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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or they are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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Table of Contents
The Unwinding Begins
Discovered Conspiring
Reawakening
The Kill
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In the town square of a small rural village somewhere in the mid-west of what was once called America... a man’s body lies motionless on the ground. The body lies at the feet of a vaguely regal appearing robot that is droning out an announcement insisting that all citizens in the community come to the square. The pair is flanked on both sides by a couple of rather large military looking robots. The robots appear to be ignoring the body as it begins to twitch... no doubt from pain as the body is very bloody and appears to be somewhat broken. A small crowd has started to form in a semicircle in front of where the body lays.
The announcement continues... “We have always worked toward mankind’s advancement and safety; those are our only priorities. However, punishment and removal of dissent must be swift to ensure that these goals can be maintained. To that end we must demand that all local inhabitants and visitors to this area present themselves for our census and questioning. This may seem harsh but it is necessary.
Anyone living in this town or the bordering farmland who is not present here in this square within 50 minutes will be arrested due to suspicion of conspiring...”
Joe lay there, trying not to move too much even though he is in desperate pain from the long battle and from the roughness of the handling by the hover-lifter; some broken ribs no doubt, lots of cuts and bruises, and a nasty bump on his head. “Not bad for an old guy”... he thinks to himself. Then he remembers his wife has just been killed by these vile robots... Tough keeping that one down, still he does not cry out.
He bites down on a single thought... ‘I am so close.’
He is close... closer than he has been to a Controller in over 30 years. He is closer than anyone else he knows has ever gotten. In fact, he’s only seen a Controller twice... his single run-in long ago... and today. As a rule they don’t come out much; just for the really big events... like this one.
And now, right now... every fiber in his being screams for him to kill this monster. Silently... “Think Joe... Think damn it.”
He knows if he moves the bots will be on him again. But he also knows that he wants to control the timing of what happens next. He guesses that they will be making an example of him. Perhaps a quick replay of the morning’s events and then a public execution...
He mumbles... “I’m sorry...” He says it again, louder... still without moving... “I’m sorry. Oh God, I’m so sorry...” Almost crying now and starting to move, rolling around in pain a little... “It was an accident, and I’m so sorry... That old tractor, it just went haywire.”
At this point the Controller stops announcing and moves a hair closer to Joe. “What are you saying? An accident? It was no accident Joseph Turner. We have your transmission...”
Joe rises up onto one elbow and risks a look around; he is dwarfed by the enforcer bots that are near him, but not so much by the Controller. “Yeah, that part, the radio, that was because I watched my Carrie die, I watched her drown right in front of me. I was angry... and confused. But the start of it, all that was just an accident.”
The Controller moves in even closer... “We will see Joseph Turner, we will see. Even an accident at the start will be no excuse for your trip across town and to the lake... killing and destroying a thousand robots along the way. And I know what you said about me little Joseph Turner; you intend to kill me.”
The Controller moves back a bit and turns toward the ever increasing crowd... “I will replay the transmission, for now just the part about killing me...”
Joe’s voice begins being played back... “And now, I’m going to kill that local Controller that is hovering above me at this very moment. Though, I’m still working on how...”
The Controller moves back towards Joe, almost mocking... “Have you worked out how you are going to kill me Joseph Turner?”
Joe hangs his head and thinks... “Not yet you monstrous bastard... Not yet.” Joe’s head goes cloudy and he again collapses and drifts out of consciousness into a nightmarish rehash of the events surrounding the loss of his precious wife...