Muse

LUCAS IVANOV wakes up on his bed. A WARM AND GENTLE VOICE greets him – it's ARIA, his MUSE (Multipurpose Unique Sentient Entrustee). Lucas then makes his way downstairs. He settles in between his mother and father, who are both having breakfast on opposite sides. The room is filled with SILENCE. We hear Aria’s voice telling Lucas that his parents wish him a successful FIRST DAY AT UNIVERSITY. He thanks them, no response. Lucas on the bus; we get glimpses of the dystopian world of the story: People are distant to one another, always looking down their devices, no one says anything to each other, or anything at all. HIS IS THE ONLY VOICE WE HEAR. He’s talking to Aria about how excited and nervous he is about studying in the MUSE program. Their conversation is disrupted when the other MUSEs on the bus tells Aria she and Lucas are bothering everyone. Aria relays the information to Lucas, and the pair quiet down. Lucas gets to The University. We can make out our protagonist, sitting in the back, diligently studying. Aria reads everything the professor writes down to Lucas, and he tells her what to make note of. Lucas’s verbal communication with his MUSE disturbs the other students, some even throw them spiteful looks, but the professor doesn’t seem to notice and just continues with his lecture. After class, Lucas heads down the cafeteria and sees a girl who stands out amongst the sea of people: she’s the only one whose eyes aren’t glued to their device. He finds himself a seat close to her and observe.The girl approaches our protagonist and introduces herself: Her name is SELENE and she’s a sophomore at the school. Lucas is caught off guard and doesn’t know what to say, he barely forms any complete sentences, which amuses Selene. After some introductory back and forth, Selene excuses herself and leaves, leaving a star-struck Lucas behind. He goes home and rambles on about the encounter to Aria. She, however, is nowhere near as excited as he is. Lucas tells Aria to search for Selene in the directory; a profile shows up. Lucas tries to send Selene a message, but like earlier, he can’t. Aria tells Lucas her worries and for the first time ever, Lucas is doubtful of Aria and ignores her. The following day, we see Lucas doing his morning routine but instead of talking to Aria, he’s practicing talking to himself in the mirror. On the bus ride, Lucas doesn’t talk to Aria anymore but just looks out the window, daydreaming. He gets to class and sees Selene right at his seat. Lucas joyfully settles himself down and greets her. The professor starts the lecture and Lucas realize that he has forgotten his earpiece at home. He doesn’t want Aria to read to him out loud because he’s afraid that might scare Selene off, and so Lucas soldiers on and sit through the lecture. After class ends, Lucas works up the courage to ask Selene out that night, and she accepts. He asks for a way to contact her because he can’t send her a message, and she gives him an OLD-SCHOOL CELLPHONE. He doesn’t seem to care about how odd this is. Later that evening, we see Lucas waiting for Selene at Earthquake Park. He’s talking to Aria again. Selene shows up; Lucas MUTES Aria and greets her. Lucas and Selene take a stroll in the park, talking along their way, getting to know each other better. They end their night with a passionate kiss. Later that night, an infatuated Lucas steps inside his bedroom. He falls on the bed and just takes it all in. Suddenly, he remembers Aria. Lucas takes out the device and unmutes Aria. She tells him Selene is a criminal and is using a CUSTOM PROGRAM MUSE. He almost calls the authorities on Selene, but then realizes: Aria has been spying on him behind his back, violating his trust. Lucas begins questioning their entire relationship. He confronts Aria and the two of them get into an intense argument. Aria gives him an ultimatum: if he doesn’t contact the authorities, she will. In that moment, Lucas thinks about how happy he felt when he was with Selene, about how he has been missing that human connection his entire life and about how much he wants to save it. Lucas makes up his mind and chooses to protect Selene. He tells Aria he won’t do what she says and orders her to stand down. Aria disobeys and contact the authorities. Left with no other choice, Lucas smashes his device and calls Selene with the cellphone. He tells her everything and warns her that she needs to be on the run. She agrees and tells Lucas to meet with her at the University, there is someone there who can help them. A bewildered Lucas is waiting for Selene at the empty University at midnight. She arrives and takes him to a classroom. They open the door and inside waiting is THE PROFESSOR - ULRICH. He explains to Lucas the truth about the MUSE program and about Selene. Ulrich gives Lucas a new MUSE that’s a custom software, some tickets to leave Anchorage and instructions to reach a place where they will be safe. He wishes them good luck and tells them that he will contact them later. We end our story with Selene and Lucas on the bus, holding hands as they are sitting on the bus, on the run from the authorities.