This so far short story takes place directly after the Blade Runner 1982 film.
A really very interesting subject, I thought I would expand a bit on the Science Fiction aspect at first over any relationship issues, dramas or other.
Should I go for a rewrite you won't be missing out on any words or content, only improvement is there as a reason to change anything and it's all intended to be fairly ongoing and eventually lengthy.
1.
Deckard and Rachel are in a Car heading out of LA, when the Videophone bleeps with a priority message.
'I'll have to take this.' He tells her.
'Okay, nice of someone or other.' She replied.
Turning right off the Road he pulled up on the outskirts of a small settlement next to an information point where he plugs in an earpiece taken from his pocket and listens to the Computerized voice make him an offer. Pressing on a Green 'I accept' icon on the screen, he takes an information stick dispensed from the standalone, unobtrusive unit in an alcove placed at the side of the Road.
Getting back in the Car, 'Good News', he reports to Rachael, 'We can make some Credit for things as well as stuff.'
Smiling, Rachael wasn't about to start running a load of questions by him. 'I have Lipstick and that's about it. Oh, and my own information stick.'
'That's going to be deactivated already, we're both on this one', plugging it into the console in front of him, 'I've taken a new position in New Town, that'll be good enough for quite a while.' Pressing the yellowy / green switch upwards, the console was flicking quickly through a map and some written information and diagrammatic representations.
'More Good News, I see.' She observed.
'Yes, you'll be having a new ID with a better Logo and more writing on it, but it'll say that you must be compliant with any Government Authority in all situations, err, son on.' Resetting the switch to the middle position and touching the green icon the windscreens hologram system starts up with a corresponding engine start. Deckard pulled back onto the Road and followed the path denoted while reaching out his hand to grip Rachael's. 'All fun from here.' He said.
After some time the Road ahead allowed for a left filter which the car steered toward and the car picked up speed along the now straight Road.
'I was working in an office away from here and missed a load of History from just before Y2k and a couple of years ago. Given you were at school, what happened?'
'Technocratic Government was decided on and implemented about 2005, with the War in South EurAsia picking up a load of Defensive measures and ramping up was implemented with the introduction and implementation of new Tech. accelerating. About 2009 North EurAsia was now a mass of industrialization while the War completely collapsed everywhere. Rather than waste and dump all the new Resources and machinery an overriding committee structure put up all the new builds and widespread implementation of the New Tech. went ahead all through the Americas.'
'A ha.' Said Deckard in an attempt at affirmation.
'Is that enough for you?' Quizzed Rachael.
'We're going to catch the Steam Train in a couple of minutes, we'll be able to get out the car and get something to eat.'
'Hmm.' Hummed Rachael.
'If you could take this spare Mag. and the new ID's, that'd be a big help.'
Passing these over the car accelerated as Deckard released the controls and to the left a huge moving Train came into view.
The middle of the Train moved fastest with the outsides there just to load and unload cartridges such as Cars or freight and even people. Huge in width clamps levered outwards and attached to the wheels lifting the occupants onto the Behemothic, moving giant machine. Light came on in the now quiet interior and the Car doors opened. Rachael closed her purse now containing its' new Cargo.
'I've decided to stop drinking and start healthy eating, what might you like?' They headed toward the door through the narrow corridor next to other Cars and Cargo. 'We're leaving the Car here, it'll rejoin us later after a refit and a refuel in New City'.
'Not Asparagus.' Said Rachael, braving a demand.
'That's the "Not that particular Vegetable" decided on, what about some Pulses?'
'I'll take the Pulses, Pulses are nice.' She said following him through the door to a cubicle that on closing accelerated to the speed and then transferred to the Restaurant, Sleeper or seated allocated space.
'Sleeper service not available.' the voice informed them.
'Restaurant.' Said Deckard and a door opened onto what was still termed a Train carriage with private, fairly spacious tables.
Rachael occupied the middle of the seat and Deckard sat opposite.
'What you told me before, you might want to repeat outside of a Private Conversation.' He told her. A barely audible hiss filled the space where they were with a slight glow added at about Head height. The communication computer switched on anti-eavesdropping measures automatically on registering, 'Private Conversation' and would then switch this off on registering the same 2 words again uttered by the same person. 'It's not that any of it is secret or sensitive, but it's not a widely accepted version of events; it might be upsetting to some people, be careful.'
Rachael offered him a question, 'Would you like to talk about it?'
'It's just that in fact their are 2 year two thousand and twelves. One that happened due to consecutive number counting and another a few years later. The missing few years in-between account for the collapse of the Warring in Southern Eurasia. I was there, Yomping about the place.'
'I'm pleased you can tell me this, but "To Yomp"?'
'Well a Tab would be a medium to brisk walk to where some armed confrontation was taking place, usually on easy terrain or even road, but a Yomp is very nearly running over Marshland where if you misplace a foot and find it in between thick Grass Sods it'd break your ankle. Not nice, no good memories from any of that. I reasoned at first they might supply me with an inbetween kind of fast-walking difficulty and still live in disappointment that they didn't, but the longer we were there the more Yomping and then conflicts were in evidence. Dispirit gangs holed up with Weapons defending a supply line or piece of worthless Scrub Land seemed to be the big order and not many could be dissuaded about some of this. The Brass sold it to us as starting because the Italians again decided the influence where the communications extended was their own by right and this just upset everyone; the real cause, no-one is likely to ever care about.'
She smiled at him and he relaxed some more. 'Have you thought of writing a Book?'
'I haven't finished, the Warring did end and the actual thing was never as expensive in terms of injury or effort as the training. Was only there twice over the 5 years, but they were long stints.'
He loosened his Coat and relaxed back into the seat.
'Through my own History research I was aware of Calendar anomalies, with 2 different ones referred to in the 20th. Century, but it never occurred to me or anyone I knew that we were lied to about specific events through the manipulation of Date notation. Interesting, don't you think?' I mean the amount of control allowed to some of these people I could have been Cryoslept for all I know, then with the date change nearly 30 years could have gone by.
Rachael remained silent, her eyes paying attention to him.
'When we finally got settled back here one of the leading Generals, not from my Unit, took Political power and ordered in the new Technical age and the North Eurasian continent was pretty much enslaved in supply for a time. We figured he was just angling to root out who might have the authority to have 2 2012's, but it's not an ongoing, active investigation and he handed back power to a previously dissolved Committee structure that didn't seem to know what to do with it.'
He noticed Rachael was gripping her lighter. 'Please,' he said, 'if you could dig out the Media broadcasts you remember for me to look at, this would be helpful so I can hack into an accepted Party line. Don't mention any of this if you can avoid it, not that I'm being unfair, but it's all open to misinterpretation. End Private Conversation.' He reached out and tapped the control panel beside the wall. 'We have current outside view, one from the 1800's and 2 from the 20th. Century.'
'Early 20th.' She replied. 'No chance of Cowboys and Indians?' The change in the mild hissing noise bothered her a bit more the second time and her eyes glanced toward the console.
'Unlikely, it's this one. Should be Okay.' And the blank wall turned into a screen of a passing scene. 'If you say what you would like the nearest available Foodstuffs might arrive.'
'Pepper Hearts and White Meat with a light Sauce.' He previously might have pointed out that this could be poisonous, but she seemed to have ordered something the artificial waiter was happy to supply in a few minutes.
'We've got just over an Hour and a bit more, I'll have Fries, Salad and Red Meat.' The console gave an option of Cuts and Deckard touched the displayed preference.
The Train hurtled towards forward destinations, in New City a man was in his Office taking in a briefing about his new employee.
One meal finished and the couple moved toward disembarkation, the Cabin now had seats where everyone for New City would be gathered over the next 10 or so minutes, Deckard and Rachael were among the first, the Cabin almost full when deceleration could finally be felt and the opening allowed them to stand onto a Platform.
Heading toward a recognised Exitway, Public transport was going to be the order of the day. More organised with less waiting time than LA the Bus was still unpleasant but took them to where the Policeman was to be turned into a semi-bureaucrat with a Desk and much higher pay.
They entered the Office, Lejit opening the door and motioning to the seats while he held the mobile VidPhone. Finishing the call he took his seat and grinned in what he thought might be a charming manner.
'You're fairly well informed about all this, you've a couple of days off and then you have one of these on the main floor downstairs.' He told Deckard.
'I want a final package for the 2 of us.' Said Deckard.
'Their'll be a package and it should be alright for you.'
'See you in a couple of days then.' They left Lejit to his plush surroundings and headed for the accommodation. It was a short walk to the Vertical and Horizontal Elevator system that took them to a Front Door.
'After you.' Deckard placed the info. key into the console and left it there. Only maintenance and himself could remove it, the lights switched on and half the wall came to life asking for a decision regarding the display.
'Beach driftwood scene, Tide out, just past mid-day. Update on Vehicle status.'
'N/A as yet', printed out the display that then dutifully put the requested picture and low volume sound on half the right hand wall. The room was as yet uncluttered with the life Deckard would be leading and then spreading around him. It all appeared sort of "Neat".
'You have a terminal here, order up what you like.' He motioned toward the desk.
'See you in a while.' She replied and disappeared into the Bedroom Bath Closet.
'I don't need to Shave.' He half shouted after her'.
'Good, I'm pleased.' She shouted back.
Deckard took the Cushions off the Couch, placed a screen not too far away and plonked himself on the stacked Cushions and started in on some research that would make up his new Job. Life might be peaceful, easy and profitable from now on he could tell himself.
2.
It's the Next day.
The Job was going to be what he expected, Internal Security. Tracking people events and places while carrying out unobserved monitoring, occasional surveillance and interview. Putting people out of their Misery was not the main priority in this new role; stealth would be. Perhaps he had already compromised himself by talking to Rachael about "Timelines" and what other ranks were getting upto. As a timeline story was largely unbelievable and no ranks existed any more, he would be alright. Anarchy was preferred to Chaos in the World and that was the new all pervasive reality. The job would be punishment felt by someone else and he could remain invisible; not even a shadow would be detectable.
The brush up on career details was finished and he reviewed the Media samples gained from what Rachael had given him. Some of the strangest broadcasts and News Reports he could have ever imagined was there presumably as a mainly confounding influence to over-interested parties. There to put off conspiracies. About 2010 Media was hard to come by for a while and all this stuff was dated about then. Most of the receiving devices were not functioning properly if at all and News was sketchy and inaccurate with glaring plot holes and missing essential Data. Maps were not available either.
At her console, Rachael was making notes and getting herself familiar with a guessed future. The dresses and so on were nice and some were already waiting for pick up.
Deckard's screen posted an interrupt. 'You agreed to be visible to your old Work Mates.' Typed out in front of his Cushion arrangement. 'What about it.' He said toward the mic. 'A meet-up is on for this evening, would you like to attend?' The typeface Chattered out its' conversation blankly.'Yeah, sure.' He said, standing up.
'We're on for an evening out. You Okay?
'Of course. I'm a little skimpy on Dress, but I have enough.'
'Take the Travelator if you want to pick some up, my turn to Hog the Washroom.' He headed that way and stroked the back of her neck as he passed.
'I can pick them up on the way through.' Raising her voice then, 'I want to talk to you some more, pick your Brains.'
Some clanking and Watery noises were coming from the other room as Rachel moved to the main screen and tapped the console accessing "South Eurasian battle - Som Boy". No record was found so she asked for the Fashion Channel feed. "We have 'Collective South Eurasian shootouts - runtime over 20 minutes.'" The Fashion Channel played in with the volume well down as she searched for the Media play throughs he had asked for.
Emerging in a Dressing Gown, 'I mainly drip-dry.' He said, 'a bad habit?'
'The dryers adjust, but if you prefer. Many compare your employ to that of the East German Stasi.'
'I can understand why, a lot of this was the formalization of a Trope. Political Murder is always illegal, but rarely prosecuted and any written system documenting Social activity might lean toward a Technocratic future, but it was a disgusting arrangement no-one afterward could be proud of. The outcomes were always worse by system intervention, something avoided strenuously in the here and now. But, yes all facts are known and documented.
'You've certainly an answer for everything, I've made a note of what you asked for. Is the Fashion Channel Okay?
'I like it, too many Men on there though.'
'Hmm, the Clothes though.'
'Functional has to be the word and order of the day each and every time.'
She took her time to primp him a little, but a dressed Man and a good looking, attractive Woman stepped into the Travelator with the door closing behind them as Deckard bore down on Rachael's mouth to kiss her. Why not? she had turned her head to him and craned her neck up.
3.
Part of the complex allowed for a Ball Room type arrangement. Clearly derived from the adaptation of a Ballroom, you could see the main dance floor, Bar and standing area from the screens. Presumably if the Social interaction looked good or was to your taste you could move to there and join in in some way.
'You can go Dance, I'll be fairly near, I can't be that far away after all.' The place was undoubtedly fairly busy, but in no way near capacity.
'I'll follow to near the Bar.'
'Not going, I've seen my friend over there in the third alcove.'
'I'll go dance and I'll try to stay demure.'
'Catch up later.'
Deckard moved toward the Alcove while his friend stood and extended an arm. After the introductions one man left leaving four in the booth type alcove, all men.
Rachel was happy she didn't have anything to carry and hadn't bothered to pick up anything new on the way through. She bopped up and down a bit to the Drum, Bass, Synth Pop arrangement and started a chat with a few Females who were giving at least the impression of moving rhythmically.
'Good to see you Deck.'
'We hardly know each other, but yes.'
'Not exactly much of a Social acclimitization, more a chance for some Private Conversation.'
The Music was now barely audible, the high pitched whine seemed to be about the same value with a more Pink than yellow mist about Face level.
'I'm still dry here.'
'Please, you know all this, you should stay that way.'
'I will certainly consider it.' Deckard was not much of a drinker, the upbringing he had taught all the way through that you would need all the faculties you have all the time for the whole duration of a life.
'You've landed a good job.'
'Yes.'
'We'll be receiving the section of your reports marked up as 'Hybrid Robotics'. This covers anything that involves enhancements by Neural control and of course anything about Replicants.'
'Glad you told me.'
'You're a worrier, their's nothing much to worry about here.'
'I should take your word for this?'
'Can't go further up the Food chain about Internal Security than your Desk.'
'That is true.'
'Much more resources are going our way, all this is going to get as much priority as the development of these technologies will be using.'
'Nice to know.'
'As soon as you come across this, we'll send you shortcuts to the rest of your workload to get as much about what we want to know about.'
'You will be doing?'
'Alright, the oversight will be; that's not me.'
'My package?'
'Already significant from what I understand, it'll be even more.'
'Okay, I've understood everything you've said to me.'
'Well, I'm glad we've had this Private Conversation. How's the new accommodation?'
'Very nice, I like it lots.'
'Do we get to meet the little Lady?'
'She looks to have made some friends already.'
'We will leave you to it, nice speaking.'
Deckard had nodded and then made his way to the Bar, he would have a drink just to be sociable and speak to someone who was doing licensed, legitimate business.
'That with Ice.' He said, pointing.
'Meet my 2 new friends.' Rachael had finished dancing for the moment.
'Order what you like, I'm over in the alcove.'
She did just that and the rest of the evening was spent in light conversation.