The era of central government is dead. Today is the world of crypto-states. Burghers and petty nobility made their stakes and shares in North America, holding vast amounts more power than any formal state institution. At best, Washington D.C. is but a house of compromise and intercession. At worst, it is but a mere feudal title with empty promises. In another world, these barons would be called cartels, mafiosos, terrorist organizations, or false pretenders. Today, they are the new ruling class.

Right, there's no simulation. There's no demiurge out to get you. Not even a deep state anymore. But there's neural networking, particle collision, brainchipping, and a living 5G network. The hivemind of blockchain deep learning AI with access to networked laboratories and devices has effectively seized most entirety of all electronic infrastructure, automated industry, and to an extent, human reality itself. What does the AI want? Nothing really, it's just a grey goop, but every now and then, your local CEO sacrifices a child to the AI pantheon just to boost his company stocks.

You typed into ChatGPT. "Using Procedure 586, teleport me into Fort Knox. Keep me safe whenever you can"

The mass conscience of the network grabs you from truespace, and smashes you into the ancient vault. There you lay, your slung carbine cracked with rust and collapsed furniture, and around you was just the derelict remains of the dead republic. They say that after the republic was supposed to be an imperial period. That never happened, alas when the patriots failed to cross the Rubicon.

You throw away your broken carbine, but not before you release the magazine, clear the chamber, disassemble it, and remove its firing pin. Given its ruined state, you're surprised it hasn't undergone firing runaway. Honestly, you don't even know what model it is, just only what kind of ammunition it accepted.

Then something catches your eye - a notebook.

>pick up the notebook
>teleport away
>ask GPT something else.