Willing to Be Ready

The city stretched as far as the eye could see, a marvel of human ingenuity and nature’s harmony. Towering buildings, sleek and crystalline, seemed to hum with life, their surfaces reflecting the vibrant hues of the artificial sunset above. The air was crisp, neither too warm nor cold—a perfect climate tailored by unseen forces. Wrex Stroggan adjusted the bracelet on his wrist, a simple band embedded with small natural gems, their faint glow pulsing in tune with the environment. The bracelet wasn’t just for show; it was the key to the city’s climate control system. He twisted it slightly, and a subtle warmth spread over his body.

No electricity, no wires, no pollution. This was the promise of Facilis, the so-called perfect world.

Walking along the streets, Wrex couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by how surreal it all seemed. The towering buildings didn’t just reflect light; they displayed images and information across their surfaces, like three-dimensional holograms. A child ran past him, chasing a projection of a butterfly that flitted just above her hands. It wasn’t real, but it felt real enough to fool anyone.

As he turned a corner, his eyes caught a massive storefront, its windows made of a special kind of glass that doubled as a screen. It advertised a new “family crest coin” system upgrade. He watched as a family approached a vendor, holding a coin with an intricate crest etched into its surface. The vendor smiled and scanned the coin with a handheld device. In seconds, their requested items—food, clothing, and tools—materialized from an automated dispenser.

“No hunger, no greed,” Wrex muttered under his breath. “And yet, no choice.”

“Careful,” a voice said behind him. “Talk like that, and people might think you’re one of them.”

Wrex turned to see a tall man with sharp features and a confident smirk. He wore a sleek uniform that was unmistakable: the emblem of the Unified Enforcement Order (UEO) on his chest—a symbol of the combined military, police, and army force of the Superentis.

“Setent, right?” Wrex asked, recognizing him from their brief meeting earlier.

“Setent,” the man confirmed, extending a hand. His grip was firm, his gaze piercing. “You’re sharper than you look. That’s good. We need sharp minds where I work.”

Wrex arched an eyebrow. “And where’s that, exactly?”

Setent gestured for him to follow. They walked through the bustling streets, where holographic birds soared overhead and automated transport glided silently along invisible tracks. Setent didn’t speak until they reached a quieter area—a park surrounded by smooth, metallic sculptures that shimmered faintly in the setting sun.

“You’ve heard of the UEO, I assume?” Setent asked, leaning against one of the sculptures.

“Of course,” Wrex replied. “The backbone of Facilis. They’re what keep this world running smoothly.”

Setent chuckled. “That’s the polished version. The truth is, we’re the ones who clean up the messes people don’t even realize exist. The cracks in the system, the threats from outside, even the... anomalies within.”

Wrex frowned. “Anomalies?”

Setent’s expression grew serious. “Let’s just say there’s more to this world than what you see on the surface. The UEO is more than a unified force—it’s a gateway to understanding the truth about Facilis. And trust me, there’s plenty to learn.”

Wrex hesitated, curiosity gnawing at him. “And why are you telling me this?”

Setent smiled faintly. “Because I think you’ve got potential. I’m offering you a chance to join the UEO, to train, to learn. But it’s not just about serving Facilis. It’s about discovering the truth.”

Wrex narrowed his eyes. “And what truth is that?”

Setent leaned in close, his voice low. “The truth is up there, but you need to train and learn a lot to get there. And even then, you might end up brainwashed like them.”

Wrex felt a chill, but it wasn’t from the climate-controlled air. He didn’t fully understand what Setent meant, but the words hung in his mind like a warning.

“Think about it,” Setent said, stepping away. “If you’re ready to see the world for what it really is, meet me tomorrow. I’ll be waiting.”

As Setent walked off, Wrex stood alone in the park, his thoughts swirling. The city around him was a marvel, a paradise, but now he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all just a facade.

Willing to be ready? he thought. What does that even mean?

He glanced up at the towering holographic displays, their perfect images flickering faintly, almost imperceptibly. For the first time, he noticed the cracks.

Wrex lingered in the park, replaying Setent’s cryptic words in his mind. The gentle hum of the city’s mechanisms seemed almost too serene, as if the world itself was lulling him into complacency. He was about to leave when two figures approached from the shadow of the nearby sculptures.

Both were dressed plainly, blending easily with the crowd, but their intent was anything but ordinary. One was tall and wiry, with a crooked grin that didn’t reach his eyes. The other was shorter, stocky, and carried an air of barely contained agitation.

“You look like a sharp one,” the taller one said, his voice casual but laced with malice.

Wrex tensed, his instincts honed from years of training under his old mentor kicking in. “Do I know you?” he asked, his tone guarded.

“Nah, but we know you,” the shorter one said, stepping closer. “Word is you’ve got some fight in you. We’re curious to see if that’s true.”

Wrex’s eyes darted to their hands. Neither carried weapons—at least none visible. But that didn’t mean they weren’t dangerous.

“I’m not interested in whatever game you’re playing,” Wrex said, turning to leave.

The taller one laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. “Oh, it’s no game. We just want to see how Point Zero handles someone like you. What happens if you… lose control?”

The mention of Point Touch Zero sent a chill down Wrex’s spine. The system was supposed to be foolproof, preventing any violent or criminal intent from being acted upon. But what these men were implying was unthinkable—that they wanted to test its limits, using him as a pawn.

“Back off,” Wrex warned, his voice steady despite the tension in his muscles.

The shorter one took another step forward, his smirk widening. “Or what? You’ll—”

Before he could finish, a sharp voice cut through the air like a blade.

“That’s enough.”

All three turned to see a figure approaching with purpose. Clad in a simple but commanding outfit, the older man carried an aura of authority that immediately defused the situation. His graying hair and sharp eyes were unmistakable—Wrex’s old mentor, Narnan Errick.

The two aggressors stiffened, their confidence faltering under Errick’s gaze.

“Move along,” Errick said, his voice calm but firm. “Unless you’d like me to report this little encounter to the UEO.”

The taller man raised his hands in mock surrender. “We were just having a chat.”

“Sure you were,” Errick said, stepping between them and Wrex. “And now it’s over.”

The two men exchanged glances before backing away, their hostility masked by forced smiles. But as the shorter one passed Wrex, he subtly pressed something into his hand.

“Until next time,” the man muttered, barely loud enough for Wrex to hear.

Wrex stared after them, his mind racing. He felt the slip of paper in his palm but didn’t dare look at it yet.

Errick turned to him, his expression softening. “You alright?”

“Yeah,” Wrex said, his voice distant. “Thanks for stepping in.”

Errick nodded, his keen eyes studying Wrex for a moment. “This city may look perfect, but don’t let that fool you. Not everyone plays by the rules, and not everyone believes in the utopia they preach.”

Wrex frowned. “What were they after?”

Errick hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully. “Testing Point Zero, I’d guess. Some people don’t like the idea of their freedom being controlled, even if it’s for the greater good. Don’t get involved with people like that, Wrex. They’ll only drag you down.”

Wrex nodded, but his mind was already on the note burning a hole in his hand.

“Take care of yourself,” Errick said, clapping him on the shoulder before walking away.

Once Errick was out of sight, Wrex unfolded the slip of paper. The message was hastily scrawled but unmistakable:

“The truth lies outside the Superentis. Find the cracks. Find us.”

His heart pounded as he read the words again. What truth? And who are ‘us’?

The note raised more questions than answers, and for the first time, Wrex felt the perfect world around him begin to crumble.