Ajax stirred as the station’s soft hum crept through the walls of his room. The vibration was faint, rhythmic, a constant presence in the background, barely noticeable to most—but to him, it was like a subtle reminder of everything looming just beneath the surface. He lay still, staring up at the ceiling, which was nothing more than a seamless expanse of glass, offering an unobstructed view into the abyss of space. Stars sparkled like shards of glass against the backdrop of infinity, and further out, swirling clouds of violet, pink, and deep crimson billowed through the gas nebula, slowly shifting like a storm frozen in time.
Yet, despite the cosmic beauty that surrounded him, a weight hung heavy on Ajax’s chest, a crushing reminder of what was coming.
Two days.
Two days until the OLA integration ceremony, the day that would mark the end of his freedom and the beginning of his life as part of the system. The OLA—Outer Lipid Armor—was more than just a biological enhancement. It was a transformation, one that bound your very identity to your body. Once integrated, the OLA became as much a part of you as your skin or bones, providing not just protection, but shaping who you were, what you could do, and—more importantly—where you belonged.
It was the start of your role in the station's rigid faction system, the day you became a cog in the greater machine of society.
Ajax turned over in his bed, shifting uncomfortably. His mattress wasn't made of traditional materials. It wasn’t soft or firm. It didn’t even exist in the tangible sense. Instead, he lay on a holographic bed, suspended by particles that conformed to his body’s every contour. The bed emitted a soft, gentle light as it hovered a few inches above the cold, sleek floor.
With a thought, he deactivated it. The particles dispersed like fireflies, floating momentarily before evaporating into the air. Ajax lowered onto the hard surface beneath him and sat up, his muscles stiff from the night’s rest. He stayed there for a moment, running a hand through his tousled dark hair, trying to shake the fog of sleep from his mind.
“Good morning, Ajax,” a soft, familiar voice chimed. The gentle tone carried an undercurrent of warmth, though it was synthesized, calculated.
It was Mother—his AI. Her hologram shimmered into existence beside him, standing tall, elegant, and composed, the figure of a woman in her mid-thirties. She had been designed to exude a calm, maternal aura, with flowing robes and long hair that moved in a constant, rippling motion, as if caught in an eternal breeze. Her face was serene, with a faint smile that never quite reached her eyes.
“I’ve noticed a disruption in your sleep pattern,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “Are you feeling anxious about the ceremony?”
Ajax sighed, rubbing his temples. “What do you think?”
Mother didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she watched him carefully, the soft glow of her holographic form casting a faint light on the otherwise dark room. “The OLA integration is a critical step in your development,” she said after a pause. “It will make you stronger, faster, more capable. It is an honor to be chosen, Ajax. You know that.”
An honor. That was how they framed it. But Ajax had never felt honored. He had always felt... trapped.
He rose to his feet and crossed the room to the wide glass wall that served as a window, offering a panoramic view of the swirling nebula beyond. His condo was located in the high-class district of the station, a sleek and sterile environment reserved for the elite members of society. The ceilings were high, the walls pristine, and the furniture minimalist. It was all carefully designed to reflect the status and prestige of those who lived here—members of the Knowledge Class, like his family.
For as long as Ajax could remember, his life had been mapped out for him. He was to follow in his father’s footsteps, join the Knowledge Class, and spend his life as one of the strategists and scholars who shaped the future of the station. The Knowledge Class held a unique position of power. Unlike the Warrior Class, who were enhanced for physical combat, or the Engineering Class, who controlled the station’s infrastructure and nanotechnology, the Knowledge Class commanded the station’s intellect. They were the thinkers, the planners, the ones who dictated policy and strategy. Their OLA was designed to enhance their minds, giving them perfect recall, accelerated learning, and the ability to process complex information at a speed no unaugmented human could hope to achieve.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
For most, joining the Knowledge Class was the pinnacle of success.
For Ajax, it felt like a death sentence.
“I don’t want to be part of it,” he muttered, his breath fogging the glass as he stared out into the vastness of space.
Mother tilted her head, her holographic form flickering slightly as if processing his words. “Why do you say that?” she asked, her voice still gentle, but now with a hint of concern.
Ajax turned to face her, feeling the weight of his words on his chest. “Because once I take that step, once the OLA is integrated, I won’t be me anymore. I’ll be... what they want me to be.”
Mother’s expression softened, though Ajax knew that the empathy in her gaze was just a programmed response. “The OLA doesn’t change who you are, Ajax. It enhances what’s already inside of you. It gives you the tools to be the best version of yourself.”
“The best version of myself,” Ajax echoed bitterly. He turned back to the window, watching the nebula twist and churn in the distance. “Or the version the station needs me to be.”
There was silence for a moment. The soft hum of the station filled the air again, almost as if the walls themselves were trying to lull him into complacency.
But Ajax was far from complacent. His mind raced with thoughts of the future, of the factions, of the life that had been planned for him since birth.
The factions ruled everything on the station. There was no escape from them. From the moment you were old enough to understand your place in the world, you were groomed for one of them. Warriors trained for combat, their OLA designed to make them living weapons, capable of feats of strength and agility that no unaugmented human could match. Engineers were trained to manipulate nanobots, to build and deconstruct vast structures with a thought. The Bio Class learned to control living organisms, mastering the art of manipulating cells and DNA to heal, grow, or destroy life on a fundamental level.
And then there was the Knowledge Class, where Ajax was expected to go. The masterminds, the ones who held the reins of power through their intellect and foresight.
It was a perfect system, or so they claimed. Everyone had a role. Everyone had a place. No one questioned it.
Except Ajax.
“I don’t fit in,” he said, the words escaping before he could stop them.
Mother’s form flickered again, and her gaze softened. “Why do you feel that way?”
Ajax clenched his fists at his sides, frustration boiling beneath his skin. “Because I don’t want to be put into a box. I don’t want to be another cog in their machine.”
Mother moved closer, her presence calming, though Ajax could feel the constraints of her programming behind her words. “Everyone has their role, Ajax. The factions work together to ensure the survival of the station. The OLA isn’t a prison—it’s a tool. It gives us the ability to contribute, to make the station stronger.”
Ajax pressed a hand against the cold glass, his fingers splayed wide. The nebula beyond the station felt like a symbol of everything he could never have—freedom, vastness, the ability to float, untethered, away from the rigid structures of the station.
“There has to be more than this,” he whispered, more to himself than to Mother.
“There are others,” Mother said suddenly, her voice low, almost as if she was sharing a secret.
Ajax’s heart skipped a beat. He turned to face her, eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”
Mother’s form shimmered, and for a brief moment, Ajax thought he saw hesitation in her eyes—a strange thing for an AI to display. “There are others like you. People who don’t fit into the factions. People who resist.”
Resist. The word echoed in Ajax’s mind, sending a surge of adrenaline through him.
He stepped closer to her, his voice a harsh whisper. “Tell me what you know.”
Mother’s form flickered again, her light dimming slightly. “They exist, but they aren’t easy to find. The system isn’t perfect, Ajax. There are cracks. There always have been.”
Ajax stared at her, his mind racing. All his life, he had been told that the factions were absolute, that everyone had a place. But now, for the first time, he realized that wasn’t true. There were others like him. Others who didn’t conform.
“What happened to them?” he asked, his voice tight.
Mother’s expression softened again, her eyes filled with something that almost looked like regret. “Some disappeared willingly. Others... were made to disappear.”
Ajax felt a cold chill crawl down his spine. Made to disappear.
“They were taken?” he asked, his heart pounding.
Mother nodded. “The system doesn’t tolerate dissent, Ajax. If you resist... you become a threat.”
A threat. That’s what he was. He had always known, deep down, that he didn’t belong in their system. He wasn’t like the others. He couldn’t just fall in line, couldn’t just accept the role they had assigned to him.
“What do I do?” Ajax asked, his voice low, but filled with determination.
Mother’s form shimmered again, and she stepped closer, her gaze locking onto his. “There are archives,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “In the restricted sections of the Knowledge Class libraries. Information on the others. If you want answers, you’ll need to access them.”
“The restricted sections,” Ajax murmured. He knew the ones she meant. They were heavily guarded, reserved for only the highest-ranking members of the Knowledge Class. But with Mother’s help... maybe it was possible.
“I’ll do it,” Ajax said, his voice firm. “I’ll find out the truth.”
Mother’s gaze softened, and she nodded. “Then I will help you,” she said quietly.
Ajax turned back to the window, his mind racing. Two days. In two days, they would try to mold him into something he didn’t want to be. They would try to bind him to their system, force him into a faction.
But now he knew there was another way. Another path.
And he wasn’t going to let them take him without a fight.