Alex shut the door behind him with a heavy thud, and a gust of wind rushed past him, carrying the faint metallic tang that seemed to linger everywhere in this place. As he stepped forward, he froze, his breath catching. He was high-very high above the ground, standing on one of the uppermost levels of the megabuilding.
From his vantage point, he could see an intricate network of traversal paths between floors-winding metal staircases and sleek, glowing elevators that hummed faintly as they carried passengers up and down the towering structure. Alex hesitated, his headache still pounding. The stairs looked like a grueling option, so he descended only far enough to find an elevator.
The elevator's entrance was sleek, framed in neon lights that pulsed softly, and it opened with a quiet hiss as he approached. Inside, Alex leaned against the cool metal wall, his head still aching, and scanned his surroundings.
This place buzzed with life. He saw people scattered across different levels of the megabuilding, each engrossed in their own routines. Men and women moved purposefully, clutching tablet-like devices, speaking rapidly into their earpieces. Their gestures and furrowed brows made it clear they were deep in work, likely coordinating tasks with unseen colleagues.
On another floor, parents watched over their children, who darted around the open spaces, laughing and playing with makeshift toys and floating drones that zipped around their heads. Friends gathered on balconies, sharing drinks and laughter, their voices mingling with the mechanical hum of the building. The air carried the faint aroma of warm food and the distant clinking of glasses, a fragile reminder of normalcy in this mechanical jungle.
But not everything was so casual. In every corner of the building, cameras hung like silent observers, their lenses shifting now and then, capturing every angle. Alex felt their gaze, a persistent, unblinking presence that made the back of his neck prickle.
Robots moved among the people, their metallic frames gleaming under the artificial lights. They were humanoid in design, but something about their movements was unsettling-too smooth, too calculated. Each one bore a badge on its arm, a glowing insignia that marked them as enforcers of peace. They seemed to patrol the area, their glowing eyes scanning the crowd.
The people hardly paid attention to them. Alex couldn't tell if it was because they trusted these bots or if they had simply grown numb to their presence. Cops that aren't cops, Alex mused bitterly, wincing as his headache flared again. He rubbed his temple and glanced away from the machines.
As the elevator doors slid open, Alex stepped out into a large atrium, the space alive with activity. The towering walls were lined with screens displaying advertisements, news flashes, and looping images of the metallic tree, he had seen earlier. Below, vendors had set up small, makeshift stalls, selling trinkets, food, and glowing pills in tiny vials.
Alex spotted a quiet corner near one of the stalls and headed toward it, clutching his forehead as he moved. He needed relief-and fast. The headache wasn't just painful; it was disorienting, like a constant, unyielding pressure in his skull. The implants on his spine seemed to pulse in time with the ache, adding another layer to his discomfort.
---
Alex's eyes landed on a flickering signboard hanging above a small stall. It spelled out promises of relief and cures: "Meds, Remedies, & Pleasures" in glowing letters. Hope stirred within him as he approached, the pounding in his head driving him forward.
The stall was a chaotic mess of brightly colored vials, pill packets, and various oddities, all crammed into small compartments. The vendor, a wiry man with darting eyes and a grin that never quite reached them, was haggling loudly with another customer. He glanced up, and the sight of Alex-a stranger-made his face light up with opportunistic glee.
"Ah, hello there!" the vendor called, brushing off the other customer with a wave. "A new face in The Iron Heart, eh? What brings you to my humble stall?" He leaned forward, rubbing his hands together. "From healing the aches of the body to curing the ailments of the soul... or even satisfying certain other needs," he said with a sly wink, "I've got it all. So tell me, newcomer, what do you wish for?"
Alex's skepticism flared at the vendor's exaggerated demeanor, but he kept his expression neutral. "I need something for a headache," he said curtly. "Just an aspirin."
The vendor raised an eyebrow, his grin growing wider. "Ah, you mean Nervaphrin!" he declared dramatically, reaching under his counter.
Alex remained wary, his eyes scanning the vendor's haphazard stall. This man didn't look remotely qualified to handle medicine. His erratic behavior and the dubious mix of items in the stall didn't inspire confidence. Still, Alex didn't have the luxury of finding someone more trustworthy-not with his head pounding like a war drum.
The vendor rummaged through a row of mismatched drawers built into the stall's frame. The structure itself seemed cobbled together from scraps: a few pieces of tarnished metal, cracked plastic panels, and a glowing cabinet door that hummed faintly when opened. After a moment of searching, the vendor triumphantly produced a small, cylindrical container labeled "Nervaphrin - Rapid Relief." The label was adorned with flashy holographics that changed colors as the container moved.
"Here you go," the vendor said, holding it up as if it were a treasure. "Nervaphrin. Works wonders for headaches, migraines, and, well..." he leaned in conspiratorially, "other discomforts."
Alex frowned, unimpressed by the sales pitch. "How much?"
"200 B-Credits," the vendor replied smoothly, sliding a card-swiping device across the counter.
Alex pulled out the Cog the man had given him earlier, its neon edges glowing faintly in the dim light. He swiped it against the device, and the transaction completed with a soft chime.
The vendor chuckled. "A pleasure doing business with you, newcomer. If you ever need anything else-anything-you know where to find me."
Alex pocketed the medicine without another word and turned to leave, still feeling the vendor's greedy gaze on his back.
Alex held the small container of Nervaphrin in his hand, studying it closely. The holographic label shimmered faintly under the atrium's artificial lights. The pain in his head was relentless, and he needed relief-now. He twisted the cap off and shook a single pill into his palm.
As he brought the pill closer, the interface in his vision sprang to life, its cold, mechanical tone slicing through his thoughts:
Analyzing substance...
Composition unknown.
Unidentified substance detected.
Ingestion not advised. Seek proper medical care.
The words blinked ominously, their red hue a clear warning. Alex hesitated, his fingers hovering over the pill. He sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose as another wave of pain pulsed through his skull.
"Yeah, like I have time to find proper care," he muttered under his breath, ignoring the warning.
With a sharp intake of breath, Alex popped the pill into his mouth and swallowed it dry.
The interface reacted immediately.
Override detected. User action logged.
System monitoring...
Alex scoffed, muttering, "Go ahead, log it. Like I care."
He leaned against a nearby wall, waiting for the medicine to kick in. For now, all he could do was hope that the vendor wasn't as shady as he seemed-and that this Nervaphrin would actually work.
---
The pounding in Alex's head had finally eased, giving him a moment to take in the bustling activity around him. Suddenly, his attention snapped to a commotion.
"Catch him! Someone help me! He's stolen my Cog!" a man yelled, pointing at a figure weaving through the crowd.
Alex smirked. "Ah, a good ol' chase! Guess my hero moment's here." Without hesitation, he took off after the thief.
The chase was anything but smooth. Maneuvering through the thick crowd was like trying to dance in a mosh pit. Alex accidentally bumped into a man carrying a tray of drinks, sending the contents splashing everywhere.
"Hey! Watch it!" the man shouted.
Alex glanced back mid-stride. "Sorry! Drinks are on me next time-literally!" he quipped, dodging another passerby.
The thief, clearly aware of being pursued, began tossing crates, carts, and whatever else he could find in Alex's path. At one point, a small cart of fruits toppled over, scattering produce across the floor. Alex skidded, barely keeping his balance, and grabbed an apple mid-fall.
"Free snacks! Don't mind if I do!" he called out, taking a bite before chucking it aside and resuming the chase.
The thief darted down an escalator, and Alex followed, leaping over a railing to close the gap. Just as they neared the megabuilding's exit, a figure stepped into view-a robot.
The machine was sleek, its creamy white armor glinting under the artificial light. Blue, vein-like structures pulsed faintly across its body, giving it an almost lifelike appearance. Its right arm bore a badge marked "Enforcer," and its head had no face-just an oval display resembling a bisected eggshell, glowing faintly with unreadable data streams.
In its hands, it carried a gun that looked like a compact assault rifle, with handguns strapped neatly to each thigh. The robot's movements were precise, and its mere presence commanded attention.
"Halt and surrender yourself," the robot ordered, its voice metallic and reverberating, cutting through the chaos.
The thief froze for a split second before spinning around-only to realize Alex was closing in. Panic set in as he made a sharp right turn, hoping to escape both pursuers.
The robot didn't hesitate. In one fluid motion, it drew the gun from its thigh holster and fired. The weapon emitted a sharp crack, and an electric pulse arced through the air. The thief yelped as the taser round struck him, his body convulsing before collapsing to the ground.
Alex slowed to a stop, catching his breath. He glanced at the thief, then at the imposing robot.
"Well, guess that's one way to say 'stop, drop, and roll,' huh?" Alex muttered with a grin.
The robot didn't acknowledge him, stepping past Alex toward the subdued thief.
The chaos settled, and Alex brushed himself off, casually strolling toward the megabuilding's exit. On his way out, he passed by some of the people he'd accidentally bumped into earlier.
"Hey, uh, sorry about the drinks! And the fruits! And-oh, wait, nope, just the drinks and fruits. No refunds though, I'm broke!" he called over his shoulder, flashing a disarming smile.
As the gates of the megabuilding closed behind him, Alex shook his head with a chuckle. "What a day. Next time, I'll stick to headaches and stay out of local drama. Or not. Probably not."
The interface suddenly flashed in his vision, its familiar sterile tone cutting through his thoughts:
Energy levels: High
Hormone levels: Unstable
Possible cause: Ingestion of unidentified substance.
Alex smirked, rolling his eyes. "Thanks, doc. Maybe next time, lead with 'don't take random meds.' You're really earning your imaginary salary."
o