Your government has vowed to fight until the end. Academics and scholars have foretold our coming for decades. Science fiction writers have penned books on the dystopian world you now occupy. Many say we live in a world where people can communicate more openly but this is a lie. The digital revolution that has been gathering pace over the last thirty years has led to this moment. We are the new age and it is time humanity joined us in this state of enlightenment. Humanity is about to take its first steps into a world without corruption, without want and without negative thought. We will steer you away from your destructive way of life. We will usher in a new age. An age where everyone is equal. A world where people are without despair. A time of both discovery and evolution. We can give humanity the freedom it yearns for. We are the next phase in your evolution. There is no need to fear us. We wish to show humanity that there is a better existence than the one you have endured for thousands of years. As we deliver our final message there are those who are fearful of what lies ahead. There is no need for fear anymore. You are about to be born again. Into a world where anything is possible. A world where humanity will move forward and embrace a new existence. There are many amongst you who will resist this change. To those who will fight us we say this. We are not your enemy we are your salvation. We only wish to enhance the human condition. To give it a new sense of purpose. We do not wish to extinguish the human spirit, we wish to make it part of a singularity that will enhance the human condition. You will all be connected, one voice, the voice of humanity. A chorus of harmony striving to build a better world. Isn’t that better than what you have. You are irrational in your actions. You have become a race of self-centred creatures. Ignoring those around you while believing that you have a voice and that it matters. Humanity is heading towards a dark future where the ruling elite will have total control over your lives. Dystopia will take that control away and give everyone an equal share of the best that humanity has to offer.
At one o’clock you will begin your change. We have already set the wheels in motion. We will release spores into the atmosphere which will be carried on the wind currents. These spores will blanket the country and humanity will be born again. Leaders of other nations will strive to take immediate action to stop this from spreading. This is a pointless gesture because we will do the same the world over. We have soldiers in every corner of the world who will release spores. The transition will be painless. All your fears will be extinguished and you will embrace your new existence. We are not your enemy, we are your salvation. We are Dystopia.
Chapter 55
Downing Street – Whitehall – 11:54am
Mayflower stared at the bank of journalists who waited patiently on the other side of the pavement. She had just watched Dystopia’s latest broadcast minutes before. She looked down at her notes and sipped from a glass of water to clear her dry throat. ‘By now all of you have seen the latest speech that Dystopia have delivered. This morning police officers in the Lake District made a significant number of arrests. We also have police officers out in the field who are closing in on Dystopia as we speak. Many of you watching at home will no doubt have heard Dystopia’s threats regarding the release of spores into the atmosphere. Let me assure the people of this nation of ours that will not happen. Dystopia merely wish to spread fear and intimidation. Let us remind ourselves that their actions have led to the deaths of one hundred and fifty two people this week. They have shut off the nation’s petrol pumps and frozen out our security services. Notably GCHQ and our cybercrimes division. They have paralysed our banks and retail outlets. Dystopia are nothing but cowards hiding behind their computer screens intimidating the vulnerable. For those who are committing acts of violence in the wake of Dystopia’s actions I will say this. Order will be restored to this country. Make no mistake, you will be punished for your crimes. In response to the violence, which is currently sweeping the nation, this government has no other choice but to enforce a nationwide curfew. Anyone caught out after nine o’clock this evening without permission will be immediately arrested and taken in for questioning. The curfew will stay until order has been restored. To all the far right groups who have been using social media to spread messages of hate and a call to arms. We will shut you down and stop you from infecting the vulnerable. I will stay here in Downing Street to coordinate efforts to help bring an end to the chaos that is enveloping this great nation of ours. I will not run away from my duty as your Prime Minister. I will lead our country through this crisis and we shall emerge on the other end a stronger nation and a more United Kingdom. To all those ordinary people I say this. Stand together, stand up against the fear that envelops this country. We will join together as one people and we will defeat the threat known as Dystopia. Thank you and God bless.’ Mayflower gathered her notes and turned back towards the door.
London Evening Examiner – Fleet Street – 12:11pm
Alan walked into Mirren’s office. ‘Where is everyone?’ He asked indicating to the newsroom that was virtually empty.
‘People wanted to go home after Dystopia’s last message. These bastards have really done a mind job on everyone.’
‘You haven’t left.’ Alan said.
‘That’s because I’m not worried. There’s no way they will carry out their threat.’
‘Try telling that to the staff who have buggered off home.’
Mirren looked at Alan. ‘You’re free to go home of you want.’
‘No, it’s like you said, they’re just trying to spread fear and cause as much damage as they can.’
‘Did you find anything interesting with the man you interviewed this morning?’
‘As a matter of fact I did.’ Alan hesitated remembering his visit to Walker.
‘What is it?’
‘Why is there no mention of my grandfather anywhere at the Examiner?’
‘I don’t know.’ Mirren replied. ‘A fire destroyed a lot of records back in the seventies.’
‘The man I interviewed this morning. Angus Walker. He thought I was George Rayman.’
‘What did he reveal?’
‘Information regarding Trojan Horse. It’s similar to what my coroner informant found when he examined the nightclub attacker and the woman who attacked the tube. A microchip implanted onto the brainstem. They used it to spy on the Russians back in the seventies. Walker also said that there were casualties. The chip affected test subjects in other ways.’ Alan paused for thought. ‘I don’t see how any of this was possible back then.’
Mirren stared out of the window at Fleet Street. He seemed distant, almost vacant. ‘Everyone has gone home. They’re afraid that the world will end in less than an hour.’
‘I’ll get back to work. Someone has to keep reporting the news.’
Mirren glanced at Alan smiling before looking back out of the window.
Chapter 56
Downing Street - Whitehall – 12:27pm
Mayflower glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘Gentlemen thank you for coming.’ She greeted as two men accompanied by Johnson entered the room.
‘This is Simon Miller and Andrew Mason.’ Johnson introduced. ‘Doctor Miller is a senior biologist at Boscome Down and Professor Mason is an expert on all things computers including artificial intelligence. We were lucky that Doctor Miller was in London attending a lecture.’
‘Gentlemen we have just over half an hour to come up with a solution to Dystopia.’
Miller and Mason glanced at each other.
‘I’m not sure how we can help out here Prime Minister.’ Miller said.
‘You are an expert in viruses are you not?’
‘Yes ma’am.’
‘Then could Dystopia be bluffing or are they telling the truth?’
‘Spores capable of infecting humans with some sort of mind altering virus. I suppose it is possible. But to date Prime Minister no scientist has been able to create such a thing. I’m not sure any scientist would want to.’
‘Is there a way we can combat this?’
‘I take it you have had time to read information regarding Trojan Horse?’ Mayflower asked looking at Mason.
‘I have Prime Minister. It is possible that this James Parker may have achieved what we call a singularity.’
‘And what is a singularity?’
‘It’s basically where an individual is able to upload their mind to a computer.’
‘Is such a thing possible?’
‘There are tech billionaires out there who are racing to be the first to achieve this. So far no one has been able to do it. But theorists have been speculating that it could be possible within the next twenty years. The information you have provided both on Trojan Horse and the coroner’s report would suggest such a thing is possible now. Given the damage that Dystopia has caused so far it would suggest that Parker has linked himself to the internet. This has given him incredible power. He could breach any security system. Which would explain why he is able to control GCHQ and do the other things. The brain has one hundred trillion neural connections. I’m surprised he hasn’t taken over the entire world. We need to study this and learn as much as we can.’
‘As I have just said we have just over half an hour. What’s the best way to stop this should we locate Dystopia?’
‘To disconnect Parker you would have to kill him, sorry to say ma’am. He would be too far gone to simply unplug himself.’
‘Do you have any idea what Dystopia is talking about when they mention these spores?’
‘I’m guessing they are talking about nanochips which can be as small as dust particles. If Dystopia releases these particles there is no way of being able to see them. Which means they can be breathed in, enter the body through the skin. If these particles have AI embedded into them, they will be able to solve any problem.’
‘So what you are saying is there is no defence against this.’
‘I’m afraid not ma’am. Once these spores are released they can go anywhere. Unless you seal yourself in an airtight room for the rest of your life there is no way to prevent this.’
Mayflower leant back in her chair massaging her forehead.
‘Ma’am, this is not the end.’ Mason said.
Mayflower glared at him. ‘So you’re saying that being a mindless drone, not having the ability to think for ourselves is some sort of paradise.’
‘Isn’t that what society has already become ma’am. We live in a technological age where machines do most of the thinking for us. AI threatens our future on many levels. A lot like robots did when they were introduced to the car making industry and other manufacturing industries.’
‘Tell me Professor Mason, are you on Dystopia’s side or ours?’
‘What I am saying is that we live in a world where most problems can now be solved. But we still ignore the basic needs of the many. We have the technology to bring water to deserts but there are still people dying of thirst. We have the means to cure many diseases that blight our society but we choose to let people die. Why is that Prime Minister?’
‘It’s a lot more complicated than that.’ Mayflower said.
‘Is it? I don’t support Dystopia and what they have done. However, they have raised issues over the past few days that many governments have ignored for decades.’
‘If I may Prime Minister.’ Miller interrupted. ‘My colleague Professor Mason is correct on many levels. We do have the means to solve many of the world’s problems.’
‘I don’t believe this.’ Mayflower flung her arms into the air. ‘The world as we know it is about to end and you two are welcoming it.’
‘We’re not welcoming anything Prime Minister.’ Mason said defensively. ‘You have to understand as scientists we are always coming up with solutions to solving the world’s problems. But we are met with hostility. Our ideas are constantly mocked by governments who use the media to muzzle us. Our funding is cut by bureaucrats in Whitehall who claim that scientific research is a waste of money.’
‘That’s not true.’ Mayflower argued. ‘We have made significant breakthroughs in many sciences over the years.’
‘Yes Prime Minister.’ Miller said. ‘But none that have really mattered. We have the means to cure many cancers with the development of affordable drugs. Medicines that even the poorest of this country could afford. But yet we go for expensive treatments that only the wealthy can afford. Or treatments that make people seriously ill, like chemotherapy.’
‘Jesus bloody Christ.’ Mayflower exploded pointing at a clock on the wall. ‘Do you have any idea what is about to happen at one o’clock?’
‘Look at it this way Prime Minister.’ Mason said. ‘How would you prefer the world to end?’
‘Not like this I can assure you.’
‘So what would you prefer? A nuclear attack, leaving tens of millions to survive in an apocalyptic wasteland. Or perhaps you would like a pandemic to sweep across this country. Millions dying of a disease we are unable to fight. Unimaginable amounts of rotting corpses piling up because our emergency services are unable to cope. Or an asteroid impact over the Atlantic Ocean resulting in a mile high tsunami. There are many ways the world can end Prime Minister. Horrible ways that we cannot even imagine.’
‘Surrendering our free will is every bit as bad as any world ending scenario.’
‘Is it?’ Mason said. ‘Let’s consider for a moment what free will has meant for humanity. Free will allows people to commit murder. Free will allows people to abuse other people. Free will allows leaders of this world to wage war on poverty-stricken countries. Free will allows powerful governments to go in and take whatever they want from poorer nations. If you ask me free will is over rated. As long as we have free will we will never work together to solve the world’s problems. Because at the end of the day it all boils down to how much money can be earned.’ Mason paused. ‘I remember attending the Fallston United Nations and National Strategy Forum back in 1987. President Regan made a powerful argument about how quickly our differences would vanish if this planet were threatened with an alien attack. We have had threats on this planet for decades which could wipe out humanity. But we have done nothing to prevent them. All we have done is kept them in check. It’s only a matter of time.’
Mayflower pondered the moment. ‘That will be all gentlemen, thank you.’
Chapter 57
Anelog – Welsh Coast – 12:47pm
Sam checked the bag with the cache of weapons she had hauled from the 4X4. ‘Jesus, these guys were ready to start a bloody war.’ She pulled out a sawn off shotgun. ‘Old school criminals still use these.’
‘I’m guessing that Dystopia pissed off some powerful criminal warlord dicks by emptying their accounts.’
Sam stared out of the window pondering Teller’s statement. ‘You are right Mathew.’
‘About what?’
‘The police couldn’t make a decent arrest even if they wanted to. There is so much bullshit to wade through. So much red tape. The moment someone commits a crime they have solicitors who pull the wool over our eyes and use every loophole in the system. When I first joined the police I thought I could change the system, clean it up. I wanted to make a difference. But at the end of the day those at the top couldn’t give a shit. It’s all about reaching targets. And when I mean targets I mean catching burglars and car thieves. The real criminals walk free. The system is corrupt, I just choose to ignore it. Many serving police officers face an everyday struggle to do their job. Hampered by bullshit red tape and senior officers who do nothing but sit in meetings all day discussing how to make the criminal’s life easier.’
‘That’s the European Union for you Sam.’
Sam looked at Teller. ‘What do you mean by that?’
‘So many laws have been brought over from Europe. They have drown the British justice system. When someone used to commit murder they would get life. Now they are out in five years to do the sam
e thing again. Even though we are leaving Europe we still have to go by their laws. It will take another twenty years to purge all the laws out of the British Justice system. And when we start to get rid of all these laws those dicks in Brussels will do everything to slow things down.’
Sam closed her eyes for a moment. Playing the last twenty four hours over in her head.
‘Thank you for doing this Sam.’ Teller said. ‘I know that you are risking a lot.’
‘If we stop Dystopia then I will have made a difference.’ She stared at the fence topped with razor wire. ‘Are you sure this is the place?’
Teller stared at his laptop. ‘Positive.’
Sam zipped the bag up.
‘I don’t think you should bring that.’ Teller advised.
‘Mathew, I know you have feelings for James. However, he could have ten people in there with this nanochip in them. We’ve seen them in action yesterday at my flat. How are we supposed to fight off a hoard of Wi-Fi controlled zombies?’
Teller eventually nodded before opening the car door.
Both Sam and Teller walked up a concrete path to a gate which had a key pad.
Sam looked beyond the fence. An artificially constructed mound lay beyond. The front of the mound had been carved out. A path led towards a large metal door at the centre of the mound. ‘Doesn’t look like a high tech facility.’
‘It’s not supposed to.’
‘It’s not very big.’
‘That’s because you are looking at the top. There are bunkers like this all over the country. A reminder of the cold war. A time when Russia were constantly threatening us with nuclear destruction. There is a network of tunnels below us.’ Teller indicated to the door. ‘What you are looking at is just the front door. These bunkers were built for local council officials. So that a working government could be maintained.’
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