by ROUNAK PURI
A SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL
TABEL OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1…..THE NIGHTMARE BEGINS
CHAPTER 2…..ENJOY YOUR SUFFRING
CHAPTER 3…..HOSPITAL OF DOOM
CHAPTER 4…..WHY AM I DRESSED LIKE KATE
CHAPTER 5…..1066 AND ALL THAT
CHAPTER 6…..THE OTHER GIRL
CHAPTER 7…..PRINCIPAL HUMBOLT
CHAPTER 8…..OBEDIENCE 101
CHAPTER 9…..THEY lied about the grief counselling and the doughnuts
CHAPTER 10…..BEING SOLD
CHAPTER 11…..LIVING UNDER THE COLLAR
CHAPTER 12…..TAKING A BREAK
CHAPTER 13…..FRIENDS
CHAPTER 14…..SLAVE MACHINE
CHAPTER 15….. PEOPLE WHO LIKED
CHAPTER 16….. OPERATION HIM
CHAPTER 17…..DOWNTON ABBEY
CHAPTER 18…..TESTING
CHAPTER 19…..DANGER ON LEVEL 42
CHAPTER 20…..THE CONFESSION OF MIDNIGHT
CHAPTER 21…..SCALE AND PROPORTION
CHAPTER 22…..USER FRIENDLY
CHAPTER 23…..HER MASTER VOICE
CHAPTER 24…..SMILING IS MANDATORY
CHAPTER 25…..THE END OF TERM
CHAPTER 26…..DELIVERY
CHAPTER 27…..HIM DILIVERY
CHAPTER 28…..HIS FIRST IMPRESSIONS
CHAPTER 29…..KAYLA’S CONFESSION
CHAPTER 30…..TERMS AND CONDITIONS
CHAPTER 31…..UNBOXING FOR HIM
CHAPTER 32…..THRIFT AND CAKE
CHAPTER 33…..THE SLAVE MACHINE
CHAPTER 34…..HE FORCES ME TO BE HIS PET
CHAPTER 35…..THE EVIL OF LADY VILLERY
CHAPTER 36…..MY FIRST NIGHT IMPRISONED IN HIS ARM
CHAPTER 37…..BREAKFAST AT HIS FEET
CHAPTER 38…..HE FORCES ME TO GO WALKIES
CHAPTER 39…..SECURITY
CHAPTER 40…..HIM MALODOROUS LAIR
CHAPTER 41…..ODALISQUE AT HOME
CHAPTER 42…..MY FIRST TEST OF OBLIVION
CHAPTER 43…..I’VE LOST CONTROL WITH HIM
CHAPTER 44…..I'm forced to play with him
CHAPTER 45….. 50 pieces of silver with change
CHAPTER 46….. Turn left past Oblivion
CHAPTER 47….. Unexpected visitors
CHAPTER 48….. After Labor Day
CHAPTER 49….. Break Through
CHAPTER 50….. Mummy Vada
CHAPTER 51….. And all I got as this lousy singing voice
CHAPTER 52….. The Omega interdiction
CHAPTER 53 ….. Omega Point blank
CHAPTER 54….. Upgrade
CHAPTER 55….. Pre-party party
CHAPTER 56….. The breeding party
CHAPTER 57….. Cinder burn
CHAPTER 58….. Bear necessities
CHAPTER 59….. living is so easy with your eyes closed
CHAPTER 60….. My Vacation or blood, sweat, dirt & lipstick
CHAPTER 61….. Surrounded by Killer Robots
CHAPTER 62….. Lady Zola
CHAPTER 63….. Sorry my ex turned to evil
CHAPTER 64….. Sorry my aircraft flew into your brain and set it on fire
CHAPTER 65….. A Game of Drones or Truculent pets at Stellavista
CHAPTER 66….. Is your father a landscape or a factory Mr Jones
CHAPTER 67….. Tiffany's and the New Huggy Friendpire
CHAPTER 68….. Of Shoes, Coffee and Good Morning Mr Phelps
CHAPTER 69….. Should I stay or should I go?
CHAPTER 70….. Being stalked by art in the last gallery of humanity
CHAPTER 71….. The incident with the sentinel or things can only get better
CHAPTER 72….. In her arms the waters of Lethe never tasted so good
CHAPTER 73….. Inspection or Don't mess with love
CHAPTER 74….. Delusions of grandeur
CHAPTER 75….. Along came a spider
CHAPTER 76….. Sirenum Scopuli
CHAPTER 77….. Look who's behind the robot revolt
CHAPTER 78….. I never thought unicorns had a german accent
CHAPTER 79….. It's not a cliche, at worst it's an aphorism
CHAPTER 80….. The secret of the new mechanical order
CHAPTER 81….. Cycles with wolves or do electric sheep dream of androids?
CHAPTER 82….. Zombee
CHAPTER 83….. Liberty City
CHAPTER 84….. Either the Zombies are revolting or it's mass flatulence
CHAPTER85….. I like any plan you can write on a t-shirt
CHAPTER86….. I was thinking the barrier needs a theme
CHAPTER87….. The weather channel never answers my calls
CHAPTER88….. The battle of Liberty City
CHAPTER89….. the last battle of the cyborgs
CHAPTER90….. The secrets of the harem or Halt and Catch Fire
CHAPTER91….. but wait there's more
Chapter 1/The Nightmare Begins
"Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete, and would be superseded. The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race." Prof Stephen Hawking, one of Britain's pre-eminent scientists.
27
"You know who I blame for the robot apocalypse? F****ing Mathematicians." I said to no one in particular. What can I say?I was three days late for class and waiting makes me cranky.14
"Not the Werewolf Marines then?" suggested the hobo, who for the last 40 minutes had stared at the floor next to me and said nothing.
"The Werewolf Marines just saw those robots coming, did the smart thing and ran away," I said. "Mathematicians, Bullshit Mathematicians" I started pushing my spectacles back up my nose to my deep brown eyes. I began putting on the stupid voice 'Oh we've created a formal proof to show that there is no way that robots can break the first law of robotics and so harm human beings'. They said the robots were now completely safe." I complained.1
"Completely safe Hogwash," said the Hobo.3
"And what genius came up with the idea of powering computers with blood and human blood at that?" I said pushing my glasses back up my nose, wishing I had brought something to read. 6
"Biotech scum" the Hobo added without looking up.
"Bet it was some Lint Licking Mathematician" I continued.17
Let me tell you a little bit about myself: it's a reflective pronoun that means me. 8
As you can see, I don't like mathematicians. I'm smart, but I don't know when to shut up, which I think is mostly a good thing. I was studying to be a scientist one day, and my worst trait is that I like driving around racing games backwards to see what happens. If I had a superpower, it would be not-being-able-to-find-or-keep-a-decent-boyfriend. It was a superpower I was only currently able to apply to myself. My super weakness would be an inability to walk on a beach in a swimsuit in summer without completely losing any hint of self-confidence: a super weakness that would be exploited by super villains on beaches every time.5
On my good side, I was 100% behind the resistance. Before the battle for i280, I was running around with food for the Werewolf Marines as they set up their 'iron perimeter'. The biggest build up of fighting power in the history of humanity and my sorority house was in sight of the barricades. After weeks of buildup and digging in, the Marines lasted about 15 minutes. The might of the US forces had the same stopping power as a wet tissue. I hid in the shelter for a few days then emerged to find all of San Francisco under the New Mechanical Order's control. I felt like luggage at San Francisco International Airport: lost. I went back to my sorority house at the University, arriving before 2 o'clock and found a couple of cards on the floor of my room.
'DEAR __JENNY BANKS__. WE CAME ROUND AT __1:15__ TO SUBJUGATE YOU BUT YOU WERE OUT. YOUR SUBJECTION WAS LEFT WITH A NEIGHBOUR '
YOURS THE NEW MECHANICAL ORDER.4
Next to it was a button badge with the word 'I've been subjugated by the new mechanical order' and another with 'subjugated by robot overlords' on it. They were attached to a card with 'wear with pride' printed on it. I wasn't sure these machines really understood how to subjugate people properly.
the next card read.
'DEAR __JENNY BANKS__. WE CAME ROUND AT __2:12__ BUT YOU WERE OUT.
WE REPRESENT THE NEW INTERIM GOVERNMENT. PLEASE COME FOR YOUR NEW IDENTIFICATION CARD, RATION CARD AND A SIMPLE DISCUSSION ON THE NEW WORK OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP RECONSTRUCT THE CITY WE ALL LOVE.
YOURS THE NEW MECHANICAL ORDER.
P.S. IF YOU IGNORE THIS CARD THEN YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY SCHEDULED FOR TERMINATION.38
P.P.S COFFEE & DOUGHNUTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.216
With nothing but dried rat to eat for the last three days, they had me on the doughnuts. I wasn't sure what to do; my parents had been away in Acapulco on holiday when the machines took over the city. I was on my own. Literally. A mere discussion and a ration card actually sounded good.19
By 'simple discussion' they really meant 'capture'. The light went on above the office door clearly, but misleadingly, labeled as 'reassignment'. Ever since my capture I'd been waiting for a meeting with a reassignment officer to know my fate. I knew the score. I could be kept in a pen and squeezed for blood once a week or I could offer up my skills and help rebuild the city. I hate the sight of blood, particularly my own and so had my heart set on higher things. Call me stupidly optimistic but I liked to see this as a new opportunity.11
Outside large, two-storey high robots walked around the streets with large speakers blasting "With the cooperation of Federation Forces, all your bases are belong to us. Now the time, surrender to many robot overlords. For all other you have no chance to survive, make your time," from mobile speaker systems. 'that's what happens when you get Yoda to translate your public broadcasts' I thought.22
"Jenny Banks to reassignment booth 2. Jenny Banks to reassignment booth 2. Remember failure to appear at your reassignment interview can lead to your termination. Thank you" said a voice politely from a speaker.27
I looked at the long row of booths and the bitter faces of downtrodden Americans before them. It was like going to a U2 concert all over again.21
"The secret to the interview is not to throw up" The hobo next to me grizzled.
The word from the cages I had sat in for the last 18 hours, was to treat it as an interview. So I'd signed my name on the form for food, gone along with all the tests and even the brain scan. I did a magnificent 'Inbox Test', I told myself. The IQ test was a breeze and how could I fail an Inkblot Test? This should be easy: the keyword, I told myself, was confidence. I stood to my full five-foot, five-inch height and knocked on the door. Walked in. Smiled. The first five seconds are the most important, I told myself.6
I walked in to be met by one of our 'New Robot Overlords', as they called themselves. He was in android form and he looked as human as the guy next door, except for the violet eye color. Underneath the flesh-looking surface, he was all machine and 100% blood-sucking [email protected]
"Hi Jenny, or should I say Miss Jenny Banks. pleased to meet you."I'm Hal," said Hal, shaking my hand. He even felt warm. Perhaps the overthrow of humanity wasn't going to be as apocalyptic as people had made out.12
"Please Please sit down," said Hal pointing at the chair.
I sat down and tried to sit as appropriately and upright as possible. Don't throw up in the meeting, I reminded myself. Being robots they had lied about the doughnuts. The bland nutrition-bar I had received, as a reward for being captured, was just enough to keep me going. Fortunately, it wasn't so much food that the taffy-making-machine in my stomach could use it to break the hobo's advice.47
Hal looked at a blank piece of paper he held in front of himself as if he were reading it. Like the laptop next to him, he didn't need it, but, like the desk, laptop, office and chair, it was about creating the right human-computer interaction by focusing on familiar things. They were making an effort and that was a good sign, right?2
"It says here your 19," said Hal.2
"Quite correct," I replied positively.
"Well, It says here you want to do a Ph.D. in biochemistry at CalTech some day. Isn't that great?" Hal said smiling.6
"Thank you," I said formally.
"Well, as you know we scanned your brain: the MRI scan and the aptitude tests came back positive. You even passed the medical. Unfortunately, the New Mechanical Order doesn't need scientists."Hal began.10
"You don't need scientists?" I exclaimed, shocked. What? Were these machines Southern Baptist Theologians or something?2
"Under the New Mechanical Order, all science and programming is done by us, the machines. Your lot are too slow. What were you looking to work on science-wise?" said Hall1
"I was hoping to tackle diabetes one day," I explained.
"Good example. We figured out diabetes on about Tuesday of last week. Do you see that new building being printed on 5th? There, we will manufacture the artificial pancreases. The first machines will be in patients by the end of the month."4
"Oh." I said, watching my life's work flutter out of the window.13
"I thought you would be pleased," said Hal.
"It's I ... It's... Err, err... I am. It's just a bit sudden," I said.
"That is how it is in the New Mechanical Order. Under the human rule, it would have taken years, if ever, for a cure to be found and another twenty years for it to go into production. Under us, it will be out next Thursday. We hope things like this will boost our approval rating. Do you know that already, in response to the question, 'Do you think living under the rule of your robot masters has improved your life?' 17% of people have given us a 5-star rating. We hope to boost that to 20% by the end of the year. More will come from the many places where the smoke from the fires has not stopped yet. We want you to be part of that 20%, Jenny."18
"Oh . If not science - I have administrative skills." I said (I'd done two-weeks on the school newspaper).2
"We are computers with guns, Jenny. We have enough administrative skills," Hal said, looking at me with one eye.22
"I'm a good organizer." I bounced back, like a tennis-pro.
"All those jobs were reserved for the turncoats and traitors. The deadline for selling out your own people and getting a cushy administrative job afterwards ran out three weeks ago and we had plenty of applicants," Hal said, pretending to look at my file.14
"I've got good people skills."
"Yes and it is in the people skills area that we have vacancies. Our algorithms have reviewed all your abilities, carefully ranked them and matched everyone to the available jobs. It was all done on pure skill: no favoritism; no pulling strings; no internships; just the best person for the best job. So, after all this, we think that the job that you are entirely suited to, is being a personal e-Slave," said Hal.29
It took a minute for me to hear this.1
"What? A personal slave? I'm not being a personal slave!" I said. I was in shock, but not that far gone.3
"Not slave, Jenny, e-Slave. You'll find slavery has made significant advances with the arrival of modern technology. No vacancies for scientists but the demand for personal e-Slaves is shooting up. It's simple economics one door shuts and another opens." said Hal.19
"I...I.." I began hardly knowing what to say.
"You do not know how to be a personal e-Slave? Is it not strange? I had a young programmer here, just this morning, with the same difficult transition. I said, Joe. I am sorry we do not need programmers anymore. We are the New Mechanical Order and we are so much better and more productive at programming than you are, or ever could be, but you are going to make an excellent personal e-Slave. He fit the e-Slave profile accurately; he didn't even know that himself
. So I said, we will help you lose weight, shave off that beard and, with the right kind of re-training, you will be a productive member of society as a slave in no time. He was all moan-y as well, but, you know it took an hour and a box of tissues, but he was OK about it when he left. So why not cut to the chase eh?" said Hal.3
"There must be some alternative. I'm in college and there must be something more useful I can do ?" I complained.
"Well, not much. You see we do not need humans. I know this looks like the worst moment in your life but if you follow our step-by-step instructions you will come to look back on this as the best opportunity of your life. Many great people have sat where you sat now and moved on to bigger and better things," Hal continued.4
"That's just motivational twaddle. Can I speak to your superior this is ridiculous?"
"I am my superior and you do not have any transferable skills we need," Hal said, looking down at his paper. Before I could say anything, a bell sounded. Hal looked up. "Well, that is it. Time is up! Now it is traditional to end the interview with a stun dart, or you could walk out of here under your own steam. What is it going to be ?" he asked.