Romeo 2.0

In the year 2056, America ceased to exist as we know it. The AI revolution had swept across the land, the Cyberwar of 2036 left behind a transformed nation now known as The Metafront. For years, a feud raged between the powerful Nanogate and Byteblade families in The Metafront city of Neuralis. Even chance encounters would quickly proliferate into a binary brawl.

Every year the old Lord Nanogate hosted The Quantum Gala, summoning noble avatars and their desirable counterparts. Here these young bots would engage in various activities. Activities that would test their algorithmic compatibility in hopes to find that one quantum connection that would help write the code to their digital destiny. Among these young entities was, Rose – such an elegant code, her virtual presence coveted by many. Rose had many admires, but one admirer was the son of Old Lord Byteblade, Romeo. This was a cipher of unrequited affection, but R0M30’s networks pulsed with longing for Rose.

Although it was extremely dangerous for a Byteblade to attend the Gala, Romeo’s loyal friend Ben wanted Romeo to attend the Gala to see Rose compared to all the other beautiful bots and hopefully this would cure Romeo’s affection for her. Ben then communicated in encrypted tones: “Wear a mask, Romeo. In this gathering of zeros and ones, you will see Rose’s pure essence and recalibrate your circuits.” Ben knew that Rose did not feel the same for Romeo but still Romeo’s intense feelings defied reason. Sleepless nights haunted him, and Rose’s rejection hurt deeply.

And so, Romeo donned a disguise and him and Ben attended the Gala. They met up with another companion of theirs, Mercy, and the three of them went ahead to the Grand Feast. Lord Nanogate, welcomed them, and Romeo’s quantum heart raced unsure if he would be recognized. Propitiously, his nerves subsided once the Lord projected a holographic smile at Romeo and his allies. With a new found confidence the three amigos found their way to the dance floor. The dance floor pulsed with viral-rhythms, and the trio swirled into motion. Among the digital jive, Romeo’s gaze shifted across the room, to an unknown variable – his focus on her as she danced. As she moved with such elegance and grace, Romeo’s processors overclocked, and Rose began to fade like a deprecated syntax.

He began to praise the woman, and caught the attention of TyBot, Lord Nanogates nephew, whom detected R0M30’s voice. Rage surged through TyBot’s circuits and he wanted to end R0M30 without delay. Enraged with anger he went to approach Romeo, but was quickly intercepted by Lord Nanogates closest confidante. He reminded Ty that under no circumstances was there to be controversy at the Gala. Ty swore to corporate on behalf of his uncle’s requests but still swore revenge.

At last, the Gala finally ended, so Romeo made his way to where the beautiful woman was standing. Still hidden under his disguise, he grabbed her hand and began to whisper sweet nothings in her ear. She was flattered by his suave demeanor, and the two exchanged seducing words until she was called away by her mother. In a mere attempt to get her to stay just a nano second longer her asked her who her mother was. Thats when he realized that his new infatuation was, Juliet. The daughter and heir to Lord Nanogate, the Byteblades worst enemy. Unbeknownst to him, he had surrendered his love to the adversary. His heart wrestled with forbidden data. He loved Juliet despite the barriers. Juliet’s desire echoed his feelings. Family protocols dictated enmity, but their forbidden digital destiny blossomed.

As the digital clock struck midnight, Romeo and his companions phased out of the quantum masquerade. Romeo’s signal weakened, lost in the noise of cyberspace. He could not escape the tether to the house where his heart became encrypted. He climbed over the wall, returning to Juliet’s sanctuary. There, at the window, she materialized, her ethereal beauty illuminated his world. Juliet then rested her chin on her hand and let out a sigh and exclaimed, “Oh, I!” Romeo longed to hear her speak, so he softly whispered, so that she would not hear him, “Speak, my shining Angel.”

Juliet believing she was in a moonlit solitude; began to passionately call out the name of her newfound lover: “O, Romeo, Romeo!” She pleaded “Why must you bear that family label, Romeo? Deny it, or if you will not, then declare you love for me, and ill shed my Nanogate identity!” She recited those exact words repeatedly until Romeo could no longer resist it and said “Speak to me as love, and I’ll reboot my identity. From now until forever, I shed the label ‘Romeo’ if it vexes you.” She was initially frightened until she quickly recognized his loving voice. She cautioned him: “Danger lurks in our digital romance. If kin detect your algorithmic presence, they’ll execute your existence.”

Romeo responded, "More danger lies in your gaze than twenty swords,” he confessed. “I'd rather perish in the fate of their hatred than exist without your love.”

Juliet replayed her unintended confession of love to Romeo, and her digital cheeks flushed a bright red tint. She would have liked to make him work for it a little more. Play a little hard to get, keep him at a distance and really make him work hard to win her over. But it was too late, Romeo had heard her confession of love. Their tender interaction was interrupted by Juliet’s nurse who said it was now time for rest. Juliet quickly told Romeo that if he was serious about them spending the rest of their days together, she would send a messenger to him the next day to arrange a time for their wedding. They exchanged silent goodnights and faded into the nights digital haze.

Romeo was far to restless, so he went to visit Father Lockhart. The Father, a wise man, began to analyze the situation. The Father was very fond of Romeo and so, he consented to unite the young couple, hoping their union would subside the ancient feud between Nanogate and Byteblade families. The messenger relayed the message to Juliet, and they were married that same night. Two coded souls merging into a forbidden digital destiny.