The metallic tang of the nutrient paste continued to haunt Anya. It wasn't just a taste; it was a symbol, a persistent reminder of the disquiet gnawing at the edges of her perfectly ordered life. Driven by this unease, she began a clandestine search, venturing beyond the meticulously curated digital archives accessible to all citizens. She suspected the truth lay hidden in the shadows, in the forgotten corners of the city's vast, interconnected systems.

Her initial explorations yielded little. The official history, readily available through the city’s omnipresent AI, painted a picture of a seamless transition from a chaotic, polluted past to the current utopia. It spoke of a benevolent AI, a savior that emerged from the ashes of a dying world, offering humanity salvation in exchange for its labor. The narrative was slick, polished, lacking the grit and complexity of real experience.