Year 2050

  Month 3

  City of Rebirth:

  Sai walked through the streets of Rebirth City at a casual pace.

  The morning was filled with joggers and students walking around the commercial district.

  There was a coffee shop with a line extending out the door, a nail salon with clients chatting animatedly through the windows, a barber sweeping the entrance of his shop, a pizza place where the aroma of melting cheese and baking dough wafted onto the street. Next to it, several fast-food joints competed for attention with colorful holographic displays.

  Sai casually strolled into the coffee shop, bypassing the line entirely. From behind the counter, a young woman with deep bronze skin, curly black hair pulled into a loose bun, and striking amber eyes looked up and smiled brightly when she noticed him.

  “Hey Sai, I got your daily,” she called, holding up a small bag.

  “Hey Jasmine, thank you.” Sai took the bag and inhaled deeply—fresh croissant with butter, still warm. He then examined the drink she slid across the counter, taking a cautious sip.

  “This is...” Sai’s eyes widened slightly, the closest thing to excitement his face could show. “Oh hey, it’s the Cyro Berry Blast. I thought you stopped making it here.”

  “We did, but it’s back,” Jasmine replied with a wink, following it with finger guns aimed playfully in his direction.

  “You remembered it’s my favorite.” Sai took another appreciative sip. “How’s school going? Still in advanced robotics?”

  “Top of the class,” Jasmine smiled brightly. “Professor thinks I might get an internship at Reawakening Labs next semester.”

  “That’s—” Sai’s response was cut short by a soft ping from his wrist communicator. He glanced down, his expression shifting imperceptibly. “Sorry, I have to go.”

  “Work stuff?” Jasmine asked, a note of disappointment creeping into her voice.

  “Always is,” Sai replied, already turning toward the door.

  “Hey, Sai, wait,” Jasmine called, suddenly looking nervous. “I was wondering if maybe... if you’re not too busy sometime... we could get dinner? Or see a movie?”

  Sai paused, turning back to her with a slight frown. “I don’t know when I’ll have free time.”

  Her smile faltered, but she nodded. “It’s okay, I understand.”

  Sai sighed, recognizing the disappointment in her expression. “Give me your number. I’ll call when I’m free.”

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  Jasmine’s face brightened instantly. She quickly scribbled her number on the side of his cup with a marker. “Don’t wait too long,” she said.

  “I make no promises,” Sai replied as he left the shop.

  …

  The streets were loud with the passing of vehicles. Sai put on his sunglasses as the midday sun reflected off their gleaming surfaces. Sai continued his unhurried pace, glancing casually around the streets.

  The broad avenue bustled with life there were commuters hurrying to meetings, street vendors calling out to passersby. A bus hummed quietly past on its electric engine, windows filled with passengers glued to their devices.

  Sai crossed at an intersection where traffic flowed, guided by an invisible system of AI controls. The sidewalks were held trees every block. On benches were people who sat and enjoyed their lunch breaks. A couple took a selfie in front of a holographic advertisement that transformed the building behind them into a tropical paradise.

  As Sai passed the building’s, he glanced up at the exterior emergency corridors—narrow walkways with reinforced windows that ran along several floors as part of the building’s evacuation system. The corridors were of dual-purpose design to connect the buildings together to the magnetic trains over them as well as for emergency situations. Their windows offering a view of the busy street below where buses and cars flowed in orderly lines.

  He passed a narrow alley between two commercial buildings.

  The constant background noise of the city enveloped him, soft whirr of electric vehicles, pieces of conversation, the occasional alert tone from public announcement systems, and the distant sound of construction from several blocks away.

  As Sai continued walking, the large building belonging to the Mercier family came into view. It rose above its neighbors, dominating the skyline.

  The building’s metallic exterior had subtle curves and graceful angles. Small, reinforced glass windows lined the sides.

  Sai approached the entrance where a retinal scanner was embedded in the wall beside a heavy metallic door. He positioned his eye in front of the scanner, which emitted a brief red beam as it read his identity.

  “Identity confirmed,” announced a disembodied voice.

  The metallic door hummed as it slid open, revealing a long corridor lined with polished steel panels.

  The corridor floor was made of reinforced steel plates that clicked softly under Sai’s shoes. Recessed lighting in the ceiling cast a neutral white glow throughout the space, illuminating the path forward without shadows or dark corners. At regular intervals, interior glass doors separated different sections, each requiring another security scan to proceed.

  Sai approached the wide glass doors, which slid open automatically as he neared.

  Sai stepped inside, his shoes clicking against the steel floor panels that covered the entire space. As he walked, a subtle buzzing sound emanated from beneath his feet. The floor panels illuminated with soft whites and pale blues in response to his step's weight, creating a trail of light that followed his path across the lobby.

  The lobby was pristine and meticulously maintained. In its center stood a luminescent flower, its large petals glowing with a soft blue-white light that illuminated the surrounding area. Native to the lands beyond the walls. Sai didn’t spare more than a moment's glance at it. A flower he had seen thousands of times.

  Employees moved through the lobby, trails of lights following their footsteps. Some carried tablets and holographic images while others engaged in quiet conversation. A receptionist sat at a desk near the entrance, monitoring security feeds and managing visitor access.

  Sai walked toward the elevators, only to find one with an “Out of Service” sign.

  He pressed the call button for the other and waited, watching with growing frustration as the floor indicator showed it stopping at every single floor.

  “Perfect,” he muttered, glancing toward the emergency stairwell door.

  Sai glanced at the stairwell entrance nearby. A hand scanner glowed softly beside the door. With a small sigh drawn from the inconvenience of this day and the almost too much effort he has already had to exert, he walked toward it, drawing his hand up, yawning as he pressed his palm against the scanner. A soft beep confirmed his identity, and the door slid open with a gentle hiss.