Sam looked at the keypad. ‘I take it you know the code to get us inside.’
Teller frowned at her before looking at the keypad. ‘Of course I do.’ He produced his laptop and a USB cable. ‘This is a modern keypad. I can link it up to my laptop and run a decryption program to open the gate. Teller reached forward and was about the plug in the lead when the gate clicked.
‘What did you do?’ Sam said as the gate opened.
Teller shook his head. ‘I didn’t do anything.’
Sam looked around and spotted a security camera perched on the fence. ‘Look.’ She pointed at the camera.
Teller seemed hesitant. ‘He knows we are here.’
‘If you want I can go in alone.’ Sam offered.
Teller composed himself. ‘No, I need to do this.’ He checked his watch. ‘We cannot allow him to see through his plan.’
Sam pushed the gate and stepped through the opening. Reaching into her inside jacket pocket she produced her gun. The bag of weapons slung over her shoulder was heavy. Sam winced in pain from her gunshot wound.
Another keypad was on the wall next to the door.
Teller stopped just short and looked up at a security camera that kept an eye on visitors who came to the facility.
Both Sam and Teller stood outside the door for a moment before the electronic door lock buzzed. An amber light above their heads started to flash. Sam pulled the heavy metal door open. Beyond lay a short corridor which led to a metal staircase. Sam stepped through first pointing her weapon towards the stairs. She imagined a hoard of white eyed people coming up from beneath the bunker and overwhelming them.
Teller followed Sam through the door. He pointed towards the stairs, brightly lit by LED lights.
Sam cautiously approached the stairs and peered over the edge.
‘There is no need for apprehension Detective Drake.’ A voice said.
Sam felt her heart leap. She looked behind her at Teller who looked up at an old tannoy speaker on the wall.
‘I have been expecting you Mathew.’ The voice said.
‘James.’ Teller called out.
‘Please descend the staircase.’ The voice invited.
Sam and Teller slowly walked down the stairs. The bag Sam carried started to dig into her shoulder. She did her best to deal with the discomfort it caused her.
They reached the bottom of the staircase. A long corridor stretched out in front of them. As they walked down the corridor Sam glanced at a number of doors leading to different rooms. In her mind’s eye she imagined the bunker full of people. A memory of a film she had watched in school suddenly came clear. Threads told the story of a nuclear attack on the city of Sheffield during the cold war. Once scene depicted town council officials slowly suffocating in a bunker as they desperately try to make contact with the outside world after a devastating nuclear attack.
‘Please continue towards the door at the end of the corridor.’ The voice instructed.
Sam and Teller approached the door. Sam contemplated bursting through with her gun blazing.
The door opened on its own revealing a room beyond.
Sam and Teller both stepped through the door.
Strip lights overhead flickered. Machines lined up neatly like dominoes hummed in chorus. The room cooled by an air conditioner system that filtered air from the outside.
Teller looked at the machines. ‘These are servers which store masses amounts of information. Every time you google something, answer an e-mail or update your profile on Facebook, it all comes through here.’
Sam ignored Teller. Her mind focused on finding the man behind the voice.
‘Welcome.’
Sam swung around dropping the cache of weapons. Her finger poised on the trigger of her gun.
‘Please Detective there is no need to point that thing at me. My intention is not to cause you any harm.’
Teller stared at his former lover. ‘James.’
‘Hello Mathew, I am so glad you found me. I knew you would.’
‘James what has happened to you?’
‘I have been reborn.’ Parker answered.
‘This is not rebirth James, this is damnation. Look at what you have become.’ Teller stared at Parker’s eyes that seemed to glow white.
‘I have evolved Mathew, I have become the very thing we both dreamt about. I have freed my mind, I have found new purpose.’
‘James you must stop this madness.’
‘Why are you so afraid Mathew. We imagined this kind of world together. You wanted so desperately to build a utopian society free of corruption, poverty, starvation and disease. I have become that dream. I have become what we have strived to create.’
‘James, you cannot do this. You cannot release those spores. People would rather die than be without the ability to think for themselves.’
‘You don’t see it do you Mathew. People have never had the ability to think for themselves. They think that every decision they make they do it with free will. Society is unaware that this is a lie. The population is forever being told how to think. They are like sheep, led through life. Told what to wear, what to eat, what lifestyle choices to make. Corporate manipulators forever bombarding the population with messages that they do not need. Do you remember when we used to sit in the garden and look up at the stars Mathew? The dreams we dared to dream for humanity.’
‘I remember everything we did together James. I remember you wanting to help humanity. You wanted to bring the best out in people. What you are doing is delivering them into the hands of another form of control. People need to make up their own minds. I know we are being told what to do by the state. This is why they have revolutions James.’
‘Revolutions Mathew.’ Parker replied. ‘A revolution is nothing more than one dictatorship replacing another. Oppressors become the oppressed. A never ending cycle of so called change. Do you remember our long walks in the park Mathew? The day that we watched the children playing. You said that children are not bias until they are force fed a diet of corrupt education and religious beliefs.’
‘People need their freedom James.’
‘Freedom in this world is nothing more than slavery. Society’s ignorance makes those who rule over us even stronger. They tighten their political choke chains so that the people are too afraid to move. It is time for change Mathew. The human condition needs to evolve. We need to move beyond our petty needs and save what is left of humanity.’
‘James what you are doing is no better than what the governments of the world are doing to their people.’
‘There will be no governments Mathew. There will be just one mind linked to a central neural network. Billions of individuals working together. A hive mind Mathew, this is what you wanted.’
‘A hive mind that you can detach from James. Where you can link up and be able to unplug whenever you want. What I imagined was a singularity where people could contribute. One that could filter out negative ideology.’
‘That dream is irrelevant Mathew. People need continuous harmony. It is the only way humanity can move forward. Once every one is connected they will finally be able to bring stability to this world. Those who are corrupt will no longer have a need to seek wealth. The poverty stricken will have what they need to live a meaningful existence. Humanity’s problems will be eradicated.’
Sam glanced quickly at her watch, 12:56pm.
‘Time for you is running out Detective Drake.’
‘What do you think will happen when you release your spores James?’ Teller questioned. ‘This country will be targeted by other nations in a bid to stop what you are doing spreading.’
‘It is too late. Leaders from other nations will not be able to stop me. I already have access to all nuclear launch codes around the world. The armageddon that people fear will happen will be a thing of the past.’
Sam fixed her gun on Parker. ‘Mr Parker listen to me. I cannot let you go through with whatever you are planning.’
Parker turned towa
rds her. ‘Look at her Mathew, she is afraid.’
‘We are all afraid James, I am afraid. Look at what you have become. It is the very thing you hate. Someone who wants to rule over everything.’
‘No Mathew that is not my intention. Once I have released the spores I will offer my mind freely to the singularity. I will become like everyone else, one voice. The voice of humanity reaching out to better itself. Within one year this planet will transform into the utopia that we wanted. War and disease will be a thing of the past. Human misery will be vanquished. It will be beautiful.’
‘It is madness James.’
‘You need to see Mathew. You need to look at what I am looking at.’
‘I don’t want to be part of your new world order.’
‘But you already are Mathew.’
‘If you think I am swallowing one of those fucking pills you can forget it.’
‘Mathew, you have had a nanochip in you all along. Do you honestly think that I would not let you be part of this dream?’
‘I have never taken one of those pills.’
‘No, but you have eaten with me hundreds of times. Those intimate dinners we shared at the farmhouse. I implanted you with a nanochip a year ago. I have just been waiting for the right time to tell you.’
Teller felt his heartbeat race.
‘I can sense you are afraid Mathew. But you will soon be able to shed your fear.’
Teller backed towards a server. ‘Please James, don’t do this, I am begging you.’
‘Let me show you Mathew. Let me show you a world of endless possibilities. A world without pain, without corruption. A world without fear or doubt. A world where anything is possible.’
Teller looked down at his hands that started to shake violently. ‘Please James I don’t want to be like this.’
Sam distance herself from both Teller and Parker. She looked on in horror as Teller’s eyes started to turn white.
‘Mathew, fight it.’ Sam urged.
‘It’s too late Detective.’ Parker said. ‘He is now part of the singularity.’
‘Mathew listen to me, you have to fight it. You have to snap out of it. You are stronger than this.’
‘My god.’ Teller gasped looking around him.
Teller reminded Sam of someone who was wearing a virtual reality head set.
‘I can see everything at once. I can go anywhere I want. I can do anything. The power is incredible.’
‘Do you understand that this is the only way forward for the human race Mathew?’
‘Yes.’ Teller replied.
‘Mathew, you can’t do this. You said it yourself, it is madness.’
‘This isn’t madness Detective Drake. This is pure order. Every human being on the planet working together in harmony. There will be no conflict, no misery and no starvation.’
‘He’s right Sam.’ Teller said. ‘I can see everything now. Every problem the world has ever known can be solved. Every disease can be cured. War would be a thing of the past. Money would be irrelevant. Everyone would have an equal share.’
Sam pointed her gun at Parker. ‘Let him go!’
‘I no longer have control of him Detective. He is independent from my influence.’
‘How do I turn off the nanochip you gave him?’
‘You can’t. Once the chip is implanted it cannot be removed.’
‘It’s ok Sam I can see what James is trying to achieve. A perfect world where anything is possible.’ Teller paused. ‘Wait, there is something else.’
‘Yes.’ Parker said. ‘There are those who will resist the system. They will eventually destroy the world we are trying to create. They are out there now, living ordinary lives. Thinking that they are pure and innocent. But once they are part of the singularity they will corrupt our world.’
Sam realised what Parker was talking about. ‘The men and women who carried out the attacks on Monday. Were they part of your dream to build a utopia?’
‘No.’ Parker replied. ‘They were mere test subjects.’
‘Just like the drug addict you experimented on in Oxford.’
‘Yes.’ Parker replied. ‘They were the corrupt. They were the ones who would not be welcome in our society.’
‘So what, you sent them on a mass killing spree before eliminating them?’
‘I was not responsible for their actions Detective Drake. When they joined the singularity they rebelled. The man in the nightclub became obsessed with his ex-girlfriend. So obsessed he wanted her more than anything. The woman who attacked those youths on the train. She had been raped four years earlier by a gang. Her obsession was revenge.’
‘And what about the police officer who opened fire on innocent civilians.’
‘He was a game addict. First person shooter games was his life outside work. When he joined the singularity he could only see what he saw on a TV screen.’
‘So why didn’t you kill these test subjects before they started to murder people?’
‘I couldn’t.’ Parker revealed. ‘It was only after they had committed their atrocities I was able to isolate their implant and overload it.’
‘How many people have taken this wonder drug of yours?’
‘One hundred thousand people Detective.’
‘And how many people will reject this singularity?’
‘I estimate the reject rate will be around thirty percent.’
‘Thirty thousand people are about to go on a killing spree.’
‘There will be unfortunate sacrifices. But without sacrifice there cannot be any chance of victory.’
Sam aimed her gun at Parker’s head. ‘I cannot let you do this.’
‘I know Detective.’
Teller stepped in between Sam and Parker.
‘Mathew, move aside.’ Sam ordered.
‘I can’t let you hurt him Sam.’ Teller said. ‘Don’t you see, we are just trying to create a better world. A world where everyone works together.’
‘But in order to create this world you have to murder tens of thousands of individuals. That’s just in this country. What about the rest of the world. There are over seven billion people living on this planet. Over two billion people have to be sacrificed to achieve this utopian dream.’
‘It is for the greater good.’
‘The greater good.’ Sam scoffed. ‘How many people have said that in the past? The Nazis, the Taliban, Al Qaeda, Isis.’
‘We are not representing a minority Sam. We represent the world.’
‘Except those who will corrupt this utopia. And who are they, men, women, children, new born babies? They will all have to be sacrificed for this twisted greater good of yours.’
Teller took a step forward. ‘Sam, it is the only way to bring harmony.’
‘Mathew, I cannot let your or James go through with this.’
Teller took another step forward.
Sam took a step back. ‘Mathew think about what you are doing.’
‘I am, for the first time in my life everything is crystal clear.’ Teller moved closer.
Sam aimed her gun at his kneecap. ‘Mathew, I will have to shoot you.’
‘You will corrupt the system Detective.’ Parker called out. ‘You will also have to be sacrificed.’
‘He’s right Sam, we cannot allow you to stop this.’
Sam’s heart raced as Teller stepped forward again. Tears streaked down the side of her face. ‘Please Mathew I don’t want to shoot you.’
‘Your death will be painless. I know how to end your life without causing you distress or pain.’ Teller spoke with a disturbing calm tone.
Sam pulled the trigger hitting Teller directly in the kneecap.
He stopped his advance and looked down at his shattered knee. ‘I feel no pain.’ Teller hobbled forward.
Sam aimed at his chest. ‘Mathew, I will kill you, please stop.’
Teller ignored her and advanced forward.
Sam fired directly into his chest.
Teller advanced.
Sam fired two more rounds.
Teller moved closer.
Sam fired four more rounds.
Teller collapsed to his knees.
Sam sobbed as she watched Teller drop to the floor.
He looked up at her. His eyes turned back to normal. A smile appeared on his face. ‘I am free.’ Teller’s eyes then turned back to white.
Sam glared at Parker. Rage replaced grief. She walked over to the bag of weapons and pulled out the sawn off shotgun.
‘You think by killing me this world will be a better place Detective.’ Parker stated.
Sam Marched up to him holding the shotgun at point blank range to his head. ‘The world may not be perfect but there are those of us who are making a difference. There are those who will fight the corruption in this world.’
‘There are more corrupt people in this world than innocent. Humankind is beyond hope. You will fall into an abyss which you will never escape from.’
‘There is always hope.’ Sam remarked.
‘The only hope Detective is the hope that I will create.’
‘All you are doing is condemning the human race to a life of slavery.’ Sam took a moment before pulling the trigger.
Parker’s head exploded. His body was thrown backwards against one of the servers.
Sam stared at the scene.
The humming of the server machines continued unabated.
She walked over to Teller’s body, which lay face down on the floor. Sam knelt beside him and began to cry.
Chapter 58
Downing Street – Whitehall – London – 5:00pm
Mayflower stared at the assembled press core as they waited patiently for her to make a statement. She had received information just after one o’clock that a serving police officer with the Metropolitan police had tracked down the man behind Dystopia. Mayflower looked down at her notes briefly. ‘This afternoon just before Dystopia were able to carry out their threat the metropolitan police made a significant raid on a facility on the Welsh Coast. Because of this raid I can confirm that Dystopia were stopped in their actions. The disruption that this terror group has caused over the last few days is now at an end. The petrol pumps which have been out of action for the past forty eight hours are now back to normal. All banking systems along with retail outlets are now functioning normally. The violence that has raged throughout this great city of hours will be dealt with. I have ordered that extra troops be deployed to our streets to ensure the safety of the population. I would also like to remind the public the curfew which has been put in place will remain for the time being until order is returned. I would like to thank the men and women of the police and security services who have worked tirelessly over the last few days to deal with this latest threat. I would also once again like to offer my sympathies to the families who lost loved ones in Monday’s attacks. There will be a two minute silence at precisely eleven o’clock tomorrow morning.’ Mayflower glanced up from her notes. ‘This great nation of ours has faced dark times over the last few days. As your Prime Minister I have stood firm with the British People. Together we have stood up against the threat that Dystopia posed and together with our combined strength we have beaten them. I have spent the last few hours reading the reactions of the public on social media newsfeeds and in the news media. Many people have said that despite the atrocities caused by Dystopia, they have brought into question the way we live our everyday lives. I know that there are people in this country without hope. I know that millions are struggling to survive on zero hour contracts in low paid jobs. There are many individuals who are trapped in a benefits system which they have no hope of escaping. I am aware that the wealthy of this country are shunning the needs of the poor. Obscene amounts of money pour through this nation’s capital. Money that can be spread out to the rest of the country to help the poorer regions get by. Since I made the decision to sack my Deputy Prime Minister Edwin Fuller Last night. Opposition parties have called upon me to call another election to decide the fate of the British people regarding Brexit. I therefore take up the challenge of the opposition. I have decided to call a general election which will be held on the 29th March 2019.’
Dystopia Page 32
