Synthetica

by Rachel Pattinson

  “Security!” the man bellowed. “Help! Thief! Security!”

  “Let. Go. Of. Me,” Anais grunted as he pulled her back down, causing her to crash on top of what had recently been a stall. This time, several of the boxes broke and tiny picochips flew out in all directions, splattering the pavement with silver and bronze. The watching crowd immediately began scooping up as many as they could, knocking each other out of the way in the desperation to get free goods.

  “No,” Anais gasped, trying to reach as many of the picochips as she could, but the buzzing crowd was swelling, and several people trampled on her fingers. She was suddenly seized by an iron grip and hauled to her feet. The trader had her in his hands, and he was still yelling for back up.

  “Security! Police! I've got someone in violation of -”

  He was cut off as Anais elbowed him hard in the stomach. As he let go, she twirled, drew back her fist and punched him in the nose for good measure. It wasn't a good punch – she never had learnt much self-defence – but it was hard enough to cause him to stumble back, swearing.

  By now, the crowd around her had whipped itself into a frenzy, as everyone tried to pick up as many of the SLPs off the ground as possible. More and more people were turning from watching the CEO's speech, to seeing what the disturbance was behind them.

  “Stop it! Stop it – you don't know what you're doing!” Anais shouted, trying to tug the tiny chips out of the nearest woman's hands. The woman shoved Anais away and bent down to scrabble around for more of the SLPs.

  Anais looked around in desperation and saw two black securibots cutting through the crowd towards her, the sensors on their black bodywork flashing red. Further down the riverfront, she saw several small white objects sailing through the air and landing in the water; Clay had managed to overcome whoever was at his stand. She couldn't see Xander. She began to fight her way through the crowd again, towards Clay, but the securibots reached her first.

  One of the securibots grabbed her in it's pincer-like arm, pinning her to it's chest.

  “Let me go!” she screamed as she tried fruitlessly to pull away. “Let me go, you don't know, you -”

  “That's her!”

  She looked up at the shout, to see the trader pointing three more securibots her way, looking furious as blood ran down his face and onto his spotlessly white uniform.

  “I had to – you don't understand, those SLPs, they're not what you think they are -” fear and anger were causing her to stumble over her words.

  Before she could form another coherent thought, there was a deafening squeal that rang out over the crowd. Magnus King stopped talking, as all the screens and billboards across the river that had been showing the words 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY CIVITAS', suddenly went black. The crowd turned to see what the commotion was.

  Anais stopped struggling against the securibot's grip and focused on the largest screen, which was directly opposite the Civitas building. Her heart plunged into her stomach as a man with long black hair and wearing a black mask over the lower half of his face appeared on every single screen.

  “Friends,” he said, his voice curiously hoarse. “Now that I have your attention, allow me to introduce myself. You may call me...the Hacker.”

  Twenty

  Anais stood frozen in the securibot's grip, unable to look anywhere but the giant screen.

  Everyone around her was also rooted to the spot, although she could hear whispers starting up as people began to ask, 'What is this? Who is this?'

  The Hacker continued with his speech. His voice made Anais' skin crawl. It was hoarse and grating; the cadences all wrong, as though he'd never been taught how to speak properly. It made her want to cover her ears and block out the noise. She could see several people doing just that, though nothing they did could block out the horror of what he was saying.

  “I hope you. Enjoyed the. Gifts I have been. Distributing over the past few days.”

  On the screen flashed a number of photographs taken from the CID, and from the police database. Anderson, Pearson, Marcus, followed by the other murderers and their victims; photos showing them alive, followed by horrific photos taken at the crime scenes. Photos showing the victims and the murderers lying dead; their eyes wide open, blood covering the ground around them.

  The crowd gasped, but the commotion died down as the Hacker's face returned to the screen. Even from this distance, his eyes were cold; their blank expression making the hairs on the back of Anais' neck stand up. He had a flat, piercing stare that made it uncomfortable to look at them for long. But still her eyes remained glued to the screen.

  “You have been. So Eager. For Civitas' new product that. It seems several of you. Were more than willing. To take a chance on my. Own version of their SLPs.”

  This time, just photos of the murderers were shown. Anais felt as though someone had punched her in the stomach as Dalla's photo flashed up amongst them. If the securibot hadn't been holding her, she would've reeled backwards. Her head swam.

  The Hacker returned to the screen.

  “In fact. There are four more of you. Out there today. Who have also bought my special version. They are. In this very crowd, for that matter. I do not wish. To keep you from the festivities for too much longer. But I did. Want to give you all. One. Last. Gift. Civitas,” here, the Hacker's eyes gleamed. “This is all for you. To say. Thank you. Thank you for. Changing humanity as we know it. Thank you for creating. Technology we could only dream of. Thank you for creating. The means to your own destruction.”

  For a crowd of several thousand people, the silence was so complete, Anais was sure she could've heard a pin drop as they hung onto the Hacker's every word.

  “Without you. And my accomplices. I would never have been able to. Pull off such a feat. So thank you. Thank you, Civitas.”

  The venom in his voice was unmistakable. Anais shrank back in the securibot's arm slightly as the anger and fury in the Hacker's voice struck her.

  “One last thing. Citizens. For those of you. Who have purchased an SLP today, congratulations. You now also belong to my. Very special club of people who own an SLP. Far more superior to anything Civitas. Could ever create.”

  He made as if to go off-screen, but he paused and looked straight back at the camera.

  “If you work for the. Notable and. Esteemed company, Civitas. You might want. To run. Who knows. Who might be next. To die. Happy. Birthday.”

  All the screens went black. For a second that seemed to stretch into eternity, everyone was silent as they tried to grasp what they'd just witnessed. Then the whispers started. They grew louder and louder into an angry buzzing, before erupting into screams and shouts.

  The ones nearest Anais who had purchased an SLP were gathering around the Civitas trader with the bloody nose, demanding their credits back, insisting he reversed the program.

  “Get it out of me!” the curly haired woman who had been downloading an SLP when Anais had interrupted, had grabbed the trader's top and was shaking him, her eyes wild. “Get rid of it! I don't want to know French anymore! Just take it out!”

  “I – I can't! The process isn't reversible...” the poor trader looked terrified.

  “But hat awful man said this was the same SLP as the ones those murderers had,” the woman shrieked. “What does that mean? What's going to happen to me?”

  She began to shake the man harder. He tried to pull away but he was now surrounded by hysterical customers, all screaming and demanding that the SLP be wiped from their memories. One man was clawing at his own neck, as though he could take out his ID chip and get rid of the program he'd downloaded that way.

  Anais was so shocked by their behaviour, that it took her a moment to realise that the securibot had released her and was now making it's way through the fray, it's sensor blinking rapid
ly as it called for back-up. She backed away from the rapidly forming mob, but was shoved back as a woman collided with her. The woman didn't even apologise as she ran past. Anais turned and her heart dropped.

  It was carnage. Everyone was fighting to get out of the street, away from Civitas, away from the screens that had promised them death. People were screaming, yelling for their loved ones as they were swept away by the tide. The group of Civitas directors that had been standing on the steps outside the building were being escorted back inside the building by a group of securibots and police. Anais couldn't see Skye amongst them. But people weren't just trying to get away – they were also screaming at the directors, demanding answers. The police managed to hold them back by raising their guns, but Anais had a feeling that wouldn't detain the mob for long.

  It was every man for himself. People were shoving each other with no regard for others; not caring whether they fell or got hurt in the process. There were quite a few people converging on the Civitas stalls placed along the riverfront; presumably those who had purchased an SLP and where now demanding it be wiped, like those behind her.

  Anais swore under her breath, looking round for Xander or Clay, but she couldn't see anything through the pandemonium around her. She accidentally got pushed into another woman, but when she turned to apologise, she was surprised to see she knew who it was.

  “Ola!” she said in surprise, feeling somewhat relieved to see a friendly face.

  Ola's bright green eyes widened.

  “Anais?” Ola said. “What a surprise. Are you okay, chuck?”

  Anais nodded.

  “Haven't seen you at work for a while. Everything okay?” Ola asked, her eyes full of concern.

  “Not really,” Anais admitted. A crease appeared on Ola's forehead.

  “You should get out of here,” she said. “Me and Peg are heading for the factory now.”

  She nodded towards the man beside her. Anais hadn't realised it was Peg. He nodded in greeting, but he was more concerned with the frantic crowd around them.

  “Come with us,” Ola urged. “You'll be safer there.”

  Anais shook her head.

  “I can't. I need to make sure my friends are okay,” she said. “But thanks.”

  Ola's eyes didn't leave her. Peg looked around worriedly.

  “We have to leave,” he said. “Now.”

  “Well...if you're sure?” Ola asked Anais. Anais nodded. “We'll see you soon, okay chuck?”

  Anais nodded again. Ola darted forward and gave her a brief hug.

  “Stay safe,” she breathed in her ear. She let Anais go, grabbed Peg's hand and the pair melted away into the crowd. Anais turned away from them, an unexpected lump in her throat. She had to make sure Xander was okay.

  She brought up Xander's ID on her RetCom and called him as she began to push through the crowd, feeling increasingly desperate. He answered on the first ring.

  “Anais! Where are you?” Xander's voice filled her with relief.

  “I'm near the river, opposite the Civitas building. Where are you?” she tried to keep the worry out of her voice, but the words came out rather high-pitched.

  “Stay there. I'll come to you. I -”

  His voice broke off as a gunshot filled the air. Anais whipped round. The people around her began to scream and push frantically.

  There was a gap in the crowd and Anais saw what they were all running from. A woman was standing over the body of a man in with the Civitas logo sewn onto his suit jacket, holding a small silver pistol. She was still pointing it at him, even though blood was leaking from the hole in his chest. The woman suddenly looked up, straight at Anais, and Anais' blood ran cold. The woman's pink and brown eyes were completely devoid of emotion, as though she wasn't really seeing what was in front of her. She raised the gun to her own temple, and fired one more shot.

  The screaming increased. Anais turned away for the sight, her whole body shaking.

  “Anais! Are you okay?”

  She became aware of Xander's voice still in her head.

  “I'm fine,” she whispered. Her voice seemed to have deserted her. “Where are you?”

  “I see you,” he said suddenly. “I'll be there in a minute. Stay where you are.”

  Although she didn't want to look, didn't want to be reminded of all the violence and blood she'd witnessed over the past few days, Anais couldn't help peeking at the bodies on the floor not five metres away. The crowd was so thick, that although they were trying to keep away from the corpses, people's shoes were slipping in the blood that lay on the street, or treading on the woman's fingertips. Securibots were cutting through the crowd to cordon the area off.

  “Anais!”

  Anais turned to see Xander fighting his way towards her. She pushed through the last few people towards him, and suddenly she was in his arms, her head buried into his shoulder. She was overwhelmingly grateful that he was okay. He was here with her. He was safe. He wasn't going to leave her like Dalla had.

  She raised her head and looked up into Xander's dark purple eyes. She hadn't realised until that moment the underlying fear she'd had, that he was going to be next. The Hacker had warned anyone who worked for Civitas to leave. She was lightheaded with relief that Xander was alive. He would be okay. He wasn't wearing his Civitas uniform after all, he'd be fine. He had to be.

  “We should get out of here,” Xander said, with a glance at the securibots who were now shielding the two bodies from view. It wasn't deterring the news crews that had been filming Magnus King's speech from trying to get a closer look at the two bodies.

  “Where's Clay?” Anais asked, craning her neck, but there were still too many people around. “We can't leave him.”

  “He was somewhere over there the last time I saw him,” Xander said, nodding back down the river towards where Anais had seen the white boxes containing the SLPs being thrown into the river.

  “Let's go,” Anais said.

  They began to shoulder their way against the crowd. Anais couldn't believe how many people had been crammed into this stretch of the city – the crowds seemed endless, and they were all now pushing in different directions as people ran towards the nearest magnet train station, or tried to find the nearest auto-cab rank. Police officers were moving through the crowd, trying to restore some kind of order, but to no avail.

  There was a flash of blue hair and Anais grabbed Xander's arm.

  “There's Skye!”

  They changed direction, now going deeper into the crowd as Anais tried to keep her eye on the woman with the sky blue hair.

  “Skye!” She tried calling to her, but the noise of the crowd drowned her out. The woman half turned as she fought through the throng of people, and that one glimpse was enough to confirm who it was.

  “SKYE!” Anais shouted louder, and finally Skye turned to them, her eyes wide with fear. She began mouthing something to them, but Anais couldn't make it out. Anais and Xander pushed their way towards her, as Skye struggled towards them. Anais still couldn't hear what Skye was trying to say, but her attention was distracted by the sight of a young man with purple and green dreadlocks, who was approaching Skye from behind. He had a tattoo across his face which was made out of glittery black ink, with tiny pieces of jet inlayed along the swirling design. His eyes were blank and dead looking.

  Too late, Anais saw the flash of silver in his hand as he raised the knife.

  “NO!” Anais screamed, and threw herself towards Skye. She grabbed hold of Skye's wrist and yanked her forward. The man's aim went wide, missing her bright blue hair by a fraction. The man started forward again, his blank stare completely fixed on Skye. Skye screamed.

  “Run!” Anais shouted, trying to tug her away, but Skye was still looking over her shoulder. Anais glanced over her shoulder to see w
hat she was looking at, and gasped.

  Clay had come out of nowhere, and had tackled the man with dreadlocks to the ground. He slashed viciously, but Clay grabbed his arm and twisted it hard so the man's hand was forced to open. The man didn't even flinch. The knife dropped to the ground and was kicked away by the horde around them. The attacker began to claw at Clay's face and neck, his eyes still blank, as though he was performing a simple act that he'd done a thousand times before. Although the people who flowed past them gave them edgy glances and gave them some space, nobody stopped to help. The man with dreadlocks managed to get hold of Clay, and threw him off. Clay rolled onto the ground, looking pained.

  Anais dropped Skye's wrist and ran forward. The man with dreadlocks was getting to his knees. With a swift kick to his stomach, Anais made sure he stayed down.

  “Clay!” Anais reached out a hand and helped Clay clumsily to his feet. His cap had gotten lost during the fight, and his hair looked even wilder than normal. “Are you okay?”

  “I'm alright,” Clay said gruffly. “Look out!”

  She turned to see the attacker getting to his feet, making his way mindlessly towards Skye, who was trying to push her way through the mass of people to get away. Anais lunged for him and managed to grab his arm. Swiftly, he turned and there was a sharp pain in Anais' stomach as he punched her hard. She doubled over, winded. The man delivered another blow to the side of her head, and she fell to the ground, dazed. She heard Clay yell, and then the two men were on the ground again. She clutched her stomach, gasping for air. She couldn't believe someone could hit so hard. Pain was throbbing in her head, making her vision blurry. But beyond Clay and the attacker, through the feet and legs of the people around them, she thought could see something else...someone with purple hair fighting with a woman. For a second, she couldn't comprehend what she was seeing – the pain in her head must have messed with her eyesight somehow – but she blinked, and the vision came into sharper focus.