Future Cyberpunk Love

Chapter 3

Inside, the first floor of the Epoch Corporation was nothing short of a miracle. A vast plain sprawled out before them, its edges lost in the haze of distance. Lakes sparkled under a fake sun, their surfaces rippling with gentle waves.Forests of strange, twisting trees stretched skyward, their leaves glinting with a metallic sheen. Grasslands rolled in soft waves of green and gold, dotted with creatures that looked half-wild, half-machine—birds with cybernetic wings, deer with glowing antlers. Above it all, high-tech villas floated like sleek, silent birds, their curved designs blending nature and metal in a way that felt both alien and beautiful.

Kieran stood rooted to the spot, his breath shallow. "This is Epoch? It's like stepping into another world."

Iris barely blinked, her eyes scanning the scene with a bored calm. "What's the fuss? My place is way more—"

Kieran, still dazed, missed her words. "Huh? What'd you say about your place?"

Iris faltered, a faint flush creeping up her neck. "Nothing, forget it. Let's get the hover lift. This mail's headed for the 622nd floor."

Kieran shot her a curious look. "Okay, but can we take it easy going up? I wanna see what else is in here."

Three minutes later, Iris called the hover lift with a quick, "Lift, now," and a sleek white platform hummed into place. They stepped on, and as it began its smooth ascent, Iris leaned against the edge, watching Kieran. "Most floors are locked down tight, but a few public spots are open. I'll give you a peek."

In a flash, the black numbers on the platform flicked from 0 to 129. The 129th floor burst into view—a sprawling marketplace alive with noise and color. Shops lined the space, their goods showcased in giant 3D projections that hovered in midair: gadgets that gleamed like polished chrome, fruits that shimmered with unnatural hues, clothes that pulsed with light. Vendors shouted over the chatter, haggling with customers who darted between stalls.

Kieran's eyes widened, but he kept his cool this time—until he spotted a massive projection of an energy gun, its details so sharp it looked real. He pointed, grinning. "Hey, Iris, doesn't that look exactly like that gun you've got?"

Iris's face tightened, and she barked, "622!" The lift lurched upward, yanking them away before Kieran could get a closer look. He frowned at her, but she avoided his gaze.

They landed on the 622nd floor, and the scene shifted again. This time, it was a grand old manor, all sweeping gardens and trickling fountains, like something plucked from a history book and dropped into the future. At the entrance, a sign in bold gold letters read "Vice General Manager's Office."

Kieran double-checked the address on the package, then took a steadying breath and pressed the antique doorbell. Its soft chime rang out, oddly gentle in this high-tech maze. "This is it," he said, half to himself.

They stood there, waiting, as the evening breeze rustled the garden's neatly trimmed hedges. Kieran shifted his weight, nerves creeping in. "Think we'll actually meet the Vice General Manager?"

Iris shrugged, her tone dry. "Probably not. People that high up don't bother with deliveries."

The door swung open, and a tall woman stepped out, her crisp suit hugging her frame like armor. Her eyes were hidden behind sleek AR glasses that flickered with faint data streams. "Yes?" she asked, her voice sharp and clipped.

Kieran held out the package. "Delivery for the Vice General Manager."

She took it, running a small scanner over it with a soft beep. "IDs, please."

They flashed their wrist chips, the holograms glowing briefly under her scanner. She nodded. "All clear. Thanks for your trouble."

As she turned to go, Kieran piped up, "Hey, wait! Any chance we could look around? I've never been inside Epoch before."

The woman paused, her head tilting slightly. "Civilians don't go past the drop-off zone." Her gaze slid to Iris, lingering. "You, though—you look familiar. Have we met?"

Iris went stiff, her jaw tightening. "No, I don't think so."

The woman stared a moment longer, then shook her head. "My error. Exit through the entry gate."

As they walked away, Kieran leaned in, whispering, "What was that about? You know her?"

Iris shook her head fast. "Never seen her."

But Kieran wasn't buying it. The way that woman had looked at Iris—like she'd seen her before—and the way Iris had clammed up? Something was off.

Back on the hover lift, descending through flashes of other floors—labs, meeting rooms, a gym with floating weights—Kieran pressed her. "Come on, Iris. What's the deal? You're hiding something about this place, aren't you?"

Iris stared out at the passing levels, her fingers twisting the edge of her jacket. "It's nothing. Let it go."

"We're friends, right?" Kieran said, softer now. "You can tell me."

She sighed, the fight draining out of her. "Fine. My family's tied to Epoch. My dad used to work here—big shot, high up. But he left, and it wasn't pretty. I don't like talking about it."

Kieran nodded, pieces clicking into place. "That's why you know so much. And why she thought she knew you."

"Yeah," Iris muttered. "I steer clear when I can, but sometimes I don't have a choice."

He wanted to dig deeper, but her hunched shoulders stopped him. "Okay, I won't push. Just—y'know, I'm here if you need me."

Iris managed a small smile. "Thanks."

They hit the ground floor and stepped back through the silver curtain into Area B's chaos. The neon hum and sharp smells hit them like a wave, a wild contrast to the quiet beauty they'd left behind.

Kieran sucked in a breath of cool air. "That was nuts. Thanks for sticking with me, Iris. No way I'd have survived that solo."

She laughed, a real one this time. "You held your own. And it was kinda fun, weirdly."

They headed for the train station, the city's glow painting their faces in shifting colors. Passing a line of vendors,

Kieran stopped at a stall piled with old Earth junk. He picked up a battered compass, its needle stuck but its brass still warm with age. "Check this out. My dad used to talk about these—how people navigated with them way back when."

Iris peered at it, intrigued. "It's cool. Think it still works?"

"Nah," Kieran said, flipping it over. "But it's history. Proof we came from somewhere."

He bought it, tucking it into his pocket. As they walked on, Iris asked, "You really think we'll go back to Earth someday?"

Kieran glanced up, catching a glimpse of stars through the haze. "Gotta hope so. It's what keeps me moving—thinking there's something out there worth chasing."

Iris nodded, her eyes far off. "My dad's the same. Always dreaming of a fresh start."

The floating train pulled in just then, its doors hissing open. They climbed aboard, settling into seats as it lifted off, gliding through the night. Kieran felt a quiet peace settle over him, glad for Iris's steady presence beside him.

But the day wasn't done with them yet. Back in their district, as they stepped off the train, a figure slipped out of the shadows—a wiry guy in a dark coat, his face half-hidden by a hood. "You two," he said, voice low. "The package you dropped at Epoch—what was in it?"

Kieran froze, glancing at Iris. "Uh, just mail. Why?"

The guy stepped closer, his hand slipping into his pocket. "Don't play dumb. That wasn't regular mail. Hand over whatever else you've got from them, or we've got a problem."

Iris squared her shoulders, her hand brushing the side of her jacket where Kieran knew she kept that energy gun. "Back off," she said, her voice like steel. "We don't have anything, and we don't know you."

The guy smirked, pulling a small device from his pocket—a tracker, its screen flashing with a map. "Funny, ‘cause this says you're still on their radar. Last chance."

Kieran's heart pounded, but Iris didn't flinch. "Walk away," she warned, "or you'll wish you had."

For a tense second, no one moved. Then the guy sneered, pocketing the tracker. "Fine. But this ain't over." He

melted back into the crowd, leaving them standing under the flickering station lights.

Kieran exhaled hard. "What the hell was that?"

Iris's face was grim. "Trouble. That package—it's gotta be something big. And now we're in it."

He swallowed, clutching the compass in his pocket like a lifeline. "So what do we do?"

She met his eyes, steady and fierce. "We figure it out. Together."

The city buzzed around them, alive and dangerous, as they stepped into the night—not just couriers anymore, but players in a game they didn't yet understand. And somewhere, far above, the stars waited.