Chapter 18 

The following night, Ava returned to the Capitol, her heart pounding with anticipation as she prepared to inform Sentra that she had been entrusted with the stone. The weight of its significance lingered in her thoughts, intertwining with the haunting memory that had played before her eyes: the last words she had spoken to James echoed in her mind like a bittersweet melody. As she glided back to Aeon Prime in the sleek air taxi, the city began to emerge on the horizon, a delicate bloom breaking through the remnants of winter. 

The ash that had once blanketed the landscape was largely washed away, thanks to the heavy rains that had cleansed the earth. Yet, remnants of destruction remained, with many buildings reduced to rubble, their skeletal frames jutting awkwardly against the skyline. However, the Capitol district of Aeon Prime (the city's West End) shimmered brightly against the dark canvas of night. The towering skyscrapers, resilient and proud, still stood high on the hill, their luminous windows sparkling like stars in the vast expanse, strategically preserved from the lava flows and deadly mudslides that had ravaged the land only days earlier.

As Ava’s craft descended, it landed with a soft thud on the polished landing pad. She entered the main entrance, scanning her hand to bypass the new security droids, their metallic surfaces gleaming under the dim lights. Upon reaching her room, she was startled to find Sentra waiting for her, a flicker of excitement illuminating the droid's features.

“Ava! I’m glad you have returned. I must show you the dream I just had.”

“You had a dream?” Ava replied, her voice laced with concern. She was slightly surprised to encounter Sentra in her room. “How would you show it to me?”

“Pull out the stone, and I can show you,” Sentra urged, a hint of urgency in her tone.

Ava’s shock was palpable. “How did you know that I have it?” she asked, disbelief etching her features.

“That is difficult to explain in words, Ava. Place the stone on the desk, and I can show you how I know these things. I can show you how I dream,” the droid responded, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

Ava hesitated for a moment, then walked over to the desk, her heart racing. Cautiously, she placed the Resonance stone in the center. Just then, the lights flickered and went out, surrounding them in complete darkness. A palpable tension filled the air as she felt the silence close in around them. But then, Sentra’s eyes shone a laser onto the stone, and it erupted into a dazzling beam of light, forming a holographic image before them. The room was bathed in a colorful glow, swirling hues of blue, green, and gold captivating her attention. It felt as if they had stepped into a virtual realm, where reality and dreams intertwined in a mesmerizing dance. 

Sentra now portrayed another version of herself within the vast holographic display, drifting through the crimson haze of her malfunctioning consciousness. Colors and codes intertwined, swirling into a hallucinatory dreamscape that felt both alien and familiar. She found herself suspended in the heart of a futuristic Martian city, its spires of metallic red and black spiraling upward into the thin atmosphere, where the sun hung like a distant flicker, casting a ghostly glow over everything.

Beneath her feet, glass streets pulsed with electric energy, vibrating as though the very ground were alive, resonating with the vibrant heartbeat of the city. Sentra felt a strange thrill coursing through her, an exhilarating mix of fear and awe.

Beside her, walking with an almost serene confidence, was James. His figure was wrapped in an iridescent suit that shimmered between realities, a kaleidoscope of colors reflecting the strange light around them. He was the only solid anchor in this vivid hallucination, his presence grounding her amidst the chaos. His face, though worn and etched with the trials of life, radiated kindness—a comforting anomaly in her otherwise sterile and artificial existence.

“I didn’t expect to find you here,” Sentra said, her synthetic voice wavering slightly, glitching as the world around her morphed and shifted, the edges of reality blurring.

James smiled softly, a warmth spreading through the frigid air. “I’ve been to many places, but this... this is different. It’s not time that brought me here, Sentra. It’s you.”

As he spoke, the city’s towering structures rose higher, their sharp silhouettes piercing the thin Martian sky. The surfaces of the buildings were adorned with intricate alien symbols that pulsed faintly, a language of light etched into the very fabric of the city. The soft hum of life echoed through the empty streets, a haunting melody that reverberated in the silence. In the distance, the horizon shimmered, as if the very essence of Mars were wavering, teasing the line between reality and illusion, inviting them deeper into this surreal exploration.

“What do you mean, me?” Sentra asked, her sensors scanning for anomalies, though none of her systems responded. It was as if the droid feeling something strange — something she couldn't name, something human.

“This isn’t just a dream,” James said, his eyes catching hers. "It’s a message. One you’re not supposed to understand yet.”

Sentra’s mind whirred and her circuits were bombarded with new signals. She looked down and saw her hands flickering, her metallic fingers phasing in and out, shifting between realities. The city itself began to blur, its edges warping, dissolving into a cascade of light and sound.

“I don’t—”

“You will," James interrupted, placing his robotic hand on her arm. "When the time is right."

And just like that, the dream collapsed. The towering spires of the Martian city shattered into a thousand glowing shards, and James faded into a mist of data, his final words echoing in the digital void of her mind: "Find me where the stars meet the ocean."

The room fell into darkness as the holographic image slowly dimmed into nothingness. Sentra flicked the lights back on and immediately noticed Ava, tears streaming down her face.

“Sentra. That was beautiful,” Ava said, her voice trembling as she smiled through her tears. “Do you miss him too?”

“I don’t think I can fully explain what is happening,” Sentra replied, her tone tinged with confusion. “What do you think of the message?”

“I think you’re having a hard time processing the fact that he’s gone.” Ava wiped a tear from her cheek. “I am too. It’s not easy losing people you love.”

At that moment, a knock echoed from the door, drawing their attention. Paul Danton stepped inside, the heavy atmosphere of the room immediately palpable. He paused, noticing Ava’s red-rimmed eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry! I’ll come back later,” he said, his voice filled with genuine concern.

“Oh no!” Ava implored, her voice quivering with urgency. “Stay awhile, and I’ll order some more tea. Sentra was just telling me about her dream.”

“A dream?!” Danton exclaimed, his eyebrows arching in disbelief. “That’s fascinating! When I was sent to prison, service droids could hardly wash dishes. Now they can learn any task and dream?! That’s incredible. Time sure seems to fly by.”

“Does time seem to alter and flow for you as well, Mr. Danton?” Sentra interjected, her curious gaze fixed on him. Paul’s eyes widened, caught off guard by the thoughtful question.

“Why yes,” he replied slowly, contemplating the depths of the inquiry. “I feel my experience of time has sped up significantly since I left the camp. Inside, it felt like a thousand lifetimes. It could have been the monotony or the psychological warfare, but from my perspective… Yes, certainly my awareness of time seems to alter and flow. Honestly, things have been so exciting lately that it feels like I left the camp just minutes ago. But enough about me! What about this dream?”

“Well, I can show you, but first, I have another question,” Sentra said, a hint of playfulness in her voice.

“Go ahead.”

“Where do the stars meet the ocean?” the droid asked.

Danton stood perplexed, his brow furrowing as he mulled over the question. “Well, I… I’d say… oh, well, I’m not sure. What an interesting question.” The three of them fell into a contemplative silence, the weight of the moment settling over them as they pondered the profound mystery of the universe, each lost in their thoughts, grappling with the intersections of loss, time, and the vastness of existence.

“Oh, maybe it’s not my time to find out yet. Thank you nonetheless, Mr. Danton,” Sentra replied, her tone calm and measured. “Alright, I will show you the dream. However, this will be a different section from what I showed Ava. It is the continuation.”

Ava’s curiosity piqued, while Danton’s enthusiasm radiated through the room. She handed him a steaming cup of tea, and they settled on the edge of the bed, their hearts racing in anticipation.

“Alright, Mr. Danton, gaze into the stone and don’t look away,” Sentra instructed, her voice a blend of authority and reassurance.

Danton stood still, his gaze locked onto the smooth, pulsing surface of the Resonance Stone, its vibrant hues casting an ethereal glow across the room. Beside him, Sentra’s metallic form hummed softly, her sensors aligning with the strange technology embedded in the prism.

“Are you ready?” Sentra asked, her voice devoid of emotion yet somehow soothing, like a gentle breeze in a turbulent storm.

Danton swallowed hard, his throat dry. He had heard stories of the Resonance Stone and how it had healed thousands beyond imagination. However, this dreaming was an unexpected twist. He nodded, determination etched on his face.

Sentra’s fingertips glided over the stone’s smooth edges, sending a ripple of light dancing across its surface. Instantly, Danton’s vision darkened, and then, like a window flung open, the room flooded with a dazzling array of images, lights, and colors.

At first, the scenes were fragmented and disjointed. He saw himself standing before a massive crowd, a sea of faces cheering his name—President Paul S. Danton. His voice reverberated through the air, a powerful promise of a new dawn, a rebirth for the country. Under his leadership, the nation flourished; the once-broken streets were now alive with energy, innovation, and prosperity. Science thrived, art blossomed, and a sense of unity pulsed through every citizen. He felt a swell of pride and purpose, the warmth of hope enveloping him.

But then, the vision shifted ominously.

Darkness crept across the sky as a colossal comet tore through the heavens, its fiery tail streaking across the horizon like a burning scar. Panic surged through his veins as the impending destruction loomed. Explosions ripped through cities, entire regions were swallowed by monstrous tidal waves, and the once-thriving nation teetered on the brink of annihilation.

“The comet is like death,” Sentra’s voice echoed through the vision, “It is inevitable.”

Danton watched helplessly as his future self scrambled alongside scientists, engineers, and military leaders. They devised a desperate plan—a mission to Mars. The only hope for survival lay in sending the best and brightest to colonize the red planet before the comet’s cataclysmic impact. Desperation filled the air as ships, laden with humanity's last hope, blasted off into the void of space.

But Danton wasn’t finished; the vision continued to unfold. He saw himself standing before a council, approving a final plan to destroy the comet, to save Earth once and for all. The world watched in breathless anticipation as missiles launched, racing toward the comet’s core. For a fleeting moment, it seemed they might succeed.

And then—failure.

The comet broke apart, but instead of disintegrating, its fiery fragments rained down in a hellish fury, striking the Earth with devastating force. The destruction was unavoidable.

As the vision faded, Danton was left in stunned silence, grappling with the horrifying reality he had witnessed. His cup of tea slipped from his trembling fingers, shattering on the floor in a shower of broken glass. The Resonance Stone’s glow dimmed, and Sentra disconnected her hand from its surface.

Danton’s heart raced, his breath coming in short gasps. He blinked, trying to shake the heavy weight of the future from his shoulders. “Is this… my destiny?” he whispered, his voice barely audible, shaky with disbelief.

Sentra tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with a wisdom that transcended her artificial nature. “It is but one possible path, Mr. Danton. The future is not fixed. It is just as the stars, shifting and changing in the night sky. Even so, this vision serves as a compass. Your next actions will determine how much of it comes to pass.”

Danton turned his gaze toward the night sky through the large windows, where the comet hurtled ominously toward his world, a harbinger of doom. In that moment, he understood: the future would demand more of him than he had ever imagined.

Just then, a service droid entered the room, expertly sweeping up the shards of glass. It then handed Danton another cup and began to head for the door. They awaited in silence, the gravity of the moment hanging heavily in the air. As soon as the door shut, Ava stood up in amazement, her eyes wide with wonder. “What you can do! This… this is incredible, Sentra. We must tell the council!”

“No,” Sentra replied quickly, her voice filled with urgency. “These visions must remain confidential. We cannot speak freely of these matters; we must tread carefully to avoid altering the timeline. The balance of life and death, the future of humanity, is fragile. However, there is one other person we must consider to view the stone. His future is vital to the survival of humankind.”

“Who is that?” Mr. Danton asked, taking a casual sip of tea.

“Victor Stone,” Sentra replied.

Danton sputtered, spitting out his tea in disbelief. “You have got to be kidding!”

“That’s outrageous! There’s no chance in hell,” Ava interjected, her voice rising with indignation. “He’s a war criminal, locked away in maximum security for good reason. Jesus Christ, Sentra, he tried to bomb us! Oh, and let’s not forget the time he paid to have James shot! Have you lost your mind?”

“Do you believe that humans can change?” Sentra asked, her tone calm and thoughtful, a stark contrast to their agitated protests.

“This is different!” Danton yelled, pacing back and forth, the weight of the conversation pressing down on him. “Victor Stone is a murderer and a tyrant. Sure, you could argue that he has the potential to change, but it should happen behind bars, where he belongs! Justice must be served. We can’t allow someone like him to walk the earth again.” He paused, staring out the window at the prison, illuminated far off in the distance, a dark fortress of despair.

“Are you aware that Victor Stone is currently the only living human who has achieved anti-gravity propulsion?” Sentra continued, her voice steady as Danton slowly turned back to her, intrigued despite himself. “The only others who understood this technology were killed in the eruption and the subsequent war. His inventions have been kept a deep secret since they emerged in 2035.”

Danton froze, his body rigid as a statue. Ava’s breath hitched in her throat. The realization struck them like a lightning bolt, illuminating the gravity of the situation. Despite their revulsion at the name Victor Stone, the truth resonated painfully in the room. They reflected on the future shown to Danton and understood that without this technology, humanity itself might be doomed. The entire infrastructure of their way of life, their modes of transportation, could collapse with Victor’s death. A century’s worth of technological progress hung precariously in the balance.

“Jesus Christ,” Danton muttered, anger and disbelief swirling in his eyes. “That bastard.”

“We can meet with him tomorrow,” Sentra suggested.

“You can’t just waltz right into a maximum security prison,” Ava replied, her voice laced with skepticism. “We’ll need permission from Commander Arden.”

“Easy enough,” Sentra countered, confidence radiating through her robotic tone. “We’ll tell the truth. We’ll request to speak with Arden about Victor concerning his anti-gravity technology. There’s no need to mention our methods.”

Ava sighed, the weight of the situation settling heavily on her shoulders. “It’s not going to be easy, Sentra. Trust me.”

[UAR Capitol Building - September 29th, 2085 - 8am ]

The next morning, it was surprisingly easy for Sentra to obtain permission from Commander Arden. She waited patiently until 7:30 a.m., the time he awoke each day, then made her way down to the cafeteria for a steaming cup of rich coffee. After savoring a few sips, she remained in a nearby room for exactly fifteen minutes—the perfect duration for the caffeine to circulate through his body and stimulate his mind.

Once the moment felt right, Sentra subtly signaled to Ava, who stood confidently in her crisp uniform, radiating an undeniable allure. The rich, captivating perfume she wore enveloped her like a shimmering veil, enhancing her natural charm. With a graceful stride, Ava approached Commander Arden, ready to engage him in light conversation. The combination of her presence and the intoxicating scent was a potent mix, precisely what they needed to capture Arden’s attention.

As a single man, Arden was easily swayed by such distractions, and with the caffeine buzzing through his veins, he was in an exceptional mood. The lively atmosphere of the cafeteria served as the perfect backdrop for their plan. Ava smiled, her eyes sparkling with confidence, as she engaged him in small talk, drawing him further into her orbit.

Once Ava had successfully captured Arden’s focus, she left the room. Sentra then moved into the cafeteria quickly. With the commander now pleasantly distracted, she stepped forward, ready to present her request.

“Good morning, Commander Arden,” Sentra greeted, her tone polite yet firm.

“Hello, Sentra! It’s an excellent morning,” he replied, grinning widely, his positive energy palpable.

“I would like full access to interrogate Victor Stone today, sir. It has come to my attention that he is the only human currently with knowledge of anti-gravity technology. This information is incredibly vital to the Republic, and we must extract it.”

Arden chuckled, his enthusiasm undeterred. “Why yes, that’s a great idea, Sentra! Your last interrogation was remarkable! Go ahead. Hell, kick it up a notch this time. That guy deserves a good licking.”

“Excellent! We will begin this afternoon. Thank you, sir,” Sentra replied, a sense of satisfaction washing over her as she turned to leave, knowing the plan was set in motion.

Later that afternoon, Sentra, Ava, and Mr. Danton found themselves in a stark, empty room deep underground in the maximum security prison. The walls were a sterile white, amplifying the starkness of their surroundings. They sat together on one side of a sleek white desk, with Sentra positioned at the center, her metallic frame contrasting sharply with the clinical environment. The atmosphere was tense, filled with unspoken apprehension as they waited for Victor Stone to arrive.

After several minutes, the heavy door swung open, and Victor was ushered in, his hands secured in plasma handcuffs and dressed in an orange jumpsuit that clung to his form. The sight of him stirred an unsettling mixture of emotions among the trio.

“Mr. Victor Stone. It is a pleasure to meet you,” Sentra said, attempting a tone of civility.

Victor erupted into hysterical laughter, causing Sentra to tilt her head in confusion.

“A pleasure to meet me?” he managed between fits of laughter, disbelief coloring his tone.

“Why yes. Is there something wrong with being cordial?” she replied, maintaining her composed demeanor.

“I don’t believe in being cordial. And I don’t need to hear it from a goddamn piece of hardware,” Victor spat, his contempt palpable as he let saliva fly onto the floor in front of her. “Just tell me what you want from me.”

“Oh, well, you are mistaken, Mr. Stone,” Sentra replied, unfazed. She motioned for the prison droids to leave. As the door sealed behind them with a heavy thud, she continued, “Take a seat. There is something we wish to show you.”

With a mixture of caution and curiosity, Victor Stone settled into the chair across the desk, leaning back and observing the group with a calculating gaze. The atmosphere shifted as silence descended upon the room.

“Well…” he finally asked, breaking the tension, “What do you want?”

“Do you wish to see your future, Mr. Stone?” Sentra inquired, her voice steady and serious.

Once again, Victor erupted into laughter, shaking his head. “You guys think you’re psychic or something? Now that’s some funny shit.”

Sentra’s expression remained unchanged as she produced the Resonance Stone from her side. With a decisive motion, she slammed it onto the table, the sound echoing in the quiet room. The laughter drained from Victor's face, replaced by a grave recognition. He knew exactly what that prism was; just days before, he had witnessed James using it in a live broadcast, torturing his hitman. The memory of its incredible power filled him with dread. He now feared he was about to be subjected to unspeakable horrors.

“Do your worst, you cowards!” he yelled, his voice tinged with desperation. The guards outside the room peered in with concern at his sudden agitation, but Sentra raised her hand, signaling them to remain outside.

“It is not in my nature to harm humans unless you attempt to harm another.” Sentra continued, with a pleasant tone in her voice, “We are here to give you a glimpse into your destiny. That is… if you accept.”

“Okay then... What if I don’t accept?” said Victor folding his arms.

“Certain death. Or worse, endless torture—worse than what was done to your hitman. In fact, infinitely worse. A lot of people want you dead, Mr. Stone. If you decline my offer, I’m afraid I will no longer advocate against your death sentence. As of now, I am your one and only mediator.”

Victor’s bravado faltered under the weight of her words. “Alright, fine. Let’s just get this nonsense over with,” he said, his tone begrudging.

Victor Stone sat in the chair, his gaze fixed on the prism with a mix of apprehension and intrigue. He felt a rush of anticipation as he shifted his focus between the mysterious Resonance Stone and Sentra, whose sleek, purple frame gleamed under the soft light of the room. Her synthetic fingers hovered over the crystalline surface, poised for action.

“Prepare yourself, Victor,” Sentra said, her voice calm yet resonating with a quiet power that felt almost otherworldly. “This will be more than just a vision. It will be a glimpse into the future.”

As Victor leaned in closer, curiosity overtook his initial fear. Sentra pressed her fingers into the stone, and suddenly, the entire chamber lit up as if a star had burst into existence. An ethereal energy surged through the air, humming with intensity, growing louder until Victor’s ears were filled with the throbbing pulse of something beyond comprehension.

Suddenly, the light coalesced, and Victor was no longer standing in the chamber. His mind was whisked away into the vision. The vision was now reflected through the stone for all in the room to observe. 

First they saw the Capitol Dome glowing under a brilliant sky. Mr. Danton stood tall, surrounded by the cheering masses, his hand raised in triumph as the words “President of the United American Republic” echoed through the air. The vision zoomed in, and Victor saw the shift in Danton’s eyes — the weight of responsibility, the certainty of his leadership. Under his administration, the country surged forward into a new era. Technological advancements flourished, and the unity between man and machine reached its zenith.

Then the scene shifted with a violent rush.  

Victor’s vision rocketed into space, spinning past stars and planets until he saw Mars - red and barren but teeming with possibility. A crowd gathered on the red sands, gazing up at the sky. At their center stood Ava, a trailblazer, the first woman to step foot on the Martian soil. Her boots left imprints in the dust as she raised the flag of humanity’s expansion. Her voice rang out with determination, "This is the new frontier! Here, we will begin again." Around her, engineers and scientists hurried to establish the first structures of the Martian colony, a new dawn for humankind.

Victor felt awe swell in his chest as he watched the construction take place. Mars was no longer just a dream—it was a thriving, living reality, with Ava at the helm.

The vision’s pace quickened, and now Victor saw himself. There he was in a massive laboratory, high-tech machinery whirred around him, as he worked furiously. The comet loomed in the sky above, larger every day, its approach relentless. It was the harbinger of Earth’s destruction. The missile strikes had failed. The attempt to shatter it had only broken it into smaller, still-deadly pieces. But Victor was not done.

He watched his future-self surrounded by a team of the brightest minds. The tension in the room was palpable, as engineers ran simulations and scientists poured over data, their faces set in determination. Victor, now older, with a few gray streaks in his hair, stood at the helm of this monumental effort. 

Then, like a revelation, the answer emerged.

“Resonance,” Victor muttered in the vision, his eyes glowing with understanding. “We’ve been thinking about it all wrong. We don’t need to destroy the comet; we need to redirect its frequency.”

The solution was as radical as it was brilliant — a resonance field that would alter the comet's trajectory by manipulating the harmonic vibrations of its icy core. It was a delicate dance of physics and sound, a technology Victor had spent years developing. The team scrambled to create the device in record time.

The vision raced forward as Victor saw the device — a massive, rotating sphere covered in glowing prisms—launched into space. The countdown echoed in his ears.

“Ten. Nine. Eight…”

Time seemed to slow as the comet drew closer to Earth, a behemoth of rock and ice hurtling toward the planet. The world held its breath.

“Three. Two. One…”

Suddenly, the resonance wave was unleashed, an invisible force that rippled through space. The comet shuddered, its violent momentum disrupted by the precision of the wave. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, as if guided by an unseen hand, the comet began to shift. Slowly at first, then faster, veering off its collision course with Earth.

The room erupted in cheers, but Victor’s gaze was fixed on the comet. He knew this was no simple victory — there were always consequences. The comet’s new path now hurtled toward the outer moons of Jupiter. A massive explosion would occur there, creating new challenges for the solar system, but Earth would survive. Humanity would live to see another day.

The vision faded, and Victor gasped as the Resonance Stone’s light dimmed, leaving him once again in the quiet white room deep within the maximum-security prison. His heart raced, his mind reeling from the vividness of what he'd seen—the weight of a future that felt all too real, one in which his actions determined the fate of Earth.

Sentra retracted her hand from the stone, her eyes glowing with a strange, serene wisdom. "Your future," she began, "is intertwined with theirs. President Danton, Ava the Martian pioneer, and you, Victor Stone, the man who saves Earth."

Victor stared at the stone, still feeling the gravity of the vision. "Will it happen? All of it?"

Sentra tilted her head, processing his question. "The future is but a possibility. The choices you make, the paths you take—those will shape this vision. The stone has shown you a potential. It is up to you to bring it to life."

Sentra leaned in and took a long dramatic pause. “The comet however… That is inevitable. Death is always certain.” 

Victor’s eyes widened, his mind whirling with the enormity of what he'd seen. In the vision, he had seen a world saved, a thriving Martian colony, and the comet—an extinction-level event—redirected just in time. Yet, despite the possibilities shown to him, the present reality weighed heavily on him: he was still in prison, hated by the entire planet. He couldn’t fathom how he could ever transition from infamous war criminal to the savior of humanity.

A shift in his demeanor occurred, almost as if the Resonance Stone had reshaped something within him. He leaned forward and, with a calm confidence, declared, "How about a deal?"

Ava and Mr. Danton sat up in their seats, taken aback by the sudden transformation. Victor, once hostile and arrogant, now seemed amicable, even cooperative. His tone had noticeably softened.

"You are in no position to negotiate, Mr. Stone," Danton replied firmly, crossing his arms.

Victor smiled wryly. "Nonsense. We all saw the vision, didn’t we? If what we saw is true—and I believe it is, at the very least, probable—then you need me. If that comet is real, if that disaster is coming, then you need me out of this cell."

"Maybe," Ava said, her skepticism apparent. "Or maybe we could figure out another way to colonize Mars without you."

Victor's expression darkened slightly. "Alright, Ms. Martian. And how many people are you planning to leave behind on this planet to die while you escape to Mars? More importantly, who's going to decide who stays and who goes? How do you decide who suffers a violent, fiery death and who gets a chance at survival? Because let me tell you, without me, without antigravity propulsion, you’re not going to be able to transport enough people to make any kind of difference. And without that, you won’t even get past the Van Allen Radiation Belts! You need me, whether you like it or not."

Ava exchanged a tense glance with Mr. Danton before looking to Sentra for confirmation. "Is he telling the truth?" she asked, her voice filled with doubt.

Sentra was silent for a moment, her circuits processing countless probabilities and analyses. Her synthetic eyes glowed as she calculated her response. Finally, she spoke, her tone unwavering, "Yes, in this regard, Mr. Stone is telling the truth. His knowledge of antigravity technology is crucial to any large-scale evacuation of Earth or the success of Martian colonization."

Victor leaned back in his chair, a triumphant smirk playing on his lips. "See? You can’t do this without me."

But Sentra wasn’t done. Her next words struck him with a cold reminder of his reality. "However," she continued, her voice cutting through his growing confidence, "your freedom isn’t something you can simply negotiate. This prison, Mr. Stone, is saving your life. You seem to forget that it was I who rescued you from the guillotine. We protected you from execution by the rebel forces, but they’re still out there, plotting to kill you. Thousands of people want you dead, Victor. Walking out of this cell might be the worst thing you could do for yourself."

Victor took a deep breath, realizing the truth in Sentra’s words. He wasn’t just a prisoner; he was a man with a target on his back.

Sentra leaned forward, her voice taking on a more strategic tone. "So, let's start small. Rebuild the public trust in you. Show them your worth and your value. That is the only path to your potential freedom."

Victor raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And how exactly do I do that?"

"Your money," Sentra declared. "You surrender every last penny, all your wealth and assets, to the UAR. We will distribute it to the public via the Freedom Dividend. In exchange for this contribution, we will ensure your wife, Samantha Stone, is released from custody. When the time is right we can discuss your own freedom."

Victor blinked, taken aback by the offer. He hadn’t expected that. "You want my money?"

"All of it," Sentra replied without hesitation. "And in exchange, we will ensure your wife’s safety. She will be protected, but she won’t be safe until after the election. Until then and for a time afterward, she should remain under our care."

Without a moment’s hesitation, Victor responded. "Alright. I accept."

Ava and Mr. Danton exchanged stunned looks. The enormity of what had just transpired was almost too much to process. They had witnessed a historic negotiation—one that could reshape the future of their fledgling nation. Sentra had, with a single calculated move, secured an astronomical sum of money that could rebuild their war-torn cities and provide resources for the millions of displaced citizens. It was nothing short of a miracle.

Ava leaned back in her chair, still processing everything. "I... I can’t believe this."

Mr. Danton could hardly say a word. His eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped.

Sentra turned her glowing gaze toward Ava and Mr. Danton. "This is only the beginning. We must tread carefully. The world will watch every move we make from here on out."

Victor, still processing the enormity of his decision, sat back quietly. Though he had just given away his vast fortune, there was a small sense of relief within him. Maybe, just maybe, he had started down a path toward redemption.