LOCATION: AGARA — LAB

The sun slowly rises above the horizon over the distant, cold mountains, its early rays striking the two colossal mechanical conveyor belts and casting a brilliant shine across their metal surfaces. Even in the early hours, the cargo ships never stop departing toward the belts, humming continuously and sending loud rumbles vibrating through the atmosphere.

The reflection of this morning routine gleams off the glass window of a quiet laboratory, where a small keychain with a plastic leaf petal swing gently in the morning air.

Inside the dark lab, illuminated only by the thin streams of morning light cutting through the window, Echa lies resting, completely covered beneath a heavy, navy-blue blanket. Her face is unusually pale, her eyes tightly shut, and strands of her blue hair are messy across her face. Her lips look drained of color, and she shivers slightly from the lingering morning chill.

Suddenly, in the next minute, she sits straight up in bed, her eyes darting alertly around the laboratory. The robot-faced dryer still stands directly across from her, staring back with that same permanent, mechanical smiley face.

Letting out a deep, heavy breath, Echa yawns and slowly lays back down onto the mattress, staring blankly up at the complex mechanical ceiling.

It takes her a few quiet minutes to mentally piece everything back together—the memory of the wide fields, the way the townspeople completely ignored her presence, and the crowds chatting peacefully near that artificial fountain.

Determined to move, Echa finally makes her way back out toward the fields. Her heavy boots hit the solid metal floor right at the transition point where the edge of the city meets the open country. Scanning her surroundings for a way to move across the sector, she spots a red truck parked at a single-lane toll booth nearby.

The driver has his gloved hand hanging casually out of the window, idly swinging his wrist as he waits to hand a blue-and-white transit card over to the counter.

Moving quietly, Echa hops onto the back of the open truck bed and takes a seat. As she settles in, a nearby box of mechanical tools clatters loudly against the frame.

Echa looks up as the morning sun hits her face directly, bathing her in warmth. She stares up at the vast sky as if she is seeing the entire universe for the very first time, and slowly, her lips curl into a small, quiet smile.

Minutes later, the truck lifts off, hovering smoothly above the ground as the gates slide open. It accelerates forward, leaving the city behind and moving onto the open field road.

As the vehicle speeds up, the city slowly shrinks into the distance. Echa looks around and spots a massive airship station built directly into the mountain they are about to cross. A colossal mechanical airship is parked there, casting a giant shadow over the rocky terrain. Echa’s lips part slightly at the awe-inspiring sight of it.

After a few miles, the landscape transforms, filled with heavy factory machinery aggressively grinding and drilling into the planet. The deafening, mechanical roar fills the air, forcing Echa to press both hands tightly over her ears.

“Damn it,” she whispers, quickly averting her eyes from the industrial chaos.

Finally, an hour passes. The sun hangs high in the sky, illuminating endless mountain ranges. They pass a serene lake where locals, dressed in thick sweaters, are fishing from small boats, laughing together. High above the water, hovering security drones scan the surface, projecting bright red digital circle markers over the water to show the fishermen exactly where to drop their rods.

Echa slowly turns around, looking through a small glass pane to peek into the driver’s cabin. Inside sits a man, illuminated by the dim, steady glow of the vehicle's dashboard system. He wears a simple green shirt and black pants. His entire arm is covered in an intricate flower tattoo that stretches all the way down to his knuckles. He idly taps his fingers against the metal door frame, humming a quiet melody to himself.

Echa blinks, turning her attention to the side of the truck bed where a book titled “Built Home” rests. She scoffs quietly, turning back to sit properly against the frame.

“You could hum better,” she speaks aloud, her voice carrying over the wind as her hair flows across her face.

The low humming from the cabin continues right through the glass.

“Why...?” Echa murmurs, her voice cracking. “Why is all of this even happening to me? I lost Fheshas! It was me... I am the fool who dragged him to that stupid planet.”

She lets out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh, placing a hand over her forehead to lift her grey hair, letting out a heavy, exhausted sigh. She points her other hand forward, her green eyes narrowing into a sharp, deeply annoyed stare.

“And now here I am... in whatever the hell this place is.” She shakes her head and looks away, biting her tongue to stop the tears. “I just want to go back, man... back home...”

Another heavy sigh escapes her as she looks down at her boots, quietly sobbing while pulling her knees tight against her chest.

“Please...” her words fade into a barely audible whisper.

The low humming from the cabin slowly grinds to a halt.

“Then go.”

The man’s voice echoes from behind the glass—slow, calm, and carrying the surreal weight of a dream.

Echa's breath catches. She slowly lifts her head, an expression of deep, terrifying shock rippling across her face.