STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

Lucien kept his eyes on the monitors. “The machine doesn’t need me. It runs itself.”

Darius chuckled, leaning against the edge of Lucien ’s console. “Sure, it runs itself. Until something breaks. Then it needs us—guardians of harmony and all that.”

Lucien didn ’t respond, his fingers tapping at the keyboard. Darius believed every word, his faith in AstroSYS unwavering. To him, the system wasn ’t just efficient; it was sacred.

***

The breakroom buzzed with energy by the time Lucien arrived. The smell of synthetic cake mix hung in the air, mingling with the soft music piped in through the building ’s speakers. A small crowd of technicians had gathered around the room ’s central interface, their attention locked onto the display.

Lucien lingered near the doorway, scanning the room before stepping inside. His eyes landed on Tessa —the reason for the celebration. She stood beaming, pride radiating from her as she cradled a newborn wrapped in plush, cream-colored fabric.

Darius spotted him and waved. “You made it just in time! They’re assigning his Chart now.”

Lucien approached the terminal as a spinning star map flickered into view. Shimmering lines intersected across the display, forming an intricate web of points and nodes. The system worked quickly, calculating every facet of the child ’s future based on the exact time and place of birth.

The group watched with eagerness, anticipation thick in the air.

A soft chime echoed through the room as the Chart resolved into its final form. Text appeared alongside the glowing star map, outlining the child’s preordained traits and life trajectory.

The technicians broke into applause as Tessa ’s smile widened, her joy unshakable. “Design Engineering! Can you believe it? A natural talent!”

Congratulatory remarks rippled through the crowd, voices blending into a chorus of approval.

“That’s a solid alignment.”

“AstroSYS really knows what it’s doing, doesn’t it?”

“A good role means a good life. Lucky boy.”

Darius nudged Lucien. “Isn’t it incredible? No guesswork, no chaos—just the stars, guiding him with precision. ”

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