No Geek Rapture for Me_I'm Old School

by Jonelle Renald

  “Well, who else could it be? We’ve heard a lot of stories about what happened at Noonan Hall, you know. Strange stories. The sheriff called there — twice. A few months ago when you disappeared, and then a second time a week ago. Gunfire, explosions, apparitions descending from the clouds! Strange things, strange doings. Had to have been a small army of cyberwarriors that rescued you, all of them rattling their sabers. Seriously though, we were worried about what happened to you when you just up and disappeared. We didn’t know whether you might be dead or not. Couldn’t you at least send an email to let us know you were OK?”

  Folding her arms on the table, Mia looked down at her plate. “Actually, no, I couldn’t! I’m very sorry to have worried you, but most of my time was in a remote location that isn’t even on the grid. Even so, I hadn’t considered contacting anyone. I didn’t want anyone at iCon finding me again, so I couldn’t risk any communication in case they could trace it back to my location. You know how people in the movies are always getting tracked down because they do something stupid like contacting family or friends, who are also endangered when they receive the message. After what happened to me that first day, I couldn’t risk it. I didn’t know what iCon might do, how far their reach might extend!”

  “Well, we’re glad to know you’re safe now,” Jan said. “And thank God iCon has truly and absolutely paid for everything they did! Did you hear about what happened there? Explosions, videos of strange things — a red horse and a knight galloping in the middle of the air, then fighting that reptile thing — all happening seventy feet up off the ground. And all the videos of it going viral online! Then later, a huge black monster rushing inside the HQ and a moment later rushing back out of the building, only to disappear into a huge crack in the ground that opened up and then closed after it. And on top of all that, Damien Cezary and Chase Amunson are missing, and nobody knows what has happened to them. They’ve just vanished off the face of the earth! Good riddance I say! That whole place was just a nest of rattlesnakes! And now it’s closed, gone out of business. Couldn’t have happened to a better place.”

  “Oh, speaking of iCon closing shop,” Dina said. “That reminds me. Mia, I have the stuff from your cubicle in a box in my car. It makes sense now, but when it happened, I couldn’t understand why iCon cleared your desk out the very day you disappeared and had your car towed back to your house. ‘Mia Marwitz has given notice and left the iCon team today, and she didn’t provide a forwarding address’ was all they would say when I tried to find out where you had gone. I always thought something fishy was going on behind the scenes there.”

  Mia thought, “More like something reptile-y going on!” But she only said, “Me too! I had a bad feeling about that place from the beginning. I wish I had paid more attention to that feeling!”

  “Well, I think Skip Morrison had something to do with what happened,” Jan said. “After all the trouble at the iCon HQ, Agnes Holden saw him receiving care at the emergency room in Dubuque. They’d discovered him on the floor of the lobby, unconscious with a big knot on his forehead. He says he doesn’t remember anything, but I bet he was in it up to his eyeballs. Or at least up past his skinny jeans.”

  “He was the one who sent me on an errand to Noonan Hall, which is where the secret and illegal experimentation was going on,” Mia said. “I don’t know that he knew they were planning to grab me over at Noonan Hall or that they intended to conduct experiments on me. But it wouldn’t surprise me if he did know. He always made sure he was in on everything going on at iCon, one way or another, so who knows. But your and my suspicions aren’t proof, are they.”

  “I wish you would come forward,” Dina said. “Tell the authorities how you were kidnapped and put into that brain scanning tank against your will. People at iCon should be arrested for what they did to you!”

  Mia just looked away and thought, “That won’t ever happen, although the people responsible are being punished! For eternity! I wish I could tell you that they’ve all been dragged down into hell by the Sarrabu Guardian. The cops wouldn’t ever be able to find anybody to arrest!”

  Out loud she said, “Well, Cezary and Amunson were the ones ultimately responsible for what happened to me. And they are the only people I could positively identify, the ones in charge of everything that went on. Obviously, other people were involved, but I really don’t know anything that would help to prosecute any one. All I could testify to is based on what I think, my opinion. There’s no real evidence I could provide. You told me that nobody has seen either one of those two since the trouble at the HQ. Maybe that means men in black took them away in a black helicopter to a secret lockup. Or maybe they decided to skip the country because they were about to be exposed as criminals. You said they weren’t at the business meeting, so it does seem like they were planning something. I appreciate what you’re saying about coming forward, but it would be better for me to keep a low profile.”

  Just then Ethan, his long dark hair tied back, moustache, beard, and scars highlighted by the sunlight overhead, his strong right arm in a sling, walked into The Midnight Airship, looked around, then nodded and smiled at Mia who waved to him. Jan and Dina stopped talking and looked at each other, then watched Ethan walk toward their table to stand beside Mia’s chair and hand her the keys to her sports car.

  “Well, yes,” Dina said. “Now I can see what you’re saying. There really is something to what you’re saying. I can see why you’d want to keep a low profile. Perfectly understandable why you’d think that way. Anybody would.”

  Blushing, Mia said, “Jan. Dina. This is Ethan —.”

  Jan interrupted, “Don’t tell us anything we might have to testify to later! You don’t have to introduce us, we can see who this is.” She took Ethan’s good hand and patted it several times as she smiled up at him.

  “Thank you so much for looking after Mia, keeping her safe!” Dina said. “Just promise that you’ll continue taking good care of her.”

  Eyebrows raised, Ethan looked at Mia, who laughed and said, “I didn’t say anything! All on their own, they’ve decided that you are some kind of hacktivist like the man in the Anonymous mask in that vendetta movie.”

  Ethan laughed and nodded to each. “Jan. Dina. Very nice to meet you. And yes, I will continue to take very good care of Mia. Same as before.”

  “Very nice to meet you, Ethan.” Jan giggled, then said, “And we won’t say one word about meeting you.”

  Dina stood up and said, “Well, I’m going in to clean out my desk today. iCon is closed for good — at least as far as current management is concerned. We were all told the building would be open today, and we should wrap everything up before five today because no one gets in after that. Going forward, they would be (quote) ‘no longer doing business and would be exploring other options for the future’ (unquote). Which means they’ve gone belly up, and we’re all out of a job, unless someone else decides to buy them out and re-open.”

  She waited a moment, and when Jan didn’t move, Dina said, “And Jan is going with me.”

  Jan looked at Dina for a moment, and then with a frown on her face, repeated, “And I’m going with her.”

  Dina nodded, wiggled her first two fingers back and forth, then used her head to point toward the door.

  “Oh! Yes, you’re right!” Jan laughed. “Hahaha! I’m going. With her.” She stood, gave Ethan and Mia both a hug, and offered her chair to Ethan. Mia hugged Dina and Jan, and said, “Thanks for everything! No — wait! My stuff is in your car. Let me go with you to get it.”

  Ethan said, “No rush, Mia. I’m going to order something. Haven’t had any lunch yet.”

  Jan yelled from the front door, “You’ll like anything you decide to order, Ethan! The Airship’s got the best food ever made.”

  * * * * * * * * *

  After Words from the Author

  We all know that technology is develo
ping faster than ever before. When I see a device (like a cellphone) in a movie that’s only a decade old, I’m surprised at how quaint it looks, as antiquated as a Model T. And we assume that this astounding rate of change will continue, if not rev up even faster. Me, I’m still waiting for those twenty-first century flying cars to become a reality.

  But I don’t think many people are expecting new technology to turn their lives completely upside down. I know I wasn’t — until I started researching transhumanism. World-altering changes are scheduled for our very near future. Without giving much notice to the people affected, and certainly without allowing time for anyone to object. I would recommend that anyone interested in seeing how their children’s lives will change to research the subjects of transhumanism and artificial intelligence (also known the AI Singularity) to see what is headed our way.

  While the experts presented in this novel are fictional, and the views provided here don’t represent the opinions or statements made by any actual individual or organization, the novel does reflect my opinion on how the future designed by transhumanism might look — bleak, oppressive, with total assimilation and loss of a personal self. Transhumanism (Humanity+ or H+) promotes meshing humans and technology to create Human Evolution 2.0, ending death and all mental and physical limitations. In many cases, it also means creating a hive mind society, everyone connected to everyone through a network or cloud. (Because it worked so well for the Borg, didn’t it?)

  Some transhumanist experts say this current generation will be the last fully human generation. That sounds like a pretty bleak forecast to me, but check it out for yourself. Your choices, your results may vary. But whatever our opinions, an H+ rollout is coming within a decade or two to a society near you, put in place by a technocracy that will manage world resources by controlling individual use, 24/7. And that technocracy is saying I must hand over my future and my liberty to them, that I can’t back out of the transhumanist future later if I want, even if I’m unhappy with the results.

  Predictions are that between the years 2030–2045, every aspect of life and the economy will be impacted by the rising tide of artificial intelligence running all programs and services. Artificial intelligence will do the jobs that millions of people used to be paid to do. Not just in blue collar, trucking, and farming. White collar jobs will also disappear as well — good-paying salaries and careers are to vanish as they are eliminated by AI taking charge of accounting, middle management, disease diagnosis, news gathering and reporting, and teaching (to name a few). And no plans for replacement jobs for the unemployed. No wonder people are now talking about UBI (universal basic income).

  Here’s just one example of what is planned. According to a journalist attending a 2017 futurist conference, experts are saying if their plans are implemented on schedule, no child born after 2010 will ever own their own car. Instead, for long trips driverless car services running on smart roads will be hired. And for most daily travel, people will use mass transit. This shift will totally eliminate the sectors of the economy that are devoted to car manufacturing jobs and related unions, new and used car dealerships, auto maintenance and repair service providers, car parts (including tires) sales and manufacture, car insurance. Even the bottom line for hospitals and emergency room services will be greatly impacted once the number of car accidents are dramatically reduced, leading to layoffs in emergency medical staff.

  In spite of these issues, for me, the problem with transhumanism just a resistance to the idea of technology taking over the planet. I think Humanity+ has built-in flaws and presumptions that will create more and more problems as they proceed. Their mistake centers on a misunderstanding human nature, a belief that they can discard the unseen, spiritual aspects of the human soul as non-existant, ignored in their planning for a never-ending life.

  This mistake wouldn’t be the first we humans have made planning to create our own eternal life. Ancient Egyptians wanted to achieve immortality by mummifying their bodies for future resurrection, care taken to preserve internal organs in jars for later regeneration with the body. Unfortunately, their ideas about physiology were not accurate. Their assumption was that intellect is located in the thorax, that the heart was the seat of emotion, thought, choice, and deliberation. The gray lumpy stuff inside the skull otherwise known as a brain? Considered worthless, it was scraped out and thrown away. As a result, their plans for immortality were fatally flawed, doomed to an eternity spent without a brain, without intelligence or thought. It’s my belief that Humanity+ is also going forward with similar flawed premises about what is needed for a successful immortal life. They are planning to spend eternity with a juiced up brain after discarding their heart and soul as useless and nonessential. Sounds to me just as unbalanced as previous Egyptian plans were.

  But as I said, don’t take my word for it. Research these topics, see what you think for yourself.

  – Transhumanism (Humanity+ or H+)

  – The AI Singularity or Technological Singularity

  – The Internet of Things (IoT)

  – The Internet of Everything (IoE)

  Ready or not, these developments will affect your future. And soon. Because these changes will involve more than just the supporters of Humanity+. Technocrats are planning to take everyone (including you and me) with them in their idea of Evolution 2.0, whether we want to go with them or not. And the technocrats are not planning to ask us for our approval before implementing their plans to completely re-make the future.

  Further information on my research into transhumanism is provided in the Appendix.

  Jonelle Renald

  * * * * * * * * *

  About the Author

  Ever since reading The Hobbit in the eighth grade, Jonelle aspired to write like Tolkien and create real worlds that couldn’t possibly exist. As a nonfiction writer, she has worked as a journalist, technical and freelance writer. A native Iowan, she studied English lit at the University of Iowa. (Go Hawks!) Widowed with two children, she currently lives in Mapleton, Iowa with her min pin, Tallie.

  * * * * * * * * *

  Appendix

  Vocabulary

  Adaruk:Fear

  Anzillu:Abomination

  Asiptah:Magician (feminine)

  Asisu:Wretched

  Behl:Lord (Behlum: my lord)

  Bintah:Daughter

  Daim:Always, continuously

  Dannum:Strong, strength

  Darisum:Lifetime, eternity, forever

  Dinnamu:Fool, person of lowly status

  Duggahei:Clay, lifeless mass of clay

  Elemeh:I’ll rise up

  Elenu:Above, over

  Emukk:Power

  Eresh:Scented, perfumed

  Eri:Soldiers, army

  Erset la Tari:Land of No Return

  Eshik:Door, doorway

  Ezeru:Cursed

  Gibil:One of flames

  Hamta:Without haste, in good time

  Hassu:Head of lettuce

  Ilati:Goddess

  Im:Wind, breath

  Ina:Through

  Itimah Kittsum:Darkened room

  Kanpahmi:I remember

  Kassapi:Sorcerer

  Kelba:Dog

  Kelbehi:Pack of dogs

  Khuum pomukh:Shut your mouth

  Kima:As, like

  Koru:Guard, guardian

  Kuan:Opening the heavens

  Labiruk:Reach old age

  Lapan:Before

  Lugal:Angry master kills slave

  Mah:And, but (conjunction)

  Makkatu:Fall, drop

  Makklu-kan:Blood sacrifice, burnt offering

  Mallum:Devils

  Mamitu:Oaths, pledges

  Maru:Son

 
; Mimma:Whatever

  Nadanumeh:Gives to me, pays me

  Nahu:Calm down

  Nisme:Listen to me

  Parasudth:Render, implement

  Sa:Who

  Sag:Head

  Sakkirah:Drunkard (pl. sakkiru)

  Sarrabu:Demon, monster

  Sarru:Liar (sarratum = lie)

  Saru:Wind

  Seltu:Commander (pl. seltir)

  Semu:Hear and obey

  Shargaz:Supreme smiter

  Sharur:Hunter

  Spistah:Unclean woman

  Talmai:Deliver, bestow, give

  Urukah:Larva, maggot (pl. uruku)

  Wardum:Slave

  Xul:Evil

  Ati me, peta babkamah lurubah anaku:

  Gatekeeper, open the gate for me so I can enter here.

  Kima parsi labiruti:

  Treat her in accordance with the ancient rites.

  * * * * * * * * *

  Bibliography: Fencing

  Books

  Ordway, Holly. Not God’s Type: An Atheist Academic Lays Down Her Arms. ©2014 (Ignatius Press: San Francisco, CA) — first edition ©2010 (Moody Publishers: Chicago, IL)

  Werner, Doug. Fencer’s Start-Up: A Beginner’s Guide to Fencing. [Start-Up Sports series, # 8]

  ©1997, 4th printing 2004 (Tracks Publishing: Chula Vista, CA)

  Online

  Hanes, V. How to go to a Tournament. ©2014 (Hampton Roads Fencing Club: Yorktown, VA)

  www.hrfencingclub.net/other/Tournament-How-To.pdf

  Bibliography: Airships, UFOs

  Books