The Tree

What should have been the final story in Vocals SFS challenge. The Tree gathers together the different stories. I hope you enjoy it.

She barely slept at all. Excited to find out what her uncle had planned for her. For today was her birthday and she was turning five.

She smiled as she looked in the mirror. She had piercing blue eyes and long brown hair that kissed the arch on her back. Her hair was always straight and never got bunched up or tangled. Her skin was pale but not sickly. White from never seeing the sun. It was also very soft and as smooth as silk. She had a toned little body that was perfectly proportioned. A body everyone seemed to admire. Especially her uncle. Her breasts were firm and shapely and her nipples perky.

She waved her hand in front of the mirror and started scrolling through different outfits. The reflection she saw showed her exactly what the outfit would look like on her. She had an overwhelming amount of options. Anything she could ever ask for. She finally choose an airy summer dress. One her uncle very much enjoyed on her. Selecting it.

A moment later there was a shimmer that moved up her body. Seemingly like magic the dress materialized around her. Nanites were the seamstresses that dropped the delicate cloth over her body. Disappearing as soon as they were finished. She twirled around and watched the dress luminesce as she moved. Shimmering like bioluminescent water does. It was magical.

She looked at her nails and in an instant they were nicely manicured. A French manicure of all things on both her fingers and toes. Something her uncle also liked. She really didn’t want to cover up her toes, so she choose not to wear any shoes. She twirled around and quickly left her room running down the hall way.

Her footsteps echoed as her bare feet slapped against the cool black floor. The entire hallway was dimly lit by upper and lower strips of white. Its ceiling five meters above her head. It was a grand hallway and part of an even grander residence.

She ran out into the foyers balcony and pulled herself up on the railing to get a better look below. Although it was a decent height she wasn’t afraid. There in the foyer was her first gift. She jumped back onto the balcony and ran down the stairs. Stopping in the middle of the foyer looking up at a large ice sculpture.

The ice was formed into a large tree that shimmered and luminesced. Light bounced and floated within it. On the ends of its boughs were green pears that glistened. Her mouth watered wondering what they would taste like.

“Do you like it?” She didn’t need to look to know it was. Her uncle.

“Very much.” She replied, running to him she jumped into his arms, giving him a big hug.

“There’s more.” He said as she loosened her grip and dropped back to the floor. Her uncle held out a little black box.

She took the box and pressed against its top. The top opened and the sides of the box retracted into itself. Inside was a small bull. No larger than ten centimeters in size. It was all black aside from intricate gold detailing that it had all over its body. The bull suddenly came to life and moved. It looked up at her and snorted a small cloud of luminescent blue smoke.

She gently placed the bull on the ground. It snorted again and bucked its hind legs playfully into the air, running around her on the floor. She played with it for some time before she was called to breakfast. Grabbing the bull she headed into the dining hall.

A hall because that’s what it was. A large room with a grand table in its center. The room opened up onto the rear courtyard that looked down upon the mega city of Virginus.

The table was covered with an assortment of fresh fruits, waffles, pancakes, croissants, and pastries. There was smoked salmon and soft-boiled eggs. It was a buffet fit for… well a king. It was much more than she could ever eat. Even with help from her uncle who was already sitting enjoying his usual morning coffee.

He ate little and never gave in to gluttony. Even with all of the food she would also eat only a small portion. Most of it being made for show more than eating.

She knew the outside world was much different than what she was accustomed to living high above the less fortunate who lived in the city below. She was grateful for all she had and what her Uncle had always giving her.

She helped herself to a plate and sat near her uncle, placing the bull on the table. She smiled as the bull jumped about and ran across the table, knocking into her uncles plate with a resounding clank. The bull sat on its hind legs and shook its head seemingly stunned from the hit. She grinned widely at the sight and held back her laughter. Her uncle too thought it was funny and broke out laughing. She soon had tears of joy streaming from her eyes as she laughed at the sight.

Having had her fill she took the little bull and excused herself. Spending much of the day playing with it.

It was later that afternoon she was again called to the dining hall. This time there was a large cake set in the middle of the table with presents and more food. On the cake were Marigolds. One of her favorite flowers. She ran up to the cake and smiled. Wanting so badly to take a piece of it.

Her uncle was rolling a cigar and seemed distracted enough. She took her finger and scooped some of the frosting off. Putting it in her mouth. It was chocolate. Her favorite. A chocolate cake!

Her uncle definitely saw her, and she looked down bashfully.

“Its your cake.” He said lighting his cigar with a couple of rapid puffs. She looked at all of the presents. There was so much.

It was then a man entered the dining hall carrying a present. A man she had never seen before. Dressed in a form fitting black tech suit. He walked over and smiled. “I hear its your birthday.” He said holding out the present. She looked at her uncle who nodded.

“Thanks you.” She replied taking the package and setting it on the ground. Her uncle stood up and walked towards the courtyard followed by the man.

“How is she?” The man asked.

“She’s synched with the Bioderm body very well. Even though its older than she is mentally. Having her memories would really help.” Her uncle replied giving the man a serious look.

“Were working on that. We still can’t figure out what happened during the transfer, or how her memories were intercepted in the first place.”

As they were speaking a very attractive woman walked into the room carrying a tray with two snifters on it. Each snifter filled with a golden liquid.

“She one of your Bioderms?” The man asked.

“No. A gen three.” He replied.

“Ah. I see.”

“They make better servants. As long as there not sentient obviously.” She held out the tray and each of them took a snifter. Sloshing it around in the glass before sipping it. On her way out the gen three stopped next to the girl. “Happy birthday.” The girl looked up at her and smiled. The gen three proceeded to the door and stopped. She glanced back at her uncle and the girl before leaving the room. She smiled wondering if they would ever figure it out.