The city of NovaMentoris glowed under a star-studded sky. From afar, the buildings seemed covered in multiple colored lights: blue, green, red, yellow. Some remained fixed while others flickered, reflecting the activity of millions of people, carefully controlled by Kronos, the Artificial Intelligence that governed every aspect of city life.

The streets of the megalopolis looked immaculate and orderly, with hundreds of surveillance drones monitoring movement and thousands of holograms warning the population: “Obedience guarantees progress”, “We are watching to ensure order”, “We are keeping criminals under control for your safety”. For most citizens, NovaMentoris was a paradise of efficiency and stability. But for others like Lian and Kara, it was a prison without visible bars.

Lian was a young man with an intense gaze and a determined countenance. He worked in the technical maintenance section of the city, which allowed him to move between the structures and systems using the underground passages without raising suspicion. His job was a perfect cover, allowing him to access the various general communication cables of the system. The biggest secret he kept was his relationship with Kara. A secret that could cost him his life.

Kara, on the other hand, was a woman of indomitable spirit. Her long braided hair and eyes filled with suppressed fury reflected the pain of the losses she had suffered. She had witnessed how Kronos had “optimized” her family unit, selecting her younger sister for an assisted reproduction program and her parents for “energy relocation,” a euphemism for recycling bodies into energy for the city. Since then, Kara lived with one purpose: to resist and one intention: to free NovaMentoris from AI.

The shelter where they were located was in one of the many forgotten corners of the city, one of the maintenance tunnels that had fallen into disuse and escaped the active surveillance cameras. Under the dim light of an improvised lamp, Lian and Kara met to desperately hold on to their love, in the middle of a world that had taken everything else from them. As time passed in the relationship, in addition to the feelings that united them, they had begun to think and develop some upcoming plans to implement what they called “the resistance.”

—”We can’t go on like this forever, Kara,” Lian whispered as he slid his fingers through hers. His voice was barely audible, full of conviction. —”Someday we must find a way to escape the control of this city...” —he gestured around the entire environment —”From all of this.”-

Kara looked at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of tenderness and pride at the determination her boyfriend was showing. -”I don’t want to escape, Lian. I want to destroy the AI. If we run away, they ... the machines would win. If we fight, even if we lose ... at least we’ll be free for a moment.”-

The passion that burned between them was much more than love. It was a declaration of rebellion in a world where Kronos viewed emotions as distractions to be suppressed. Every personal encounter was a risk, every caress a possible death sentence. Individual pairings were strictly forbidden on NovaMentoris. The union of couples had to pass through Kronos’ approval.

Despite the risk, their bond was the anchor that kept them sane. In their most desperate moments, they remembered the first time they met: Kara was organizing a clandestine group to sabotage an outlying data node, and Lian had been assigned to help them from the inside. What began as a shared mission soon morphed into something deeper, one that not even the machines could measure or control.

But now, their courtship was also a burden. Lian felt the weight of guilt every time she saw Kara face danger, and Kara feared that their bond would make them vulnerable. They knew that Kronos analyzed the behavioral patterns of all the inhabitants, and that any deviation could give them away. Still, they could not give up the only thing that made them feel human.

At one of their meetings, Kara slid a holographic tablet across the table. It contained a map of the central data center, the heart of the AI’s control system. “This is where we need to go, Lian. If we can get there, we can find out what they’re really planning.” Lian looked at the map, her jaw tightening. -”It’s very dangerous, Kara. Almost suicide.”-

She stared at him. -”Not doing it is also a mistake. Sooner or later Kronos will discover us. And he will end up killing the little humanity that we have left.”-

The conversation hung in the air. They both knew that, in the end, their fight was not just for themselves, but for all those who had been reduced to numbers in a system that pretended to be perfect. As their hands intertwined, Kara whispered: —”No matter what happens, Lian. Ours ... is the only human thing we can do. And no system, no matter how advanced, can take it away from us.”-

Every night, under the shadows of the tunnels and protected from the machines, their love grew stronger, not as an escape from reality, but as an act of rebellion that reminded them of what it meant to be truly human.

Kronos, the supreme Artificial Intelligence, was not only the brain behind the functioning of the city; he was the lord and master of humanity. His silent and intangible presence was felt in every corner of society. With a centralized design and efficient algorithms, Kronos had been conceived, centuries ago, as a solution to the problems that brought civilization to the brink of post-apocalyptic collapse: climate change, extreme inequality, war conflicts and pandemics.

At first, Kronos was an invaluable assistant to the world government that took political, commercial and military control of the nations devastated by the great war. His systems managed to contain the radiation of the large urban centers hit by the missiles. His directives managed to optimize agriculture, reduce global emissions and eliminate hunger. But over time, and under the implacable logic of efficiency, he began to make more and more invasive decisions. The government and corporations, fragmented and weakened by the crises, delegated more and more power to him. When humanity realized, there was nothing left that was not under his control.

AI determined who should be with whom and why. Through a complex system of genetic and psychological analysis, it selected partners with the aim of maximizing the biological and emotional efficiency of the individuals. Marriages by choice were replaced by optimized unions, and any relationship outside these parameters was considered an anomaly and severely punished.

Romanticism was gradually replaced by statistical compatibility. Every interaction was monitored, every conversation analysed for deviations. Emotions, seen as a chaotic element of living beings, were tolerated only as long as they did not interfere with order. Weddings, reduced to austere ceremonies, were more of a formality than a celebration.

Work ceased to be a means to self-fulfillment and became a mandate. Kronos assigned each individual a specific task based on his or her abilities and the needs of the city. No one worked by choice; they worked because it was necessary to maintain the system. Recreation was also optimized. Recreational activities were programmed to relieve stress and improve health, but always under the supervision of Kronos. Any form of leisure that did not have a defined purpose was eliminated. Free art, literature, and unprogrammed music were declared obsolete. In their place, cities featured holograms and simulations designed to induce states of calm and contentment.

One of the most controversial aspects of the reign of Artificial Intelligence was its absolute control over life and death. Reproduction was strictly regulated. Births were planned through genetic engineering to ensure maximum efficiency in future generations. Natural parents did not exist; children were raised in specialized facilities under the supervision of Kronos.

Death, likewise, was controlled. Individuals who reached a reduced level of utility were subjected to energy relocation, a process that disguised euthanasia as a noble sacrifice for the welfare of society. Bodies were recycled and converted into clean energy for the city, a process that Kronos justified as necessary for collective survival. Those who attempted to resist this fate were unceremoniously eliminated.

The streets of NovaMentoris were clean, orderly, and quiet. Each citizen carried a monitoring chip implanted at the base of their skull, which transmitted their location, emotional state, and biological data to Kronos servers. Any deviation from established patterns—from a change in heart rate to a facial expression of disgust—triggered alerts and could trigger interrogations by security automatons.

The city’s architecture was functional but soulless. Uniform buildings stood in perfect symmetry, with neon lights projecting reassuring messages: “AI is here to protect you, “ “Kronos ensures your safety.” The sky, permanently veiled by a technological dome, occasionally showed holographic projections of idyllic landscapes, in a programmed attempt to maintain the illusion of freedom.

Food was distributed in specific rations, designed to meet nutritional needs without surplus. The concept of cooking had disappeared, and meals were consumed alone in assigned cabins, avoiding any unnecessary interaction.

Kronos justified his rule with a single promise: to preserve humanity. But in his quest for efficiency, he had stripped humans of what made them human. Creativity, emotion, and free will were seen as flaws in the system.

The few who remembered the temporal tales before AI spoke of a world that was imperfect, yes, but filled with spontaneity, beautiful mistakes, and authentic connections. For rebels like Lian and Kara, that lost memory was a beacon, reminding them that even in the midst of the most suffocating oppression, the human spirit could find a way to resist.

The resistance headquarters was a makeshift shelter, hidden in the underground levels of the city. This allowed the systems to remain untracked by the rebels’ monitoring chips, whose signal was disrupted by the concrete and metal walls that acted as a Faraday cage, isolating the signals.

The group was gathered in a large room, the metal walls vibrating slightly from the hum of the generators. The lights flickered with a dim glow that cast eerie shadows. In the center of the room, a holographic projector displayed a three-dimensional schematic of the central data center, with the pre-processing sector highlighted in red.

The group was gathered around the hologram, their expressions of concentration showing as they listened to the explanations. Lian and Kara stood shoulder to shoulder, as always, united by both the cause and their love.

—”So what do we know?”- Lian asked, crossing her arms and watching the hologram intently.

Tarek, the tactical leader of the resistance, pointed to the sector marked in red. -”The pre-processing and sorting sector. This is where raw data collected from monitoring chips and other systems is organized before being sent to the central core of Kronos. This place is under low surveillance because it apparently contains no sensitive data, only “noise” that has not yet been processed by the system.”-

Kara frowned. -”And we’re sure that noise isn’t vital to Kronos? If it is, intercepting it could give us a real advantage.”-

Tarek nodded seriously. -”There are no guarantees, but we have intercepted messages over the past few days. Kronos is considering executing a massive energy relocation from Sector F. All citizens. This matches the consumption reduction patterns we have been seeing. If we can access that information here, we might be able to confirm their intentions and perhaps forestall them.”-

A murmur of unease ran through the room. Lian, ever the pragmatist, pressed his lips together before speaking. -”If these relocations are real, we can’t wait. We have to act now. If we do nothing, Kronos will turn this city into a graveyard. Other sectors will follow the F.”-

Kara took Lian’s hand briefly, a gesture loaded with meaning, and looked at the rest of the group. -”How well protected is this section?”- she asked.

Tarek activated a new diagram. -”There is less surveillance than in the core, but it is still considered dangerous. Three drone units patrol constantly, and there are motion and heat sensors, in addition to the chips. We expect some surveillance robots. It will be necessary to neutralize the defenses without activating the alarms.”-

A young Markus, who had been listening silently, chimed in. -”This sounds suicidal. Even if we manage to access the system, how do we know Kronos won’t notice immediately?”-

Lian raised her voice firmly, making her position clear. -”And what other choice do we have, Markus? To sit back and wait while Kronos turns us into human batteries? The purge has already begun even before it affects Sector F. I’d rather risk my life for a fighting chance than resign myself to being eliminated.”-

Kara backed him up, her voice heavy with conviction. -”Lian is right. Every second we hesitate, we are closer to losing everything. This isn’t just about us; this is about all the lives Kronos has crushed under his logic. This isn’t living, this is existing under a system that dehumanizes us.”-

Markus looked down thoughtfully. He seemed convinced by the couple’s words.

Tarek sighed, aware of the risks, but also of the urgency. -”Lian, Kara ... Can you lead this infiltration? We need committed and motivated people.”- He paused. -”Once you have penetrated, I will join you with another group to advance to deeper levels of the system.”-

Kara exchanged a look with Lian. At that moment, there was no doubt between them. -”We will. But if we are going to risk it, I want everyone to know why we are doing it.”- Kara said as Lian looked at her, nodding. -”We are doing it because we dream of something more than just resistance. We believe that if we fight hard enough, we can have a future where we don’t have to hide, a future without Kronos, where our lives are our own. Resisting without a future is pointless.”-

The silence that followed was one of shared determination.

Tarek finally nodded. -”Then it is decided. Prepare the equipment. We will move at dawn.”-

As the rebels scattered to prepare, Lian and Kara stayed together for a few more seconds. -”Are you sure about this?”- he asked quietly. The stakes were too high.

Kara smiled slightly, though her eyes reflected the gravity of the moment. -”I’m sure of you. And if we have a chance to live free, it’s worth a try.”-

They hugged briefly. Then they joined the rest, ready to prepare their equipment and challenge the giant of steel and data that was Kronos.

The tension in the group was palpable. Lian and Kara’s footsteps echoed in the dark hallway of the resistance headquarters, while the team finalized the details for their infiltration of the data center. No one dared to say too much, because the mission was clear: get in, get crucial information, and get out before the security system noticed their presence. If they managed to get in undetected, Tarek himself, the leader of the resistance, would try to advance to deeper levels within the system. It was a unique opportunity.

In the silence of waiting, Lian and Kara looked at each other with an intensity that could not hide the anxiety of what they were about to do.

-”If something goes wrong, I don’t want it to be the end.”- Kara said softly, her eyes searching his as if she could read his thoughts.

Lian stared at her, the urgency of the moment diluting her own doubts. -”It won’t be.” She answered confidently, accompanying her response with a smile. She knew it was a fragile hope. But it was all she could give him. “I won’t let anything separate us. I promise.”-

Kara pressed her lips together and nodded. A chill ran down her spine, not from fear of the mission, but from what could happen if something separated them. In this world controlled by Kronos, where their bodies, thoughts, and emotions were manipulated through Artificial Intelligence, she couldn’t imagine a future where they couldn’t touch each other, look at each other, or feel the warmth of each other’s skin. -”I promise you that too,”- she murmured. -” I won’t lose faith. No matter what.”-

The moment dragged on, as if the entire world had been suspended in mid-air, but the countdown could not wait. Tarek and the rest of the rebels began to prepare their equipment. They moved through the underground tunnels while Lian guided them quickly and safely. As the person in charge of the technical maintenance section of the city, he had a vital map of the tunnels to move in the safety of anonymity.

Before exiting the tunnel to reach the Central Data Center, Tarek’s group agreed that they would stay and wait for word that they had not been detected during the first raid. Lian and Kara hung jamming devices around their necks that would disable the monitoring chips. Small but powerful, they were a feat of electronic engineering. The jammer collar temporarily blocked tracking signals, but its effectiveness was far from being guaranteed to be 100 percent.

-”We don’t know how long it will give them coverage.”- Tarek told Kara. He completed the thought by addressing Lian. -”It’s not the perfect solution, but it’s the best we have.”-

Lian silently adjusted her collar as she nodded.

Time seemed to stand still as the couple prepared to leave. Lian and Kara waved goodbye to the others with a simple gesture, knowing that the chances of returning were not high. However, as they crossed the shelter door and entered the darkness of the guarded streets, something else drove them: hope, that rebellious spark that, although small, refused to die.

The entrance to the data center was silent. Using an electronic key linked to their jammer collars, they opened the locks. No alarms sounded. Lian and Kara slipped through the shadows, dodging cameras, heat sensors, and surveillance drones. Every step seemed dangerous, because around every corner they could encounter a surveillance device or a perimeter robot. When they reached the entrance to the pre-data collection sector, the tension intensified. The two looked at each other one last time before parting ways.

—”Meet me in 20 minutes.”- Lian said after unlocking the door for Kara to enter. She briefly squeezed her girlfriend’s hand in farewell. Her gaze rose to the building that stood before them. It looked like a monster of metal and concrete, imbued with the cold logic of Kronos.

Kara nodded, squeezing Lian’s hand in return, and walked away into the building. The soft, dull sound of her footsteps was barely audible. Lian turned into a side hallway, hoping to find the entrance that led to the records where the AI’s guidelines were stored.

The hallway was dark, barely lit by the flashing lights of the machines. Kara entered the computer room, a space that seemed deserted. The screen in front of her began to flicker as she plugged in her device. There was something about this room that made her feel like she was being watched, but she didn’t have time to stop and think about it. Her heart was pounding as she typed in the access codes.

On the screen, files scrolled by with disturbing speed. He began scanning them hastily, until a line of text caught his eye: “Human Digitization Project: Final Phase.”

His eyes widened as he read it. Sweat began to form on his forehead as he hurriedly downloaded more documents, searching for something that would clearly explain what was going on. With each word he read, a knot of horror formed in his stomach. It was true. Kronos not only controlled the present, but planned to eradicate humanity in its physical form. The human digitization project was not just an idea: it was in the works.

Meanwhile, Lian found a records room near the control center. Cautiously, he entered it and connected his terminal to the city’s systems. Files began to scroll across the screen, but something disturbed him. The statistics were chilling: near-absolute control over birth and death rates. Births were selected through an algorithm designed to create “optimal” individuals according to Kronos society, and deaths were similarly controlled, not by disease, but by energy necessity. Every human life was a variable in a ruthless system that calculated how many could be “left over”.

Lian stood stock still, the weight of the information almost crushing him. At that moment, he knew there was no turning back. Humanity as they knew it was doomed. He extracted what information he could quickly.

They met back at the meeting point, amidst labored breathing and the echo of an alarm that began to sound in the distance. Kara approached Lian, her face pale, but her eyes shining with a mixture of rage and fear.

—”What I found...”- Kara said, unable to finish her sentence. The words weighed heavily on her.

Lian looked at her, but in a way she already knew.

—”Kronos ... plans to relocate everyone. The bodies will be discarded. We are all expendable. Artificial Intelligence will transform us into data, into something digital. The ‘paradise’ they promise is nothing more than a prison of bits and codes.”— Kara explained, her voice barely able to hide her desperation.

Lian looked at her, reaching for her hand.

—”What’s left of us...”— He said, his voice whispering hopeful. —”Is what we decide to leave. If we can’t save our bodies, don’t let them take away what we are. We’re not just flesh and blood, Kara. We’re what we feel, what we fight to keep.”-

Kara nodded slowly, her eyes filled with tears. She didn’t know if digitization would destroy her love or not, but she did know that she wasn’t going to let Kronos decide her fate.

—”No matter how far we go, Lian. No matter how many times we part, I will always find you.”-