Year 8571 — Far Future
A massive spacecraft floated silently in the dark sea of space. Its silver hull glowed faintly under the light of distant stars, like a giant machine drifting between galaxies.
Inside, the ship was a different world. Walls of shining metal stretched endlessly, and bright blue lights pulsed through hidden circuits like veins of energy. In one chamber, thirty glass tubes stood in perfect rows. Inside each one, a child no older than five lay in deep sleep, their small forms suspended in a glowing mist. At the foot of every tube, glowing screens traced their brain activity with streams of shifting symbols.
The door slid open with a hiss. A man in a spotless white suit entered, his steps soundless against the marble-like floor. His name was Zero, and his cold eyes scanned the children without emotion.
Then came the sharp click-click of heels. A woman walked in, her long black hair falling over her shoulders, her red lips bright against her pale skin. Her white lab coat swayed as she moved toward Zero.
"I'll need to use the sleeping serum on all of them," she said with a slight smile.
"How many are there?" Zero asked.
"Thirty."
Zero nodded slowly. "The first batch was also thirty. Five failed. They were sent back to Earth." His gaze hardened. "That leaves twenty-five. With this new batch… fifty-five in total."
He raised his voice slightly. "Unit 111, begin brain analysis."
At once, a robotic voice filled the room, echoing off the walls:
"Brain analysis complete. IQ levels detected: 600 to 700. One anomaly found. Subject in central chamber measures 1000."
Zero's eyes locked on the boy at the center pod. The child's face was calm, almost too calm, his chest rising and falling in perfect rhythm.
"Yes," the woman—Dr. Stacy—whispered, her eyes narrowing. "He was the only one who never cried."
Zero turned slightly toward her. His tone was low, commanding. "When you are finished here, Dr. Stacy, report to me at once."
She gave a small nod, her heels clicking again as she stepped away.
The chamber fell into silence once more. Only the soft hum of machines and the glowing light of the pods remained, as if the ship itself was holding its breath.