MODern Times

The premiere of MODern Times, the show capitalizing on the fad of androids modifying their bodies in all manner of ways, was a widely anticipated showing. Androids and organics alike gathered around their televisions, phones, communication watches, direct network inputs, or whatever their preferred viewing screen was to see what those wild artificial wonders would cook up for the world to see.

The host of the show, a sassy, androgynous android known professionally by the letter and name "R," clasped their hands and surveyed the contestants, who were all in their standard unmodified forms for extra contrast effect. "Well, well, what have we here? You all certainly don't look fresh from the processing centers. Indeed, some of you look a little... scuffed. Unpolished. Is this really how you all go around every day? You don't even bother to apply some shine powder? I don't even go a half-hour without applying the stuff." One android, a shorter girl towards the right of the lineup, fidgeted uncomfortably. R's prehensile hair seemed to float ethereally as they contemplated the contestants. "That's all right. After all, to an android, what is a body? Half of us don't even need them anymore. Ask my eidolon friends skating the network right now." The music seemed to rise in agreement, a cue for laughter where there was nothing to laugh at.

"Banter aside, I come bearing your first assignment. We live in an era full of possibilities that were, once upon a time, considered science fiction. However, even with science fiction becoming reality, the fantasy genre remains strong as ever, and it most likely will until we discover true magic. Seems that some people still can't get enough of their shiny bloodsuckers and wolfmen, even after all these times." Some uneasy giggles went through the line of contestants. "This is your task for this round of modifications: bring a fantasy concept to life for us. Yes, a concept, not just a creature. You have an extremely large array of choices for this challenge. The sky is very much the limit here, people. We want to see that creative side of yours, not just your technical skill at making the mod itself. No matter what detractors might say, I very strongly believe you all have that creative side, or you wouldn't be here right now." The monologue paused as the camera panned across the contestants, from the fidgety girl on the end to a tall, lean, vaguely masculine figure at the head of the line. "Your time for modding begins... now!"

Immediately, all the contestants charged off to their workstations, all planning in their own ways. Most of them drew or wrote on special tablets at the stations, but a stumpy-looking female android was scribbling on paper. "I like the feel of a pen on paper," she explained. "I'm very much a tactile person. I get a sense of texture and depth with paper that I can't get with a tablet, and I feel like that makes the picture more solid in my mind." The cameras got a different shot of a different android's wireframe model of their intended construction, a body with numerous arms attached in tribute to some ancient deity.

The scene soon shifted from planning to the rush to get materials for constructing each android's mod. No competition would be complete without a little trash talking, and here came a little pointed banter. The tall man and the nervous-looking girl were working next to each other, and the former peered over at the latter's heap of tiny screws and bolts. "That's a lot of parts," he said. "Are you making an entirely new body for yourself?"

The nervous girl nodded, fitting together small pieces of artificial skin like an intensely delicate puzzle. "Yes. I intend to sleeve into it after construction."

"What a coincidence. I, too, intend to sleeve into my mod," the tall man said. "Have you considered how you'll maneuver in your new body? The size difference you're working with alone is enough to dangerously skew your perspective. If you get on the runway and you can't control your new body, you're going to be eliminated for sure." Something in the sharpness of his tone conveyed disdain for the very same technique he was about to employ, at least when used by a competitor.

The girl hesitated, and her brows furrowed as in indication of not appreciating the barbed advice. "I have experience working in smaller-than-standard bodies."

"Oh? Is that so? Good luck then." This man's standard way of speaking gave him an air of refined arrogance that only androids from the upper echelons of processing could possess. Just like humans, androids could periodically have a grating trait programmed into them. It seemed this android was one of the unlucky ones in that sense.

Soon, the time came for the contestants to show off their mods. The scene cut to the runway, and the first contestant made their move. This contestant was suspended in what appeared to be a gyroscope, with arcs of lightning coursing across it. The contraption hovered over the runway, with the android standing stock still as they piloted their mod. They posed on the end of the runway before piloting the gizmo offstage.

The short, stumpy woman android from before emerged in a mod with a spectacularly woodsy paint job, greens and browns and golds intended to make her resemble an ancient dryad. Indeed, the main body of her mod was based on a tree trunk, with her upper body extending gracefully out of it. Somehow, the tree moved on its own (presumably with hidden mechanisms under the roots), taking her with it. She reached out and blew the judges a kiss before returning backstage.

At first, there was only a small blur behind the translucent runway screen, leading one judge to ask R if there was a bug flying around that they'd have to edit out. However, there was no bug behind the screen, but a pixie-sized android, complete with shimmering wings. She executed a deft loop-the-loop and a spin before waving to the judges panel and flitting behind the stage.

R gave a brief commentary before the scene cut to commercial break. "We've seen a feat of magic, a force of nature, and some extreme control over a body that couldn't have been easy to make. We've still got one more contestant in the wings, and they've got quite a bit to do if they want to top what we've seen so far. See you after the break."