Planet Praxedis
The planet was nicknamed Yellowstone by the system dwellers, because its industrial activity had altered its appearance from space. Praxedis was a crowded world in the Nembus system, and it was famous for hosting the exclusive construction site of Johnson Capital ships.
Capital ships were the most coveted vessels in the system, because they embodied all the technological advances and took ten years to build. They had the power to sway regions, and they were only commissioned by the central authority for strategic operations across the system when they wanted to flex their muscles.
The heavy industries on Praxedis thrived thanks to its prime location. Cargo ships from all corners of the system came and went incessantly.
This was where Gary and his master's five-year-old son Brian Onana had escaped and lived for thirteen years.
That morning, eighteen-year-old Brian woke up feeling especially happy. It was his last day of high school. Not that it mattered much, he should have graduated a year ago but he failed to secure his admission to his preferred academy twice.
He didn't want to waste his time doing nothing or getting involved in shady businesses, so he decided to switch majors and keep going to school. Extra knowledge never hurts!
He realized he was running late and dashed to the bathroom to take a shower. The water stopped flowing while he was still soaping himself.
He groaned in frustration. "Third time this week! People have rioted for less than this before." He asked out loud: "Viola, what about the emergency tank? Is it empty too?"
[It's the emergency tank. I cut off your supply because it reached the critical level. Only 20 liters left.] The AI answered in a feminine voice.
He turned off the shower and reached for a towel, only to find none. "Redirect 3 liters more, damn it!" he shouted at the smart faucet. "What do you want me to do with all this soap over my body?" A jet of water sprayed him again, washing away the foam. He sighed and muttered, "Please stop this prank on me every time, not when I'm in a hurry. I might be late." He grabbed his clothes and left the bathroom without drying himself.
He dressed quickly and checked his appearance in his smart bedroom mirror. He wore a black T-shirt that hugged his muscular torso, a black pant that ended above his ankles, and white boots. He had inherited his father's silver hair and deep brown eyes that pierced through anyone who met his gaze. He was tall and lean, with an athletic build that belied his intelligence.
The mirror's integrated AI spoke as he adjusted his collar. [Rain due to fall on the southern part of section 14 at 09:23 standard time, duration time of 34 minutes. Recommended to take appropriate measures and clothes.]
Brian gave a nonchalant shrug and walked away. He didn't care about the rain. It wouldn't affect him or anyone else in the underground part of section 14, where they lived 150 meters below the surface level. The underground city was designed with meticulous efficiency, leaving no space unused or unaccounted for. Rain was something that only happened above ground.
He dismissed the thought with a flick of his wrist. Then another message appeared on his wristband, along with a familiar face.
[Hey kid, i'm off to the docks. We need to talk tonight. Don't go to bed before I get back.] The face vanished.
Brian frowned slightly as he watched the message fade away. Gary was always brief and direct, but this time he sounded more serious than usual. Brian wondered what he wanted to talk about.
Gary had been like a second father to him ever since the night that changed his life forever. The night he lost his real father in a violent attack and they had to flee to this planet. Gary had taken him under his wing and taught him everything he knew about fighting, he learned rare skills and he knew they were only found in old traditional families with legendary elementals.
Brian knew that Gary owed a debt of honor to his late father, who had been his friend and comrade. He also knew that Gary could have chosen a different path in life, one that would have rewarded him with wealth and status. His skills were rare and sought after by the powerful families that ruled the whole system.
That's why Brian respected and admired him so much. He was grateful for his guidance and protection. He owed him everything
But Gary had always kept a low profile since then, avoiding unnecessary attention and trouble. Brian felt that he knew him better than anyone else, until recently that is.
Lately, he noticed that Gary was acting more secretive and reserved than usual. He seemed to have something on his mind that he didn't want to share. Brian wondered if he was planning something big or dangerous.
He shook his head and told himself that he was being paranoid. Gary wouldn't do anything stupid or reckless. He trusted him.
He decided to stop worrying and focus on his hunger. He grabbed a snack from his fridge and tapped his Timer to summon a taxi. He walked out to his balcony and saw a yellow vehicle hovering near him. It was one of the many taxis that flew around the city, transporting people from one place to another. Ground level was too crowded and dangerous for most vehicles, except for the heavily guarded convoys of the elite.
He waved at the taxi and shouted "Hey, move closer and lower the ramp you dumb machine. How do you expect me to get in?" The taxi complied and approached his balcony until he could jump inside. As soon as he did, they zoomed away.
The sky of sector 14 was filled with thousands of these flying taxis at any given moment. They followed predetermined routes and operated without human intervention. The AI that controlled them was more reliable and efficient than any human driver. The chances of a collision were only 0.3%.
As the taxi sped towards his school, Brian gazed out of the window with a bored expression. He saw the same sights every day: buildings spewing white smoke, screens flashing ads and neon signs, people rushing around in their daily routines. He couldn't remember the last time he felt the warmth of the sun on his skin. It had been at least three weeks since he went above ground.
Planet Praxedis was divided into 30 sectors, each with its own number and characteristics. The old notion of countries had become obsolete thousands of years ago, when humanity expanded to the stars and unified under a galactic law. The only remnants of the past were some cultural and linguistic differences among the sectors.
The sectors were crowded with people, both on the surface and below. Some of them had populations as high as 3 billion, living in cramped and polluted conditions. Only a few privileged ones enjoyed a comfortable and luxurious life.
He snapped out of his reverie when he noticed that the taxi had stopped at his school. He reached for his Timer to pay for the ride, but it showed an error message.
[The price for this ride is 7 minutes.] The robot AI announced in a monotone voice.
"What?" Brian shouted in disbelief. "That's ridiculous! Yesterday it was only 5 minutes!"
[There has been a change in the pricing policy as of 00:00 standard time. If you are dissatisfied with our service, you can file a complaint at our risk & problem solving department.] The AI said in an indifferent tone.
He sighed and decided to pay. He didn't want to risk getting blacklisted by the taxi company. That would mean losing access to one of the few convenient and affordable ways of transportation in the city.
He muttered under his breath, "This is ridiculous. Everything is getting more expensive every day." He got out of the car and headed towards his school. He hoped that his day would get better from here.