**Chapter 1: The Label of Insignificance**

In the city of Axiom, where every individual's worth was measured and labeled, the streets pulsed with the hum of assigned values. From a young age, citizens were evaluated and branded with a number between 1 and 500, reflecting their perceived contribution to society. The higher the number, the more valuable one was considered to be. This system, known as the "Appraisal," had been in place for as long as anyone could remember, and it dictated every aspect of life in Axiom. Aidan Wright, a 25-year-old with a passion for engineering, had grown up in a family of modest means. His parents, both labeled in the mid-range of 200-250, had always encouraged him to work hard and strive for a better Appraisal. Aidan had done just that, spending countless hours studying and honing his skills in robotics and artificial intelligence. He had even landed an internship at a prestigious tech firm, Omicron Innovations, where he worked alongside some of the brightest minds in the city. On the day of his scheduled Appraisal review, Aidan arrived at the Evaluation Center, a towering structure in the heart of Axiom. He had high hopes that his hard work would be recognized, and his value would be reassessed accordingly. As he waited in line, he couldn't help but notice the anxious chatter among the other examinees. Some seemed confident, while others looked worried, clutching their worn-out dossiers. Finally, Aidan's name was called. He entered a small, sterile room where a single evaluator, a woman with a detached expression, sat behind a desk. She scanned his dossier, her eyes lingering on his impressive list of achievements. "So, Aidan Wright," she began, her voice devoid of enthusiasm, "based on your performance and contributions to society, I am assigning you a value of...5." Aidan's world came crashing down. A 5? It was unheard of. He stumbled backward, his mind reeling. The evaluator's expression remained impassive as she handed him a small, laminated card with his new Appraisal emblazoned on it. The implications were immediate and severe. Aidan's access to premium services, better living quarters, and even basic necessities like food and healthcare would be severely limited. His job at Omicron Innovations would be terminated, and he would be relegated to menial labor. As Aidan stumbled out of the Evaluation Center, he felt like he had been punched in the gut. His whole life, he had been striving to prove himself, to make a difference. And now, it seemed, he was deemed insignificant. The once-bright future he had envisioned for himself now seemed bleak and uncertain. Aidan's thoughts swirled with questions. What had gone wrong? Was it something he had done? Or was it simply a mistake? He knew he had to clear his name, to prove that he was more than just a number. But where would he even begin? As he walked through the crowded streets of Axiom, Aidan felt a sense of desperation creeping in. He had to find a way to survive, to thrive, and to prove his worth to a society that seemed determined to hold him back. The label of 5 would not define him. He was determined to show the world that he was so much more.