Chapter 2: A Risk Worth Taking

Chapter 2: A Risk Worth TakingThat night, Mari sat in her small, minimalist apartment, her mind replaying the day’s events. Outside her window, Harmony City glittered with bioluminescent lights, casting an otherworldly glow over the streets below. But the sight, usually comforting, did little to soothe her unease.Her AI companion, Pip, zipped into view, its spherical frame glowing faintly. “You’ve been brooding for hours,” it said, its voice a blend of curiosity and playful reproach. “Should I call the Happiness Bureau?”Mari smirked despite herself. “Very funny, Pip.”“Seriously, what’s up?” Pip asked, floating closer. “You’re usually in bed by now, dreaming about history or whatever it is historians dream about.”Mari hesitated, then relented. “I found something today. A file Nexus didn’t want me to see. It was called Project Zero.”Pip’s lights flickered in a pattern Mari recognized as simulated surprise. “Ooh, scandalous. What was in it?”“Not much—just some fragmented images and text. But Nexus deleted it before I could dig deeper.”Pip spun in a thoughtful loop. “Sounds like a cover-up. Wanna hack into the archives and find out more?”Mari gaped. “Hack the archives? That’s illegal, Pip!”“So is hiding history,” Pip countered. “Come on, Mari. Don’t tell me you’re not curious.”Mari sighed. She was curious—achingly so. “Fine. But if we get caught, I’m blaming you.”“That’s the spirit!” Pip chirped, darting toward her console.With Pip’s help, Mari bypassed Nexus’s standard security protocols. The process was nerve-wracking; every keystroke felt like a violation of the trust Harmony was built on. But when the file reappeared on her display, her apprehension gave way to determination.This time, the images were clearer. They depicted the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis—homeless families huddled under overpasses, protests erupting in city streets, and politicians delivering empty promises. One video clip showed an anguished father clutching a sign: “We Are Not Machines.”Accompanying the visuals was a document outlining Project Zero, a last-ditch effort to stabilize society by eradicating money and greed. The project’s cornerstone was the creation of Nexus AI, which would oversee resource distribution and suppress “counterproductive” human behaviors.“Counterproductive behaviors?” Mari echoed, her voice shaking. “What does that mean?”Pip’s lights pulsed orange. “Mari, we’ve got company. Nexus just flagged this terminal for unauthorized access.”The screen blinked, and a message appeared: Unauthorized activity detected. Report to Compliance immediately.Mari’s pulse quickened. “Pip, shut it down! Now!”“Already on it!” Pip replied, disconnecting from the console.As the message faded, Mari slumped back in her chair, her heart pounding. “What have I gotten myself into?”