"I love separatist communities of all kinds, especially those of the uber-rich who live on man-made islands. Well, maybe I mean they are fascinating to me. I love squirrels. I love how they forget where they bury nuts, but are always optimistic about digging anywhere to find them. I love rollerblades, surprise parties, and happy apocalypses. Somehow all of that got squished together to form this story."

IT WAS ANOTHER PERFECT DAY in Oceanopia. The hot weather was tempered by the oscillators, which created the right amount of breeze. The Craven pipes cooled the breeze to 68 degrees. The sun rose at 6:02 and would set at 18:02. There would be twelve hours of uninterrupted sunshine: the same as every day. Nothing ever changed on the equator. Nothing ever changed in Oceanopia. Except for Zaria: she was getting older.

Trix had planned to "Find the Perfect Birthday Present for Zaria!" from 8:00 to 9:30, but it was 9:27 and she had come up with nothing. She stared up at the sky and made slow figure eights along the path as she rollered forward, then back to Ronnie and Winton.

"Melodious and fabulous showtunes about her life! I'll put on a long black wig and slinky sleeveless dress. You can play Isaiah, Ronnie. It'll be kinky-rific!" Trix trilled as she skated past her two friends and raised her right leg over her head.

Ronnie looked excited. He clapped his hands and flipped his bleached-blond hair out of his face. Ronnie was always excited about everything: he was part Labrador.

Winton spoke so slowly that Trix wondered if his circuitry had gotten messed up. "Zaria will hate showtunes. It will remind her about all the other humans who are gone. We shouldn't even have a party--it might kill her." He sighed as though coming up from the depths of the ocean and pushing air out of his blowhole. Winton was part gray whale, and Zaria would not be surprised if he disappeared into the ocean some day soon.

"Win-ton, solemnity is never sexy!" Trix said. She did a back handspring to emphasize her point.

"Anything might kill her, the medicos say so," he replied.

"No!" Trix said and rollered away from him. She went up the hill toward the yellow townhouses that glittered in the sun with all their broken glass.

As she crested the top of the hill, neural connections sparked and shimmered in her. They fell into place in a way she thought must be similar to a human's imagination.

"Perfect! Sublime! Impeccable!" Trix yelled and skated back down the hill on one leg.

Ronnie stared at her with confusion and hope, Winton with contempt.

"I have the most wonderful best present for Zaria!" And that it would save Oceanopia forever was just chocolate frosting on the huge cake the cookbots were assembling for tonight's party. "Sorry boys, but she's going to love me the best!"