Mind Hive by Jake Berry Ellison Jr

Author:Jake Berry Ellison Jr [Ellison, Jake Berry Jr]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781548178604
Publisher: Rooster Dynamics
Published: 2019-09-03T06:00:00+00:00

V

Before Natalie returned with copies of their newspaper or Robert trotted back from the sports venues giddy with dire news, the world took another critical turn in the supremacy of the force that controlled the nanites. Adam walked away from the shortwave to look out over the city, feeling dialed in, like he had a pretty good bead on things now that he knew for sure he was all alone in the world. There was no greater power in the world that stood up for him now. Basically, he joked with himself, we’re fucked no matter what.

Adam marveled to himself that within the new normal a fifty-foot tall hologram, a shining full-color bust of Celestine turned in the air over KeyArena, as if on a record turntable, rotating just above the roof. After a few minutes, another flickered to life over Memorial Stadium. Her heads turned at the same rate. In sync with her mouth movements, Celestine’s voice boomed a series of declaratives:

“True freedom awaits you in The Mind Hive.”

Turn.

“Don’t be left behind.”

Turn.

“Be uploaded into the new Earth and travel to the stars.”

Turn.

“True freedom …” etc.

Here beamed hope or damnation. Either answered the new human dilemma: What to do in the face of an insurmountable force? Take a chance! Get uploaded!

He screamed incoherence at the glass.

He noticed a swarm of black sand heaving wave-like over the ships on the Sound. Scanning to his right, across the hundreds of ships, boats and submarines crowding the water, the black dots dissipated on the heels of thousands of people who scrambled from rail to deck to gangplank to rail to deck in full sprint. The thousands aboard those ships and other watercraft were abandoning them as fast as they could while carrying whatever they could. Most carried nothing at all.

Josh had been banging on the shortwave, rattling it, turning the knobs. Seemed half-hearted to Adam. “The nanites have strung electrical wires between the ships and the power lines feeding the city,” he said, panting, “killing all who interfere. We had been wondering why, but appears they are electrifying the ships. And judging by the reaction down there, I’d say they are electrifying the surface directly to more broadly charge the nanites. The Navy has had a hankering for our tower. We’ve been holding them off with talk and barricades. But, I suspect the talking is over. You may have to leave.”

“Where to?” Adam snorted. “There’s no where to go.”

“Get uploaded,” Josh laughed.

Had he laughed at the absurdity of the phrase or the concept or something more ridiculous? Adam crossed his arms and looked down at the line of the barricade.

“But don’t worry. I don’t think they have the forces or equipment to overrun our barricades.” Josh’s tone didn’t sound convincing. “That doesn’t mean my crew will hold the line. We’re seeing a lot of defection. They are too, so … I don’t know.”

“I don’t think I can get uploaded,” Adam said sincerely.

“I have to tell you that I feel quite strongly drawn to it.

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