I’ve been busy for quite a while now. Absolutely swamped. Between trying to settle in San Francisco and getting the scoop on how things have changed since my time, I haven’t had a moment to catch my breath. After meeting Mai Fiori at the bar that late night and seeing her brilliant and logic-bending performance, I wanted to see more. I wanted to learn more about the city and how it became the way that it is and about the people who played a part in the way that it was changing. Fortunately, I found a job that would allow me to access that type of information.
The San Francisco History Center needed a curator and they hired me to review historic artwork, newspaper articles, digital data, and literature within the library’s collection that pertained to San Francisco’s history in order to put together collections and exhibitions for library patrons to view.
I had just left work at the Main Library and walked to the edge of Larkin Street. I took a sharp right onto the red-bricked pavement of Market Street, then walked down the steps into the Civic Center subway station. I was wearing my Ven glasses for the first time. I had noticed that most people in San Francisco wore their Ven glasses constantly shortly after I had arrived in the city. It wasn’t until recently that I had gotten a pair. While reading through the archives at work and learning about the technological advancements made in the Golden City over the past 32 years, one of the most discussed advancements was the creation of Ven. Ven itself is a highly popularized form of virtual reality that works in tandem with Ven glasses, created by Cassette Dith founder of Ven Technology. Ven is highly interactive and has been incorporated throughout day-to-day life in the Golden City.
Which explains why it was no surprise when a tiny fairy-like woman flew into my vision as I walked further into the station. She stopped, fluttered, and waved at me before saying, “Hi, I’m Martha and I’m here to help!” I had read about Martha in the library archives. She was a virtual assistant that helped guide people through San Francisco’s various transit systems, finding the fastest routes and ensuring riders got off at the right stops. Martha did a little skyward twirl before coming back down with a huge bright smile and continued. “I noticed this is your first time using Ven at a transit station. I can get you where you need to be quickly. Just let me know where you’re headed.” I watched Martha float around in amazement. Her conductor hat was too big for her head, and four glistening wings fluttered at her back as she floated in place.
“I’m going to the Academy of Sciences,” I told her.
“The California Academy of Sciences!” she squealed with excitement as she pushed her tiny hands up against her cheeks. “That’s one of the Golden City’s treasures. I can definitely get you there! MUNI will get you there in a flash, just follow my trail to the gate! Since your wallet is attached to your glasses, the gates will automatically open for you. See you on the platform!” Martha said excitedly before quickly darting off through the station, her wings leaving a trail of orange-gold sparkles through the air.
I followed the glittering trail through a corridor with murals of historic moments and figures from throughout San Francisco’s history. As I got closer to them, my Ven glasses would play an overlay of video footage of the events. At the beginning of the corridor, I watched Harvey Milk give an impassioned speech. Towards the middle, I witnessed Gavin Newsom advocating for same-sex marriage. At the very end of the corridor, where it opened to the main part of the station, was the start of the largest and most brilliant mural.
The mural, like the others, was painted on the wall and augmented by an overlay of video footage and realistic animation that played on my Ven glasses. The mural started with the gold rush and San Francisco forming into a beautiful little city. As I walked further into the station, I saw the 1906 earthquake and fire eviscerating the city. Then, towards the middle of the station, I was captivated as San Francisco renewed itself and rose from the ashes of the fire to be rebuilt once more. The next scene was one I was unfamiliar with. I was aware of the history of the other events, as I had learned all about them while I was growing up, but as someone who was not from this timeline, the rest was new to me.
This part of the mural was another painting of San Francisco, but this version showed the city at night. You could see a bubble around the city. It was bustling and majestic, an exemplary advancement of technology and culture. It stood as a world wonder. I took a step back and was captivated by the scene. San Francisco came to life in front of me. I was lost in the twinkling of lights and the sight of all the new, exciting parts of the city playing before me as if they were alive.
But, before I could fully appreciate the scene, Martha zipped back up from the platform below, stopping only inches before my face, and screeched, “Hurry! You’re going to miss the train! Follow me!” And she was off again, her golden-orange wings quickly fluttering as she flew through the sea of people, leaving a trail of glitter behind her. I tagged along the best that I could, weaving in and out of the crowd before I made it to the escalator leading to the MUNI platform. There was an orderly line of people on the right side of the escalator doing everyday things from bobbing their heads to music played through Ven, chatting with friends, or just spacing out. Some things don’t change.
I quickly moved down the left side with the people who had somewhere to be or just didn’t feel like waiting. The golden trail was fading. The people in front of me seemed to be taking their sweet time, but I managed to make it down just as I spotted Martha on the right side of the platform, waving anxiously as she bobbed up and down in the air and waved at me. I rushed towards her, breaking into a jog to make sure I made it, and an omnipresent yet cheerful voice sang across the platform, “The N – Judah train to Ocean Beach will be departing shortly. Enjoy the view!”
“This is it! This is the one!” Martha’s voice rang in my ears as I rushed towards it. I barely made it before the doors closed behind me and the train took off. I nearly keeled over. I rested my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. “Welcome aboard! I’m glad you made it! I noticed that the last car is fairly empty if you’d like to sit down,” Martha chirped happily, her smile wide. I started walking through the train. As I made it to the end of each car, a little door swooshed open, leading me to the next one and closing behind me automatically. The center car and the car after it had an abundance of riders. I saw people of all genders and races, many with vibrantly-colored, intricate hairstyles. San Francisco was always a place for self-expression, and it seemed that in the past few decades, the community had kicked it up a notch. I personally enjoyed seeing all the different hairstyles and styles of Ven glasses people were using. Everyone had a distinct personality on display.
I finally made it to the last car. There were less than a handful of people in it. As I made my way through the car, I passed a small Vietnamese girl with a head of moss green, frizzy hair that vibrated gently to the train’s movements as she dozed while she slouched into a corner. I was a little worried because she seemed like a middle-schooler. It was a bit odd for her to be out in the middle of the day.
I kept walking, and just as I was making my way to an empty seat towards the back of the car, I noticed a tall hazel-skinned woman with a big head of curly hair sitting with a young boy a shade slightly darker than herself. They both noticed me and looked up. After a few seconds, it hit me. “You’re Cassette Dith! I was just heading to the Academy of Sciences to see the exhibit they made about you!” I was incredulous.
“The one and only,” she replied with a sweet smile as she reached out to shake my hand. “This is my son Gadget—”
“Gadge,” the tawny-skinned boy said before Cassette could finish. Cassette gave him a slight glare, but he had a huge grin on his face.
“Why are you so interested in the exhibit about me, if you don’t mind me asking?” She stared at me with genuine interest.
“I work at the San Francisco History Center and was reading articles about you and the progression and technological advancements you inspired. I wanted to learn more about Cassette, the woman who led the structural revolution that propelled San Francisco into the future,” I told her honestly, or at least half honestly, because I couldn’t exactly admit to her that I was from the past and was documenting the changes that had come to the city in the future. Or, I mean I could’ve, but that might’ve, like, freaked her out or something.
I heard a slight cackling coming from Gadge. That was when I noticed that Cassette was staring at me with a large pair of starry eyes behind her white fashion frames, a long curl bouncing on her forehead. “She loves it when people praise her.” Gadge snickered while rolling his eyes.
Cassette nudged Gadge and seemed to mutter, “Listen here you little sh—” before catching herself. Cassette was flustered and Gadge seemed to find pleasure in it. “We’re actually headed to the Academy of Sciences ourselves. We’ll be staying till after they close for the penguin sleepover with a few of Gadge’s friends, but why don’t I give you a personal tour until then?” Cassette suggested. She seemed sincere. That’s when I noticed the overnight bags sitting on the deep blue seats next to them.
“I’d love that!” I replied hastily.
“Great, now I have to listen to Mom talk about herself for the rest of the evening,” Gadge said with another smirk as Cassette starred daggers at him.
Before she could say anything in reply, Martha flew back into my vision and yelped, “Field trip!!!” before twirling to a stop above Cassette and gracefully falling into her lap. “Your stop is Irving Street & 9th Avenue, with a short five-minute walk to your final destination. Please be seated!” Martha sang while rocking her head from side to side. I sat down in the empty row of seats facing Cassette and Gadge and watched them tease each other all the way to our stop while Martha enjoyed the ride.
No more than ten minutes later, the omnipresent voice proclaimed that we had just arrived at “Irving Street & 9th Avenue!” Martha fluttered into the air, a trail of golden-orange glitter following her as she squeaked, “We’re here! Do you need more assistance?”
“That’ll be all Martha, thank you,” Cassette answered. “Okay! Bye, guys. Have fun at the Academy of Sciences!” Martha said as we walked out of the train and waved goodbye before she fluttered away.
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