[color=6ecff6] [h1] [center] THOMAS LANCASTER [/center] [/h1] [/color]
[center][color=f6989d] [h3] Solaris Universatas [/h3][/color][/center][hr]
Half a century ago, there is this American philosopher who asked the question: "What is it like being a bat?". Living consciousness is perhaps one of the great questions of the universe in the modern age. Where do our minds go when we die? What does it feel to take the brains of other creatures and live their lives? And perhaps most interesting of all: Can a robot be conscious? 

Various movies and films were made with such ideas. The robots made to feel, to touch and to think, to grow attached or to destroy humankind. Now with the advancement of technology, the question was even more apparent than before. The concept was argued by many to be impossible, but who can say for sure. Science, after all, are very theoretical. One that used to be a fact could be proven wrong centuries later, and one everybody thought being preposterous could turn out to be an entirely new concept of the next Great Age. 

Over fifty years later, that question is being asked repeatedly, in the mind of a twenty-four years old disabled man.

[color=fff79a]"And here we are. All necessary as you embark on your separate doctoral journey."[/color]

The professor, or to these living minds advisors, were handing out a couple of sheets of papers. One of them was passed onto Thomas, who was sitting on his wheelchair at the very back of the small table.

[color=fff79a]"Something to separate the men from the boys. The roars from the meows. And the strong from the moderates. Twenty questions. All about mathematics and computer concept. Each more impeccable than the last."[/color]

With that said, Thomas had a look through the questions, examining and analyzing them as quickly as possible. It was indeed impeccable. Each weren't just simple concepts that we could find in the books anywhere. 

[color=fff79a]"Good luck. You'll need it next week 3 o' clock. See you then."[/color]

That was the signal for everyone to pack up their stuff and leave. The session is over. 

[color=red]"I'm seriously gonna die with all of this."[/color] One of Thomas's fellow friend grunted as he stood up. 

Thomas returned the gesture with an amused grin. He too followed these men, shutting his laptop down, stacking his whole bunch of paper on it and stuff it entirely in his school bag. The only paper that was not placed in the bag...was the twenty 'impossible' questions. 

[color=red]"Thomas, you wanna go to the movie right now?"[/color] The same friend asked.

[color=6ecff6]"I apologize but I'm not in the mood for that."[/color] 

Thomas replied clearly but politely as he smiled lightly. Seeing that he was holding the 'impossible' questions, the guy knew exactly what he was going to do. 

[color=red]"As dedicated as ever eh?"[/color] He said. [color=red]"See ya next week then"[/color][hr]
[center][color=f6989d] [h3] Sol City Zoo [/h3][/color][/center][hr]
[color=6ecff6]"Hmm."[/color]

The questions may not be as hard as it seemed.

On the way there, while sitting on the bus, Thomas could be seen staring intently at the paper he was given. He was going to stop by at a nearby café for comfort and tranquility, but before he arrived there, he felt that there was no more need. 

The day is still long. The weather's warm, the sun's in the sky, the flowers are blooming and the birds were chirping. This made the man in his wheelchair regretted the decision to refuse his friend's invitation. He had a lot of time in hand now. He wouldn't want to spend all of it inside the confinement of his room in riverside doing relatively little. It would be lonely.

[b]"Next stop: Sol City Zoo."[/b]

The automatic sound of the bus announced the next destination. Thomas lifted his head as he reached for the stop button. He could spend his time there. 

The bus slowed down as it approached the stop. Thomas reached out for the controller placed on his armrest and held it firmly. It really felt like he was playing a game whenever he does so. A racing game, but in this case he was experiencing it for real, and sped at a much slower velocity. With a gentle push, the electric wheelchair gained its power and life again. The wheels began to roll, pushing itself and the passenger forward.

[b]"Have a great day."[/b] The bus driver saluted Thomas as he lowered the bus door and the ramp. The wheelchair user simply saluted back as he casually rolled down the ramp and headed into the zoo.

The sight was a little odd to miss. A young man in his twenties, strolling down the zoo's walking path, all by himself, without any helpers. It was indeed a little risky, because if he somehow fell over or his wheelchair got stuck somewhere, it would be a sticky situation for him, since he could not walk by himself. But it was worth it. Firstly, he wouldn't want his nurse, Jeanie, to spend all her time around him. Secondly, because sometimes he just wanted to explore the world by himself. He goes everywhere he wants, he does whatever he desires. He would not be bounded by anyone else going with him. Life as a PhD student could be a little isolating, as students would have to spend long hours of research all by themselves. And this was not a weekly or monthly process. It took years, and each years are more difficult than last.

He came down the lake at the zoo, as something drew his attention. People were gathering around the plexiglass fence, watching over something. A gentle lift of the joystick stopped the wheelchair, followed by a right jerk made the thing rotate to the right, turning him facing the bear exhibit. 

To his vision, he could see this young girl with brown hair feeding this huge bear. It wouldn't have been much of a surprise if she was just giving the bear the bucket of fish and just let him, or her, eat it in peace. The girl, instead, petted him intimately. And he seemed a little happy about it. Interesting to see how close the zoo workers were to these animals living here. 

The girl left shortly, as soon as the bear finished its meal. And also the time for Thomas to go. He wanted to see more, not just one exhibit. Strolling down the walking pathway, through the small park, in which was the place for visitors to sit down, relax and enjoy the scenic around them, Thomas realized something was not alright here. Just as he derailed from the pathway and into the grass area, one of the wheels suddenly sank into the ground, listing him to the right, and preventing him from moving.

[color=6ecff6]"What the hell?"[/color] 

It seemed like his wheel got caught in some unusual man-made trenches, presumably from some kids once playing here. And now he was struggling to get out of there. The wheel dug deep enough to counteract the power of the engine.