In a near-future New York City, humanity has finally united, tackling global challenges and emerging as a single species with a common purpose. Their first monumental achievement after defeating climate change: The Lens—a colossal telescope positioned at the edge of the solar system, built to search for life beyond Earth. And it works. But what humanity discovers tells them more about their own nature than any distant civilization. This chilling revelation sets the tone for the unforgettable stories within.
In the water mines of a desolate wasteland, one man’s dream is simple: to win the monthly water-hauling competition. But when his new, inexperienced teammate holds him back, and luck favors his rivals, he is forced into a race against time. A tragic event presents an opportunity to make up lost ground—though his method of doing so is both unethical and possibly immoral. With the prize slipping away, he must decide if winning is worth losing everything that matters to him.
Elsewhere, a young boy feels the crushing weight of his family’s survival on his small shoulders. His single mother struggles to keep them afloat, while his older brother contributes nothing but trouble. Forced to take on adult responsibilities at just nine years old, he carries the burden in silence—until an unexpected visitor from another dimension offers him a shocking way out. The cost? His family will be torn apart, and he will become the very