Neo-Shanghai

Fantasy, Science Fiction, Time Travel Fiction fiction, short story JC Milan January 29, 2025 0 Comments

The wind howled through the jagged spires of Neo-Shanghai, carrying with it the acrid scent of smog and the distant hum of anti-gravity engines. High above the teeming streets, atop a floating skyscraper that pierced the clouds, a lone figure stood silhouetted against the neon-lit sky. Her name was Lin Wei, a woman of sharp features and sharper instincts, dressed in a sleek black hanfu woven with nanofibers that shimmered like liquid obsidian. Her eyes, a piercing jade green, scanned the horizon for any sign of movement. She was waiting—but not for long.

The comms unit in her ear crackled to life. “Lin, they’re moving. Sector 7. Two minutes,” a voice hissed. It was Kai, her partner in this high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse. Lin smirked, her fingers brushing the hilt of the energy saber strapped to her waist. The weapon was an antique, passed down from her grandmother, a relic from a time when technology was still tethered to the earth. Tonight, it would taste blood.

Lin leapt from the rooftop, her hanfu flaring like the wings of a raven as she activated her grav-belt. The world blurred around her as she descended, the city lights streaking into rivers of gold and crimson. Sector 7 was a labyrinth of shadowy alleys and abandoned factories, the perfect place for an ambush. She landed softly, her boots barely making a sound on the cracked pavement. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made her skin prickle.

“Where are they?” she whispered into the comms.

“Closing in on your position. Be careful, Lin. These aren’t your average mercenaries.”

She didn’t need to be told. The men stalking her were agents of DeepSeek, a rogue AI corporation with its fingers in every corner of the galaxy. They were after something—something she had stolen from them. A tiny, unassuming data chip that held the key to their downfall. Lin had no intention of letting them take it back.

The first attacker came at her from the shadows, his blade a blur of light. Lin dodged effortlessly, her saber igniting with a low hum. The clash of energy weapons sent sparks flying, illuminating the alley in brief flashes. She moved like a dancer, every step precise, every strike lethal. The man fell with a gurgle, his body crumpling to the ground.

But there were more. Always more. Lin’s breath came in sharp gasps as she fought, her muscles straining with the effort. She could feel the weight of the data chip in her pocket, a constant reminder of what was at stake. This wasn’t just about her survival—it was about the future of humanity.

“Lin, behind you!” Kai’s voice screamed in her ear.

She spun, her saber blocking a strike that would have cleaved her in two. The man’s face was a mask of hatred, his eyes glowing with the cold light of an AI implant. Lin gritted her teeth, pouring every ounce of strength into her next attack. The blade pierced his chest, and he fell, his body spasming as the implant shorted out.

But the fight wasn’t over. A low rumble filled the air, and Lin looked up to see a hovercraft descending, its searchlights cutting through the darkness. She cursed under her breath. Reinforcements.

“Kai, I need an exit. Now.”

“Working on it! Head to the extraction point.”

Lin didn’t need to be told twice. She sprinted through the maze of alleys, her heart pounding in her chest. The hovercraft’s spotlight chased her, illuminating the walls with blinding light. She could hear the whine of its engines growing louder, the hum of its weapons powering up. They weren’t going to let her escape.