Disenchantment

"What are you doing?" Luca asks alarmed as he tries to break free. Valentina, her face now devoid of emotion, brings out a scanner and scans Luca's neck, just below his ear. His ID chip glows blue and the scanner lets out a chime. She nods at Valentino and he shoves Luca off. She stares at a monitor on her forearm as the data loads onto it. I immediately stand between Luca and them.

"Equilistors, this is Luca Smith, heir to the House of Smith. Please, there is no need for this."

Valentino throws up a drone that circles us ignoring me.

"It's ok Nova." Luca whispers to me before stepping in front of me, "If you want to test my resolve to The Union, test my resolve."

"Praxis test 2-4-0-3. Mr. Smith you are being required to complete the following Praxis Test or face prosecution. Are you ready?" She asks.

"Luca, you don't have to-"

"Yes, I am ready."

She eyes Luca before proceeding.

"Finish the sentence. The laws maintain unity through..."

His brows crease into a frown as he thinks before saying

"Division, harmony through system, and order through instinct."

The drone lets off a green light.

"The highest abiders of the laws are..."

He lets out a soft a scoff.

"The Equilistors."

The test continues with the amusement park now barricaded, the rides lifeless and Police Officers in riot gear.

The drone lets out one last green light before returning back to Valentino.

"Union member, Luca Hyejin Smith. You have passed." Valentina says.

"Was there any doubt?" He speaks.

"However, you are being detained for more questioning."

Luca smiles and lets out a scoff. I watch as Valentino handcuffs him in disbelief.

"You can't do this...as the next in line Supreme Leader I order you to release him."

Valentina frowns worried and lets out a sigh.

"Sovereign, you are the second highest ranking authority in the world. With the Praxis Laws and the Supreme Leader being first. According to Praxis Law Section 12 Number 77 we as the Equilistors are the highest abiders of the laws and are charged with its interpretation-"

"Don't lecture me about the Praxis Laws."

"Calm down Nova, you just have to get the three other Nobles to agree with you to revoke their decision." Luca says. Valentina begins a rant ensuring me that what they are doing is in line with the Praxis. She becomes a muffled voice as I peak over her shoulder and watch how a police squad car descends to arrest Luca. In shock, I stare at how Valentino marches him to the squad car.

"Don't worry, I'll be out before dinner." he says over his shoulder. Valentina impedes my vision and moves herself back into my focus.

"Sovereign, did you hear me? Your wanted back at Citadel." She says as a hover-craft from Citadel descends before me. I walk towards its open door not before staring back at Valentina. I feel I should say something to her, but I can't help but grimace and stare bring my eyebrows forcefully together. She speaks orders into her comm before signaling the police squad cars to round up. Once in the hover-craft I sit for a few seconds not moving a single limb. The sounds of the wailing squad cars and officer muffled. I try to breathe steadily as I turn towards my right to see a police squad car. It's a van packed with people in black body bags. I notice the pastel pink uniform of the sky pad hostess as well as the burly police officer who was there. Valentina and a police officer approach the van. She stares at me through the window, her eyes that were filled with concern and worry now lifeless and cold, before nodding at the officer to zip up the bags. The hover-craft starts up and blows air into the ground as it elevates us off the ground. Luca won't be questioned, he'll be tortured.

***

These devices I have made and words I have lived upon fade more and more. The solitude that I have embraced and made into a fortitude of peace and steadfastness is slowly coming undone . However, as the hovercraft, lands I still bare a look of stoutness - a stoic air of concentration. 3 votes. A simple task. Hence, the reason of my arrival at the northwestern region of the Citadel castle – towards Callahan Konn territory. If I need 3 Nobles to revoke the decision, Callahan is the best place to start.

Inside his house, there's no furniture. His walls are bare; concrete walls illuminated by soft natural lighting. I make my way up the spiraling stairs, passing empty floors filled with ghosts of brighter days. Despite concerns from my mother, Callahan has kept his living quarters minimalistic as possible. Nothing but emptiness upon emptiness. A husk from its glory days when a young Noble Odessa roamed the halls that were always filled with sweet smells from his now deceased wife's cooking.

The top floor is fairly dark with only a single light from the high ceiling, a glass like dome that reflects light from outside. It illuminates Callahan's bed and small desk. I make my way to the bed and sit at its end. He lies in bed on his back with his covers pulled up to his chest. He murmurs intangible things as his eyes rapidly dart under his eyelids. Two large machines stand on either side of his head and charge his neural implants. Their whirring echoing softly through the large room.

"Callahan." I say as I gently try prod him awake.

His murmuring continues. I lean in closer to hear.

"Bloodline...Bloodline...Soaked in blood," I back away as he begins to frantically flail his limbs under the sheets, "No...No...Get way!" He yells.

I call out his name and try wake him up from his nightmare. His eyes soon burst open, and he stares around confused. The machines disconnect and his neural implants come to life. His implants turn green, and a look of tiredness sweeps over him. He sits upright in his bed holding his head.

"Nova, is that you?"

"It's me Grand-uncle."

***

"So, you need 3 votes from the Nobles to revoke the Equilistors and free Luca?"

"Yes," I take a deep breath, "The look in the eyes of those Equilistors Callahan...I should have done something or maybe I shouldn't have? I don't know Callahan…I just feel weird. All I know is that we need to get him out of there, before something horrible happens to him." I say sitting at his desk.

"Society prepares the crime, and the criminal commits it," He says and gets out of bed. A wall grows from the ground and reveals a collection of white shirts and slacks. I turn way in respect as he strips and puts on a fresh pair, "You know you already have my vote."

"Thank you." I say letting out a smile. He smiles too and gestures for the lights to come on. A familiar piano lies in the corner of the room. He gestures me to follow as he heads towards it. He flops into the chair of the piano and a panel parts way revealing its keys. He brings his hands across them and begins.

Stride after stride I pace behind him. Pacing around and lost in thought, Callahan plays his favorite song on the ivory keys while I try come up with a plan.

"Did those Equilistors ever say anything to you?" I ask.

"The Valentines." He says as he stops for a moment and begins playing again. This time with the notes slightly out of tune.

"Yes, did they hurt you when they rode you back to Citadel?"

He ignores my question and continues playing, a smile plastered across his face.

"Your mother has requested that the nobles join her for dinner tonight. We'll get the other votes then. Don't worry, we'll get Luca out." He speaks.