One |Anopoly|

It was five years ago, no one saw it coming. Like most empires, the one that ruled was strong, powerful, thought to be invincible. Why do they always believe that... the fall of the Archalian empire was one to remember. I should know, my people caused it. Originally I was on board with bringing an end to the damned imperials affliction, but then came the reforms. Most of the Archali made major strides in technology, I mean we're talkin' holograms, photon weapons, plasma projectors and speakers, and teleportation; but after the reforms, any and all Archali advancements were outlawed by what I like to call, The Reformers or known by every other person under their oppressive iron fist as The Anopoly.

My family practically owns and governs all of Argaled; the land once ruled by the Archalian empire, which was built on the smoldering ashes of once thought 'perfect utopia', now half is illegal territory, some even nuclear wasteland. I, however, don't see the Archalian's tech the way they do, I think they're the best damn things to come out of Archalian rule. Unfortunately, it's all contraband, along with high caliber ARs, sniper rifles, miniguns and, tactical command gear. Anyone caught with contraband is either sent to the Brimlock, a maximum-security recorrection facility that's more like a forty thousand square mile cage with a high voltage electrified barbed wire and titanium wall, or sentenced to execution. Yet despite the looming death sentence that is owning or trafficking contraband, black markets prosper, unwavering to supply people with defense for themselves and their families.

"Hello, Zem, You here," Iain my best friend asked, we were on our way to another damned city council meeting. Nosaroc is the capital of The Anopoly, and where my family the Reyes house lives. "Why do I even have to go to some stupid council meeting," I asked Iain rhetorically, "It's not like I want to take part in the reforms that banned greatest tech ever made."

"I know," he responded his voice calm, collected and understanding as always, "speaking of which, hand her over." He was referring to the illegal M-45DLXR scythe rifle hidden on my back under a cloak, "Fine," I said reluctantly, I take Arachnid with me everywhere since it's not safe to leave contraband as valuable as my rifle unguarded, that's practically asking for some thug to steal it.

"Not sure what to do about my hair though," again a rhetorical comment, hair dye is also not allowed, and my hair happens to be dyed a faded maroon from the middle length to the end. "I have an idea," he said we needed to duck into an alley anyway. We hurried to the nearest dead-end alley and Iain set my rifle down against a wall and asked me to face the same wall, he braided my hair to the top of my head, then handed me back the beanie I was wearing.

"Problem solved," He said as we made our way out to the street. We still had a little ways to go, so before we left the alley, I engaged the cloaking device on my rifle. I had it installed for protection and so Iain wouldn't get caught with contraband. "So you excited to see your sister," he asked, the sarcasm barely hidden in his tone. "What kind of question is that, asshole," I really loathe my family, the only one I can't tolerate is my younger half-sister Artemisia, but she believes the lies the Anopoly feeds people and thinks it's better this way. She's been conditioned like everyone else, well almost everyone. "Hey Iain, do you know how much a photon dagger is on the black market," I asked, my voice so quiet I didn't know if he heard me. It's not like I could repeat it louder, mentioning it at all, so close to the Capital Building no less, is like wishing for death.

"Oh no, are you crazy Zem, wait don't answer that," he already knew the answer to that, A little yes, "We're about three blocks from the Capitol Building and you bring that up now," he said in a hushed tone with more than slight irritation lacing his words, "Why couldn't you have asked that like two-three miles back," I could tell he was annoyed so I simply said, "Must have slipped my mind I guess," my words fell from my lips with a bitch-like mock ignorance.

"You know what, Good luck I hope you get caught with that monumentous amount of contraband," he said sarcastically, Iain never comes all the way to the building with me, my 'parents' hate him. "Thanks, and don't let anything happen to-"

"Your precious child, I know now get your ass moving," he cut me off but, this happens monthly so he's pretty damn used to it. After waving a quick goodbye, I took off in a dead sprint to the Captial Building, the pistol holstered in my maroon leather jacket hitting against my side as I went. Small firearms like a pistol aren't banned but the ammunition used in mine, yeah that's banned. Even this close to the Capitol, I could still feel the hired guns from the multiple syndicates, and bounty guilds. Thankfully a small bit of red was still visible in my otherwise brunette hair, though as I walked up the Capitol's steps I tucked it back behind my ear, careful of the chain, and small hoop earrings in my left ear.

At the top of the stairs, two guards were posted by the doors, only guards and law enforcement were allowed an assault rifle legally, and are trained to only shoot if necessary. "Hold it," one of the guards said as I approached the massive fifteen-foot tall doors, his cold steel gaze locked as he stared down at me. "Is there a problem, Rogger?" I had known the guard my whole life, and always meet steel with steel as our gazes locked on each other despite the fact that I was 6"*shorter than Rogger's 6'5"* stature. In the end, I always maintain an emotionless mask glazed over my face, and he always broke under the weight.

"No everything's fine kid," he responded after a moment, moving to open the door, "Good luck in there, I heard your dad's pissed about something," Rogger warned as I walked into the building built on the ruins of advancements and shatter dreams off something more.

"Thanks," I whispered under my breath as the doors slammed shut in my wake, I thought as walked down the long hall with portraits of a smiling happy family littered across the walls, about how my mom would view the situation Argeld is in, 'Dad would just claim it's perfect,'. It's not. And then there's the framed illusion hung along the walls. Lies, all of it. Each one adding more to this ridiculous facade my family puts out. I don't even know why, it's not like your average joe could waltz on in this glorified fortress.

It feels like a lifetime since I lost my grandma and mom, and now I see hardly any reason to keep showing up to these pointless meetings, where more Archalian inventions are squandered and thrown to dirt. This was it, the last time I ever step foot in the room before me, after today I'll be just like every other citizen, well maybe. It's that or a massive bounty on my head, oh wait there already is.