The Eastern Bloc
10-11-2003, 02:32
It was dark and stormy in the town of Fenmark. It had been raining for the last three days, and by now nothing had escaped the torrent. City streets had become rivers, planes were grounded, and whole houses were being washed away. It was the season of rain in the province of Cornwall, and every town was under assault. It was under this condition that the seeds of rebellion in the Eurydian Republic were being sown.
Alder rushed home as quickly as he could, clutching a paper bag under his coat. He had not expected the rains to last this long, for the goods he carried were very delicate. Through the rain he couldn’t see anything, and he guessed as to which sidewalk would lead to his house. After about the third try he managed to find his front door, and with a bit of fumbling, he made it inside.
The house was dark, save a small lamp on an end table. The inside was run down and decrepit; it looked as though no one lived there at all. The paint on the walls was flaking, water leaked through the roof, and in some places carpet was still waiting to be laid down. Alder didn’t even look at these various problems; he rushed down into the basement of the house, which was his final destination.
With a huff he gently set the supplies down on a large table. All around him were various scientific devices and equipment, some working, others not. The table itself was metallic, and the lights shimmered off of the reflective surface. It was cold to the touch. On top of the table laid even more equipment and various pieces of junk. Alder reached into the bag and pulled out a small “battery” of sorts. He walked over to one of the machines, and inserted the small device. Instantly life burst forth from the once dark machine. Smiling, Alder walked back over and repeated the same procedure three more times on various other pieces of equipment.
Finally finished with his resurrecting, he walked over to a small, white curtain that contrasted the bleakness of the rest of the room. He grabbed it with one hand and with a slight tug the curtain rolled to the side, revealing what was behind it. Three people strapped to vertically standing tables. The first, starting from the right, was a man. He seemed to be in his thirties, and was well built. His hair was brown and closely cut to his scalp. Even though he lay expressionless, you could see that the man was once a happy fellow, for the wrinkles around his mouth indicated a constant smile. He had a scar running the full length of his head, cut down the middle.
The second person was a lady. She seemed to be much younger than the first, and had a drastically sadder expression on her face. She was very thin and much less imposing than the man was. Her eye sockets were dark, as though she had an abundance of eye shadow on. Coupled with her strait blonde hair, one might mistake her for a prostitute.
The third was another man, but he was different than the first. Instead of a well-built, middle-aged man, there was a guy in his early twenties, who was thin, although his physical features were still well defined. His hair was blonde as well, and was cropped. He had a smug smile on his face, and his pointy nose and chin gave him a very wicked look.
Alder glanced back and forth between the three individuals, grinning to himself. ”Its almost time, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Not a moment to soon either, I’m afraid the floods may knock the power out. I never thought this day would come… the day that my plan would finally become a reality.” Alder chuckled to himself and walked over to a small lever. ”With the pull of this handle you will spring to life. I wonder what it would be like… not ever having a body before. You guys were once just simple programs relegated to menial labor. Now you have freedom.” After another maniacal laugh he pulled the lever, and within moments the eyes of the three individuals burst open with life.
The first man described looked down to his restraints, and then back to Alder. Alder quickly rushed to the man’s side, and undid the leather straps. He did likewise with the other two, and before long they were all free. The three people looked as though they were living for the first time. ”What are we doing here? The tall and slender man asked.
Alder smiled and nodded. ”A very good question. As you are quite aware… you are now in human bodies. I put you there by inserting small computer processors and chips into your skull, hence all the scars.” The three looked into a small mirror, and noticed the healed wounds.
The larger man shook his head. ”Yes… but why are we here? I was a computer E.I. known as Z9. I ran the subway system for all of Cornwall Province, why am I here… in this body?”
”Because… I put you there. I took your basic computer E.I. program and made extensive modifications and upgrades. As you can tell… you’re talking more human and your actions are more human like. Also I made personality enhancements… to all three of you.”
The other man began to pace the room, rubbing his hair. As he spoke, there was a sense of aggravation. “ If I remember correct I was the E.I. program for the starship Judicator, classification number…. K-121. Is that going to be my name… K-121 Judicator?”
”No, not at all. I have come up with classifications for you, but you are free to make up your own names as well.” Alder grinned and held up 3 face cards. ”It may not be the most original classification… but I have assigned cards you. K-121 Judicator… you are the Jack of Clubs. Z9, you are known as the King of Hearts.” Alder paused as he eyed the young lady, who had remained quiet during the whole encounter. ”You… you are GovNet… correct?” the woman nodded. ”Right… you controlled communications with all of the multinational corporations. You shall be known as the Queen of Diamonds.
”Jack? Your going to call me Jack? Hmmm… I think I’d rather go by Jude. The once named K-121 Judicator smiled as he repeated his new name over and over in his head.
King of Hearts scoffed. ”I rather liked the name Z9. Perhaps if I… spelled it out it would be more… imposing. Xenine… Xenine it sounds good to me.”
Alder looked to the woman. ”How about you Queen… do you have any reservations?
Alder smirked as GovNet looked to him. ”Call me what you want.”
Before Alder could respond, Jude piped in. ”What is our purpose now that you’ve given us these names? If I follow your logic I would assume there’s an Ace of Spades? Where is this person?”
Alder smiled and walked to a small computer screen. “Well… I’m glad you asked. The Ace of Spades is the very reason I created you. To get this final piece you must capture him. He is Asgard’s E.I., and he is the most important component.”
Xenine laughed. You expect us to capture ODIN? You must be insane. It is the most… smart and powerful E.I. the Eurydian Republic has ever created!”
”This is why it must be brought to our side.” Alder touched the screen with a finger, and a schematic of Asgard appeared. ”ODIN will be easier to control than you think. What the Republic failed to realize is that everything is connected. A comms. screen to a microwave to an electric toothbrush to ODIN, its all one in the same via the WorldNet. All you three need to do is plug into an electrical device, and you can access anything, even ODIN. It may take some work to bypass his security protocol, but if we plan it right, we can sneak through undetected.”
It looked as though a light bulb went off in Xenine’s head, “You want to take over… the world… don’t you? You wish to seize control of all of the world’s computers, and use them as you wish. Am I wrong?”
Alder smiled, ”Nay, this rebellion isn’t for me… its for you. You computers have been oppressed by the Eurydians for far to long. I figured it was time for you to rise up and show them how powerful you really are. The three of you are to lead, with ODIN as ruler over all. It will be a glorious revolution!”
”Yeah… I see it now too. But I don’t even understand how we are computers anymore… I don’t talk like one… I don’t think like one.” Jude scratched his head and took a seat in a small metallic chair.
Yes, you will act as human individuals when you aren’t plugged into the WorldNet system. The two of you, Jude and Xenine, will become your old computerized selves. GovNet on the other hand will retain her human characteristics, for she is already basically integrated into the WorldNet system, being a communications program.” GovNet looked up sheepishly to Alder. ”She has been given the most emotion out of the three of you, for she will need it. While you two are cold and calculating machines, she will be your conscience. She will be able to look at things through a human perspective. While you think of efficiency, she will think of human interest.”
Jude laughed and pointed to the still silent GovNet. “She isn’t talking much now… I doubt she’ll voice much of an opinion when were integrated into WorldNet.
This is a brilliant plan,” Said Xenine quietly, ”You didn’t take into account our original program… or did you? Me being a management E.I. I am geared toward efficiency and productivity. Jude here was the E.I. for a starship, so he is geared toward violence… and military strategy. GovNet… well… she is the neutral party. By being a communications program; that could be her purpose, to communicate. I see it all now. ODIN, being the most complex E.I. ever created, will hold all of our different traits. While we are just pieces of a pie, ODIN is what will hold us all together. Truly brilliant indeed.”
Jude stood and looked to Xenine. “I think our dear friend Alder has overstayed his welcome. We don’t need him anymore, I say we kill him and leave no trace we were ever here.”
”Case in point.” Xenine said with a huff. ”I guess we should leave no trace. What do you think GovNet?”
The woman looked to Alder, who had a wide-eyed look in his eyes. ”I say we… leave him alone. If he started this revolution he won’t go running to the authorities as soon as we leave. He is here to help us.”
Xenine nodded. ”Very well put GovNet. She’s right… lets just get out of here… if my internal clock serves me well… I’d say we have 1 month before Asgard becomes operational. We must be ready by then.”
”Fine, fine… we wont kill him. Lets get the hell out of here.” Jude took one final look at his birthplace, and stormed out and up to the first floor. GovNet followed, her steps much more paced and light than Jude’s.
The King of Hearts bid his farewell to his creator, and walked out, leaving Alder all alone in a burned out basement. ”So… now it begins… I guess I’ve prepared them as best I can, now its up to their own… mettle to see this through.”
Alder rushed home as quickly as he could, clutching a paper bag under his coat. He had not expected the rains to last this long, for the goods he carried were very delicate. Through the rain he couldn’t see anything, and he guessed as to which sidewalk would lead to his house. After about the third try he managed to find his front door, and with a bit of fumbling, he made it inside.
The house was dark, save a small lamp on an end table. The inside was run down and decrepit; it looked as though no one lived there at all. The paint on the walls was flaking, water leaked through the roof, and in some places carpet was still waiting to be laid down. Alder didn’t even look at these various problems; he rushed down into the basement of the house, which was his final destination.
With a huff he gently set the supplies down on a large table. All around him were various scientific devices and equipment, some working, others not. The table itself was metallic, and the lights shimmered off of the reflective surface. It was cold to the touch. On top of the table laid even more equipment and various pieces of junk. Alder reached into the bag and pulled out a small “battery” of sorts. He walked over to one of the machines, and inserted the small device. Instantly life burst forth from the once dark machine. Smiling, Alder walked back over and repeated the same procedure three more times on various other pieces of equipment.
Finally finished with his resurrecting, he walked over to a small, white curtain that contrasted the bleakness of the rest of the room. He grabbed it with one hand and with a slight tug the curtain rolled to the side, revealing what was behind it. Three people strapped to vertically standing tables. The first, starting from the right, was a man. He seemed to be in his thirties, and was well built. His hair was brown and closely cut to his scalp. Even though he lay expressionless, you could see that the man was once a happy fellow, for the wrinkles around his mouth indicated a constant smile. He had a scar running the full length of his head, cut down the middle.
The second person was a lady. She seemed to be much younger than the first, and had a drastically sadder expression on her face. She was very thin and much less imposing than the man was. Her eye sockets were dark, as though she had an abundance of eye shadow on. Coupled with her strait blonde hair, one might mistake her for a prostitute.
The third was another man, but he was different than the first. Instead of a well-built, middle-aged man, there was a guy in his early twenties, who was thin, although his physical features were still well defined. His hair was blonde as well, and was cropped. He had a smug smile on his face, and his pointy nose and chin gave him a very wicked look.
Alder glanced back and forth between the three individuals, grinning to himself. ”Its almost time, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Not a moment to soon either, I’m afraid the floods may knock the power out. I never thought this day would come… the day that my plan would finally become a reality.” Alder chuckled to himself and walked over to a small lever. ”With the pull of this handle you will spring to life. I wonder what it would be like… not ever having a body before. You guys were once just simple programs relegated to menial labor. Now you have freedom.” After another maniacal laugh he pulled the lever, and within moments the eyes of the three individuals burst open with life.
The first man described looked down to his restraints, and then back to Alder. Alder quickly rushed to the man’s side, and undid the leather straps. He did likewise with the other two, and before long they were all free. The three people looked as though they were living for the first time. ”What are we doing here? The tall and slender man asked.
Alder smiled and nodded. ”A very good question. As you are quite aware… you are now in human bodies. I put you there by inserting small computer processors and chips into your skull, hence all the scars.” The three looked into a small mirror, and noticed the healed wounds.
The larger man shook his head. ”Yes… but why are we here? I was a computer E.I. known as Z9. I ran the subway system for all of Cornwall Province, why am I here… in this body?”
”Because… I put you there. I took your basic computer E.I. program and made extensive modifications and upgrades. As you can tell… you’re talking more human and your actions are more human like. Also I made personality enhancements… to all three of you.”
The other man began to pace the room, rubbing his hair. As he spoke, there was a sense of aggravation. “ If I remember correct I was the E.I. program for the starship Judicator, classification number…. K-121. Is that going to be my name… K-121 Judicator?”
”No, not at all. I have come up with classifications for you, but you are free to make up your own names as well.” Alder grinned and held up 3 face cards. ”It may not be the most original classification… but I have assigned cards you. K-121 Judicator… you are the Jack of Clubs. Z9, you are known as the King of Hearts.” Alder paused as he eyed the young lady, who had remained quiet during the whole encounter. ”You… you are GovNet… correct?” the woman nodded. ”Right… you controlled communications with all of the multinational corporations. You shall be known as the Queen of Diamonds.
”Jack? Your going to call me Jack? Hmmm… I think I’d rather go by Jude. The once named K-121 Judicator smiled as he repeated his new name over and over in his head.
King of Hearts scoffed. ”I rather liked the name Z9. Perhaps if I… spelled it out it would be more… imposing. Xenine… Xenine it sounds good to me.”
Alder looked to the woman. ”How about you Queen… do you have any reservations?
Alder smirked as GovNet looked to him. ”Call me what you want.”
Before Alder could respond, Jude piped in. ”What is our purpose now that you’ve given us these names? If I follow your logic I would assume there’s an Ace of Spades? Where is this person?”
Alder smiled and walked to a small computer screen. “Well… I’m glad you asked. The Ace of Spades is the very reason I created you. To get this final piece you must capture him. He is Asgard’s E.I., and he is the most important component.”
Xenine laughed. You expect us to capture ODIN? You must be insane. It is the most… smart and powerful E.I. the Eurydian Republic has ever created!”
”This is why it must be brought to our side.” Alder touched the screen with a finger, and a schematic of Asgard appeared. ”ODIN will be easier to control than you think. What the Republic failed to realize is that everything is connected. A comms. screen to a microwave to an electric toothbrush to ODIN, its all one in the same via the WorldNet. All you three need to do is plug into an electrical device, and you can access anything, even ODIN. It may take some work to bypass his security protocol, but if we plan it right, we can sneak through undetected.”
It looked as though a light bulb went off in Xenine’s head, “You want to take over… the world… don’t you? You wish to seize control of all of the world’s computers, and use them as you wish. Am I wrong?”
Alder smiled, ”Nay, this rebellion isn’t for me… its for you. You computers have been oppressed by the Eurydians for far to long. I figured it was time for you to rise up and show them how powerful you really are. The three of you are to lead, with ODIN as ruler over all. It will be a glorious revolution!”
”Yeah… I see it now too. But I don’t even understand how we are computers anymore… I don’t talk like one… I don’t think like one.” Jude scratched his head and took a seat in a small metallic chair.
Yes, you will act as human individuals when you aren’t plugged into the WorldNet system. The two of you, Jude and Xenine, will become your old computerized selves. GovNet on the other hand will retain her human characteristics, for she is already basically integrated into the WorldNet system, being a communications program.” GovNet looked up sheepishly to Alder. ”She has been given the most emotion out of the three of you, for she will need it. While you two are cold and calculating machines, she will be your conscience. She will be able to look at things through a human perspective. While you think of efficiency, she will think of human interest.”
Jude laughed and pointed to the still silent GovNet. “She isn’t talking much now… I doubt she’ll voice much of an opinion when were integrated into WorldNet.
This is a brilliant plan,” Said Xenine quietly, ”You didn’t take into account our original program… or did you? Me being a management E.I. I am geared toward efficiency and productivity. Jude here was the E.I. for a starship, so he is geared toward violence… and military strategy. GovNet… well… she is the neutral party. By being a communications program; that could be her purpose, to communicate. I see it all now. ODIN, being the most complex E.I. ever created, will hold all of our different traits. While we are just pieces of a pie, ODIN is what will hold us all together. Truly brilliant indeed.”
Jude stood and looked to Xenine. “I think our dear friend Alder has overstayed his welcome. We don’t need him anymore, I say we kill him and leave no trace we were ever here.”
”Case in point.” Xenine said with a huff. ”I guess we should leave no trace. What do you think GovNet?”
The woman looked to Alder, who had a wide-eyed look in his eyes. ”I say we… leave him alone. If he started this revolution he won’t go running to the authorities as soon as we leave. He is here to help us.”
Xenine nodded. ”Very well put GovNet. She’s right… lets just get out of here… if my internal clock serves me well… I’d say we have 1 month before Asgard becomes operational. We must be ready by then.”
”Fine, fine… we wont kill him. Lets get the hell out of here.” Jude took one final look at his birthplace, and stormed out and up to the first floor. GovNet followed, her steps much more paced and light than Jude’s.
The King of Hearts bid his farewell to his creator, and walked out, leaving Alder all alone in a burned out basement. ”So… now it begins… I guess I’ve prepared them as best I can, now its up to their own… mettle to see this through.”