Queens, New York, June 6, 2025
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Lin Chen stood in the dim glow of the dim sum restaurant's kitchen, the air thick with the scent of steaming buns and sizzling garlic. It was 8:12 PM, and the Queens night outside was a vibrant hum of neon signs and passing cars. His *LearnSphere* wristband pulsed faintly on his wrist, its solar cell catching the flicker of overhead lights, but tonight, Lin wasn't tinkering with nanobots or poring over SAT books. Instead, he was elbow-deep in prom plans, a whirlwind of excitement and nerves that felt as foreign as the [God-Tech System] once had. The restaurant was closed, but the back room was alive with laughter—Sarah Kim, Jake, and a few classmates were sprawled around a table, debating prom themes and playlists, their voices mingling with the clink of teacups.
The [God-Tech System] interface hovered subtly in his vision, a quiet partner rather than a demanding overseer. Its Tech Tree glowed, the active node shimmering: [*Biotech Module – Nanobot Diagnostic Prototype*]. The counter read: [*Impact Points: 12,500/20,000*]. *LearnSphere* was a global juggernaut—900,000 wristbands sold, $70 million in revenue, and a UN proposal to deploy its solar cells in refugee camps. X posts were a storm: *"NovaDev's solar cell is rewriting history. Queens kid for Nobel? #TechRevolution"*. As NovaDev, Lin Chen was a legend, his identity public and unrestricted by the [System]. A tech titan had offered $3 billion to buy *LearnSphere*, but he'd declined, his heart set on the nanobot prototype—microscopic machines that could diagnose diseases instantly, a vision born of civilizations beyond Earth.
Fame was a relentless beast, but the [System]'s loosened grip gave Lin freedom to live, not just create. Reporters still hounded the restaurant, classmates swung between awe and envy, and his parents, Mei and Wei, balanced pride with worry over his SATs, now one week away. Sarah Kim was his anchor in the storm. Her texts—playful, warm, and constant—lit up his days, and their study sessions had sparked something deeper. Last week's park hangout with her and Jake had been a rare taste of normalcy, and tonight's prom planning felt like another step into a life beyond code and tech. Lin wanted to savor it, to be more than NovaDev, even as a new shadow loomed—a cryptic message from the hackers QuantumGhosts, hinting at a threat bigger than stolen code.
[*Host, you're actually socializing,*] Zeta's voice chimed, its tone dry but amused. [*Prom plans? Bold move. There's a minor issue with the nanobot prototype—0.003% latency in diagnostic scans. Fix it if you want, within 24 hours, to avoid a mild headache. Or don't. Your human rituals seem… entertaining.*]
Lin grinned, wiping flour off his hands. "I'll handle it later, Zeta. Tonight's about prom."
[*Fascinating priorities,*] Zeta said, mock-impressed. [*Don't let sequins distract you from greatness, Host.*]
Lin laughed, rejoining the group. Sarah was sketching a prom banner, her *LearnSphere* wristband glowing. "Lin, you're on DJ duty," she said, her eyes sparkling. "No techno beats, okay? We need danceable stuff."
"No promises," Lin teased, his heart racing. Her smile was a flare, and the [System]'s freedom let him lean into it. Jake, munching on a leftover bun, grinned. "Dude, NovaDev's gonna drop a robot dance mix. Watch."
The group laughed, and Lin felt a warmth he hadn't known before—a sense of belonging, not as a tech icon, but as Lin Chen, a kid from Queens planning prom with friends. But the moment was fragile. His phone buzzed with a secure alert, a message from *LearnSphere*'s servers: *"NovaDev, we know your secret. Stop the nanobots, or the world sees your truth. – QuantumGhosts"*. Lin's stomach twisted. The hackers had never been this bold, and "your secret" chilled him. Did they know about the [System]? He pushed the thought aside, forcing a smile. Prom was tonight's focus, not shadows.
---
Earlier that day, Flushing High had been a frenzy of prom hype and *LearnSphere* worship. The halls buzzed with posters for "Starry Nights," the prom theme, and kids flashed their wristbands, many with solar cells, swapping battery stats like trading cards. Lin's status as NovaDev had made him a school legend—classmates waved, teachers praised his "innovation," and a junior slipped him a *LearnSphere*-themed keychain. But Lin craved normalcy, and the [System]'s leniency let him chase it.
In AP Physics, Jake had plopped down, his wristband glowing. "Dude, you going to prom? Gotta show off that NovaDev swagger."
Lin had grinned. "Maybe." He'd glanced at Sarah, who was scribbling notes, her wristband catching the light. Her texts were a daily spark, and their park hangout last week had deepened their bond. Today, she'd caught his eye and grinned. "You better come, Lin. We need you for the playlist."
"Wouldn't miss it," he'd said, his heart racing. Her smile was a beacon, and he felt bolder every day, thanks to the [System]'s freedom.
But Tyler Tran was a storm brewing. In the cafeteria, he'd shoved past Lin, his voice loud. "Yo, NovaDev, think you're too good for prom? Bet you'll show up alone, nerd."
Lin had stood tall, his confidence forged in triumphs. "Keep dreaming, Tyler. I'm going, and I'll have better company than you." The cafeteria buzzed, and Sarah, nearby, smirked. "He's right, Tyler. You're not exactly prom king material." Tyler's face reddened, and he stormed off, his buddies trailing. Lin's chest swelled—Sarah's support was a spark, and the [System]'s freedom let him stand his ground.
After school, Lin had helped at the restaurant, the lunch rush a blur of steaming trays and chattering locals. A tech journalist was there, asking for a quote. "It's about making life better," Lin said, keeping the nanobots vague. Mei watched, her pride tempered by worry. "You're carrying too much, Chen," she said later, wiping her hands. "Prom's good for you. Go have fun."
"I will, Mom," he said, hugging her. Wei joined them, his voice gruff but warm. "You're making us proud, Chen. Just don't forget SATs next week."
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Now, in the restaurant's back room, prom planning was in full swing. Sarah held up her sketch, a starry banner with *LearnSphere*'s logo subtly woven in. "Think we can project this on the gym ceiling?" she asked, her eyes bright.
Lin nodded, his tech brain sparking. "I could rig a projector with a solar cell. Low power, big impact." The group cheered, and Sarah's smile warmed him. "You're hired, NovaDev."
Jake tossed a napkin ball at Lin. "Dude, you gotta ask someone to prom. Don't be that guy who shows up solo."
Lin's face heated, his eyes flicking to Sarah. She was focused on her sketch, but her cheeks were pink. Before he could speak, his phone buzzed again—another encrypted message: *"Nanobots are dangerous. Shut them down, or we expose you. – QuantumGhosts"*. Lin's heart sank. The hackers were escalating, and their threats felt personal. He pocketed his phone, forcing a grin. "I'll figure it out, Jake."
The group moved to music choices, Sarah suggesting R&B while Jake pushed for hip-hop. Lin chimed in with indie tracks, earning a playful eye-roll from Sarah. "You're such a nerd," she teased, but her tone was warm. The banter flowed, and Lin felt alive, not as a tech genius, but as a kid dreaming of prom lights and slow dances.
But the night wasn't over. As the group dispersed, Sarah lingered, helping Lin stack chairs. "You're really into this prom thing, huh?" she said, her voice soft.
"Yeah," Lin said, his heart racing. "It's… nice to just be normal for a bit." He paused, gathering courage. "Sarah, would you—maybe—go to prom with me?"
Her eyes widened, then softened, a smile breaking through. "I was hoping you'd ask. Yeah, Lin. I'd love to."
Lin's chest soared, a spark brighter than any nanobot. "Cool," he said, grinning like an idiot. Sarah laughed, touching his arm. "You're cute when you're nervous, NovaDev."
They locked up the restaurant, the Queens night wrapping around them. Lin walked Sarah to her bus stop, their conversation light—prom dresses, SAT stress, her MIT dreams. But the hackers' threats gnawed at him. Back home, he checked *LearnSphere*'s servers: 900,000 wristbands sold, $70 million. X buzzed: *"NovaDev's solar cell is saving the planet. #QueensHero"*.
The [System] pinged, its tone neutral: [*Notice: Nanobot latency issue unresolved. Fix when you're ready, or accept a mild headache. Also, unusual server activity detected. Investigate if you choose.*] Lin hesitated, then dove into the code, his [System]-enhanced skills tracing the hackers' probes. QuantumGhosts had left a digital footprint, hinting at a physical meetup in Manhattan. His heart raced—this was bigger than code theft. He blocked their probe, the [System] confirming: [*Threat neutralized. Impact Points: 13,000/20,000.*]
Lin opened his SAT book, Sarah's *"I'd love to"* echoing in his mind. He'd investigate the hackers after prom, but tonight, he was Lin Chen, a kid with a date, a dream, and a world to live in—one spark, one promise, at a time.
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