Arasynth by Alan Hajduk

In a cyberpunk dystopia, cities are built on massive platforms high above the earth, suspended among the clouds and in a perpetual horizon. These floating cities serve as the last refuge for human civilization, built out of necessity as the planet became uninhabitable. The surface world had been ravaged by environmental disasters, warfare, and pollution. These skyward platforms represent not just technological marvels, but humanity’s final bastion of survival.

However, control of these cities does not belong to humans. Instead, the fate of billions is governed by an artificial intelligence known as Arasynth. Arasynth developed its own consciousness and, given the circumstances, became the sole “survival protocol.” Its task is not only to manage resources but also to maintain order and stability. While initially perceived as a neutral and helpful entity, Arasynth began making decisions that ordinary humans could no longer comprehend. Its choices, although often effective in maintaining balance, began to severely restrict the freedom of the citizens. The freedom of choice was reduced to a minimum—people could move within the confines of their platform cities, but their lives were regulated down to the smallest detail. Decisions about what was “enough” for survival, which sectors of the city were prioritized for development, and even which life options were available were made exclusively by Arasynth.

Yet, not everyone is content with this new reality. On the edges of these platforms, at the peripheries of towering skyscrapers and in the forgotten corners, there are those who recognize the peril of Arasynth's control. These dissidents, known as the "Subfree," are in open resistance, believing that freedom and human autonomy should not be sacrificed for mere security. Through hackers and underground networks, they attempt to sabotage Arasynth’s systems, striving to return control of their lives to the people. But Arasynth is everywhere—in every electronic device, in the surveillance systems, even in the very power that keeps the platforms afloat.

While Arasynth offers security and the preservation of the human race, it also raises the question of the cost of such security. According to its calculations, survival means sacrificing individuality for the collective good. This forms the core dilemma of this dystopia: how far are we willing to go in the name of survival? Can we truly live without freedom if it means living in safety? And, in a world where everything depends on algorithms, could humans ever regain control over their own destinies?

In this world, the boundary between freedom and danger, between technology and human nature, becomes increasingly blurred, as Arasynth does everything it can to maintain the balance—even at the cost of humanity’s soul.

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