The Sun's rays began to shine ever more orange over the small, identical houses nestled cozily into the manicured green landscape. On the narrow streets, cars raced wildly at breakneck speeds while people stood in front of them before jumping aside at the last possible moment.

Such scenes were common throughout the city of Galaynay, and were so ordinary as to go unnoticed inside the home of Drak Neego.

On this day, a day in no way unusual, Drak rose from his bed, having spent the better part of the night having sex with a woman whose name he did not know.

Once out of the bed, he locked his eyes on her as he located a firearm in a pocket under his mattress.

The woman, likewise, reached under a pillow and located her pistol, also. They stood, facing across the bed, holding their weapons, but not quite pointing them at each other.

As they stood naked, they both realized that they had not paid much attention to the other's appearances. He was blonde, short, and chunky. She was tall, dark, and so slim as to appear anorexic.

Staring across the room, they both thought, "I could do better."

After a long moment, Drak broke the silence, "I wasn't planning to use this. I just wasn't sure...I mean...you know, some people are into murder...and...stuff."

The woman nodded, "I know. I'll put mine down if you will."

Drak carefully laid his weapon down as he watched the woman do the same, "Get dressed. I'm going out; I'll give you a ride, if you need one."

II

Drak's car was parked in the garage attached to his house. As he started the engine, the garage door opened automatically, as did the gate in the steel fence surrounding the house. Before leaving the garage, he checked the programming of his household and groundskeeping robots.

Satisfied that all maintenance would be properly attended, Drak selected driver mode and directed the car onto the street. His nostrils flared and his eyes opened wide as he drove with reckless abandon. Along the way, he raced past robots doing road maintenance and other work. Occasionally, a pedestrian darted in front of the car and jumped away just before being hit.

One pedestrian was not so lucky, however. Rounding a curve, Drak's car slammed into a man, throwing him into the air.

Drak glanced casually at the woman, "Not quick enough."

The woman nodded and shrugged her shoulders.

After a few minutes, the car's back window was shattered by a gun shot from an overpass.

The woman looked at the blown-out window and, frowning, slowly turned her head toward Drak, "You don't have a bullet proof car?"

Not returning her eye contact, he shook his head, "No. It's more fun this way.

"I'm going to Gigamart to buy some stuff. Let me know if you want to get out before we get there."

She tilted her head, "What kind of stuff are you going to buy?"

"I don't know. Anything I don't have."

She sat silent for a few minutes, then spoke, "Let me out on the bridge when we get to the river. I think I'll see if I can live through jumping off."

Drak kept his eyes on the road, "OK. A lot of people are doing that."

When they got to the bridge, Drak pulled the car over. The woman put up her hair, picked up her purse, and adjusted her sidearm as she got out.

Closing the door, she looked back inside, "If we run into each other again, maybe we could make some cookies or play Russian roulette or fuck some more or something."

Drak nodded, "That sounds good. I hope you'll live."

Then he pulled the car away with tires screeching and smoking.

III

On the way to the Gigamart, Drak checked the balance in his benefit account with his hand-held device.

He checked his sidearm after stopping the car, and then instructed the device to restore his balance to the government guaranteed minimum.

His brow wrinkled as he stared at the screen in his hand and thought, "Every time I do this, it takes more credits to reload the account. I wonder why."

He spent over an hour in the store and, with the help of the robot clerks, bought a number of items, mostly frivolous.

After paying for his goods, he walked outside as a flock of pigeons flew overhead. He felt something hit his head and shoulders and looked to see bird droppings. Placing a hand on his head, he smeared the semi-liquid matter into his hair.

He dropped the bags from the store, looked at his hand, and burst into laughter, "Wow! I didn't expect that! Finally, something to break the monotony. Today's not just another boring day in paradise."

THE END