The sound of sirens was a dull throb in the distance, a common refrain in Steelhaven. Jayne and Kai moved fast through the maze of abandoned industrial tunnels, the smell of burnt plastic and acrid smoke clinging to their clothes. Jayne was hopping, favoring her bad ankle. The silence between them was heavier than the darkness. They reached a secluded access hatch leading down to a hidden maintenance crawlspace—a safe zone in Rusty's network. Kai dropped down first. Jayne fol

The Great Crash Part 2: The Barter Economy The incident at Mr. Patel's store had changed something. The fear was still present, a cold stone in the pit of Anya's stomach, but the successful de-escalation had sparked a new feeling: resolve. "That was a close one," Anya said to Alex as they walked back to their apartment building, the adrenaline slowly fading. "It was," Alex agreed, his gruff voice softer than usual. "But it won't be the last. People are desperate. And desperat

The rain outside Sera's sleek Queen Anne penthouse mirrored the low hum of tension in the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a...