When the world thinks of New Angeles, they think of the Rutherford district. The sleek district is filled with skyscrapers and arcology structures that cater to the few who could afford it. The streets (at least on the upper levels) are well-maintained, kept clean and the police keep a watchful eye to keep crime down. Buildings here have giant signs with company logos and millions of credits are spent every day to maintain a spot for advertisement. Loud and bright ads are almost found on every wall and rooftop in its busy intersections, sometimes they are even holo-projected intrusively to random pedestrians on the street. It is the centre of attention that attracts the rich and famous, as well as its share of tourists.
While not everything is perfect in the city, its bright lights and vibrant displays that constantly bombard viewers with sensation at its core are more than enough to keep everyone focused on its perfect veneer. Everything here is flashy and glamorous. It is the centre of commerce, fashion and all things trendy. It’s no surprise that the NBN has set up their headquarters in the heart of the district, keeping its finger on the rapidly beating pulse of New Angeles. News is made around the world but it is broken in Broadcast Square first.
The areas of Broadcast Square, Downtown Rutherford and Harmonia are found in Rutherford.
NASX
The New Angeles Stock Exchange finds itself in a beehive-looking structure where trade is conducted nearly at all hours of the day. The trading floor is filled with all manner of people, bioroids and clones who operate at a frantic pace while screaming to get things done. Above the floor is a spherical globe where information is constantly fed visually, showing the progress of stocks, known as the “All-Seeing Eye”. What is seen on the floor is only a fraction of the business that goes on here, most trade is conducted on the Net where AI-assisted traders perform their exchange at breakneck speeds. However, the crazed day-to-day operation on the floor is enough to even draw in tourists to the viewing balconies.
Re-Water Café
A highly trendy and hip café in the heart of Broadcast Square, Re-Water Café is well-known for serving nutrient-rich water and typically caters to overly health-conscious crowds with light fare, mostly in the form of small servings presented on massive plates or mere nutrient pills. However, that doesn’t stop the café from charging a high price tag for their items and the popularity of the business only grows with each passing year, often due to reported celebrity sightings. The café is situated atop a building that provides one of the best views of Broadcast Square, often catering to hyper-stressed-out day traders or the shopping-exhausted ristie.
Fashion Forward
A fashion store that is seemingly devoid of all clothing displays is made up of several change rooms along with its long walls. Customers who enter the store are aided by a store AI drone consultant that helps them find what they are looking for. If a customer's PAD is connected, the AI will draw from their histories and planned occasions to provide suggestions. From there, the customer is given the choice of customization features including materials and upgrades. Each item is highly tailored to fit the customer to make each purchase perfect. The drone consultant is able to provide a holographic projection overlap to give a visual idea of what the final product may look like. Once choices are finalized, the item is delivered to them directly to the store for purchase.
MegaBuy New Angeles
The commerce giant has one of its flagship "brick and mortar" department stores situated in the heart of Downtown Rutherford. The store takes up several floors and spans a few city blocks, nearly rivalling some large malls in terms of space. They are open for business all days of the year and 24 hours a day. MegaBuy has a large presence on the Network and everything purchased there will be delivered on their special drones. However, many customers are not interested solely in shopping on the Net and consistent crowds show that the store is a huge draw for shopping. The massive department store still presents the novelty of seeing the goods in person before they are purchased, often segmenting each brand or product type to their "mini-store" space. Customers navigating through this expansive complex will find all many goods for any budget, from toddler toys to lavish dresses.