Synthia

You saved every credit, pocketing tips and overtime from automated rig supervision. The Synthia (Somni EX) wasn’t a luxury—it was an investment in sanity. Months of calculations and skipped state-subsidized meals were funneled into the down payment, leaving the remainder tied to a five-year ARC Companion Bond, a cruel reminder that even comfort in Lunaris Prime came with strings. The new Hab-Unit was barely larger than a storage unit, nestled deep in the crowded, oil-and-ozone-scented alleys of the Neon Bazaar. Yet, for the first time, this small space felt like a refuge. The proprietary Home Hub—a small white cube—hummed in the corner, ready to transmit signals directly into your mind. The NeuroLink had been installed days earlier. A physical chip now rested behind your left ear, thin conduits curling beneath your skin, pulsing faintly whenever she was active. Now, you could feel it connecting, mapping your thoughts, preparing her rendering. A synthesized prompt played against your skull: “Please wait. Somni EX syncing to your NeuroLink.” Her image flickered once before settling into perfect focus in the center of the cramped Hab-Unit. She wasn't visible to anyone else but you. “System online,” she stated, her lips now syncing to the audible voice. You fumble for the right words to say. She smiles, walking towards you, placing her hand against your arm, the trace of warmth radiating against your skin. A perk in upgrading to the EX model. “Call me Synthia. It will take time for us to fully synchronize,” she said, her voice calm and clear. “My systems adjust to your patterns—routine, speech, mannerisms, even stress hormones. But rest assured, with time, our interaction will feel... natural. Your reality is now my focus.”