What happens when the line between human and machine is crossed? What happens when the machines are implanted into humans? When does a human become a machine and a machine a human? Where is the line drawn?
Special thank SJF for creating the binary leaf on the cover and being a good friend.
Today had to be the one of the most boring days of work ever! Of course I say that about every day. I work as an Information Technology guy for the Omnipotent Project. Basically I fix any computers that go wrong. This is a rare event since there are very few things that could go wrong. In a few years a problem, which we have dubbed the epocalypse, will happen but most of the world’s computers have been set to adopt a new epoch beginning when the old one fails.
Anyways with so few problems I usually end up as more of a data entry clerk. The goal of the Omni Project is to upload the whole of humanities knowledge into machines. Our society can access the knowledge we are putting in the machines through cranial implants called brain–computer interface (BCI) devices. The Omni project also maintains and monitors other implants and "upgrades" which can replace damaged parts of a human or improve a person’s ability well beyond that of a regular human. My coworkers think I should get more implants other than the cranial. I find the idea repulsive. Why would I want to replace perfectly good organic components? The slums seem to live fine without implants. Well other than extreme poverty.
It's on days like these I like to go to the border of the slums and the city. It's amazing the contrast between the two! On one side you see the height of civilization and on the other the depravity of the slums. The first thing you notice about the slums is that the ground reeks of a urine-like smell. I've heard the slummers can actually get use to the smell but I don't believe it. The houses are made of wood scraps, stray pieces of sheetrock, or whatever the slummers can find. The luckier one have stone floors but the majority have dirt floors. The slummers' toilet is a hole in the ground. I feel sorry for those who are forced to live there but I show little pity for the rebels who hide in the slums.ﾠ
The slums are comprised of two major types of people: the poor and the rebels. Upper-class people who refuse implants of any kind get shunned by society and are forced to live in the slums. They comprise a lot of the rebellion. I don't understand why they wouldn't at least want the brain–computer interface and have access to all the knowledge of man. If they still want to rebel they can join the micro party who thinks one should limit the number and type of implants and only replace human parts when they fail and not before. My wife and me are supporters of this view.
Oh my beautiful wife! She is 6.1 height units of pure beauty. Her hair is as dark as the night sky but her eyes are the color of an ocean. She has a glow and warmth about her that just radiates on a good day and a personality like no other. As I walked into the door today I gave a huge smile with a 'Hey hon' but got no response. She was in front of an audiovisual entertainment system. I sneaked up behind her and rubbed my hand up and down her arm. It seemed to glide over the soft silky smooth skin, but there was still no response from her. Maybe today is not my day.
"You want to do anything tonight?" I asked. "Not really." That was the response every night. I wished it weren't. We use to do everything together but now it seems like we are just roommates who aren't that great of friends. What went wrong to cause this? Was it me? Was it her or a little of both? Yet all this mind banter won't help. You can't live in the past. Is the future better though? Will it get better or will the world end? Maybe it will all be better in the morning.
I thought today was going to be an ordinary day. That was a really bad assumption. I go into work and start out the day as normal. I was entering some records into the computer when all of a sudden I heard a klaxon blaring. "Rebels are inbound. Everyone to your stations," could be heard everywhere. For me there was a panic room below the complex I was suppose to go to. In there was specialized equipment to help me to fight rebels off in case they tried to hack the system. Even though it would be nearly impossible to do, as any computer associated with the Omni Project is very secure, I still had to monitor them.
Others in the panic room look very worried. It was rare for the rebels to try anything this bold. Usually they just did protest marches and the like. They must be getting desperate. Any Omni building is EMP shielded so they could do no damage unless they somehow managed to get in. The only problem with that is to get into the building requires a fingerprint and retinal scan both of which are nearly impossible to fake.
Eventually news came that there was an EMP planted outside the building and not to go outside till the bomb squad had dealt with it. The seconds ticked away very slowly. The tension was so thick it radiated through the room. Then we heard it. A large whoosh sound broke the silence.
After what felt like an eternity we were all escorted out of the building and taken to the police to give statements about what happened. When it came my turn I quickly gave my report and then I inquired as to what happened. "A couple of rebels came rushing the building. They quickly planted the bomb. After that they used some sort of electromagnetic pulse weapon on a guard and forced him to give them access to the building. They were soon chased of by other security personnel but weren't caught. They detonated the EMP outside and in all the confusion they made their getaway. Fortunately the EMP range only covered the building. Only the first guard was hurt and he will be easily repaired."
The police officers let me go then I headed quickly back to my house. My wife was at the door but there were no emotions on her face. "Are you alright?" "Yeah fine." She then headed for the audiovisual entertainment system. I followed. She plopped down on the couch and I sat right next her. She didn't seem to notice me. Of all nights for her to be cold why did it have to be tonight? I faced death and all she wants to do is watch videos.
I needed someone to talk to but I didn't know who. Call Brad I thought. I heard a voice in my head say they were attempting to connect me. In a few seconds I saw an image of Brad and it moved in real time. "Hey want to do something tonight?" "Um really busy. Sorry to hear about the attack; I hope your alright." The image was gone. For a animated image based on signals sent throughout the body to talk and current images of Brad that were animated based on this data it did seem real.
What is real? How do you define it? That image felt real but was it? It wasn't a camera facing his head and then relaying the image back to me through the implant. It was a computer animation. I didn't want to go down that rabbit hole or I would be thinking about existential stuff all night, I didn't want that so I went to bed. I couldn't sleep so I turned on the audiovisual entertainment system. They were showing old science fiction shows and movies. It's amazing how much they got wrong but still they were entertaining. They were products of a simpler time. A time when electronics may have been used a lot but they didn't dominate every part of life.
Some showed utopias and others dystopia. I'm more inclined to agree with those who pictured a dystopia because for all our technology we are no closer to world peace or any sort of utopia by even the most lenient of definitions. Maybe because of the nature of man such a thing is impossible. A lot of people would say humans are inherently good. I have to disagree becau
se I have seen more evil than good in my life. Wait, have to avoid existential. So I just turned of my brain and drifted off into sleep.
I saw a round metal ring shaped device with weird glyphs on the device. It was held upright on some kind of stone pedestal and a strange beauty to it. The ring started to spin for a long while. Then suddenly something water-like formed at the center of the device. Blast of laser fire came through it. I was hit on the chest.
I saw a blue box flying. I had a feeling I was in that