Stella

After my tablet projected the display before my eyes, I went to the net browser, an icon with an image of a blue planet with a dot connecting around the globe. Clicking on it, a reminder text popped up at the center of the net browser.

[Reminder: For your safety, please don't illegally modify the network to privately use to access the dark net or illegal net site. Doing so will make your device activate the self-destruction mode immediately and your location will be broadcast to the nearby police station.

Reminder: Attempting to override the safety system will also trigger your device to be immediately self-destruction which might result in your death. ]

I clicked agree and continued with the process, the reason why this reminder popped up was because many years ago, many criminals tried to override the system of the tablet owned by the world government and their device exploded, causing their bodies to be shattered into pieces.

Therefore, the only way to access the dark net was to illegally buy a phone or tablet from a third party or space which also resulted in a permanent prison sentence.

Now I guess living in a utopian society, you sometimes need to abandon your privacy to the higher power known as the world government. Even though they seem to care about world problems, in reality, the elite lives in a citadel, the biggest floating island on Tellus which is located in the lost American continent and now become inhabitants due to the great global disaster but for some reason, the elite chose to build the city there and let us all ordinary people to live in habitant land but their rule and power were absolute over us.

I guess the elite allowed us to live and be prosperous so we could help them build a utopia society which mostly benefited them but everyone was also satisfied with the life they were living now, the low crime rate, as well as people had every basic need met, added on to the freedom to explore and enjoy every type of entertainment were what made the last remaining humanity on Tellus chosen to be under the elite rule.

The elite ruled everything even the world government, though it was classified as to who were the true rulers that managed to unite humanity, it was said that all mother was the one who led the elite but recent rumors said the top 10 rankers of the solar system were the one who was ruling from the shadow.

Any information related to the top 10 rankers was uncertain, therefore I didn't dive much into the topic. I was also content with my ordinary life.

The era of the world government brought peace and stability to the entire Solar system, not just Tellus.

At the moment, I am searching for TWOD's user name-finding system. It was only accessible to the virtual version, on the search bar I typed the name "Lasiv"

Many names came up with

[Lasiv12,

Lasivlan,

Lasivivat005

...]

And many other usernames that began with these names but none have the specific 5 words that I was looking for (Lasiv). Came to think of it, even though her information and achievement points were classified, how is that possible for the basic information of a user to be filtered? So many mysteries shrouded my head.

Immediately, I heard a footstep approaching me. My eyes unconsciously turned to look at the black snacker with a golden star paint on the right side of it who was the owner of these footsteps.

She wore a long blue sock and a medium-length black skirt above her knee, once our eyes met, I noticed oceanic eyes with a hint of red belonged to none other than Stella. On her hand, carbon fiber black gloves could be seen holding onto a small cup of coffee wrapped in tissue to reduce the heat.

Strangely, normally I would have to walk up to her cart and take the order by myself but today she was the one who delivered it to me. I stared at her with a puzzled expression, and she raised one of her eyebrows back in awkwardness.

I took a chance to ask her "Is today special? Normally your grandma would have to call me to pick up the order."

And to be honest, she didn't bring the cup of coffee to other customers besides me.

Stella replied with a wistful tone "I make a choice, maybe tomorrow, the fresh coffee bean will not be here anymore."

"Are you sure?"

At that moment, I remembered that Stella mentioned her grandfather had stopped planting the coffee plant. I wonder what truly happened to her, maybe her condition was in much worse condition than I realized.

She extended her hand, holding a cup of coffee to me, and then I grabbed the cup, a glimpse of smoke could be seen on top of the cup with a warm aura emitted from the temperature of the cup.

Stella then said, "My adopted grandmother is in the hospital and refused to get an artificial organic surgery replacement, she said she wants to end her life as a human and not a robot."

If I remember correctly, Sasaki, her grandma was around 120 years old due to the advanced Nedro medicine developed after 10 years at the end of the Great Global Disaster, which replaced dead cells with a new one and also eliminated most cancer diseases, but now her organ have failed her. Sasaki did live a long life, I wonder what kind of life she had been through.

I took a deep breath, thinking that the problem I had this morning was nothing compared to what Sasaki and billions of people who went through the great global disaster, it was a completely devastating event to humanity.

I replied while casting my eyes down "Maybe it is the right way to live, she has always been a woman of integrity."

When I looked up, I saw her fused eyebrows and realized I said something I shouldn't have said.

Stella shook her head and said in a neutral tone despite her visible frustration "She is the only family member I have."

I knew she intentionally not mentioned her older brother since he left Stella and her grandmother to pursue his dream outside the Singa dome into the uninhabited zone on Tellus, and from that day onward Stella rarely mentioned him to me nor thought of him as her family member.

That was right, just like she had no parents and just like me even abandoned by her brother Sasaki had always been looking after her through every hardship until she fell ill, to lose the only relative that stayed beside her while Stella grew up must be a painful thing for her.

Thought in this lifetime I probably wouldn't be able to experience that kind of pain, after all, I had neither a parent nor relatives.

I said while fixing my eyes on her "I want to comfort you but to be honest I won't be able to truly understand your struggle."

Somehow she looked at me with a slight shock for a moment, and then the corners of her lips lifted expressing a slightly happy mode.

"That answer is so like you, that being said I am not asking for comfort, but I know you care about my well being so I appreciate that," Stella said with a neutral smile.

I returned her with a tiny smile as our eyes met for a moment, at the same time, a mature female voice could be heard announcing the arrival of the flying city bus.

[Attentions, the FCB (Flying City bus) lines 5, from The Cathedral of Divine Light Floating Island to the Educational Main District will be arriving in the next 3 minutes.]

"If possible, you shouldn't take the bus today," Stella said in her concerned voice.

"Why is it?" I asked.

"Those creepy men who wear the mask of a bloody angelic face are suspicious. They might take the same bus as you, who knows what is their agenda?"

She made sense, but what should I drive to school today besides the bus?

Immediately, she took a deep breath saying "Come, I will drive you to the school today."

I opened my mouth widely, shocked by her statement. I asked, "Are you sure?"

She nodded and scratched the back of her neck, saying "Yes, I park my hoverbike at the Skyport parking station."

"Your Zvezda 6 nuclear/EV 300000 coins hoverbike?" I said in shock.

She looked around hoping no one heard my words, afterwards, she shook her head and replied

"Dumbass, why would I bring my exclusive bike to this island? Of course, I bring my Star 3 hybrid hoverbike today."

I am still impressed that she could say that casually, just how much did she gain from the entertainment industry?

I said "The Zvesda 3 hybrid still cost 100000 coins! Why not bring your brother's bike that he left for you?"

She replied "At least It is not as expensive as Setsuna's cars collection, we won't stand out much. Moreover, don't mention my brother. I have no brother!"

As her older brother was one of the very famous rock stars in the United Western Dome, I remember he abandoned his family and Stella to pursue his dream of becoming a rock star, his name was Asterix.

"I am sorry for mentioning him, but what about your grandma's shop?" I asked.

She replied as she turned her back against me "Don't worry, the leader of security guards in this department will take care of it."

As she got further away, she said "Wait for me here, don't go anywhere. I will come back."

Am I her puppy or what? In any case, I listened to her. It was better than taking the bus with a bunch of weirdos who might turn out to be a terrorist. At that moment I also swift my gaze toward the opening fence at the edge of the building near the cliff which led to a floating platform where the bus landed, a temporary stop to get the passengers.

Amongst the passengers standing in line to board the Line 5 floating bus, I also noticed four creepy masked men standing in the line waiting to scan their bio-chips and board the bus. I felt glad that I didn't take the same bus as them, yesterday they didn't even appear at this Skyport bus station, why did they change their mind all of a sudden?

I wouldn't know the answer, therefore I turned to think about my upcoming exam, recalling the date of the Great Global Disasters, the cause of it and how it ended, and also some breakthrough inventions after the Great Global Disasters like the bioroid, and Nedro. Not to mention the achievement of the world government, all of these would surely appear on the exam.

After reflecting on the topic that might appear on the exam, I subconsciously gazed toward Stella as she was having a conversation with one of the security guards. He is dressed in black carbon fiber armor and a helmet that conceals his face, though his voice could be projected through one of the built-in stereos on the helmet.

What was shocking to me, I saw a two golden lines badge equipped on his right shoulder. Meaning he was one of the leaders in charge of security in the skyport, to think that she had this much influence already!

The security guard seemed startled for a moment and glanced my way, then somehow he nodded as if he accepted Stella's request on something. After they were done having a conversation, she returned to me, when she arrived before me, she beckoned her hand and signaled me to stand up and walk to her.

Without hesitation, I stood up and approached her.

She said, "Follow me."

As I closely followed her from behind, we passed through several sections of the Skyport on this floor. The interior of the building was a captivating blend of futuristic design and advanced technology. The wide walkways led us through bustling areas, where passengers and pilots hurriedly moved about, preparing for their flights or seeking services.

Throughout the journey, one could notice the interactive digital displays adorning the walls. These displays showcased flight information, destination highlights, and even a virtual reality hall that showcased many arts, and information about TWOD. Nonetheless, I ignored it and kept walking.

We passed by customer service desks, where passengers and civilians sought assistance and information. There were waiting lounges with comfortable seating, where people relaxed while waiting for their flights to be called, this section was called a business class bus for people who travel across domes on Tellus. Along the way, one could also catch glimpses of cafes and eateries, where the tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee and delicious food filled the air.

As I continued following Stella through the Skyport, I came across a hologram entrance. I was reluctant to step in since the holographic sign said off-limit for civilians.

She noticed my hesitation and said, "No worry, as long as you are with me you will be fine."

I gathered my courage and stepping through, I found myself in a vast area of docking bays, surrounded by an awe-inspiring sight. The space seemed limitless, with a magnificent view of the stretching blue sky visible until it reached the edge of the dome shield. This made me realize, I had reached the edge of the Skyport building.

The dome shield had a unique hexagonal shape, adding to the futuristic ambiance of the Skyport. It provided a sense of protection and allowed natural light to filter through, casting a gentle glow on the bustling activity below.

The docking bays themselves were a sight to behold. Each bay was meticulously organized and spacious, accommodating a variety of flying vehicles. The sleek design of the bays complemented the futuristic aesthetic of the Skyport, with state-of-the-art charging stations and maintenance facilities available to keep the vehicles in top condition.

Moving further along, I encountered docking bays where flying vehicles were parked. The sleek and well-organized bays housed a variety of impressive aircraft and cruisers, each with its unique design and features. The hum of activity filled the air as technicians and ground crew members attended to the vehicles, ensuring they were ready for their upcoming journeys, this section was mostly off-limit.

I asked, "Isn't this area off-limit to civilians?"

She replied with a smile as she removed her mask and the hood that covered her hair "Well, I am not a normal civilian, do you forget who I am?"