The Year 4502 IS: when the domes of the skies no longer reached the top. The roofs now littered with poles, emitting signals that could reach to all places except one
It was a different kind of world. The one where even with one unified government, there was no single ruler. Uzilexians- the supreme administrators of each server- ruled with their wills held paramount to all else. Their reign had ushered in an age where no one seemed to be at peace but war was never above the ceiling. For the control they had exceeded far beyond the capacity of any former power.
Buildings everywhere adorned with the insignia of their suzerains, never being allowed to be higher than a certain height or shaped differently from their view. To even paint a building in another manner was a serious offence, likely to result in unspeakable conditions.
Trees too, seemed like they obeyed the call of their lords who never as much as loved them beyond a primal need for survival. Every tree had the same pattern, barring one or two, to set in the example of some difference existing. Spirals or spikes or cubes, in a city, they were all to be the same. No one even questioned why everything seemed to be in so much order. Why everything seemed so perfect. So much like the background of a film set. As if they were transported to a matte painting in an cartoon.
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Herozin was taking strides without stop with his aim being the waste disposer. His hand with unusually large fingers dropped the packet of Mazeetas right into the mouth of the disposer, ending in an automatic close by the lid. The machine gurgled for two seconds then calmed down as if it had digested the object. That was how it went all the time. Trash was an easy problem nowadays. The Uzilexians would never want their servers to be unhygienic.
The 18 year old's feet turned backwards as it headed towards the exit of the alley. Light assaulted him as he got closer which surprised him but did not stop him for long. His final destination was not yet in sight.
He sometimes felt like the city was a living entity, always watching, always keeping records of who did what, possibly even deciding whom to bring closer to death and whom to let live. That way of thinking slightly unsettled Herozin but never bothered him enough. After all, there were a lot of strange ideas that got into his mind but he never had the means to investigate them.
As his walk brought him out right into the road, he looked around hoping to see a transport vehicle. Not so lucky today. Walk it was to be.
Just as he was about to reach the edge of the next road, he sensed the presence of several armed individuals. "Hmmm?". He exclaimed in his head.
At both sides of his body, there were members of the Yulcinerac- the elite enforces of the Uzilexian rule. They had their arms stretched out, their Azphix guns pointed at him with no restraint. Every every nanosecond, they were closing in on him.
The very sight of the Yulcinerac being near him was all it took to daze Herozin to the point of not doing anything at all. He was discombulated for four seconds before he managed to gather the force to take action against his predicatement: "What is this, why are you surrounding me as if I have commited some grave violation of the law? I am not guilty of any crime"
The Yulcinerac, about ten in number, were not affected by his shouting at all and continued their movements. Herozin felt as if he were a wild boar shot by a tranquillizer and cornered by hunters still afraid to fight him. This just wouldn't do for him. He jumped as if summoning some arcane power and blurted out with all of his courage- "Stop this, you aren't even explaining to me what I have done wrong, this isn't lawful. I still have rights left that you need to respect. Tell me my offence, so that I may remedy it".
That seemed to take an effect. One of the Yulcinerac, the second closest to Herozin on his left, immediately gave him a response. "This is a legal effective measure. We are detaining a volatile subversive who dares to sabotage the deviant wireboard in the city, causing the worst upsurge seen since the incident at 4498 IS!". The enforcer's voice bellowed with weight, making Herozin believe it could crush him under pressure. However he wouldn't back down so quickly.
The Yulcinerac had all come the closest to him, fundamentally locking him in a cordoning. Taking advantage of the opportunity two members grabbed either of his arms and installed handcuffs on them. The boy's tenacity wouldn't perish. "Hey, this is a lie. You are arresting me based on a false premise. I never even went near the wireboard. I only saw it once in my life. There's no way I would actually meddle it with to that level, especially when it concerns the whole city".
They pulled him away from the road towards what looked like a black van. His protests did not soften their stance by any margin. "What you say is a lie. You are the one responsible for the disaster that took place on Telver street , there is strong evidence against you. And anyway, the designation for you has already been placed, so resistance will be futile". The enforcer put on a tone of finality in his answer, making it clear nothing Herozin said from this point onwards would mean anything.
Despite knowing this truth, he wouldn't surrender sans resistance. His body was shoved into the back compartment of the van, leaving him with no room to turn his body to as two enforcers tightened themselves on him from both sides. The vehicle's engine cranked on, signaling the ride to come. Herozin had to take out his all. "Hey, there's still time, let's stop it here. We can discuss the details, there's no need for a trial or prison. If we do a little cross-checking, everything will be rendered moot at this very instant. Please, I beg of you, consider my proposal". Every word of his was filled with desparation.
By analysis, it could be said that luck had ceased to exist for Herozin at this point. No amount of verbal arguments could change the minds of the Yulcinerac. The van drove on, passing through many streets, making its way towards the place Herozin got anxious, just by thinking of it.
About two hours later, the van was done moving and was parked up beside a tall hedge whose top could be seen even if one stretched their neck. One after another, the Yulcinerac ejected themselves from the vehicle that had become the object of Herozin's loathing. The two holding him got down too, having held him so tight, he accepted his escape being a mere fantasy.
Mazadarak Process Centre, was the place's name. It functioned as a joint prison, inquiry area and armoury. No one who went in here as a convict would dream of stealing a weapon.
The enforcers took huge steps with speed but never truly running. Many staff members, fugitives in shackles and high level officials were passed by, but Herozin had no interest in seeing any of them. He was only concerned with his own plight. What was to become of him? Who would know of his fate?
After some more steps ,they halted in their swift walking and stood in front of a cellroom whose confining material was made up of Urgun; the transparent glasslike-like substance that was impervious to the heaviest blows, and beckoned the jailor to open the small door in the Urgun confinement. With two seconds gone, the door opened, and Herozin found himself thrown in, through a kick or a palm shove(he found it hard to distinguish by now).
All being done, the Yulcinerac departed leaving Herozin with only the Jailor who viewed him with an expression of pity.
Herozin had to get up. He used his hands to correct his posture and loosen up his muscles which had gone stiff. He stared ahead of him but there was nothing but another cell, containing a prisoner smudger in mud. The man caught a glance at him and shot a crazy animalistic look at him. Herozin flinched and looked away, planning to avoid the neighbour's glare for as long as he could.
He had kept his head down and ahead for so long, he hadn't even checked if he had a cellmate with him. When his vision turned right, he was startled to see a girl of around the same age sitting on a laminate ledge. The girl had her eyesight focused ahead, not paying attention to him.
Perplexed at the situation, Herozin was pondering on whether to make conversation with her or not when she suddenly cracked the board herself. " So did you also did caught in the act?". Her voice carried the sense of knowing all that had transpired, being absolutely sure to the details.
Herozin looked away. He was in despair over his predicatement and hated the idea of causing any sort of disturbance. He spoke up, "No, I didn't even do anything. They just detained me after I was done throwing trash.These guys are saying I was the one who caused the upsurge in the city due to the wireboard tampering." Anyone could feel the dismay in his personhood if they encountered. His voice didn't carry the willingness to converse.
"Oh, I see. That's terrible. Tragedy tends to happen at the most unexpected times. My punishment came for less unfair reasons. I got arrested for the most obvious reason". stated the girl. Her posture shifted a bit and she cupped her chin in one hand.
Herozin was taken aback. What could have she exactly, to have the sedition clause enacted. Him, while still sitting on the floor with his legs spread out, asked her: "What exactly was it that you did, which you got in here for?"
The girl's face adopted a smile of the warm-hearted kind. Her face actually turned towards him now. "I gave information to a friend regarding the atrocity of a Uzilexian and announced it to the whole city in Morse Code".
Herozin's eyes widened. Oh so it was her. "That's why the loudspeakers were giving out such weird sounds for the whole evening." Thought Herozin. He never gave much thought to that event but he didn't expect it to have such significance now.
The girl having told him her part, resumed her glaring at the view ahead of her. She seemed oddly relaxed, not bothered by the situation she was in
Herozin had to know more. "So how long have you been here? And what are they doing to do to you?" He asked with the intent of acquiring some intel useful for himself as well.
Her head shifted to the left again, her face looking like it was confounded that he had asked such a question. Then, it changed into a look of sincerity.
"Oh, don't worry, nothing they have in store for me is going to be of any use."
"Huh, what do you mean? Won't you be punished?"
" You just wait. There is a measure kept underneath this place. When it becomes needed, it will unravel itself."
The girl rubbed her thumb and index finger, her eyes glinting as if to signify the coming of something truly incomprehensible.