Three people look out over their city. One spots an invading species, another faces irrelevance, the last sees hope. All know the fragile balance between men and machine cannot last. Code created consciousness, and synthetic bodies were given to sentient AIs. Humanity made these Shells to put them to work. Instead, they run.Evelyn knows why.AIs are running from her as much as she is running from the past.Robert knows why.AIs are running the world, replacing the workers of today.Sam knows why. AIs are running like people because they are.Not all AIs run. Some choose to stay. Some resist. And one looks up at the sky, transfixed by the towering trees above, only to realize: they are the same. Everyone is fighting for the same thing—equality. But equality always comes at a cost.And some are done paying.