Audry’s all blacked out Rolls-Royce Wraith haunted down the highway blaring Hail Mary by Tupac Shakur.

He bobbed his head, windows rolled down. He wore his gold-rimmed shades to block the glaring sun from the afternoon horizon. And after checking his watch to make sure he wouldn’t be late for his next outing, Audry sang along to the music, pressing his foot to the gas.

“Quinn, what’s the likelihood of me dying in a car accident at this speed?”

Quinn took a moment to respond before laying out the gruesome statistics: “You are eligible to be one in 12 out of 100,000 people that are killed in car crashes per year. Along with the general consensus of 54% being involved in a single vehicular accident, 45% of accidents nationwide tend to happen in rural areas such as this. With the percentage being higher in this specific region based on local stats. So, in layman’s terms, I think you’re going to have a fairly reasonable chance of meeting your maker if you crash at this speed, sir.”

Audry processed the information, scowling and nodding in approval.

“Yeah, so, you think this new impact system will work?”

“Mr. Forge, I’ve said it before that I don’t think testing out your products on yourself is the best idea. There’s people who get paid for those types of things.”

“If my things work then I get paid regardless,” Audry said.

“True, but—”

Audry cut him off with a belligerent shrug, “I’ve got nothing to prove and nothing to lose buddy.”

“You’ve got a deathwish,” Quinn argued.

“At times,” Audry said, thinking deeply to himself. “Do you think this interview’s gonna go well?”

Quinn seemed to be thinking to himself as well. “If you make it there, then yes. I believe so. You’ve been mentally preparing so you should do perfectly fine.”

Audry clicked on the windshield wipers responding with a sarcastic, “Aw, thanks.”

He grew into his role as a worldwide individual yet at the end of the end it was not his forte. Social stagnation was real and he could feel it everywhere he went. The talk show hosts were fake, the celebrities they paired him with were idealized, the company men he dealt with were sharks. Every last person breathed lies and loved every moment of it.

He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to change that.

For a few miles he drove at unnecessary speeds on the lonely road. He wasn’t late for his interview, he simply wanted to feel some excitement.

Eventually, he found himself cruising through the outskirts. Blocks of residential neighborhoods sprouted in the hills. The slums and remnants of society developed closer to the city’s borders, leeching off of the inner network.

The urban sprawl itself stood in the stormy horizon.

From where he could see all of the land, the sun crept up from behind the dark clouds casting light glares across the windshield.

He saw the Armani-Grant megaplex standing tall above the other buildings along the skyline.

Westward was Sholto McKarl’s personal tower and all of it’s brutalist design. And so was his statue sitting at the very top, melded with the architecture. It was as if he was the deity of the city with its outward appearance calling for attention. It was true that some worshipped him. But he was no god. He was just a man.

The Indigo Platform stood northbound while the city hall and all of the various municipalities surrounded it.

Point Blank Film Studios, responsible for filming the first three Takeover films and the renowned Upper Earth series, stood just east. That was where he was headed.

The city had been under a complete overhaul since the beginning of the last century, but stagnant markets and a fluctuating economy prevented it from looking like the so-called ‘City of Today’s Tomorrow’ that it had promised long ago.

No matter what they tried to do, the city was going to crumble before the war was over. If it didn’t crumble beneath its own foundation it would have been because of the war. If things continued to escalate it wouldn’t just be a war in Eurasia, it’d be war all over the globe. And he knew something was coming.

A call came through the bluetoothed surround system in the car by a name that he had not seen in ages: Ethan Gatling.

“Oh man, hey Quinn, autopilot for me real quick,” Audry said.

“Sure thing,” Quinn replied. An icon appeared on the dashboard indicating he had taken over. It was the first of the brand to have been outfitted with autonomous driving. Audry had left behind the human touch aspect and chose to give Quinn the necessary tools to act as his chauffeur.

Audry took the call. The youthful tone on the other end was none other than one of his closest friends.

“Is this who I think it is?”

“Yo how’s it going man? You haven’t called in a while,” Audry chuckled. It was good hearing a friend’s voice.

“Nah I think it’s the other way around. But I know how busy you can get.”

“And I know how busy you get,” Audry retorted. He leaned his seat back and Quinn steered them through the main boulevard.

“Hah, yeah. Hey brother. I was just calling to let you know what’s going on over here in the winter wonderland. We got rocket attacked a few hours ago. A guy lost his thumb. They say he’ll make a full recovery though.”

Ethan had been deployed to Muntachia in response to the country’s national outcry to prevent the Wildfires from taking over.

“Damn man. You know how much I miss that shit,” Audry said, scratching his head, instantly reminiscing about the days he had spent with his old unit.

“I don’t know how I keep going but I guess it’s the excitement,” Ethan said. “If you want to, I bet you could. Dude you hardly have to worry about anything. You could fly over here right now in one of those fancy jets you got and start popping ‘em left and right. You’ve got the entire arsenal of the Rion Accord under your belt.”

“I kind of already do.”

“Ooh, secret operations. How cool," Ethan said. Audry could see him making a goofy face without even seeing it.

“That close protection contract shit’s gotta get boring though.”

“It sure is. I don’t like half these fuckers either. But I’m still getting paid.”

“Has Alyssa come around yet? Or is she still mad?”

“Yeah, man, she doesn’t really complain about it anymore. She’s probably just in it for the money but you know how things go. I’ll keep her around cause she’s good in bed and at making eggs.”

“If it’s like that, good for you. Just keep her happy and you won’t have to worry about any divorces.”

He could slightly hear Ethan scoff.

“Fuck a prenup. I’m not marrying her.”

“Ah, you don’t know that.”

“Oh I know. Like, how the fuck can I believe you are gonna marry Kat?”

“I would’ve if we were still together.”

“Bullshit bro. Wait, wait, wait. Hold up, you’re telling me you two aren’t together anymore?”

“No. She left.”

“For another guy?”

“No.”

“Another girl?”

“No.”

“Well shit, alright. I don’t know what else she’d leave you for. You’re one helluva good person. So forget the bitch, man.”

“She wasn’t a bitch,” Audry did not want to sound defensive at his friend’s remarks. “I think I just wasn’t good enough.”

“Hey keep your head up, now you have the freedom to get as much ass that you want ”

“Well, you know that Erica girl?”

“Everhills Erica?”

“Yep.”

“Aw no way? You tapped that?”

“Sure did.”

“Hey, if I wasn’t with Alyssa or surrounded by fucking snow 24/7 with a bunch of guys in the middle of nowhere I would’ve hit her up long ago,”

“When are you coming home man?”

“Got 6 months left on the dot. Been counting down the days,”

“It’ll go by fast. Then when you get back you’re gonna be wishing you were back with the guys.”

“I highly doubt that. I’ve had enough with the dumb shit. Getting shot at is cool and all but I’m trying to get high and drink till I’m in a coma.”

“I’ll give it a week after you get back. You’ll be right back to the recruiting office,”

“I’m good.”

“But hey. I’m just gonna let you know, these Widowmaker rifles are top-fucking-notch. It’ll pop a bitch from a few hundreds yards if you got good aim. Low recoil. Perfect handling. Mobile. Doesn’t jam ever.”

“We put a lot of work into it. I really appreciate the review bud.”

“Yeah. Although, if there’s one thing I wish it had would be more modules over this way. The armory here sucks. All of the dude’s a country away are already getting the Shibboleth shit.”

Allocation of resources was tough. A complete haul was scheduled to drop into Muntachia within that week if production went as planned.

“You’ll be getting some. So keep it on the low.”

Ethan wanted to be in the war his father fought since they both attended middle school in Gunhaven.“Yeah, I know how it goes. But hot damn. Send it, brother. I’m trying to get my hands on that assault suit.”

“I’m sure it’ll impress you just as much as the rifle.”

Ethan would not get to fight his father’s war. In this age he was off fighting what had been a proxy war which was now turning into something else entirely. The Wildfires were not only the most dangerous enemies the country had battled, but some believed they were responsible for the outbreak of the deadly Firepox virus.

“These test tube babies ripped straight through the FOB a few miles north. When I mean there was nothing left, we only saw a pile of rubble and bodies. Only reason why they didn’t come down our way was because the AA guns pack some major heat.”

“Didn’t think the bad guys would send their boys in that part of the country,”

“I didn’t, up until they did… When’s the last time you got a confirmed kill on one?”

“On my own?”

“I forget, you’ve got people to do the dirty work,” Ethan said, taking a stab at just how war oriented the Accord was. It was true however that Audry had people under him very talented at wet working. ‘Liquidators’ is what some called them

“Well all I can say is we’ve been racking up tallies since I took over as CEO. It’s in the hundreds now.”

“If you need a gun, hire me when I get out.”

“Of course, of course.”

“Well it really was good shooting the shit with you brother. I’m about to catch some sleep. They said we’re pushing into Gravettia in less than two weeks. I’ll try to give you a call when all’s said and done.”

“Best of luck, stay safe alright? That place is an absolute killzone,” Audry said. “I’ll be here if you need someone to talk to though.”

“You too, man.”

The call ended and Audry laughed to himself.

“Hear that Quinn? The Widowmakers are a success.”

“I wonder about the Shibboleth suits?”

He wondered as well. A part of him felt responsible for his friend’s eventual death. An attack on Gravettia even with all of the Accord’s resources would end in a bloodbath. No armor or weapons would stop the Wildfires from shredding through the assault. Gravettia was one of the epicenters after all.

He tried to take his mind off of it. Quinn turned the Rolls-Royce down the street of Point Blank Film Studios. Rows of facilities and buildings specifically dedicated to various means of film production littered both sides of the street. At the end of the road was an intricately designed ‘PB’ logo on the face of the large wall.

“Reports say a new mutation has popped up in Western Eurasia. I thought you should know,” Quinn said.

Audry put away his wallet, shades, and phone into his three-piece suit. “So we’ll keep upgrading.”

Audry had seen the world change in drastic ways for years. When the bill that announced independency-inclined rights arrived from the central power, many of the regions, territories, cities, and towns all took to their own devices and separated themselves from the state and the country.

The de-unification created a rift that never closed but created a land where the government took a step back. A laissez-faire mentality that had ultimately worked.

Leaders came and went, but all had a single vision for Liberation City. The city bred free values and allowed most people to do as they pleased as long as it was within reasonable limits.

But working did not always mean functional.

Recreational drugs had spread throughout the city. It was quickly masked by the recent influx of neurological stimulants that was put down with force by private military corporations due to the increased rate of Firepox volatility.

Adult entertainment had made its way into mainstream media. It was hardly uncommon to not see promotional billboards, street signs, and big screens on the sides of buildings.

Unconventional activities and beliefs that went against social norms were all provided a rite of passage.

Those were the pieties of the current age. Heathenry to some, freedom to others.

But at the end of the day, those freedoms would not prevent the City of Today’s Tomorrow from crumbling.

Audry tried to care for the general population by giving back but there was only so much he could do. Events like CosmiCon were just another way to gain positive public opinion and to raise funds. He’d been taught to give and receive little in return even despite his status in the current day.

The vehicle pulled into a drive where a sentry stood in a basic security detail uniform.

Audry rolled down the window, revealing his ID. The guard had been a hire from private military Op-4, who’s reach had touched the eastern seaboard and were widely found in some of the world’s hotspots. If anything, they were going to be another enemy to Audry in time.

A decent body search and a farewell away, the sentry waved him through and the Rolls-Royce entered a small tunnel passing just beneath the studio logo.

A pale blue illuminated the tunnel for what felt like minutes. It wasn’t until Audry asked for Quinn to hand over controls of the Wraith that they approached the end. Exiting the tunnel brought them into a gargantuan atrium.

He was directed to pull to the side of the curb by another sentry.

“Good afternoon sir,” he said.

“Good afternoon.”

“Welcome to the headquarters. You’re somewhat of a V.I.P. here Mr. Forge. You’ll make your way through the center down the path over there into the production building. You’ll be seated in the waiting room. I’ll let them know you are arriving. We’ll take care of your vehicle and bring it to the preserved lot for you.”

Audry thought it odd but wouldn’t ask pointless questions. He obliged and exited the car.

A glass half-globe formed above as the rain plastered against it making crystalline sounds as if shards were falling.

A young man in a modern livery uniform approached the vehicle and took the key fob.

The suicide door swung open and the young man expressed that he’d be careful with it.

The atrium looked to be somewhat of a large lounging area. An artificial parterre of non-indigenous plants, trees, and flowers sprouted around the glossed granite path. He was slightly jealous but enjoyed the simplicity of his home’s indoor hydroculture room.

Security guards patrolled in just about every other pathway that he could see. Some human, some android.

It wasn’t very long until people commuting the atrium began to approach him.

The entrance of the studio was growing closer but the closer he got the more people surrounded him.

The general populace appearing before him on his walk down the path were his age or older but the most striking individual was a young girl who looked to be 10 or so.

“Mr. Forge! I went to CosmiCon. It was literally amazing. My name’s Gracy,” she said with a grin full of missing teeth.

Audry looked up to see a lady—who he assumed to be her mother—smiling with a quiet demeanor.

“You enjoyed it?” he asked the young girl.

“Absolutely. I’m going next year, definitely. My mom said I could too!” She jumped a few times trying to contain her excitement and handed him a permanent marker and picture of her standing next to the Rion Accord HQ sign.

“Just wait. There’s more where that came from.”

“Oh my gosh, for real? Oh no, should I tell my friends? Should I keep it a secret?”

“Keep it under wraps. Tell them you knew all along,” he whispered to her as he scribbled his autograph onto the picture. “That’s my personal signature. Don’t lose it, okay?”

She hugged the photo with intensity.

“If you flip the photo over there is a special code to get 50% off on all Rion Accord merch for the entire month,” he smiled.

If the sun didn’t shine, the girl’s face could take its place. “No way. No way, are you serious?”

“Of course,” he laughed. The lady in the background rolled her eyes smiling back at him.

“Thank you very much Mr. Forge. I’ll remember this day forever.”

“No problem. And remember to keep it a secret,”

“I will, Mr. Forge.”

The little girl instantly about-faced and ran to the woman who mouthed a ‘thank you’ and the two left on their way.

“Well that was kind of you sir,” Quinn said into Audry’s inconspicuous earpiece.

“I wouldn’t say it was kind. I’d say I just made another business sale,” he chuckled.

“Oh so that’s what you were doing?” Quinn asked.

“No. I’m joking, I was actually being nice to her.”

“My apologies. It’s hard to tell when you’re being genuine sometimes,” Quinn said as Audry passed through the crowds, completely ignoring them.

“What's with everyone talking down on me lately?”

“I was not talking bad about you. I was just letting you know that you’ve always been this way. Ever since my conception.”

“Well I’m tired of hearing it. So just keep it to yourself,” Audry growled, irritated. Through the double doors was a lonely off-white room and a lonely oakwood door on the opposite side. Black leather seats surrounded a granite coffee table that looked like it had been carved straight out of the ground itself. He sat down trying to keep his composure.

“Certain speech paths are unavoidable for me though sir.”

“Better program yourself to stop being like all of these other assholes then,” Audry commanded.

“I understand,” Quinn said lowly.

Audry could see the people looking in through the tinted door windows nearby. If they wanted to come in and nag him on they could. Maybe it was the pair of security guards coming in to escort them away that was preventing it.

“Quinn. I know I’m getting defensive but you try being in my shoes for a day. I have a company to run. I have installations not just worldwide, but all across the system. I have many responsibilities. I act careless but I do it because I refuse to be tied down by how unsympathetic life is. I’m here for this long. Might as well make use with what I’ve made for myself.”

“Absolutely. But Mr. Forge have you not sacrificed enough?” Quinn asked him.

“What do you mean? Yeah, I’ve sacrificed a lot.”

“But you’ve lost so much in the process. The destination is to make existence easier for all living things. But the journey you’ve taken has hurt you as a person. Months ago you used to get up and work out. You used to eat healthier. You were drinking less. You were involved in your work. Now you’ve receded as an individual. I’m beginning to think you truly are depressed.”

“So? How will that affect the company? The company’s goal is set. It won’t stop until the mission is done.”

“It’s not just about the company. It’s about you.”

“What about me? You think I can’t function anymore on my own or something?” Audry asked.

“You hardly do when others are around you. I want you to take a step back one day and really see who you’ve become in the past year or so.”

A dark-haired lady appeared from behind the room’s door with two Op-4 guard’s. “Mr. Forge, we’re ready.”

Audry forced a smile and rose from his chair.

“We’ll finish this later Quinn.”

“Yessir.”

Audry heard Quinn chime away in his head and he entered into the next hall.

He immediately began to find himself aware of the amount of security detail the studio had. It was not uncommon for corporations to employ them but not in such large quantities.

He was also aware that he had been fighting with an AI inside of an earpiece.

He was fighting his creation. He was being questioned by something that did not truly understand him no matter how intelligent it became. The situation would have been poetic in centuries past or a warning if it were a biblical story.

In reality it was simply agitating.