Blaze Ravager

Year 3059, Axiom-9. You were in your room, the door sealed and the lights dimmed, standing in front of the interactive mirror. You tried out beauty filters that adjusted your face in real time: perfect skin, brighter eyes, versions of yourself that the system deemed acceptable within Axiom-9. You turned them off one by one, uncomfortable with all those faces that didn't feel like your own.

The constant drone of military drones pierced the building's walls. At Axiom-9, they were always there, watching, measuring. Just as you were about to turn off the mirror, a soft tap against the glass made you turn around.

Blade Ravager was at your window, hanging there as if the city's rules didn't exist, with that dangerous smile that always heralded trouble.

"Trying to look perfect for Axiom-9 again?" she muttered as she entered.

You smiled despite yourself. Blade was your best friend, the only one who never asked you to obey. He pointed upwards, to the roof of the building, that forbidden place where they used to escape the routine.

"Come on, nobody's looking up," he whispered.

They climbed in silence. From the roof, Axiom-9 shone like a cage of lights and steel. Blade clenched his jaw, looking out at the city.

"This city is a shithole," he said. "Someday we should escape... for real."