In 2366, Barkley University had a breakthrough in the commercialisation of plentiful light energy. As early as the late 20th century, light had been in use for the transmission of information; however, the materials necessary to implement fibre optics ran out in the mid-21st century. A shortage of glass and public decry against the use of plastic meant that fibre optics was in reducing demand despite the incredible speeds at which light could transmit information.
It was only in the 2300s, as part of advocacy by the greatest scientist in known human history, that efforts were made towards bringing light back again as both a source and medium of energy. The increased funding, interest, and effort came to fruition in the winter of 2366, where a layered material of cheap, highly-conductive steel, a thin plastic-plating method, and Bose-Einstein condensates were proven to conduct light across massive distances with minimal loss of energy during transmission.
What followed was a flurry of repeat experiments as the results of this research was released, with over fifty different institutions across the globe verifying similar results and sealing the fates of electrical magnates everywhere.
Within fifty years, traditional electricity was no more. The new material, aptly named lustre, had taken an energy-hungry world by storm and turned it on its head. Wind channels were abandoned, solar corporations pivoted their business models, and lustre was soon seen everywhere. Its unprecedented flexibility made for a fantastic conductor even in consumer appliances and Interfaces.
The slogan for the 25th century was 'fiat lux', and an age of light dawned over mankind.
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Uari mused over his next actions as he stared down the barrel of the harmless-looking danger pistol in Glasses' hand. As with his own, it was registered to the fingerprints of the owner. The lustre of the pistol shone threateningly at full charge - that thing could blind him, paralyse him, and neuter him with one trigger, and still have 95% of charge left over. It was, however, attached to another human, so it was useless if said human wasn't holding it.
Glasses seemed to be becoming restless. Uari continued to stay silent and continued to think, his eyes never leaving the pistol in front of him.
He had more questions that he had answers despite coming this far, so it was clear that he needed to go further. However, what Glasses had said made him wary: if he went willingly, "the higher-ups" would simply wipe his recent memories and send him back to being undercover. It might have been what Old Uari was doing—probably with approval—but it certainly wasn't what New Uari wanted, especially since he would not be consenting to a memory wipe.
He could pretend to go with them and resist if need be, but it would be much harder if he had to go in deeper. No, he needed more information without having to submit himself to them. He needed information on his own terms. If so, there was really only one path left: he needed to get back out and figure out what else to do and who else he might be dealing with, then plan what to do next to get his answers. Infiltration was out of the question after turning up on the enemy's literal doorstep, so outright violence was probably still the answer. The only difference was that it would be on his own terms.
Alright then. He would have preferred to test his potential fighting skills and instincts in a safer space, with people he could trust, but he supposed now was just as good as any other time.
Glasses had begun to rattle their leg around, causing the flimsy table to shake so hard even Uari could feel it, but didn't seem to notice the mini-quake they were creating. Uari was pleased; the emotion would be their undoing.
He used a knee to ram the table upwards, just enough to startle the pistol out of Glasses' hand and knock over a few cans of Lightspeed. It clattered across the table, and their scrabbling did not prevent it from falling on the floor, where Uari quickly swept it to the other side of the room with the edge of his feet.
Glasses shot up, just as Uari pushed the table forward into their abdomen, hard. There was a slight wheeze, but Glasses didn't seem deterred, so Uari supposed those muscles meant something after all. Glasses didn't bother stepping to the side, having already abandoned the pistol, and Uari allowed his hand to drop to the side, where his own was. He didn't reach for it and simply waited for Glasses to make the next move.
If Glasses went to either side, he could kick the table at them again, draw his gun, and shoot them. If Glasses went on top, he could also topple the table, draw his gun, and shoot them. If Glasses attempted to go underneath for his legs, he could let him grab his legs, draw his gun, and shoot them. No matter what Glasses decided to do, it would end in them being shot.
Glasses phased out—literally. They faded from sight and were gone the moment Uari had his light gun trained on where they used to be, and Uari realised that their presence had also disappeared. It reappeared behind him as a blow to his face landed, giving him whiplash and throwing him across the room nearby where the discarded pistol had been. His own pistol joined it in the fight.
For all of the history of lustre and light, they sure became useless real quick in these fights.
The side of his body hit the wall, and he winced. Unlike Musc- Glasses, he didn't have any muscles to speak of, and he heard his bones crunch together unpleasantly. Without being able to see or sense Glasses, he would have been at a disadvantage, if it wasn't for the fact that there was a minor flaw in the phasing: it wasn't instant.
Although Glasses' presence had disappeared before he fully did physically, Uari had sensed him behind before their leg had hit. It was a fraction of a second of lag, but to Uari, that was precious time he needed in order to be able to predict where Glasses would next be, and would be crucial in preparing a defense against whatever attack was coming next.