In the year 2326, the cityscape stretches out before Aika, a desolate expanse of crumbling concrete and rusting steel, as the warm, golden light of sunset casts a haze over the devastation. The air is heavy with the scent of metal and radiation, a constant reminder of the world's ravaged state. The mood is one of contemplative stillness, as if the very passage of time has slowed to a crawl.
Aika sits on the weathered concrete ledge, her eyes fixed on the dusty horizon, her hybrid body a testament to the resilience of life in a world ravaged by time. The crackle of her CORE7 broadcast rig breaks the stillness, a reminder of the mission that drives her. For a moment, she finds solace in the quiet closeness of her crewmate's presence, a sense of tenderness that only 300 years together can ripen. The cityscape behind her seems to fade into the background, as if the only reality is the gentle warmth of the setting sun and the comfort of companionship.
“Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to walk among people, to feel the pulse of a city alive with humanity.”
“But that's a dream for another time. Our focus is on finding the Polyák family, on uncovering the secrets they left behind.”
“The silence is almost deafening, a reminder of all that we've lost. Yet, in this moment, it's also a reminder of what we have – each other.”
As the sun dips below the horizon, Aika's thoughts turn to the mission ahead, her resolve strengthened by the quiet moment of connection with her crewmate. The stillness of the moment gives way to a sense of purpose, as she prepares to face the challenges that lie ahead in the search for the Polyák family.
