Chapter 2: Going Clubbing

The door swings open, and the City hits me like a punch to the senses. I step out onto a bustling street, a maze of movement and noise, flanked by towering skyscrapers that don’t just scrape the sky—they own it. They loom above the smaller buildings like giants among mortals, their surfaces twisting and turning in unnatural ways. Some look like they’ve grown out of the earth, as if alive, while others seem to defy the laws of physics, held together by nothing more than sheer force of will.

Below, machinery hums beneath the pavement, the clatter of invisible gears sending faint vibrations up through my feet. Steam hisses from vents I can’t see, giving the air a damp, metallic taste. The City feels alive—not in a metaphorical sense, but like a giant organism made of steel and stone. I’m just one tiny piece of it.

And yet, amidst all this industrial chaos, there’s something else—a flicker of green. Tucked between the buildings are parks and trees, small bursts of nature stubbornly resisting the cold grip of metal. Giant trees stretch skyward, almost as tall as the buildings themselves, their trunks thick and gnarled like ancient guardians.

Cassidy walks ahead of me, cutting through the crowd with ease. Her red dress flutters behind her like a banner, the people parting for her as if she’s royalty. Some nod respectfully, others bow slightly, mumbling greetings or pleasantries I can’t quite make out. I follow, feeling like an outsider in a world I don’t belong to.

What must it feel like to command that kind of respect? To move through a place like this with such effortless grace? There’s something magnetic about Cassidy, that makes me want to follow her—this combination of admiration and, I think, relief that she’s leading me through all this. Do I trust her? I don’t know. But I’m following her anyway.

“Who are all these people?” I ask, my voice barely louder than a murmur against the constant roar of the City.

Cassidy glances back, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Netizens. The City’s a melting pot of species. Each with a way of getting here. You’ll catch on. Eventually.”

Will I, though? I scan the crowd. Humans are a rare sight here. I spot a group of squat figures, their bodies bulked up with robotic implants—muscles that shimmer under their skin like metal armor. If I had to describe them in a sentence, it would be: Gnomes fused with Terminators.

“Tessari,” Cassidy says, noticing my gaze. “Use implants for brute force.”

I nod absently, my eyes drifting to another group—tall, elegant beings with elven features similar to Cassidy’s. There’s something too perfect about them, like they were designed in a lab for maximum beauty. Their movements are fluid, deliberate, and they carry an air of detached superiority.

“Lumians,” Cassidy adds, her tone dry, almost bored. “They love their aesthetics. Perfection—inside, out, and everywhere in between.”

The more I see, the less human I feel. It’s overwhelming, the sheer variety of beings around me. “How many more species are there here?” I ask.

“Well… The City’s draws them in. Tessari and Lumians, though? They dominate.”

I nod, trying to keep up with the flood of information, but it’s like trying to drink from a firehose. Each new species feels like a puzzle piece in a massive, complex picture I can’t fully see yet. And the more I learn, the more I wonder how I fit into all of this. I’m human. Just... human. How am I supposed to survive here?

“So, all these species... they come from different worlds?” I ask, half-expecting another casual response.

She gives me a half-shrug, her eyes distant for a moment. “Worlds? Realms? Does it matter? The Net is the binding thread. A nexus where all roads converge. And once it calls you... you answer. One way or another.”

Accessing the Net. She says it like it’s normal, like everyone just... plugs in somehow. But I’m still trying to wrap my head around how I even understand everyone. Am I supposed to feel at ease in a place where robotic gnomes, airy elves, and walking trees are the norm?

I want to turn back, head home, and forget all about this place. But there’s an invisible force pulling me deeper into the City’s web.

I glance up at a hovering billboard that flashes overhead, advertising “Combat Enhancement Modules” and “Training Simulators” in blinding neon. Holograms flicker to life on every wall, pushing upgrades and abilities with price tags that make my head spin.

“What’s with all the combat gear?” I ask, gesturing to one of the ads. “Unleash Your Inner Warrior?” Seriously?

Cassidy’s eyes flick towards the billboard. “In the City, upgrades aren’t just flashy add-ons. They’re survival. Makes combat’s… a big deal here.”

I can’t help but laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “Right, because nothing says fun like getting beaten into digital oblivion.”

A hologram floats too close, blaring about “Emotion Enhancer Pods,” and I swat it away in frustration. “Just what I needed—diving deeper into my feelings while I’m lost in this nightmare.”

Cassidy chuckles softly, already several steps ahead. I hurry to catch up, muttering under my breath. “This place is like every sci-fi and fantasy trope mashed together and turned up to eleven. How am I even able to understand anyone?”

“The Net translates directly into your brain,” Cassidy replies, catching my half-rhetorical question. “Language is fluid here.”

“Translates into my language?”

“Not just yours,” she corrects, leading me through a series of streets that shift from ultra-modern to something more nature-filled. “The Net isn’t limited. It adapts.”

A call to explore tugs me to delve deeper into the City. It’s subtle but persistent. I can’t shake it, and part of me doesn’t want to. The chance to explore a different world fulfills too many daydreams for me to stop now. Even if I'm not entirely convinced that this isn’t a dream.

We arrive at a transportation hub, where sleek pods zoom by alongside steam-powered contraptions that look like they belong in a different era. It’s a collision of a spaceport and a carnival, and the chaos of it makes my head spin.

Cassidy points to one of the sleek pods. “Hop in. We’ve got somewhere to be.”

The pod is sleek and smooth inside, all soft lighting and curving seats that mold to my body the moment I sit down. It takes off so smoothly that I don’t even realize we’re moving until the City blurs into a whirl of neon and motion outside the windows.

“So,” I ask, trying to distract myself from the fact that I’m sitting in what feels like the inside of a spaceship, “Where are we going?”

“The Silent Prism,” Cassidy answers, leaning back as if this were all perfectly normal. “A gathering spot. Where the influential exchange ideas and… other things. You’ll meet another human. Jessica. She’s tethered to another copy of me.”

I blink, trying to process that. “A... copy? How many of you are there?”

Cassidy’s expression tightens, but she doesn’t miss a beat. “Enough. The Net demands its guides. People need structure, Gregory. Without it? You’re lost.”

Her words send a shiver down my spine as questions tumble through my mind. How many more like me are being led through this world by different clones of Cassidy? And why does the Net need us?

Before I am able to ask, the pod slows down, and the doors open. Cassidy steps out with her usual grace, and I follow, stepping into the shadow of an enormous translucent crystal, its surface shifting with pulsing colors. A glowing hologram announces the place as The Silent Prism.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“So, this is the place?” I ask, gesturing to the giant crystal structure. “Nothing says ‘silent’ like a rave inside a disco ball.”

Cassidy grins as she pushes open the doors, and we step inside.

The club is chaos—pure, unfiltered chaos. The music pounds, lights flicker and dance across the cavernous space, and the crowd is a writhing mass of movement. Netizens of every shape and size fill the place, dancing, trading strange objects, or sparring in what looks like a cross between martial arts and magic duels. The ceiling bends and warps, reflecting the light in impossible ways, shifting colors to match the emotions in the room.

Cassidy moves through the crowd with ease, tossing smiles and waves like she owns the place. I follow, feeling that pull again. A voice deep in the back of my mind whispers, there’s more here. Keep going. See it all.

“That’s Eris and Aelion,” Cassidy says, nodding toward a sleek AI and a glowing Lumian. “Eris spins the info web. Aelion paints the picture you see.”

Aelion catches her eye and gives a polite nod. Cassidy returns it with a smile before moving on. We pass a group of heavily armored figures, their presence commanding.

“That’s the Steel Corps,” Cassidy says, her voice dropping. “Security. Tessari don’t back down.”

A grizzled Tessari with a high-tech prosthetic eye studies me, his gaze assessing. I quickly look away—let’s just say the gym—and I have never been close friends.

Cassidy introduces them one by one. “Gregory, meet Alexander—Tier 3, the highest-ranked human in the City. He raids Tier 5s domains for artifacts. Next is Nyx, a strategist, a fixer of sorts, and one of the sharpest minds around. And finally, Orion, the Tessari who handles logistics and heavy lifting. He is also Nyx’s creator.”

Alexander studies me with a practiced eye. “Make some friends, you know? You’re gonna need ‘em. And yeah, pick your choices carefully when that system fires up at noon.”

A strange tingling sensation spreads in my mind, his voice now flowing together with my own thoughts. Hey, don’t freak out, kid. But you better start toughenin’ up real quick if you wanna make it through what’s comin’ up—both here and on Earth. And keep it to yourself, you hear? Don’t spill it to nobody unless you’re 100% sure no one’s around to overhear you… if you wanna keep breathin’.

My stomach drops, a cold shiver creeping up my spine as Alexander's warning gnaws at the edges of my mind, fueling a surge of panic that I struggle to contain. The notion that I might be watched, that someone could be lurking in the shadows, sends my heart racing. I glance around my room, as if expecting to see hidden eyes peering through the walls.

My mind is a whirlwind of questions, each one spinning faster than the last. The panic is almost overwhelming, making it hard to focus. I realize I need to maintain composure, not only to follow Alexander’s advice but also to prevent any suspicion from getting too close.

Deciding to heed his warning, I push aside the more immediate fears and opt to ask a more general question. I force a calm tone into my voice, even though my insides are churning. “Why noon?”

“Tradition,” Nyx replies. “Back when the City was built. The System announces updates then, though they’re rare now.”

Before I can ask more, Cassidy steers me away, though I can still feel the weight of Alexander’s gaze on me as we move through the crowd. His words cling to my thoughts like cobwebs, and I can’t shake the feeling of dread building in my chest. Survive what?

As we walk, I try to catch snippets of the conversations going on around me, hoping for any clue about what Alexander was warning me about. The noise is overwhelming, but a few lines stand out.

***

“...they’re moving the power grid again. It’ll throw the whole sector into chaos.”

“I heard Alexander’s eyeing the southern dungeons. Might raid them soon.”

“...kissed him. Like in front of—”

“Did you hear about the new Tier 2 dungeon? Rewards are insane, but the risk is through the roof.”

***

None of it makes sense. My mind is racing, trying to piece together the fragments. But all I can think about is Alexander’s voice in my head. Hurry up and grow strong, or you won’t survive. What did he mean? Why me? Why now?

Cassidy stops at a booth in the corner, where the lighting is softer, almost intimate. The air here feels different—heavier, like it’s been filtered and charged with something subtle but powerful. Sitting at the table, nursing a glass of something that glows faintly in the low light, is a girl. She looks about my age, maybe a little older. Her hair is cropped short, messy like she just rolled out of bed, but it suits her.

“This one’s Jessica,” Cassidy says, her tone dropping into something more measured, deliberate. “Jessica, meet Gregory.”

Jessica looks up, her eyes flicking to me for a brief moment before settling back on Cassidy. “So, this is the new guy?”

I feel like I’m under a microscope, exposed, with nowhere to hide. Suddenly, I don’t know what to do with my hands. Wave? Nod? I settle for a quick, awkward nod, trying to seem casual. But my mind is still racing. Grow strong. Pick your choices carefully.

Cassidy slides into the booth, motioning for me to sit across from Jessica. “Gregory’s just finding his feet, but he’s quick. Sharp. Won’t take long for him to adjust.”

There’s a moment of awkward silence as I try to figure out what to say. What do you even talk about in a place like this? 'So, how’s life in the giant techno-magic rave world?’ doesn’t seem like the right opening line. I decide to go the safe route, “What are you working on?”

She motions to the device beside her—a tangle of wires and blinking lights. “I’m trying to get these animatronics to work before the system initialization. It’s been a nightmare.”

I look at the device, not really understanding but trying to focus. Anything to stop thinking about Alexander’s cryptic warning. “Animatronics? Like, uh, robots that can think for themselves?”

“Not quite,” she says. “These are basic animatronics, just designed to perform simple tasks. But with how the city’s history has gone and the stigma around them, even these can be a problem. People don’t trust them.”

Cassidy’s copy chimes in, “Jessica’s been working on this for a while. She’s passionate, but it’s been tough finding support.”

Jessica gives a humorless laugh. “Tough? That’s putting it lightly. The animatronics I’m working with are considered risky. They can tier up from basic Tier 0’s into sentient creatures, and that freaks people out. There’s still a lot of trauma from past incidents where robots and similar tech were used to attack the City.”

I frown, trying to understand but feeling overwhelmed. “So, people are hesitant because of the, uh, past?”

“Exactly,” she says, her frustration palpable. “And animatronics aren’t cheap, either. They cost a fortune if you want anything more than the basic models, and you need a trained professional to manage them properly. For someone at my level, trying to use these without the right resources or support is like trying to walk a tightrope.”

Cassidy’s copy nods sympathetically. “Jessica’s been struggling to get the backing she needs. The Net isn’t exactly friendly to those trying to work with animatronics at lower levels.”

Cassidy shrugs slightly, her tone slipping into a more casual rhythm. “Yeah, they don’t like them unless you’ve got the cash and the clout. Guts aren’t enough here, unfortunately.”

Jessica’s shoulders slump slightly. “I came here hoping to make a difference, but it’s been like hitting a wall. People are still haunted by the past, and it feels like no matter how hard I try, I’m just adding to the skepticism.”

I try to offer a comforting smile but feel awkward about it. “I, um, I get it. It must be frustrating to feel like you’re, you know, fighting against a negative perception. But maybe things will shift once people see the, um, practical side of what you’re doing?”

Jessica gives a small, bitter smile. “I hope so. It’s just been tough. I thought I’d be able to make an impact right away, but instead, it feels like I’m wading through quicksand.”

Cassidy cuts in, her tone shifting to something sharper. “Maybe Gregory could help. He’s fresh, still got that untainted view. Sometimes, an outsider’s eyes are what breaks the cycle and gets you out of the trench.”

Jessica’s expression shifts to one of reluctant curiosity. “You think so? I’m not exactly the best at making first impressions.”

I feel my face redden a bit and mumble, “I, um, I’m still figuring things out myself. But if there’s any way I can help, I mean, I’m open to it. I think?”

Jessica studies me, and I can feel my palms sweating. What if I can’t help? What if I’m just in over my head, like with everything else here?

“Alright, I guess it’s worth a shot. If nothing else, having another set of eyes might help. And maybe... maybe talking about it might not be so bad.”

Before I could respond, a sudden commotion nearby drew our attention. A tall man in a sleek black suit with an aura of authority that demanded attention strides toward our booth.

Jessica glanced at me, her brash demeanor slipping slightly as she asked, “Who’s that?”

Cassidy’s face tightened, and she moved to intercept the man. “Just someone I need to handle.”

“What the hell is this?” The man’s eyes are locked onto Cassidy like a predator eyeing its prey. “Cassidy, what’re you doin’ here? They’re mine.