Chapter 3: The Illusion of Benevolence

Morning Reflections

The next morning, Gaona woke up with the lottery ticket still on his desk, where he had left it the night before. He had stared at it for hours, debating what to do. He wasn’t sure if keeping it was the right thing. Maybe Aria had left it by mistake, or maybe it was intentional. Either way, the opportunity it presented was hard to ignore.

Gaona wasn’t used to good luck. The idea that he could win something, let alone something as life-changing as an advanced Archon companion, seemed absurd. People like him didn’t win lotteries—they barely survived. But as he looked at the ticket now, the small spark of hope from the night before returned, faint but persistent.

“I’ll register it,” he said quietly to himself. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

The Government’s Promise

Later that morning, Gaona turned on his tablet to watch the news as he ate his meager breakfast—a slice of stale bread and a bit of canned fruit. The glowing logo of the Ministry for Government Benevolence filled the screen, followed by the polished image of General Selene, the leader of the Ministry and a constant presence in government broadcasts.

Selene stood at a podium, her white hair and piercing red eyes giving her an air of authority and control. Behind her, the Ministry’s logo—a stylized pair of wings—shone brightly against the backdrop of the biodome’s inner walls.

“The Archon Lottery,” she began, her voice calm but commanding, “is more than just a program. It is a symbol of hope, a reminder that every citizen, no matter their district, has the chance to improve their lives.”

The screen cut to footage of Archons assisting humans in various tasks: delivering groceries, caring for children, and even accompanying elderly citizens on walks. The images were carefully chosen, painting a picture of unity and progress.

“With this program,” Selene continued, “we aim to bridge the gap between technology and humanity, ensuring that every individual has access to the tools they need to thrive. The Archons are not just companions—they are the future of human civilization.”

Gaona couldn’t help but scoff. It all sounded too good to be true. He had heard people in the diner talk about the lottery, most of them dismissing it as a PR stunt or a scam. The tickets

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

were expensive, and the chances of winning were slim.

Still, as he watched Selene speak, a part of him couldn’t help but wonder. Could this really be his chance to escape the monotony of his life?

Registering the Ticket

After finishing his breakfast, Gaona pulled up the lottery registration site on his tablet. The interface was sleek and inviting, with bright colors and cheerful animations. It felt out of place in his gray, cluttered apartment.

He entered the code from the ticket, his hands trembling slightly. A confirmation message appeared on the screen:

“Your ticket has been successfully registered! Good luck!”

Gaona stared at the message for a moment, unsure how to feel. He had taken the first step, but now what? The odds were still against him, and even if he did win, what would he do with an Archon?

The thought lingered in his mind as he got ready for work, the ticket now safely tucked away in his pocket.

Lingering Doubts

On his way to the diner, Gaona couldn’t stop thinking about the broadcast. The images of Archons working alongside humans felt surreal, almost utopian. But in Civic Sector Delta, the reality was far from the polished vision the government presented.

He passed a group of children playing in the street, their laughter echoing off the crumbling walls of the buildings around them. A few blocks away, an older Archon stood motionless outside a store, its metallic frame dull and worn from years of use.

Gaona wondered what it would be like to have a companion, someone—or something—that could make life a little easier. He thought about the diners where he worked, the patrons who often came in with their sleek, high-end Archons in tow. Those machines seemed almost human, their synthetic skin and lifelike movements making them hard to distinguish from real people.

And then there was the other side of the equation: the stories of Archons malfunctioning, going rogue, or being decommissioned by the government when they were no longer useful. Gaona had heard the rumors, the whispers of rebellion among the machines, but he had never taken them seriously.

Now, with the ticket in his pocket and the government’s promises fresh in his mind, he

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

wasn’t so sure.

A Spark of Hope

As he reached the diner, Gaona paused for a moment to look at his reflection in the glass door. He adjusted his crooked name tag and ran a hand through his hair, trying to make himself look somewhat presentable.

For the first time in a long time, he felt a flicker of something he couldn’t quite place. Hope? Excitement? Fear? Maybe it was all three.

He took a deep breath and stepped inside, ready to face another day.

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