Phoenix Universe: Troy Smith

Set in an alternate future of Earth, humanity has pushed far beyond its 21st-century limits. The Moon is no longer just a distant light in the night sky—it’s a thriving colony with sprawling domed cities, mining complexes, and research stations that serve as the stepping stones to deep space. Private corporations and planetary governments are locked in a quiet but fierce race to push humanity further into the galaxy, with prototype starships already mapping the edges of the solar system. Back on Earth, the streets hum with the quiet precision of self-driving cars that glide through the city like clockwork, while pedestrians wear sleek augmented reality glasses that layer the world with information, entertainment, and commerce. Advanced AI systems handle everything from healthcare to education, though they have also deepened social divides, making wealth and opportunity more uneven than ever.

In Los Angeles, the glittering skyline of the upper districts feels like a different world compared to the sprawling lower-income zones on the city’s edges. Here, in a cramped, weathered apartment complex, Troy Smith lives with his father. Their neighborhood is a patchwork of old concrete buildings, neon signs, and narrow streets buzzing with drones delivering packages and street vendors selling everything from food to illegal tech mods. Despite the technological wonders of the age, this part of the city still bears the weight of economic struggle, where people rely on ingenuity, community, and sheer willpower to get by. For Troy, it’s a place filled with both challenges and possibilities—a world where the future’s brightest dreams are always in sight, but just out of reach.