Head pounding, the stench of cigarette smoke and cheap whiskey thick in the air. Arthur forced himself upright as the morning magnetic trains shrieked, their whine a razor against his skull. Damn things. He needed water. Maybe something stronger.

  He stumbled towards the bathroom, past the dusty trophies that mocked his forgotten past. A past where his name had meant something, before the global martial arts ban of 2150 had rendered his skills obsolete. In a world run by AI and peace, old fighters were just relics.

  As he gestured with his citizen bracelet, an advertisement blared from the TV: "Chronos Labs offers you a unique opportunity! Participate in our 100% safe program and earn 1,000,000 credits! Be one of the first to join the revolution! Your consciousness will be transferred to a parallel world! Visit Chronos Labs and register today—don’t miss your chance to etch your name into human history forever! Remember, 1,000,000 credits just for participating, no obligations!"

  He listened, the promise of a million credits echoing in his throbbing skull, as he splashed water onto his face before gulping directly from the faucet. The metallic tang momentarily washed away the stale taste of the night.

  Catching his reflection in the mirror, he saw a disheveled 65-year-old man staring back at him. His beard and long gray hair hadn’t seen a pair of scissors in years. Dark bruises of sleeplessness stained the skin beneath his bloodshot eyes, a roadmap of countless nights drowned in cheap alcohol.

  The echoes of cheering crowds were faint now, drowned out by the relentless drone of his meaningless existence. His only grandson lived overseas, their connection frayed by distance and silence. Finding work was a joke – who needed an old fighter in a world run by code and machines? Even manual labor was automated.

  Arthur considered a beer, but the fridge held only "Universal Lunch" and a soda. Disappointed, he grabbed the soda and sat on the edge of the bed, the train noise a dull roar.

  1,000,000 credits sounds good, not just to make ends meet, but to secure a comfortable life and maybe even visit my grandson. Arthur checked the balance on his citizen bracelet—the holographic screen that popped up in front of him.

  2,000 credits.

  That would last him for another couple of months in his current state. He still had five years until retirement, as increased life expectancy had pushed the retirement age to 70. A million would be more than enough. Maybe he could even move out of this dingy metal apartment with its constant train noise.

  With nothing better to do, Arthur decided to see what they were offering.

  After smoking a cigarette right in his apartment, he headed to the train station to go to the city center, where Chronos Labs was located.

  Arriving in the center, he was struck by the contrast to his neighborhood. The dark, metallic alleys and littered streets gave way to a clean, laboratory-like urban landscape. The buildings were painted in soft beige tones with bright orange and blue accents. Trees and plants blended harmoniously with the architecture, and spacious stone plazas added a sense of openness.

  The expensive clothes and relaxed demeanor of the people in the city center were a stark contrast to the tired faces Arthur saw back in his neighborhood. A flicker of annoyance might have touched the lips of others from his neighborhood, but Arthur simply shrugged internally. They were just people, the same as any other.

  Crossing the plaza, he saw Chronos Labs ahead. The building wasn’t as tall as the others but possessed the expansive structure of a stadium. It matched the city’s aesthetic with its beige color, rounded shapes, and orange accents. The entrance was bustling—many had responded to the advertisement, mostly poor people, far more like Arthur than the affluent residents of the center.

  Damn, am I really going to have to wait in line? Arthur grumbled. However, there was no other way; he needed that million.

  Before he could approach the crowd, a drone flew overhead and scanned him.

  What the hell?

  The drone was about to fly away but hesitated mid-air, as if pondering something. After a few seconds, while Arthur stood in confusion, the drone turned its camera toward him and spoke in a mechanical voice.

  "Arthur Steelhart, are you here to sign up for the program?"

  "Uh... yeah."

  "Please follow me."

  The drone led him to the entrance, where three lines of people were being checked by robot guards. Many were turned down after the initial scan, which led to some frustrated people wasting time arguing with robots. The drone bypassed all the lines, bringing Arthur to two unoccupied robot guards. After a brief, silent pause, the guards stepped aside, clearing the way.

  The drone flew on, and Arthur followed, puzzled as to why he’d been singled out. Was it because of his past? He hoped not. Amid the disgruntled murmurs of those waiting in line, Arthur entered Chronos Labs. The cool air from the air conditioner hit him. Inside, it was spacious, with many people in white uniforms with orange stripes bustling about, accompanied by robots styled in the same fashion.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  "This way, please." The drone waited by the elevator.

  After a ride and a corridor, they finally arrived at what seemed to be a bureaucratic hall filled with desks, each manned by a person at a computer interacting with visitors. The drone led Arthur to an empty desk, paused for a moment transmitting information, then flew away. The person at the desk looked up from the monitor, squinting as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. He glanced back and forth between the screen and Arthur several times before speaking.

  "Arthur Steelhart?"

  "Yes... How many more times are they going to ask?"

  "Oh... um..." The employee hesitated. "Our preliminary analysis shows that you’re an excellent fit for our... um... completely safe experimental program. Please place your hand in this scanner for a more thorough analysis."

  Hmm... Something’s not right here.

  "What about the million credits?"

  "Ah, yes, right, the program details. My apologies," the young man stammered, his eyes darting nervously around the hall. He cleared his throat. "Ahem... Welcome to Chronos Labs. My name is David. Our program will revolutionize the understanding of the world and the universe as we know it, and you have a unique chance to etch your name in history and earn a million credits, regardless of the success of the jump. As part of the program, your consciousness will be transferred to another world. Don’t worry—your body will remain here, completely safe. Whatever happens on the other side, you’ll still be alive here."

  David fell silent, clearly forgetting the rest of the script. "Ah, yes, in case of success, you’ll be provided with high-class housing right here at Chronos Labs and full support for the duration of the... um... program. The million will be automatically transferred to you after the trial jump."

  Sounds good. Even if the jump fails, I’ll still get the million and walk away. Is this really that simple?

  Arthur placed his hand in the scanner on the desk. After five seconds, the light changed from white to green.

  "Congratulations, you meet all the criteria. Now, please tap your bracelet to mine to confirm your participation." David extended his hand, his bracelet glowing white.

  Fuck it.

  Arthur tapped his bracelet. The information exchange happened instantly, and after a confirming beep and green light, it was done.

  "Please follow me." David stood up.

  He led Arthur to another large hall where three massive polymer and quartz glass capsules stood in a row, one of them already occupied. An elderly man in a lab coat with a tablet approached David and Arthur. David handed over the necessary information and tapped his bracelet to the tablet.

  "Good luck, sir." David gave a slight bow to Arthur and left.

  The scientist approached, his eyes thoughtful but surprised, his brows furrowed. He looked up from the tablet, peering over his glasses directly at Arthur.

  "Arthur Steelhart, my name is Noah. I’m a lead scientist at this lab. For your age, your physical markers are excellent. And your neural scan... well, let's just say you're uniquely suited for this project."

  "Let’s skip the small talk. Just fire up this thing and don’t forget about the million."

  "Of course. Please proceed to capsule number two and lie down."

  Arthur hurried to the capsule, thinking only about the credits. He didn’t expect this nonsense about a "parallel world" to actually work and figured he’d be out of here with the money in an hour. He lay down, and assistants attached a helmet with wires to his head. The glass slowly lowered, sealing the capsule. External sounds disappeared; the capsule was completely airtight. Ventilation kicked in, and Noah’s voice came through a speaker inside.

  "Please try to relax and clear your mind. You may feel some discomfort from the electrical signals, but it will only last a few seconds. I must also inform you that you may end up in any world, even a dangerous one. According to our calculations, you should inhabit a biological vessel. Remember, you’re safe here, and if you happen to die there, you should wake up here... Am I reading this right?"—The scientist stepped away from the microphone, though Arthur could still hear him.—"Right, you still need to be careful and not die out of curiosity or if you want to stop the experiment; it’s highly discouraged and may lead to unforeseen side effects!"

  "Just get on with it. They’re really dragging this out."

  "Very well, good luck."

  A powerful electric shock surged through his head. He hadn't expected that. Honesty clearly wasn’t a priority at Chronos Labs. Electricity coursed through his body, but Arthur held on. He’d endured so much pain in his life that this felt almost routine. The current intensified, and with it, his muscles contracted. He clenched his fists involuntarily, squeezing his eyes shut.

  Then, just as suddenly, the pain and paralysis vanished, leaving no trace. But they were replaced by a terrible pain in his throat, like he'd just been strangled. Arthur gasped for air, coughing like a man surfacing from the depths. He opened his eyes, clutching his throat.

  He was no longer in the capsule but in a spacious room—apparently a library. Broken cabinets and hundreds of books littered the stone floor, as if someone had ransacked the place. The room was lit by a couple of torches, and the air was thick with the smell of old books and dust.

  No way. Arthur couldn’t believe his eyes—or any of his senses. Am I really in another world, or is this just another VR game? He stared at his hands, turning them over and over. His skin was pale and smooth, with slender fingers. They weren't the rough, scarred hands he knew.

  He stood up, his body aching as if he’d been beaten. The ringing in his ears and head gradually subsided, and he heard distant sounds of battle outside the room—cries of pain and the clashing of steel on steel. It was clear he’d woken up in the middle of a fight. Scanning the room, he saw the corpse of a guard in medieval armor.

  What the hell is going on here? He quickly checked the area for enemies, but the library was empty except for him and the dead guard. He approached the body to make sure it was dead. With each passing second, his senses sharpened, and he realized he wasn’t alone. Someone was hiding under the fallen cabinets, which had conveniently collapsed to form a makeshift shelter.

  Arthur tried to move silently toward the cabinets, calling on his old stealth techniques, but his new body betrayed him, his steps making a soft sound. Without getting too close, he bent down to see who was hiding there. His eyes met those of a frightened young woman, her hands pressed over her mouth and nose to stifle any sound. Tears streamed down her delicate face. She trembled with fear but made no attempt to flee.

  Must be my luck, Arthur sighed, with a sinking feeling that his easy million-credit exit had just become considerably more complicated.