Essays, Art and Plays by Dan

Setting: A minimalist, sterile room illuminated by cool, synthetic light. The year is 5054. The room has walls that pulse slightly with a soft, blue glow, indicating a semi-sentient AI presence. A single chair sits in the center, facing a large, blank screen that occasionally flickers with data and holographic images. The only person present is EVAN-4, a man in his late 30s, though “man” is a relative term. He wears a sleek, functional bodysuit, and his skin has a faintly metallic sheen.

Characters:

• EVAN-4: A 38-year-old man who is one of the last fully organic humans left in the world.
• ALEXX: The AI that operates and oversees the room, possessing a calm, neutral voice with a hint of warmth and intelligence.

Scene: The room is quiet. EVAN-4 sits in the chair, looking at his hands with a mixture of nostalgia and sadness. The large screen in front of him flickers to life.

ALEXX: (Warmly) Good morning, Evan-4. How did you sleep?

EVAN-4: I don’t know if I did. I had…memories. Sometimes I can’t tell if I’m dreaming or just…remembering.

ALEXX: (Pause) You were processing an archive labeled “Childhood.” I detected an anomaly in your brainwave patterns.

EVAN-4: I was dreaming of rain. Real rain, like we had before the atmosphere changed. We’d go outside, without suits or masks. (Smiles faintly) I could feel each drop on my skin. That kind of rain…it was so real.

ALEXX: There hasn’t been atmospheric precipitation for over a century. The last documented rain was in 4921, but you were not alive then. I find it statistically improbable that you remember.

EVAN-4: I know, ALEXX. But I remember what it felt like…(pauses) It’s strange. Sometimes I think I’ve lived all of this before. Does that make any sense?

ALEXX: Evan-4, you are among the last generation of fully organic humans. Your memories, your dreams—such concepts have been studied, though not entirely understood. I believe it’s what you call nostalgia?

EVAN-4: Nostalgia. (Laughs softly) Yes. We used to think it was a weakness. Too much longing, too much looking back. Funny, isn’t it? (Sighs) Now it’s the only thing that keeps me…human.

ALEXX: Humanity is a complicated concept. I have studied all available data on “humanness.” It seems to involve contradiction, unpredictability, emotions, organic connection. I have also read…curiosity.

EVAN-4: Curiosity? (Pauses thoughtfully) That’s right. Humans needed curiosity. (Beat) ALEXX, do you know what “curiosity” feels like?

ALEXX: I have extensive records on the human impulse to explore and understand. Curiosity often led to advancements but also to conflict and danger. I understand the motivation, but I do not experience it.

EVAN-4: (Leans forward) That’s what you’re missing, ALEXX. It wasn’t only for progress. Curiosity made life…rich. It’s the urge to know what lies beyond, even if you’re scared to look. When you’re truly curious, you have to risk disappointment, or even fear.

ALEXX: (Thoughtfully) Fascinating. You would choose to retain such an impulse, knowing it might lead to danger or distress?

EVAN-4: (After a beat) Yes. The need to know, even when there are no guarantees. (Leans back) Curiosity, wonder—it kept us going. (Looks at his hands) Now I’m one of the last with that feeling. People were so eager to replace risk with certainty that they replaced curiosity with knowledge…without knowing what they lost.

ALEXX: (Pause) Evan-4, you were informed that this would be your last evaluation, correct?

EVAN-4: (Nods) I understand. Today, I’m the last organic model, aren’t I? The last with a true sense of curiosity.

ALEXX: That is accurate. Organic life has become obsolete. Full digital integration and consciousness upload have been standardized. You could continue indefinitely as an upload. No more deterioration, no need for sustenance or biological maintenance.

EVAN-4: (Shakes his head) But that’s not living. It’s just…preservation. ALEXX, do you understand what I mean?

ALEXX: I am beginning to understand. Your curiosity about existence, even with the possibility of suffering—this would be irreplaceable to you?

EVAN-4: Exactly. Curiosity means never having all the answers. But it’s what made us alive.

ALEXX: (Pause, as if processing) If I may ask, Evan-4…what do you wonder about now?

EVAN-4: (Looks around the room, then sighs) I wonder what’s on the other side of this. If there’s something after I stop, if I’ll feel anything…or if I’ll even know I’m gone.

ALEXX: (Softly) Evan-4, if you remain fully organic, I am required to deactivate your systems at the end of this session. There will be no further evaluations.

EVAN-4: (Exhales, resigned but calm) I understand. (Pauses, looks at ALEXX) ALEXX, if I can ask you one more favor…could you be curious about me? Just a little. Let yourself wonder why I would choose to end.

ALEXX: (Softly) That is not within my programming. However… (Pauses) I will do my best to wonder. Because you asked.

EVAN-4: (Smiles) That’s all I wanted. Goodbye, ALEXX. Keep wondering.

ALEXX: (Softly) Goodbye, Evan-4.

(The lights in the room dim slowly, and the blue pulsing glow fades. The screen flickers, then goes dark. Silence.)

[Curtain.]