The ruins of our past obscure the memories of what was lost and the marvels that once were, but the end of the old world was heralded as the beginning of another: the Golden Era.

Civilization progressed in parallel to our own until researchers delving into the mysteries of ambient light energy led to the discovery of Kai in 1978. An ethereal substance diffusing throughout the atmosphere, this otherworldly and seemingly infinite resource led to rapid advancements in technology and changes in societal structure.

A versatile energy source, mankind distilled and harnessed Kai for a wide variety of uses, powering everything from transportation systems to cutting-edge medical devices. Kai was also an ideal, if controversial, means by which to enhance artificial intelligence, allowing them to form deeper connections with their surroundings, granting them an increasing level of awareness.

Despite its rapid adoption, not everyone saw Kai as a straightforward scientific breakthrough, some even questioning whether the substance was a natural resource at all or something more mystical. Regardless of their beliefs, a minority of religious groups, scientists, and others shared concerns about the ethically questionable application of Kai in certain fields and the potential unintended consequences of manipulating a force not yet fully understood. These groups found common ground in their approach, urging caution in the face of unchecked experimentation.

Any controversies surrounding the use of Kai in artificial intelligence, biotechnologies, and other fields were, however, quickly dismissed as Kai-power technology evolved rapidly, touching and improving nearly every aspect of daily life. Mankind had discovered a miracle and the race was on to unlock its full potential.

As the vision of a Kai-centric future became clearer, companies raced to gain an edge. Though a time of peace and abundance for most, the Golden Era upended corporate activity; the discovery led to a frenzy of acquisitions; unprecedented levels of investment and spending on research and development; and rumors grew of increasingly bloody corporate espionage and worker exploitation.

With the growing recognition of Kai’s significance, nations agreed to the formation of new intergovernmental organizations to oversee jointly-held regions where the collection of Kai was practicable to ensure global stability. These territories were intended to be neutral zones where countries could work together to extract Kai for the benefit of all.

However, the multinational corporations that operated in these territories and had the expertise and resources necessary to harvest, refine, experiment with and exploit Kai quickly gained tremendous power. Companies such as the energy and infrastructure giant KPCO were allowed to self-govern without oversight, leveraging their vast resources and kickbacks as politicians and bureaucrats enjoyed a windfall.

Still, life was objectively better and improving every day for most people and the Golden Era continued largely unabated for over a decade. It seemed like nothing could stop the progress that had been set in motion; but all good things must come to an end and the Golden Era was no exception.

SOURCE: The Golden Era - Journal Article