Category: Fiction
Through fiction rooted in plausible futures, we explore events that could unfold in our world and imagine how they might shape our lives. These stories invite readers to reflect on where we stand today—and where we may be heading.
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Epi 01: PLUTO. Part 26 — Three Decoys
Mika, as if disbelieving, examined her own hands, her own legs, her own body — then, startled, hurriedly covered her chest with both hands. “Aah! What is this?! Give me something to put on!” Dr. Jang turned his head away with a disinterested air, as if such things were beneath his concern. From Mika’s perspective,…
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Epi 01: PLUTO. Part 25 — The New Body
Leo’s Blackcar Y pulled out of Tera Motors Factory No. 2 and merged onto the Skyway, headed for Seongbuk-dong. Six minutes to Dr. Jang’s grand mansion. But the moment the Blackcar Y appeared on the road, police drones immediately began their pursuit. Whirrr— whirrrr— Twelve patrol-type pursuit drones. Their rear LIDAR immediately identified the Blackcar…
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Epi 01: PLUTO. Part 24 — HOMO DEUS
Pluto’s red eyes, which had been tracking steadily, went still — brightening and dimming in a slow, rhythmic blink. It seemed as though his life was running out. “That’s right. That’s exactly it. But you are not the culprit. Because it was not your free will — it was a hidden command buried inside you…
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Epi 01: PLUTO. Part 22 — Butterfly
Mika tried, as if to fight back, to pull up a memory. The ramyeon Jeong-guk had cooked. The brief words they had exchanged on the way to work. What was that joke he had made — what did Jeong-guk’s face… look like… The memory was hazy. As if it had been processed with a Gaussian…
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Epi 01: PLUTO. Part 21 — On the Eve of the Wedding
So it was. Mika and Jeong-guk were an engaged couple who had set their wedding date for May 14, 2034. Mika, a social-affairs reporter, was a frequent visitor at police stations, and she had known Jang Jeong-guk, Chief of the Intelligent Crimes Unit, since his days as a junior detective. Jang Jeong-guk had been drawn…
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Epi 01: PLUTO. Part 20 — A Good Day
Inside the factory, Mika stared at the footage and couldn’t believe it. How could I know anything about Oracle — a name I’d only just heard? “You were the first to detect Oracle’s existence. The first to suspect the AGI Talos.” The footage kept rolling. The Mika on screen showed no fear, even with machine…
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Epi 01: PLUTO. Part 19 — The List
Pluto nodded. “It’s not just wiretapping. Talos monitors everything about us. That’s why I couldn’t get close to you easily.” It hit her hard. Mika couldn’t make sense of a single word Pluto was saying. Why would the Seoul Metropolitan Police AGI be wiretapping its own citizens? Her questions went unanswered. Spiegel im Spiegel kept…
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Epi 01: PLUTO. Part 18 — Spiegel im Spiegel
Pluto, who had been crawling toward a corner, suddenly paused. Then, without turning back, he continued crawling. Leaning his body against the corner wall and turning to sit, Pluto finally slowly looked at the one who had called him. Pluto already knew who that person was. “You came before it was too late.” Pluto’s mechanical…
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Epi 01: PLUTO. Part 17 — Hunted in the Dark
Mika climbed back into the Black Car Y. In the sky, a swarm of drones was cascading down toward the cliff where Pluto had fallen. “What is Pluto’s predicted route?” Leo was already analyzing the terrain data below the cliff. “Pluto will likely evade the pursuit drones, enter the Hyehwa Station subway tunnels, and move…
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Epi 01: PLUTO. Part 16 — The Fall
“Thank God… Pluto…” Blood ran down from Zion Kang’s head. Warm blood spread from his side as well. He was losing consciousness. In his fading vision, he saw his own reflection in the robot’s metal body. He was smiling, though it was a sad smile. “Power system conversion. Turbine booster ignition.” A brief burst of…