Chapter 0
A haze-covered sky distorted the sun's rays, diffusing and scattering it about. The colors of the outside world had forgotten all but one shade: a dull yellow that pulsated between orange and red with the rising and setting of the sun.
A deep fog draped over the surface of the earth. Its presence went unquestioned and nothing was done about it, making one wonder if the fog had always just been there.
The songs of birds and insects were replaced by the songs of machines. Muted whizzing and whirrs of mechanical motion and the deep rumble of strong engines echoed in every distance.
From nowhere could you hear the iconic roar of the jet engine or the beating of a helicopter's propellers as it generated lift. Now, the only things populating the skies were drones; the only things drifting over the roads: trucks.
Outside, the voices of machines are ever-present. When the wind blew like the warm breeze on a cool spring day, it swept up the fine dust, animating it into an abominable creature that stole away breath and induced suffocation.
Centuries—or perhaps mere decades—ago, the state of the world wasn't always this bad. The sky was clear, blue, free; people outgoing, adventurous, lively. A physical community existed aside from a digital one.
It was a sudden change that had perverted the world's bearings.
It was an economic collapse.
The worth of the dollar inflated exponentially, causing many to lose their means of living. Simultaneously, spontaneous riots erupted all across the country. Numerous businesses closed their doors, but a few major corporations barely managed to weather the storm.
People began to lock themselves within their homes. It was unsafe to be outdoors, and, either way, there was nothing to do outside. Digital currency and remote occupations garnered popularity rapidly gaining prominence, and the demand for delivery services promptly increased.
With the rise in demand came the rise in technology. Autonomous drones whizzed across the sky. Homes were renovated to allow the drones access without the need for physical interaction.
Desolate roads were left to erode, but the highways were streamlined and exceptionally maintained. Trains became faster, railways became increasingly networked. Methods of delivery were expeditiously reformed. Factories became ubiquitous. All as autonomous as humanly possible.
Waste disposal, public safety, delivery, maintenance—anything automatable was automated.
Eventually, the entirety of the infrastructure was built up within a couple of years.
Then came the Haze.
Where did it come from? Why did it appear? How did it come to be?
No one knew. Nobody cared. After all, it did not concern them.
They were not the ones outside.
The Haze was the wind, the dust, the toxicity. It was the unbreathable air, the sandpaper-like atmosphere, the dim orange circle of a sun fading into the background. It was the constant yellow fog, immutable in its existence and only varying in visibility, carrying with it the sickly scent of death as it carpeted the earth.
The withdrawn people felt no longing for the outside world. With the aid of augmented and virtual reality, there simply wasn't a need to be outdoors.
With the fear of dwindling living space and supplies, child policies were enacted to limit the number of children, but this mandate was soon reversed with the construction of Livertias—a city maximized for automation. Society adjusted fairly quickly to this new manner of life.
Life became simpler.
Life became easier.
Life became content.
Bzzz—
Newsflash: Rise of a New Terrorist Organization Calling Themselves the 'Hijackers'.
True to their name, they hijack various autonomous cargo carriers and plunder them after gaining absolute control. There is a promise to refund lost parcels, and companies such as FreightWay and Pace Logistics have promptly decided to take action before any further damage is incurred. Professional security personnel are now in charge of escorting the shipments, and they promise the deliveries will be ensured and expedient….
Many experts warn that this may not be enough to hinder the Hijackers and are calling for immediate government action…
If this situation is not handled soon, it does not bode well for future transportation…
The Hijackers' seem to be targeting goods en route during transportation. There are no reports of forced entry into residential buildings…
The authorities have just released a statement: they claim that the people are safe and that there is no need to worry about the delivery of necessities. The authorities say that they have the Hijackers under control. Reportedly, there is no need for any further concerns. However, it is better to be safe in such times as—
Bzzzt.