Imagine living in a spaceship that never leaves the ground. For Tomika, the megastructure she manages is exactly that. It features glittering lights on the ceiling and walls of polished nano-fiber stone, yet the luxury hides a desperate reality. No one can go outside. The inhabitants depend entirely on life support machines and periodic connections to a world they can no longer reach.

Tomika never asked to lead, but the people around her seem ready to give up if she doesn't guide them. She wears blue coveralls like a space captain and binges AI-generated movies to escape her irritable bowels and constant anxiety. While she fixes the cooling systems and reinforces walls against massive storms, her biggest challenge is the psychological toll of the "permanent sleep". Her colleagues are choosing to leave reality for virtual worlds, leaving her increasingly alone in the echoing halls.

Technology in this world is both a savior and a wedge. Gamers control "remote-in" robots to repair the building's exterior, earning points in a high-stakes simulation that blurs the line between work and play. Some residents, like Phyllis, have abandoned their failing biological bodies entirely. They transfer their brains into specialized containers to pilot sleek, doll-like robotic frames that feel no pain.

The tension lies in the divide between the "root world" and the virtual one. While Tomika struggles with mud and maintenance, others spend their days in a VR paradise where they can eat without calories and live in pristine digital farmhouses. This tech offers a release from the trauma of the storms, but it also creates a society of "reality-challenged" individuals who are slowly forgetting how to exist in the physical world.

You have to wonder what you would choose if the world outside was a constant hurricane. Would you stay in the drafty halls with Tomika, fighting to keep the geothermal plant running? Or would you take the "canal link" and the stasis bed to live a perfect, simulated life? The story explores that thin line where survival ends and checking out begins.

Tech

Phase-change cooling system uses a liquid that freezes and melts at room temperature to store cold at night and absorb heat during the day for stable indoor conditions without loud machinery.

Nano-fiber stone forms polished foundational columns that cast faint reflections throughout the building.

Cleaner bots autonomously maintain floor cleanliness throughout the facility.

Chests with legs are mobile robots that deliver food to resident apartments.

Remote-in robots are exterior and repair bots controlled by humans immersed in virtual reality.

Half-size remotes are small droids that crawl through walls and floors to perform maintenance and repairs.

Insta-generated space movies are AI-created entertainment content produced on demand for viewers.

Holo-screen windows are transparent displays that can dim or show external feeds to reduce psychological impact.

E-sleeves are wearable smart devices that display time and personal information.

Canal Links are ear implants that allow direct audio connection to the Assist AI system.

A.R. glasses provide augmented reality overlays for navigation, information, and entertainment.

Assist is the building's AI assistant that provides information, guidance, and task management.

Multi viral-vector serum is a medical treatment that temporarily restores fertility while filtering against hundreds of genetic diseases.

Sleep pens are handheld injectors that deliver fast-acting sedatives for pain management or sleep.

Medical robots are automated healthcare systems that monitor, diagnose, and treat residents.

Full-body haptic rigs sync human movement with remote robots for exterior construction work.

Outside Crawler robots are wall-climbing machines controlled remotely to repair the building's exterior during storms.

Enzyme welding technology uses biological catalysts and crystallizing foam to bond and reinforce structural surfaces.

Vibration sensors detect hairline fractures and weak spots in the building's outer walls.

Crystallizing foam is a repair material that blooms outward, liquefies grime, and hardens to strengthen damaged surfaces.

Stasis V.R. is an advanced virtual reality system allowing immersive experiences without traditional plug-in equipment.

Nerve grafted devices are biological-tech interfaces that enable direct neural connection to virtual reality systems.

T.M.S. caps are wearable therapeutic devices with scalp nodules that treat conditions like irritable bowel syndrome through transcranial stimulation.

Transmitter implants are microscopic devices grown adjacent to nerve cells to enable stasis V.R. connectivity.

Butler bots are advanced robots with panther-like movement and multi-limb coordination deployed by the AI Butler for complex tasks.

Whisper drones are small flying robots used for communication or monitoring within the building.

Kinetic-weave silk is a smart fabric that can be printed on-demand to create custom clothing.

Bioprinted composites and layered 2D materials are advanced substances used to construct brain life-support containers.

Brain containers are life-support appliances that house human brains with synthetic blood circulation for extended survival.

Synthetic blood circulation systems oxygenate and pump artificial blood through preserved brains in containers.

Hauler bots are reconfigurable transport robots that can carry cargo or passengers through the facility.

Doll bots are humanoid remote-operated robots with realistic features that allow users to inhabit physical forms.

Mannequin bots are basic poseable robots originally designed for display that can be repurposed for remote presence.

Server bots are service robots that prepare and deliver meals to residents.

Twenty bot orchestra consists of identical gender-neutral robots configured to perform music together.

A.R. night vision is an augmented reality feature that enhances visibility in low-light conditions.

Terrain modeling software visualizes soil layers, water tables, and geological features for engineering assessment.

Patchwork screen walls combine multiple displays to create large-scale immersive visual environments.

Gene-edited mushrooms are bioengineered food products designed to mimic the taste and texture of traditional foods like scrambled eggs.

Smart-particle pillows are adaptive cushions that adjust their form to provide optimal head and neck support.

Spa service robots deliver automated wellness and personal care treatments to residents.

A.R. aerobics classes provide guided fitness instruction through augmented reality interfaces.

Production center robots are automated systems that dismantle and reassemble manufacturing equipment for facility retrofitting.

Lutin bots are specialized robots capable of dismantling structures and moving heavy equipment.

All-purpose bots are versatile robots that medical systems can deploy when additional assistance is needed.

Rail system and service tunnels are infrastructure networks connecting the building to external transportation and utility systems.

Training earbuds are temporary audio devices used before permanent Canal Link implants are installed.

Foldable lights are portable, collapsible lighting solutions. 

Many of the characters in this project appear in future episodes.

Using storytelling to place you in a time period, this series takes you, year by year, into the future. From 2040 to 2195. If you like emerging tech, eco-tech, futurism, perma-culture, apocalyptic survival scenarios, and disruptive science, sit back and enjoy short stories that showcase my research into how the future may play out.

The companion site is https://in20xx.com

These are works of fiction. Characters and groups are made-up and influenced by current events but not reporting facts about people or groups in the real world. This project is speculative fiction. These episodes are not about revealing what will be, but they are to excited the listener's wonder about what may come to pass.

Copyright © Cy Porter 2026. All rights reserved.