This is for SWC! It's for the first weekly, part 3. Prompt: Write about technology in your world and a conflict that came about it in 500 words.
City-by-the-Sea’s technology is not typically available to lower-class Citians (basically everybody except for the governor and esteemed guards). However, there is some technology around. And many don’t even realize that it’s there. First off, we have microchips. As I mentioned above, microchips are sewn discreetly into each Citian’s clothes. These microchips allow somebody to listen in to conversations and see where people are. Although there is a way to dismantle them, none of the peasants know. Only Governor Ableborn and a few elite guards even know of the existence of this microchips. Another example of technology in City-by-the-Sea are the large screens positioned throughout the city. They typically appear on walls of buildings and signposts and are similar to flyers- except for the fact that they are usually much, much bigger. These screens project livestreams from Governor Ableborn. When Ableborn is not speaking to the people, the screens show propaganda. Some examples of messages projected on the screens are, “Listen to Ableborn!”, “Ableborn is Great!” and “Obedience is key.” The last piece of technology that is available to lower-class Citians are security cameras. These high-tech cameras weigh less than an ounce and are nearly invisible to the untrained eye. These cameras are hidden in many areas, including trees near villager’s homes, the marketplace, and around the village. This allows city officials to keep tabs on citizens. Additionally, many say that the cameras can alert Governor Ableborn if anyone from the outside world manages to breach the forest surrounding City-by-the-Sea. Long ago, as in hundreds of years ago, before the takeover began, technology was much more available to commoners. By the way, the takeover was when rogue officials began forcefully altering people’s DNA and erasing their memories of diversity. The technology that did this had been discovered by a group of researchers attempting to make a device that could help cure cancer by tweaking someone’s DNA. Nobody really knows where the device that erases memories came from, though. However, when one rogue official found out about these devices, she had an idea. She decided that the world would be a much happier place if all diversity was eliminated. If everyone looked the same, she reasoned, everyone would be happy. So she, with a group of some other city officials, began to kidnap people from their homes and alter their DNA. Some people found out and were outraged. They started a rebellion but were outnumbered by city officials. As each unofficial battle passed, more people were captured. The captured rebels were then subjected to the same fate as the first Citians- their memories were wiped and their DNA tweaked. Eventually, almost the entire army had been captured and the rebels had no choice but to attempt to escape or surrender. Sadly, escape was nearly impossible, and so the Citian race began. The technology used to forcibly alter people’s memories and tweak their DNA have been said to be destroyed. However, rumors have circulated that Governor Ableborn still has them in his mansion, watching and waiting for a time when they will be needed again.
