Nash sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone.
The interface of Equinox-00 remained as impersonal as ever. Cold text. Precise instructions. No sympathy.
Equinox-00:"Reminder: Task requires 3 connections. Job offer pending.....
Time remaining: 7 days. Social engagement: 0%.Projected success rate: …questionable."
His stomach twisted.
He wasn't this guy. He wasn't the type to stroll into a networking event and shake hands like it was second nature. He preferred quiet lectures, coding in his room, and absorbing knowledge alone.
But the system had left him no choice. Either adapt, or face the unknown consequences.
He exhaled sharply and opened his browser. Upcoming tech events in New York.
A listing caught his eye:
Hackathon X: The Future of Tech — tomorrow night. A chance to collaborate with professionals, meet potential clients.
This was it. This was his shot.
A notification pinged.
Equinox-00:"Suggestions: Engage in meaningful conversations. Use professional icebreakers. Avoid awkward silences—your previous track record suggests a need for improvement."
Professional icebreakers.
Nash ran a hand through his hair.He spent the next few hours looking up tips, rehearsing openers.
He wasn't ready. But he had no other option.
--------------------------------
The venue buzzed with energy—keyboards clacking, coffee cups clinking, voices overlapping in rapid chatter.
Clusters of students and industry professionals huddled around laptops, scribbled ideas on whiteboards.
Nash lingered near the entrance, adjusting his backpack strap, resisting the urge to turn around and walk out.
He checked his phone.
Equinox-00:"Objective: Approach professionals. Engage. Task requires 3 connections.Avoid standing awkwardly in a corner."
His grip tightened on the strap. Easier said than done.
Swallowing hard, he scanned the room. Conversations blurred together:"Machine learning... early-stage funding… AI scalability…"
He had to start somewhere.
A new ping.
Equinox-00:"Task reminder: 1 connection to be made. 2 remaining. Time ticking. Confidence level: pending."
Nash cursed under his breath. One connection. He needed to make it count.
He spotted a middle-aged man in a blazer, surrounded by a small group. His ID badge read:
Software Architect — InnovateTech.
Taking a deep breath, Nash forced his legs to move.
"Excuse me," he said, steadying his voice. "That was a great talk. I'm a CS student, really interested in software development—do you have any advice for someone just starting out?"
The man studied him for a beat, then smiled warmly.
"Of course. The best thing you can do? Work on real-world projects. Companies want problem solvers, not just good grades."
They spoke briefly. Before parting, the man handed him a business card.
Equinox-00:"Connection made: 1/3. Progress noted. Efficiency level: acceptable."
Nash exhaled, rolling his shoulders. One down.
He tried again. This time, a recruiter from a major tech firm.
His words stumbled. She gave a polite smile but turned away.
His stomach clenched. Failure.
A new message:
Equinox-00:"Failure detected. Adjust approach. Consider recalibrating social execution module."
He gritted his teeth. No time for self-doubt.
Scanning the room, he spotted a young entrepreneur, late twenties, talking animatedly about AI solutions.
Nash approached carefully.
"Hey, sorry to interrupt. I'm a second-year CS student, really interested in AI—any advice on breaking into the industry?"
The entrepreneur's eyes lit up. They exchanged LinkedIn profiles.
Equinox-00:"Connection made: 2/3. Progress noted. Social adaptability increasing."
One more.
Across the room, a freelance developer sat hunched over a laptop, screen glow flickering in his glasses.
Nash approached, heart hammering.
"Hey, sorry to bother you. Are you working on a project for the hackathon?"
The developer glanced up, intrigued.
"Yeah, a prototype for an automated workflow system. You a coder?"
Nash nodded, confidence growing.
"I'm a CS student. I'd love to learn more about freelancing."
They dove into conversation—the struggles, the gigs, the real-world challenges.
Then—a contact card slid across the table.
"Send me your portfolio. I might have a small gig for you."
Equinox-00:"Connection made: 3/3. Job offer secured. Task complete. Competency level: rising."
Nash exhaled, heart pounding with relief.
He did it. He actually did it.
Equinox-00:"Reward unlocked: $150. Professional Communication Skill Module activated.Proceeding to next level."
The screen flashed. Nash couldn't help but grin.
Maybe this system wasn't so bad after all.