TANGO

passengers in elegance, now teetered dangerously above the bustling

. The board groaned, threatening to fall at any second. People scr

eamed *wealthy and reckless,* stood frozen,

HE WAY!" he bellowe

What are you doing?! You're going t

e leaped higher than anyone thought possible, grabbing hold of it with

ped. "What is

husiastic gymnast. "RUN!" he sc

hanging off a chain like a lunatic,

MOVE!" Alex shouted, strug

girl onto her hip and darted out from under the

d, feeling the weight

ttering pieces on the floor. Alex, meanwhile, fell backward, landing flat on

nt for a beat. The

uted, rushing forward to embrace her da

inced and waved weakly. "Yea

terious woman who had initially sa

one elbow, scanning the are

in the crowd said.

ing shards of glass off his suit.

stood on the curb, fumbling with his phone. He dialed his dr

barked when the dri

traffic," the driver

you left an hour early! You're supposed to anticipate

ake me at least 45 m

frustration. Spotting a tax

ssing his sleek leather bag into

to move. But just as Alex leaned ba

who doubled as his moral compass

already regretting the wo

you have any idea what's happening here? The board is

t, I'm on

nish, the taxi scr

on?" Alex aske

ng unintelligible and g

of the car to investigate.

taxi just in time to

uted, running af

ic, leaving Alex standing on th

red. "This is why I hate

shiny black motorcycle parked just a few feet away. Its owner, a burly man w

a charming smile. "He

up, unimpress

t stole my stuff, and I have a critical meeting to

deep, menacing soun

ng. "How about I borrow the bi

n replied, going b

You're leaving

re Alex grabbed his helmet, hopped on

dropping his phone. "

the roar of the engine. "I'

BACK H

ck as he sped off,

er than Alex anticipated. He wobbled dangerously throug

the handlebars with white-knuckled determination.

the street, followed by a

NING?!" Alex screamed, sw

and Alex was launched into a pi

banana peel off his shoulder. His once-dapper

uttered. "I'm a w

survived a natural disaster. His hair was a mess, his suit was a lost cause, and

he lobby, her arms crossed and

appened to you?!

attempting to brush off

n dumpster diving," Angel

g, okay? Let's focus

d the conference hall. "If you embarrass

h his trademark confidence. The room, packed with investors, media

"today, we're not just unveiling a p

e sleek design of the Infinity Vision-a revo

enhancing reality. We're reimagining it. These glasses all

c visuals came to life around him. Floating 3D models, imm

eamlessly integrated into your environment," Alex said. "Wi

nto applause, and Alex

t to bask in the admiration. His confidence had returned despite the earlier chaos.

grin. "This is all very impressive, but can we trust it? What if I to

unsure of whether to step forward. Then, a man in his late 30s wit

at him. "Come on up. Let's giv

rvously onto the stage. He adjusted his ill-fitting

clapping him on the back. "Thi

ience c

tual world Greg was seeing. The crowd gasped as the simulation launched: Greg was suddenly

ing an imaginary steering

ving through virtual curves and dodging obstacles. The scenery was b

ble! someone in

the technician operating the glasses and whispered, Hey, l

hesitated. "Uh,

Alex said

Greg's car, licking at the edges of the windshield. The car's dashboa

, his hands flying up in p

the stage, flailing wildly. He ran in circles, slapp

x called after him, barely

lew off as he yanked his blazer over

shouted, rippin

r view. Alex, tears streaming down his face, leaned into the microph

led off his socks, and was left in nothing but his underwear-w

K!" a voice called fro

ivious to everything except his imaginary inf

d around the hall like a man

el!" Alex shouted, doub

ce-first into a large decorative bowl of punch on a nearby table. The

lasses had flown off during his fall, and reality came rush

red, covering himself wi

him the glasses. "Well, Greg, I think we can

applause. Greg, now smiling sheepis

ge, smacked her forehead. "Alex, I swe

is innovation, Angel. And entertainment! W

need therapy," she mutt

nd gentlemen, the Infinity Vision doesn't just show you a new reality-it le

again, and Alex basked in the c

laughing,the doors to

urious voi