue sky filled with white mist appeared. The mist filled the room but was quickly replaced by the Paramount trademark. Then Walter was looking up a flight of illuminated stairs. Far below him, the Earth turned slowly. An ominous voice was speaking, saying that humanity would be able to do nothing but burn.

The stairway vanished and the mist came back, inside a rotating cube. Then he and Diana were adrift in a dark sky, while a helicopter cleared a mountain, descended toward a cluster of buildings, and landed. An evacuation was under way. Someone who looked like a government director walked out to meet the aircraft. Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, climbed out of the chopper, and the two engaged in a tense conversation. They were running out of time.

Walter sat back to watch but was surprised a few minutes later when the Black Widow showed up. She was being played by Diana. He turned and saw her grinning at him.

Despite being tied to a chair and outnumbered by the bad guys, she beat them to a pulp. “Guess I better not mess around with you,” he said.

Walter did not appear as Thor. Instead, he was Steve Rogers. Captain America.

“Beautiful,” he said. He almost fit the part.

She squeezed his hand. But when he moved closer to her, she was not receptive. “Stay with the movie,” she said. What the hell was going on? “Movies are a lot more fun than they used to be, Walter, now that you can put yourself in as any of the characters.”

“I could be John Wayne,” he said.

“Sure. And it’s not just limited to movies. You can anchor the CBS news, cover the Titans, take over the Scarborough talk show . Whatever you like.” She took his arm onto her lap. “Meantime, let’s stay with this one for a while so we can see how good you are at tossing that shield around.”

Walter wondered how Steve Rogers performed as a superhero while simultaneously earning a living. It was in his thoughts during the next few days as he drove his taxi through the Knoxville streets. At home, he couldn’t resist using the Quark-box to watch himself play Frasier on the reruns of the hit comedy show, and Sam Malone, the bartender on Cheers. He really liked to think of himself in a John Wayne role, or maybe Tom Selleck, but it didn’t really feel right. Somehow he’d been better as Captain America. Maybe because Diana had been there and hadn’t laughed.

A few days after his birthday, she called again. “I was talking this morning with Vince Scaparello.” Vince was a history teacher at Brackenwood Academy, a college prep school north of town. “He tells me their physics teacher hasn’t been feeling well and has decided to retire.”

The school would be opening next week. “That’s pretty short notice,” Walter said. “How serious is it?”

“I don’t think it’s life-threatening.”

“But they need somebody.”

“Yes. You’d be the perfect hire.”

“Diana, we’re talking about high school kids. I have no experience doing anything like that.”

“Your call, Walter. I’m not sure experience is critical. Every teacher has to start somewhere. I’m not pushing this. I just thought you might be interested. It’s the field you like. And you’re obviously not happy riding around in the cab.”

“Yeah. Well, thanks. I appreciate it. But I don’t think I’m the guy they want.”

That afternoon Walter drove to the school. A security guard watched as he entered the administration office. One of the secretaries looked up. “My name’s Peacock,” he said. “I understand the Academy’s looking for a physics teacher.”

“Have a seat, please, Mr. Peacock,” she said. “I’ll tell Dr. Mullen you’re here.”

He’d barely sat down before she came over and asked him to follow her across the hall into another office. Dr. Mullen smiled and invited him to have a seat. “It’s good to see you again, Walter,” she said. “How have you been?” Francine Mullen had been the principal during Walter’s years at the Academy, but he doubted she really remembered him. Smaller than most of her students, she nevertheless possessed a commanding presence. Her once-black hair was now almost fully gone to gray. But her dark eyes retained the intensity he remembered from his first year.

“I’ve been fine, Dr. Mullen. The school doesn’t seem to have changed much.”

“Probably not.” She made herself comfortable behind the desk and indicated he should take one of the chairs. The walls were covered with framed photos of her with students in caps and gowns, with teachers, and with athletes. “I understand you’re interested in teaching physics for us.”

“Yes. I’ve been told you have a sudden vacancy. I’d like to help, if I may.”

“Do you have any classroom experience, Walter?”

“No, ma’am. I have a master’s degree in physics, though.”