The air in the mirrored corridor shimmered as Dr. Sael adjusted the holofabric of their suit. Beneath the shifting reflections, their synthetic heart whirred—a prototype designed to outlast flesh. They were the only human permitted in the Glass Expanse, a colony of sentient silicon life that communicated through refracted light. Their task: persuade the Expanse to share their energy technology with Earth. Yet the beings hesitated.
“You are fleeting,” their leader pulsed. “Why invest in those who expire?”
Sael hesitated. They had sacrificed their own humanity for longevity, but here, even a thousand more years meant nothing. Slowly, they reached up, deactivating the filters that muted their organic presence. Their heartbeat echoed through the glassy void.
The Expanse flickered. One by one, their lights resonated with the rhythm, a silent acknowledgment.
“Very well,” they pulsed. “You are connected. We will listen.”
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