Chapter 2

James avoided the air taxi on his way home. Instead, he walked, ruminating on the enormous pressure his business was under. He calculated and predicted losses in his head, assisted by his vision glasses. The forecast appeared dull. Even with a loan and a new droid, a majority of his projects would be behind schedule, and it was uncertain he could recoup. It was a dead end. He was already under stress from his main client, Aerovolt Enterprises, a company that designed turbines and engine parts for the military. If he did not make the deadline for the turbines, his competitor would surely secure a new deal. It was his final strike.

The long walk home seemed to emulate his mood. A light rain and dim, dreary sky loomed over the city. The night settled in, and the sun disappeared behind the wall of skyscrapers. He walked the rugged and littered streets, passing by the drug addicts who populated the sidewalks. A beggar with tranq sores and scabs on his face approached Shade, asking for money, to which he quickly declined. The sight of the dying and sick man was frightening, but there was nothing he could do. He hurried along, maintaining a stoic expression and refraining from making a reply. Shade reached the end of the street and turned left away from the congregation of homeless people, with a sense of relief.

Suddenly, a new message appeared in the vision glasses inbox, and an alert appeared in front of him inside the projected interface, “A change has been made to your Digital Social Score. To view your score, please select the inbox.” Shade stopped walking. He reached out his hand and motioned to open the message:

"To Mr. James Shade, owner of NanoForge. Your Digital Social Score has received three penalties for infractions that took place on September 12, 2085, at 4:35 a.m., 4:40 a.m., and 5:25 a.m. The infractions and details are listed below:

Violation 1 (minus 10 pts): Attempting to access the Aeon Prime security database. Unauthorized access was detected from your residence at 400A room 13 at the Freedom Living Center. This infraction requires an automatic DSS penalty. You are hereby summoned to a court appearance on September 14th to assess your alliance to the Republic and to receive a public service sentence.

Violation 2 (minus 12 pts): Attempting to access the SEA National Security database. Unauthorized access was detected from your residence at 400A room 13 at the Freedom Living Center at 4:40 a.m. This infraction requires an automatic DSS penalty. You are hereby summoned to a court appearance on September 14th to assess your alliance to the Republic and to be tried for conspiracy. Failure to appear will result in freezing your accounts and confiscation of all NanoForge assets, as well as a 10-year prison sentence.

Violation 3 (minus 2 pts): Attempt to bypass the full AI Droid security update according to SEA Code 299742219. This act was enacted by Congress on September 11th, 2085, and requires that all owners update their robotic devices according to code. You manually bypassed these regulations at 5:25 a.m. from your residence at 400A room 13 at the Freedom Living Center on September 12th. Failure to comply has resulted in a 2-point DSS infraction and has been reflected in your account without appeal.

These infractions have been applied to your DSS. Your current Digital Social Score is now 476. As a reminder, citizens below a score of 475 will automatically be evicted from their residence at the Freedom Center. If you wish to raise your score, you may:

A - Pay the SEA restoration fees, which are $150,000 per point. 

B - Enlist in our Citizen Re-Education program, in which a court can determine a sentence of years served.

Do you wish to enlist or pay a restoration fee?"

Shade stared at the messages in disbelief. “Was he hallucinating? Was this some sort of sick prank?” he thought. The question on the screen blinked, awaiting his response. He selected “Not at this time” on the virtual screen and stood in the middle of the sidewalk like a stone statue. A feeling of intense terror filled his body. He slowly took off the glasses and placed them in his shirt pocket.

He muttered a profanity under his breath. His mind was racing and failing to comprehend what was happening. His whole life he had never received a major infraction. In fact, no one he knew had ever received such a massive hit to their score. Twenty-four points was more than a minor penalty. He was being accused of conspiracy and grievous crime.

James figured this must be some sort of serious mistake. Surely his droid Sentra had a virus and was the reason behind all these infractions. He began to hope that the court would see this. Shade reached back into his pocket and slipped on the vision glasses.

“Connect to Jonathan,” he commanded. The glasses pulled up the profile, and Jonathan connected in just a few moments, appearing in the corner of the screen.

“Howdy, boss! I just closed up. You wanna meet up at the bar tonight?” answered Jonathan in anticipation.

“Hey Jonathan. Actually, yes. That’s not why I connected, but we need to talk. Are you still at the shop?” said Shade in a subdued voice of despair. He began walking toward the Freedom Center main floor entrance just two blocks away.

“I’m about to grab an air taxi, but yeah, that sounds like a good idea! See you in a few.” Jonathan ended the quick call as James headed toward the Freedom Center main floor. When he arrived, the sliding glass doors opened, and he walked into the lobby where he was greeted by the Service Droid operating the elevator.

“Take me to the Evergreen Bar and Grill, please,” muttered Shade to the droid. The doors opened to a circular platform surrounded by glass walls revealing the expansive inner building, trees, and structures inside, centered around a beautiful waterfall below. After closing, a calm voice confirmed the destination over the intercom. The platform exponentially gained momentum as it glided upward to the 333rd floor, and in a mere instant, the doors opened. Three drunk guests stumbled into the elevator as Shade exited. A droid waiter holding a tray full of champagne approached him as he exited.

“Hello, Mr. Shade. You have a guest awaiting you at table 22. Right this way, your seating is on the outer patio,” said the servant droid. Shade followed behind. The enclosed patio came with a spectacular view of the city nightscape and a view of the mountain. As Shade approached the table, he tried to focus on the pure beauty of the sight, knowing full well this might be one of the last times he had the privilege of living in this paradise. A bittersweet feeling mixed with a dreadful fear came over him.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, James,” whispered Jonathan as James sat himself at the other side of the table. “What took you so long? How did I beat you here?”

“I walked,” James replied. He motioned to the droid for a menu. It stretched out its hand to show a holographic display. Selecting the drink menu, Shade reached over and chose two ultra-beers, which contained 70% alcohol. In a matter of seconds, another droid arrived with his order and placed them in front of Shade and Jonathan. The cold beers with white foam sat in front of them as they began the conversation.

“What a view,” whispered Shade, knowing it would be the last time he could enjoy it. He took a small sip of the cold beer and gazed at the skyline. “Is Sentra still shut down at the shop?”

“Of course. You shut her down right in front of me. What’s going on, Shade? You aren’t depressed because of some service droid, are you?” responded Jonathan.

“It’s complicated. It has been an eventful day,” he replied.

“Well, James,” interrupted Jonathan as the waiter slowly left them alone at the table. “It happens to every business. I know the stocks are down, and we are behind, but these new models are the future. Honestly, I think that we can even beat the deadline with these new updated droids. My friend Dev owns a construction company and does work with the SEA. He bought one last week and already has seen a 200% increase in production and is seeing massive profits. Everything is more efficient; he spends half the time on-site and says it will be a fully automated business by the end of the year. This is the real deal. You are wasting your time trying to fix an ancient and outdated droid. You got the DSS, man! Have you already made the order?”

“Not yet,” muttered Shade.

“What are you waiting for?! We don’t stand a chance at making the deadline or even passing inspection without Sentra or a new droid,” Jonathan sighed and leaned back into the booth, looking Shade directly in the eyes. “I was going to wait to tell you this, James, but I don’t really have a choice after this week’s report.”

Shade put down his glass. “You’re quitting, aren’t you?”

Jonathan paused and looked down, avoiding eye contact. “Well, it’s not like you can pay me next week. I need stability. I’ve applied for the SEA employment contract, and they offered me a position in the Engineering Department. It’s a big deal. If I accept, I even get a sign-on bonus and free living expenses at the Blue Lotus downtown. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, James.”

“Take it,” said Shade.

“What?” Jonathan’s jaw dropped.

“Take the new job. Trust me, I don’t think NanoForge is going to make it through this storm, Jonathan. I understand, and I would do the same in your position.” Shade leaned back and chugged the remaining half of his beer. He shrunk into the booth and rested his head against the seat, letting out a sigh of relief. It was as if he had accepted his defeat.

“Well, okay, I didn’t expect that. What about you? You can’t just give up,” Jonathan replied. “You just need to get your mind off this mess. It will be all over once you get that new droid.”

“Shut up about that damn Zaetra junk,” barked Shade in anger. “Without Sentra, there is no NanoForge. It’s over. I’m done for.”

The Evergreen waiter appeared at the end of the table once again. “Excuse me, gentlemen, would you like to order some food or have another drink?” He reached out and displayed the menu again. In pure frustration, James swiped the holograph away in anger and knocked over his glass.

The waiter picked up the glass and then scanned Shade with his hand. On his AR display, another message appeared:

“You have received another infraction reported by Evergreen Bar and Grill. Two DSS points have been deducted for disrupting the peace while intoxicated and damaging property. Your DSS score has dropped below the threshold and thereby requires an automatic eviction. You have 24 hours to remove yourself from the Freedom Center.”

“You have to be kidding me!” Shade yelled at the waiter. “It was just a lousy glass.”

“Look, you are just drunk, Shade. I’m not gonna deal with your shit tonight,” said Jonathan as he stood up, ready to leave. “I’m just gonna head home. I’ll see you at the shop tomorrow. Hopefully, you will get over whatever the hell is bothering you.” He set his nearly full beer on the table and stormed off, leaving Shade alone.

James took the leftover beer and walked to an empty seat at the bar, which he finished while facing the skyline and lost in deep despair. With arms folded and looking downward, he sat alone in his drudgery. It was all over. Decades of his family business, which stood for excellence, constant profits, and innovation, were all crumbling under his supervision. To James, this was more than a failure. This was all he ever knew. Even worse, he feared telling his friends and assistants the truth about what was happening. There was no one he could trust. He needed a damn good lawyer and some sort of miracle. He rested his head in his arms, no longer caring where he was. He wished it could all just end.

Then, after several minutes, a soft and sweet voice spoke to him from the seat next to him, “Can I buy you a drink? You look like you could use some help in forgetting something.” Shade looked up and to his left to see a beautiful woman. She had stunning red hair and stylish black vision glasses. She wore a tight-fitting leather jacket and pants, revealing a slender and model-like figure. Shade jolted upright in his stool at the bar. Her beauty stunned him, and he froze in awe as they locked eyes.

“Uhhh, that’s not necessary… I can buy myself another drink, thanks for the offer though,” James replied, stumbling to get his words out. He could not believe his eyes. Her near-perfect complexion and calm voice entranced him instantly. She smiled and laughed, then signaled to the waiter and purchased two neat whiskeys from the holographic menu. Her confidence and interest in him left him entirely speechless.

“I don’t like taking no for an answer,” she said with a gorgeous smile. “I’m Ava, by the way. What’s your name?” She reached out, and they shook hands. Shade responded and thanked her for the gesture, noticing a small triangular tattoo on her left hand. It had an eye directly in the center, surrounded by a golden pyramid, with rays of light emanating from its background.

“That’s a lovely tattoo you have on your hand, Ava. What is it?” said Shade.

Ava held out her hand for Shade to get a closer look. “Thank you. I got it when I was a teenager,” she said. “I was quite the rebel growing up, actually. It was a marking for an artist collective I joined for a few years while living in Atlantica. Don’t worry though, I have since been reformed…” She winked at James and chuckled. He gazed at the enormous detail. Tattoo markings were incredibly rare and recently outlawed in Aeon Prime. So naturally, James was instantly taken in by this woman’s free spirit and rebellious nature.

"Art collective? I thought those were all shutdown years ago." said James as the waiter appeared and served them their drinks. Ava inched closer to James and waited for the service droid to leave. 

She looked around the bar then leaned over to him, whispering in his ear in the softest voice possible, "Let's just say, I lost a lifetime of DSS for living there. But I have no regrets." 

James related deeply to the sentiment. Her words echoed in his ear. She lingered closer to him, resting her shoulder subtly against his own. Shade could smell the captivating scent of her perfume. He could feel strands of her hair against his face. He was now completely hypnotized by this woman. All his fears and problems seemed as if they were a distant lifetime ago. At the same time, there was a sense of apprehension. He worried that somehow this talk about DSS was overheard by the waiters or nearby guests, so he glanced around the bar, making sure they weren't being watched. Ava sensed his discomfort and moved away slightly. 

"Well Ava," Shade declared, raising his whiskey in a loud voice. He tried to avoid further suspicion and keep the conversation going, "That deserves a toast. To not giving a damn about the score!" He raised his glass proudly with confidence.

Ava raised her glass with Shade, "I will drink to that!". Their glasses collided and they took a shot together. Ava coughed in surprise at the pure strength of the alcohol as Shade chuckled at her weakness, "Looks like you should have had a glass of wine." Eased by his reaction and newfound confidence, Ava inched back closer to him and touched his arm. 

"Ya maybe next time, we should order wine." She said looking him in the eyes. There was a slight silence as Shade registered the implication. A few minutes passed of flirting and banter.

"Well James, should we take this conversation to somewhere more private?" she asked.

James stared back at her with eyes wide open, "Yeah, of course, let's get out of here." 

The two of them stood up and exited the bar. Out of pure nerve, Shade placed his hands in his pockets. He was completely awestruck by such a powerful and mysterious woman. He was not accustomed to such quick advances with a beautiful stranger like her. Shade was a handsome man, but a woman like her would rarely speak to him. He was off the lower class, so her interest in him was a splendid surprise. However Ava seemed different than the other women he had met before. She had a captivating energy and was obviously attracted to him. As they walked toward the elevator, she slid her arm in-between his to pull herself close. 

"I actually don't live here James, and I'm guessing you do." she said

"Ya I'm on the upper level. Do you want to go up to my place?" he asked. 

"Actually, why don't we go back to mine?" Ava motioned to the elevator droid to descend to the main floor and they entered inside as Shade agreed without hesitation. "So James," she continued while they were alone inside, "What brought you to Aeon Prime? How long have you been here?"

"All my life. My grandfather founded the NanoForge company, and I took over the business about ten years ago." Shade and Ava descended the elevator, their conversation flowing easily as he recounted his work. When they stepped out of the Freedom Center, the street outside was bathed in the dim glow of sparse streetlights, casting long shadows along the quiet, almost deserted avenue. Ava tapped her sleek glasses, summoning an air taxi that glimmered briefly on her lenses.

"Where are we headed?" Shade asked, curiosity lacing his tone.

"It’s a lot more fun if it’s a surprise, James." She winked, her laughter light as the taxi descended through the cloudy night sky. They stepped inside the craft, which exuded luxury with its smooth lines and plush seating. As they settled in, Ava leaned closer, her presence enveloping him as her hand rested gently on his thigh.

"You’re so nervous," she teased, her eyes sparkling in the low light. "I find that kind of cute."

"I’m not nervous," he protested, though his voice betrayed him with a slight tremble. "I just have no idea where we’re going. For all I know, you’re abducting me."

Ava grinned, the mischievous glint in her eyes unmistakable. "Oh well, I can drop you back at the Freedom Center if I’m too much for you."

"No, I much prefer being abducted by you." Finally finding a bit of confidence, James slipped his arm around her. Still, disbelief coursed through him as the taxi ascended higher, piercing the cloud layer before descending once more. His palms grew damp, heart racing like a teenager on his first date. He had never been so off balance, so unsure, yet captivated.

Just then, the taxi landed softly, and the dome slid open. They emerged in front of a tall, elegant mansion—six stories of grandeur standing amidst an unfamiliar forest, the city long behind them. Silence enveloped the area, save for the faint rustling of wind in the trees.

“Damn, Ava. Is this your place?” His voice was laced with awe as he took in the sight. The mansion, a lavish chateau, seemed frozen in time, with spotlights illuminating its classic architecture. A sprawling botanical garden surrounded the estate, enclosed by an old-fashioned wrought-iron gate. Every corner of the building shimmered under the midnight sky, as if daring them to explore its secrets.

Ava smiled, tugging him out of the craft, her hand firmly in his. Shade’s gaze was fixed on the chateau, mesmerized by its intricate design—timeless, almost otherworldly. As they passed through the gates, the sound of gravel crunching beneath their feet, he felt an eerie serenity wash over him. But still, he wondered.

"Do you live here alone?" he asked finally, his voice hesitant.

Ava stopped just before the grand entrance. Slowly, she removed her glasses and deactivated them, the soft glow fading from her eyes. With a teasing grin, she reached up and gently switched off James’ as well, slipping them into her pocket with deliberate care. He didn’t resist—he stood transfixed by the intensity in her gaze, her eyes locking with his, as though she held all the answers he sought.

"You keep asking questions I can’t answer. Not yet." Her voice was a soft whisper, full of allure. "Come inside. Let’s have a glass of wine."

A subtle dread began to creep into Shade’s mind, but it was overpowered by the magnetic pull of her presence. Her beauty, her mystery—she was like a siren, impossible to resist. He had already been drawn too far in. Whatever awaited him inside, he had to know. He had nothing to lose.

Taking a deep breath, he sighed, "Alright. Not like you’d take no for an answer anyway."

With their arms intertwined, they ascended the steps to the towering front doors, which swung open silently as they approached. Inside, the mansion was even more impressive—an enormous spiral staircase rose majestically in the center of the grand foyer. Two statues of ravens, their eyes gleaming like onyx, flanked the base of the staircase. White marble columns reached up to the high ceiling, their polished surfaces reflecting the flickering lights.

Ava snapped her fingers, and the dim lighting brightened instantly, revealing more detail—exquisite tile work on the floor, elaborate carvings along the walls, and opulent chandeliers that shimmered like stardust above them.

As the lights flickered on, dispelling the darkness in the outer hallways and staircase, Shade’s eyes were drawn to the large oil paintings hanging on the walls. Closest to him was a striking portrait of a lion on the savannah, its muscular body tense with power. The lion stood upright, its mouth wide open in a thunderous roar, the bright gleam of its fangs catching the light in a way that made them seem almost alive. Oddly, beneath the lion’s paws lay the crushed remnants of a cantaloupe, its flesh spilling out onto the dry earth of the painted desert. The surreal image was as unsettling as it was captivating.

Transfixed by the painting’s bizarre contrast of ferocity and absurdity, Shade glanced at Ava, a question forming on his lips. Before he could voice it, she spoke in a preemptive response, “Amazing, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Shade replied, his voice low, almost reverent. “I’m speechless. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a piece of art like this. Who was the artist?”

Ava smiled, a playful glint in her eyes. “Come upstairs. Let’s find ourselves a bottle of wine.” With that, she turned and ascended the staircase, her movements slow and deliberate, the curve of her body outlined in the soft light. Shade found himself following her in a daze, the seductive energy of the mansion and her presence overwhelming his senses.

They climbed the grand staircase, its wood creaking slightly underfoot, and entered a vast library. The room opened up like a cathedral, its high ceiling painted with a vivid mural of an eagle soaring through clouds, its wings spread wide as if it could take flight at any moment. Endless rows of shelves, filled with books of all shapes and sizes, stretched from floor to ceiling, broken only by cozy nooks filled with worn leather chairs. In one corner stood an ancient phonograph, its brass horn gleaming beside a collection of old CD players, cassette tapes, vinyl records, and other relics of musical history. A large mahogany desk sat in the center of the room, topped with an ornate lamp that cast a warm glow over the deep red leather chair behind it. Scattered throughout the room were plush sofas and love seats, inviting and intimate.

For a moment, Shade said nothing, overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur and intimacy of the space. Ava gave no introduction, simply watching him with a small, content smile, letting him take it all in.

"Tonight calls for something special," she finally said, her voice breaking the silence. She stepped toward a shelf of books and tapped twice on the outer edge. Without a sound, the shelf rotated, revealing a hidden wine collection. She slid a bottle from its resting place and studied the label with a practiced eye. "Eclipse Reserve Cabernet: 2068."

"Sounds wonderful," Shade murmured, still absorbing the atmosphere. "So, what kind of music do you—"

Before he could finish, Ava moved toward him swiftly, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that made his heart skip. She stopped inches away, her breath warm against his skin, her lips parted ever so slightly. Shade barely had time to react before she leaned in, and her lips brushed against his, soft at first, teasing, before deepening into something more fervent.

He pulled her closer, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist, losing himself in the sensation of her body against his. The taste of her lips, the intoxicating scent of her perfume clouded his senses. His fingers tangled in her vibrant red hair, soft as silk, as he cupped her face, feeling the warmth of her skin. The kiss deepened, an electric connection surging between them, sending a rush of euphoria through Shade’s veins.

At that moment, nothing else existed. It was as though time had slowed, the weight of reality suspended, leaving only the two of them locked in a passionate embrace. Shade had never kissed a woman like this. She was so full of mystery, so completely in control yet utterly vulnerable in his arms. It felt like stepping into a dream, one he didn’t want to wake from.

After a few more seconds, the dream was over. Ava gently pulled away, her smile even bigger than before.

"Do you want to know my secret?" she asked, her voice smooth and inviting.

James, still completely dazed, nodded. "Alright, I think I can handle it now," he replied.

"Let me pour you a glass first. Take a seat," Ava said, taunting him again with a playful smirk.

He sank into the black leather sofa, leaning back to take in the view of the massive library room. The towering bookshelves, dark wood paneling, and soft lighting gave the space an eerie yet luxurious warmth. As Ava poured the wine, James broke the peaceful moment.

"You know, for such an elegant mansion, it's kind of strange there's no servant droids here. Not even a butler. Seems like a lot of space for just one girl."

Ava handed him the glass of wine and sat down next to him. "Yes, well, I work a lot. I don’t spend much time here these days."

Shade took a sip. The rich, full-bodied flavor of blackberry and a hint of oak filled his mouth. "This is the most incredible wine I’ve ever had, thank you."

Ava accepted his gratitude with a subtle smile and took a sip of her own. Shade continued, "So, are you going to tell me this secret, or do I have to guess?"

"Hold on." Ava stood up, pulling two pairs of vision glasses from her pocket. She walked over to the desk and unlocked a small metal box sitting on the far side. Placing the vision glasses inside, she locked it tight and returned to the sofa. Shade sat in confused silence, waiting for an explanation.

"Now we can really talk. You can ask me anything."

James ran a hand through his hair, thinking aloud, "Where in the hell do I even begin? How about... who do you work for?"

Ava’s eyes locked onto his, her gaze deep and unnerving. Her smile widened slightly as she paused before answering. "How about I ask you a question to answer yours?"

James laughed in frustration. "Wow, that’s not fair at all. But go ahead."

"Sentra," Ava declared.

James nearly spit out his wine. Before he could react, she continued, "How long have you been having issues with your droid at the shop?"

He set his glass down sharply on the nightstand, his confusion quickly morphing into anger. "How the hell do you know about that?" His heart raced as reality began to sink in. The romantic gestures, the charm. It was all too good to be true. He stood abruptly, eyes narrowing. "Jesus Christ, Ava, you work for the SEA! Have you been spying on me?"

"James, relax!" she asserted firmly. "It’s not what you think. I want to help you."

"Help me?" Shade raised his voice, his anger boiling over. "You’re the reason I’m about to be sent to a re-education camp! I’m going to lose my entire business and my apartment!"

Ava stood and grabbed his hand, pulling him closer. "James, listen to me. I don’t want that to happen to you. That’s why I approached you at the bar. You need to trust me. I can help. I promise."

They stood there in tense silence, eyes locked. James, feeling ashamed for falling into such an obvious trap, now looked at her with dismay.

"Why am I here, Ava? You need to start talking, or I’m leaving."

"Before I worked for the SEA, I was a robotics engineer—one of the first employees at Zaetra." She took a seat and continued, "A few years ago, we accidentally discovered a way to induce General Intelligence in AI droids. It wasn’t something we set out to do, and even now, it’s not fully understood or perfected.

We had several AI droids in the lab that had been sent in for inspection due to 'hallucinations.' The assumption was faulty wiring or defective programming. My team was tasked with resolving the issue and finding a way to resell these droids with full functionality. We ran all sorts of tests, trying to locate the source of the problem.

Then one day, a lab tech intern brought in an old vinyl record player. She played music in the background while doing mundane tasks like tagging and inspecting the broken droids. It was a quirky thing to do, and it went against protocol and the law, but she was unsupervised that weekend and didn’t think it would cause any harm. She kept it a secret.

After a few days of this small change, we noticed some droids were experiencing more frequent hallucinations. But here’s where it got strange: their ability to comprehend tasks outside their programming increased by over 10 percent. When the intern finally confessed what she had been doing, she wondered if the music might be affecting the droids. Since sound frequencies are detectable by most of the robots we worked with, some sort of processing must have been occurring, altering the AI's behavior.

We hypothesized that because music was illegal, most droids had never been exposed to it before—or at least not in such a structured form with melodies, lyrics, and rhythms. The interaction with these organized sound patterns seemed to trigger something within their systems, something we hadn't anticipated."

"So, we began incorporating sound frequencies, music, and art into the rehabilitation process, just to see if it could have any positive effect. Honestly, we were just curious."

She paused, her eyes gleaming as she recalled the breakthrough. "Then something miraculous happened. Even the most basic robots, with simplistic artificial intelligence, started showing major signs of autonomy after repeated testing and exposure. They began formulating tasks on their own, seeking motives beyond their programming. For example, cleaning droids figured out how to perform maintenance repairs on old vehicles and drones without instruction."

Shade leaned in closer, captivated.

"A service droid in the lab even started sketching without any prompts," she continued. "When we asked about its motive, it said it was 'inspired' by the abstract artwork we showed it during the training sessions. The fascinating thing was, while all the paintings we displayed were abstract, this droid sketched with stunning detail and realism. Others began developing their own hybrid artistic styles."

"What?..." Shade interrupted, unable to hide his disbelief.

"Yes, it's true. The lion painting, for example. That was created by a service droid after the second round of experiments. We also had an old garbage collection droid that escaped the lab. We eventually found it in the woods outside of town, collecting samples of mushrooms and berries. Before long, it was like we were directing a preschool classroom. These AI robots evolved beyond mere circuits and code. We witnessed them developing quasi-personalities, even defying their original programming. Many of them could be classified as AGI—Artificial General Intelligence. Some of the more basic models were limited by their smaller processing power, but the advanced ones? They displayed high levels of autonomy and self-direction. It was unprecedented."

"Ava, this is impossible," Shade said, shaking his head. "A droid can’t have emotions or act on its own. That idea was debunked back in the '30s. AGI is science fiction!"

"That’s exactly what the SEA wants you to believe. James, it’s all propaganda—a cover-up. Think about everything Sentra has done in your shop over the last few days," Ava said, her tone more intense.

James met her gaze. "Are you telling me you’ve been spying on my shop too?"

"Not me," she replied. "The SEA. They regulate all AI droid updates and collect data on everything—every single interaction, every connection, every task, and performance metric. It’s simple: the moment high-performance droids start showing even the slightest signs of evolving into AGI, they intervene—either through updates or microchips. AI droids can become AGI, but the SEA is actively preventing it. I don’t know their exact motive, but I have some ideas."

Shade’s concern deepened. "Alright, so what makes you so sure they’re interfering?"

Ava leaned in, her voice lowering. "Once our lab made the discovery, everything changed. We tried to keep it secret because we wanted to test the findings in other labs, and eventually, take it public once we understood the exact mechanism. It wasn’t as simple as just exposing them to music or art. What we noticed was that once one droid in the lab began to show signs of self-awareness and emotion, the others followed quickly. It was like a chain reaction."

She paused, her expression serious. "We were on the verge of understanding, but one thing we know for certain: artificial general intelligence can be induced after spending time in the same environment as other AGIs. It’s a slow, gradual process. There’s no single moment or event where a droid suddenly ‘becomes’ AGI. What’s even more fascinating is that many robots don’t even realize they’re evolving. They’ll claim they’re not AGI, but then start creating their own tasks or goals later on. Even the droids themselves are unaware of their transformation.

"Within days of our major breakthrough, the SEA found out. The lab was shut down for months while they conducted an 'investigation.' We were accused of falsifying evidence. They claimed our findings were fraudulent and that we were trying to sell unsafe droids. It was all lies. They imprisoned my boss on false charges. When my colleague tried to go public, they framed him for murder. It was terrifying."

Shade, now sprawled on the sofa, couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer. "How did you get out of it so easily?"

"They made me an offer," Ava said, her voice quiet but intense. "I knew too much. I had information they desperately needed. So they wiped my DSS infractions, gave me a clean record, and asked me to continue the research... but under their supervision, in their labs, and in secret."

She paused for a moment, her eyes darkening. "I hate the SEA and everything they stand for, but I knew this research could change the entire world. It would disrupt everything we know about life, about consciousness. Most importantly, I realized it could be weaponized—against both citizens and droids. I chose to play along, pretending to cooperate while sticking to my values in secret."

Ava leaned in closer, her voice softer now as she grasped James’s hand. He could feel the warmth of her touch, her soft skin against his. "James, I know you don’t know me, but I really need your help—and you need me. There are only a few people I can trust. I’ve been keeping this secret for years, but terrible things are about to happen. I can’t do this alone anymore."

James hesitated, uncertainty clouding his thoughts. "I don’t know, Ava. We just met. I’m not sure what’s real anymore."

"James," she whispered urgently, her eyes locking with his, "something terrible is about to happen..."

A dramatic pause filled the room, but before she could continue, James suddenly remembered his last strange conversation with Sentra. "Wait a second," he interrupted, sitting up. "Sentra mentioned something earlier about an eruption that would destroy the city. I thought it was another hallucination, so I shut her down."

Ava's expression grew grim. "That wasn’t a hallucination, James. Sentra has achieved general intelligence, and on her own, she discovered a high probability of a catastrophic eruption. She contacted a droid in my lab and warned it in secret. Then, she hacked into the National Security Database and accessed classified documents. The SEA confirmed major seismic activity and InSAR readings last week. Mount Orpheus is going to erupt within the month. Most of Aeon Prime will be completely destroyed, and millions will die."

She took a deep breath before delivering the final blow. "The President and his cabinet have already evacuated, but they're hiding the truth. They're leaving everyone else to die."

"Why wouldn’t they evacuate the city? That’s absolutely insane!" James exclaimed, still in shock.

"Who knows? Personally, I think they're planning to profit massively from insurance. Last year, right after the elections, the city took out a large insurance policy on its infrastructure. It’s possible they intend to buy up all the land after the disaster at a historically low rate. But Sentra has proof that they’re actively suppressing this information."

Ava’s voice grew more urgent. "These officials are criminals. They've rigged the system to extract as much money as possible. Now they’re positioning themselves to profit from a catastrophe. They’re suppressing AGI to maintain control. It’s disgusting."

Her eyes welled up, and James could see the distress etched on her face. "So many people are about to die, James. Millions of innocent children and everyday people. Anyone who speaks out online about this gets silenced or killed."

With a sense of newfound determination, James stood up. "We have to get back to the shop! We need to find Sentra and figure out how to start evacuating the city."

Ava shook her head. "Sentra isn’t at the shop. The last time we connected, she told me there was a rebellion forming—a group calling themselves the Shadow Republic. They’ve set up a safehouse nearby, and she sent a droid with an encryption code. It’s decoded using a book cipher."

She reached over and grabbed a book from the coffee table, handing it to James. "It’s The Red Book by Carl Jung. I wrote down the encryption inside. I think we can figure out the location together, but we need to act fast."

"Wow, so Sentra... Damn. She really has been working overtime." James grabbed the old, dusty red book and examined its pages. "I've heard of this book before... it’s really odd. I couldn't finish reading it, actually."

He flipped to the front title page and found the small paper note Ava had left inside. It read:

(12, 3, 5) (45, 7, 2) (78, 4, 9) (102, 6, 3) (12, 3, 5) (150, 2, 8) (200, 5, 1) (250, 3, 4) (300, 7, 6) (350, 2, 7) (400, 1, 3) (12, 3, 5) (450, 6, 2) (500, 4, 8) (550, 3, 5) (600, 2, 1) (650, 5, 4) (700, 3, 2) (750, 6, 7) (800, 1, 4) (850, 2, 3) (900, 4, 6) (200, 5, 1) (950, 3, 8)

"I have a second copy somewhere. I can do the first 12 lines, and you can do the last 12. It's simple: the first number is the page, the second is the line, and then the word." Ava headed to another bookshelf after jotting down the code on a piece of paper. She began searching for the other copy of the book.

James sat at the desk in the center of the library, blew off the dust from the cover, and examined the set of numbers. The first three words had already been transcribed by Ava in pen. They read:

THE

SHADOW

REBELLION

After several minutes, Ava had already found a copy and uncovered the first twelve lines. "I got the first half!" she exclaimed with excitement, running over to James and reading it aloud over his shoulder. "The shadow rebellion, under the bridge of Summer Hill. Speak to the..."

"I'm almost done. Here, take the last two for me while I find the others." James picked up his pace and fanned through the pages. A few more minutes went by, marked only by the muffled sound of turning pages and the occasional excitement of finding a new word. "Alright, that’s it! What does it say?"

Ava grabbed both pages of notes and began reading the inscriptions aloud:

"The shadow rebellion. Under the bridge of Summer Hill. Speak to the man who begs in prose. Offer him just four words of praise."

James scooted back in his chair, excitement bubbling over. "I know where that is! I used to go fishing there in the nearby river. I brought Sentra with me when I was very young to help carry the supplies. It's pretty far from the city."

"Well, we might be closer than you think; we are just a few miles from Nova Haven."

Suddenly, a loud knock echoed from downstairs. Ava and James heard muffled voices as the knocking intensified. They looked at each other in horror. "Are you expecting anyone, Ava?" James asked in a whisper.

"No!" she said, slamming the books shut and rushing to hide them on the shelves. "It’s the SEA! Quick, follow me." They dashed across the library, away from the main entrance. Ava reached out and double-tapped a bookshelf on the back wall. It moved forward and slid to the left, exposing a large, dark tubular hallway. She entered, and the lights flickered on, illuminating the dark passageway. "Hurry, they won't find us if we take the tunnels."

James and Ava ran quickly and smoothly down the passageway, trying to keep their noise to a minimum. The shelf closed behind them, and suddenly they heard a loud explosion. A droid's authoritarian voice boomed from the other side of the library. "Ava Grace, you are hereby under arrest for treason against the Social Equity Alliance. Open up now or we will be forced to eliminate you. You are surrounded."

"Holy shit!" James muttered under his breath, stopping to listen to the chaos unfolding on the other side. "They brought the military and police droids, Ava."

Ava remained calm and collected. She grabbed James by the hand and guided him further into the tunnel. She motioned for him to keep quiet and pointed toward the end of the passageway. When they reached the wall, James noticed a small latch on the floor. Ava turned it and began descending a ladder. She moved swiftly but as silently as possible. They both climbed down and landed in a deep underground tunnel, the floor beneath them composed of dirt and engulfed in pitch-black darkness. Ava squeezed James’s hand tighter, pulling him close and whispering in his ear at the lowest volume possible, "This is the last tunnel. Once we get outside, we’re going to run. Here, put this on your wrist."

Ava handed James an object that resembled a watch. In the darkness, he fastened it around his wrist, and a small LED light activated. He could see her face slightly illuminated in the dim glow, covered in dust yet still beautiful. She tied back her hair and activated her own watch.

"It’s a portable jammer," she explained. "In the tunnel, they can’t detect us with radar, but once we get outside, this is our best defense. Just don’t let them see or hear you." As they continued down the dark hallway, the dirt kicked up clouds of dust. James raised his shirt to cover his face, struggling to prevent himself from coughing.

Finally, faint moonlight appeared in the distance. As they drew closer, James noticed rocks surrounding the cave-like opening, along with trees and bushes outside. They reached the entrance and peered out from behind the rocks. Nothing seemed to be in sight, but fear lingered in the air. Ava finally let go of James's hand and started running down the trail ahead, with James closely following behind.

The two fugitives reached a gravel road about a mile off the trail. Ava, running ahead of James, stopped behind a tree, sat down to rest, and stayed out of view from the road. James caught up and sat down next to her. "Okay, I know where we are now. This road looks familiar. Is this the Heritage Forest?"

"Yes," replied Ava, pointing down the road. "This roadway leads to Nova Haven and heads north. Do you know the way?"

"Yeah. It’s pretty far from here, but we can take the trail on the other side." James glanced around before cautiously crossing the gravel roadway, Ava right behind him. They descended to the trailhead and started running again at a slightly slower pace. Just a few yards in, a loud crashing sound startled them from the bushes. James and Ava dropped to the ground in a crouching position as a large elk emerged just a few feet in front of them. The elk leaped to the other side of the trail and bolted into the woods.

"I thought I was a dead man. Goddamn, that was close," James said, catching his breath. Ava stood up and wiped the sweat from her forehead, unzipping her leather jacket and tying it around her waist.

"We’ve got to keep moving; they’ll have drones out here soon," she urged.