Emberfall.
A cradle of steel and glass built beneath the scarred crust of the earth, humming with life where the surface had fprgotten what it meant to breathe clean air.
After the wars and nuclear radiation and pollution had changed the earth, Emberfall rose like the last ember in a world turned to ash.
The Sanctuary Dome, thirty kilometers wide, ten high-curved above like an artificial sky, its inner shell covered with so many solar panels that served as the major source of economical energy.
Beneath it, monorails whispered along magnetized rails, ferries glided on translucent tracks, and the Core Tower pierced the center like a needle threading together the last fragments of civilization.
To Ash, it was just a cage.
He stood silently at the terminal as the lift's doors whispered open, his boots heavy on the polished black floor.
Even down here-in the lower precincts, Emberfall glimmered with quiet efficiency-holograms drifting like specters along the walls, issuing passive instructions and system updates.
Drones whirred overhead, scanning, recording, always watching. The synthetic air tasted too clean-sanitized. Fake.
A lady was waiting for him. Young-about his age, maybe. Auburn hair pulled into a low braid, slate-gray uniform cinched tight at the waist.
She had kind eyes-that was the first thing that he noticed. The second was that she was nervous, and that she hid it well.
"You must be Ash", she said, with a voice low and even, which made Ash uneasy. "I'm Kamsi. I'll be your new caretaker."
Caretaker. The word felt like an insult.
Ash gave her a glance, then looked away, his gaze fixed instead on a flickering status light along the wall. "Temporary assignment?"
She hesitated. "Permanent. At least, that's the plan."
He didn't respond. Not with words. Just a flicker of his eyes towards her before he started walking. She followed, matching his pace without asking where he was going.
"I've set your things at my place." Ash was surprised. He didn't have "things", so he wondered what she meant.
The government had concluded that they couldn't continue taking care of him. It was a big opportunity.
After all, being with the government had limited his chances at being assigned private missions, which cost a lot more.
It was also a chance at having a normal life like ordinary humans. But to him, this previous lifestyle was normal.
Kamsi knew better than to force a conversation. She'd been briefed- this one was quiet, controlled, dangerous if pushed.
Ashborn weren't like other humans. They were raised that way. Or "reared", the way some people liked to term it.
Engineered from birth, tailored for strength, speed, and one thing Emberfall valued the most-obedience. But Ash had...edges.
Imperfections that didn't show in his records but could be seen from the way he moved, how he looked at the world like it owed him nothing and had already taken everything.
As they stepped through the civilian rings toward they Ashborn sector, children stopped to stare. Armed individuals would certainly get their attention.
Their parents did not. They knew better. They boy with the silver-streaked eyes and the silent steps was not one to linger on.
"So", Kamsi said finally, carefully. "I'm not here to control you. Just to help you manage your assignments, monitor biometrics and keep you in the loop. The usual. I'm not interested in making things harder for you."
He slowed slightly, looked at her again. Something like suspicion in his eyes, though dulled by years of disinterest.
"You're not scared of me?"
Kamsi smiled. "Should I be?"
He didn't answer. But something shifted in his posture-a little. As if the question had thrown him off balance for a heartbeat.
They reached the sector-a curved structure of steel bones with heavy ceramic plating.
He paused at the threshold. She stopped beside him.
"You can go now", he said.
"I know", she replied. "Just wanted to be sure you found your quarters."
Ash walked inside without a word. He knew what was about to happen. Treatment. Or "repairs", as some pessimists say it.
Kamsi stood there a moment longer, staring at the heavy door as it hissed shut behind him. Them she turned and walked away, her footsteps quiet but sure.
A few hours later, Ash walked out. He looked around as he thought of where to go, now he had a new place to stay.
And there she was, waiting for him. She walked up to him.
"How was the treatment session?" She asked, though not expecting an answer.
"The usual." He replied without looking at her.
She continued. "I've finalised all the preparations for you to stay with me. You are going to be assigned missions from our place. Public and private."
He was happy to hear that. He would become more popular among the clients. And it was a good thing.
A mobile came and stopped before them. They got inside.
"Let's go home."
Home. That word got him thinking again.
The mobile's door hissed shut as it sped off. Maybe Kamsi was no driver, as the mobile was on automatic.
And high above them, in the dome's inner lining, cameras blinked in unison. Watching. Always watching.