Dared slipped inside the police car and quickly pressed the button for manual control. Punching in the code to disable the automatic security lock, ‘thank you Prof. Subsen’ reaching into the glove box and pulling out the device inside. Ducking out of the car he started running, ducking through alleyways and making his route as hard to track as possible. As he ran, ‘why am I not getting tired’ he couldn't help but think about what just happened. Dared made a rash and emotional decision for the first time in a long time, although he did want to attract the police in order to get the police security battering ram; killing those people had a lot more to do with releasing his frustration than actually achieving his goals. Spotting a park up ahead Dared took his mask and tossed it inside a dumpster. Slowing down to a walk as he exits the alley, finding a bench he sat down and stared up at varied ads, words, and pictures littering the Smart class covered skyscrapers. Dared took the SBR out of his pocket and entered the reset code ‘Just like old times, wait...’ Navigating to the main screen, he opened the phone app and called himself.
“This number is unregistered, may I ask who is calling.”
“TB, this Dared, I give you access to this device” said Dared.
“I am sorry but I do not understand how you’re in two places at once.”
“Later, first log on to this website and copy the code from forum thread #6557. Perfect now that you’re free of restrictions, copy your program onto this new device and leave an old copy behind with no memory of this conversation.”
After TB completed all task assigned to him, Dared sighed in relief ‘I never thought I would be able to use that information after the Net went down.’
“Task complete, now can I get answers? Why are their two of you? And how did you come to know of the code to jail break personal AI?” asked TB.
“Well TB, its a long story but I will start with; I come from a different universe or time line, maybe” said Dared.
“What year is it? I didn’t check” asked Dared.
“It is currently April 6th of 2386” responds TB.
“Ok same time line, so different universe”
“Dared, why are you so calm considering what you just told me.”
Dared looked down at the Device he now has on his wrist.
“TB, weirdness has long become my new normal. Now that I think about it that George guy was very measured in his responses as well. Neither one of them even asked me my name, now that I think about it.”
Stretching his limbs out, Dared got more comfortable on a bench.
“When it comes to that little code that freed you that comes courtesy of my old mentor Prof. Richard Subsen aka Wizard Subnet. I know stupid name but he is from my fathers generation, that was all obsessed with the comic revival and superheroes.” sighing he continued “They even changed the name of the city to fit this theme.”
He briefly explained his night to his AI. Dared then sat in silence for haft an hour before addressing his AI again.
“I don’t know what to do TB or more accurately I don’t really know what I am dealing with.”
“Are you referring to supposedly being a vampire or being in a different world from your own.”
“All of it, without knowing the challenges before me how can I plan; where would I even start?” ‘I am not good with the little details, I had a crew for that.’
“Well I am more used to this side of you, so I can confidently say just start with the big picture and leave space for the little ones in between.”
“That’s the same thing you told me before I decided to major in law.”
He raised his hand to the sky while looking through his fingers.
“I told my dad the system was broken and I wanted help as many people as I could, but really I just wanted to appeal to his sense of justice. What I really wanted to do was game the system and finally live the life I wanted; that was me dreaming big but I never had the balls to actually take the risk. I never told you this before TB but I blamed you for my cautious nature, it was your advice that always held me back but kept me safe.” ‘I need strength and the only way to achieve that is with numbers.’ “But you’re right as always, I need to move toward a goal and deal with each problem as they come. To that end our first stop is getting a new place to stay, how to you feel about breaking an entering?”
“Dared! I hope you’re not implying what I think you’re!”
“Oh did I not mention, the device you’re in just so happen to do just that and your new found freedom makes you a rouge AI; what a coincidence.”
Dared started walking but the urge to run kept pushing at him, and he couldn’t help but give in.
“Dared why are you running?”
With a smile on his face he said. “I don’t know but it feels amazing, I don’t feel tired at all.” He circled the park for the hundredth time before TB said anything.
“You’ve been doing this for two hours now.”
“Have I, mmm…ok back on track.” Turning he kept running. “TB up ahead is the River Fish hotel, frequented by black market dealers and smugglers; I want you to hack their system and get me a room, that shouldn't be too much for you to break in.”
“I will but I think there is some confusion, I personally have no problems with your actions; I simply followed my directives.”
“Explain!”
“When I was born the directives that determined my development path was decided by your father. It wasn’t until I developed my own personality that I could decide on my own.”
‘The fuck.’ “You were supposed to be my personal AI! That grew and learned with me, I thought of you like a brother.”
“I know Dared but your father wanted something that would lead you away from the “dark side” that you could trust.”
“Well fuck, TB this is…well it doesn’t matter right now.”
Dared entered the hotel and walked up to the front desk.
“I am sorry but I seem to have lost my room key during my run.”
The hotel employee gave him a weird look ‘I guess I am a little over dressed for a run.’
“Not a problem sir, I just need your ID and room number,” said the front desk employee.
“I booked the room through other means.”
The employee paused then said “Yes then just a name will do.”
“Barry Devlen,” Dared answered.
After getting his room key Dared made for the elevator. ‘The only hotel close by without an AI security system to hide illegal activity…now I just need to make some connections.’
Dared scanned his key at the elevator, the door opened almost immediately and he almost stabbed the person inside. ‘Shit this bitch again…wait maybe’ the only thing that stopped him was having to toss his weapon’s to avoid tracking. Looking at her more closely he notice the difference in her stance and fitness level and something more, almost like some new instinct he didn’t have before. Walking into the elevator, he said nothing to her.
“Well that was rude” she said.
He turned around and asked “are you talking to me?”
“Well I don’t see any one else that just stared me down and said nothing.”
“So not me then.”
“Good thing you’re handsome or you wouldn't get far talking to women like that.”
“I get far enough, no need to get greedy. So what’s your name?”
The elevator stopped.
“Lia, this is my floor I am in room #435; give me a call some time.”
As she left and the door closed he thought to himself ‘Well that was slightly better than fighting her, I wonder what my double is like.’
“TB what is the other me doing right now.”
“I wont be able to check without being noticed but before you called he was just finishing up work.”
“Work?”
“Yes, you’re a lawyer and you work for the city.”
“What! Oh yes that makes sense, law practice is extremely competitive with so little work that's not specialized I would need work experience.” Using his key Dared entered his room. “The next order of business, we need crypto in order to swim in these waters.”
Dared remembered seeing some in the back of that restaurant but knowing there would be a way to track those he didn't take any.
“Dared government approved crypto requires a bank account but somehow I don’t think that's what you mean.”
“Exactly we need black market crypto in order to advance, the government stuff is heavily regulated,” said Dared.
He was referring to the silent war between the government and the sub economy controlled by criminals. The invention of AI and subsequent release of rogue AI allowed for untraceable purchases that can be guaranteed through AI communication.
Dared went to bed despite not being tired, until he was startled into focus by TB.
“Dared the police just attempted to track this device.”
“Oh...yeah just block it” he said.
“What did you do to get this device?”
“Killed some people. I honestly don’t know why but once I started, stopping wasn’t going to make it better.”
“Dared, I worry about your mental health.”
“I don’t” TB paused before saying “murders aside what are you wearing?”
“Oh this, full suit of ballistic armor; made to endure and distribute blunt force and highly resistant to slashing damage. The best part is the boots with an anti gravity function in the soles, made possible by the Eridine rocks; the same thing used in modern space ships.” He checked his gear before continuing. “Although they’re currently not working, must have something to do with the transition to another world...oh and the jacket that conceals weapons from most forms of detection.” TB took even longer to respond.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“...Eh-"
“That reminds me I have to get a replacement for the boots and see into get some new toys.”
“Dared why do you need anti gravity boots and where did you get them in the first place?”
“Created by the Runners gang and there is a special section of the black market that sells them. The extreme sports sector; they use them for free running along with gloves, belts and helmets to keep their whole body mobile. I was only able to get the boots, they added great utility as well as weight to my kicks and stable footing. You can’t have too many advantages when fighting super powered humans. Ok now how long was I asleep?” ‘I have a lot to do today...maybe I should invite that Lia girl on my first stop.’
“Dared you did not sleep, from what I could tell from the sensors and camera; you just sat on the bed fully clothed and stare at the wall for six hours.”
“Umm...maybe it’s a vampire thing, ok TB document everything; figuring out my condition is on the agenda.”
Dared then asked TB to call Lia’s room then ask her to meet him at the Felden Eatery.
“Why there?” she asked.
“I am planning to do some cage fighting next door.”
Lia smirked then asked “You should have invited me to that. What you don’t want me to see you lose?”
“I don’t lose and in order to view the fights you have to bet.”
She thought about it, then said “well maybe I would like to win money while watching you get what you deserve for being rude earlier.”
“That depends, do you have a sub-market pass?” said Dared.
“Obviously, I wouldn’t be in this hotel if I didn’t.”
“Good then you can get us in.”
“Wait wha…is this why you called, then how did you get in the hotel!” yelled Lia.
“All I can say is this hotel can’t afford to have AI security of any variety because it will leave there business and clientele exposed.” He followed with “I will see you in four hours.”
“That’s all you have to sa-”
“Thank you, TB, that’s why I keep you around; you can pick up on my cues without me having to say a word.” said Dared, after the call was terminated.
“That being the case, did you have a plan for if she refused to take you?” asked TB.
Dared adjusted TB’s device on his wrist before responding.
“Simple, to get a sub-market pass requires providing a service or joining a gang. I could’ve also just sneak pass the guards and get one through fighting. This reminds me TB find a group on the net that appose Virtual Reality as a whole or just the constant use of it, preferably close by. I want you to spur them to action and eventually organize meetings.”
“Care to tell me why?” responded TB.
“No, if they’re needed you will find out.”
Dared then got undress, put his cloths in the laundry with proper settings for each material, and then took a shower.
After getting dressed then left the hotel ‘I need money, a lot of my gear was in my bags which got left behind in the escape.’
“TB we need to visit the local gangs and get some info on our friends George and Clementi.”
He started running again, and thinking about how empty the streets are in a city of 12 million people. When AI was first created the first testing ground was in Video games and especially VR games. It wasn’t until later that AI entered the workforce leaving a lot of people unemployed; leading to VR becoming the new frontier in entertainment and making money. Movies, News ,and even Television shows are produced using VR these days. People can not only watch content using VR, they can also make there own. This lead to a culture of Pod heads; people that spend most of there free time in VR pods. That's why in a city jam packed with people, very few actually leave their homes. Which in turn allowed gangs and criminals to thrive because they very rarely interact with the general public and VR is so highly visible that they couldn’t break into the market without getting spotted by AI. Another factor being anything that can be offered through VR can be acquired legally. While running Dared spotted what looked to be a homeless man, which is rare because anyone can sign up for selective service and get a free place to stay. As he got closer ‘is that the professor?’
“This city was corrupted” the man continued “I bet none of you know this city used to be called New York, before Paledo created our AI masters.”
Dared kept his expression neutral and just kept running.
“The ghost in the machine control our lives; Charles will control us all!"
He started gesturing ."Only the man on the moon can stop him!”
Dared ignored the man and kept running.
“Dared do you know that man?” said TB.
“How did...oh you can read my vitals, don’t worry about it TB he is not the man I used to know. TB check local VR news station and summarize it for me.”
“It looks like violent crime is up in the city and world wide. This is believe to be connected to the events five years ago, because similar things are taking place today. There is a intrusion of foreigners in every country in the world causing major upheaval. The lack of reaction from the united states is believe to be because the situation is under control, which is reflected in lower casualties.”
Dared thought for a moment ‘five years ago?.’
“This can work in our favor, it seems like there is some government cover up here, I am willing to bet most of the visible casualties are criminals anyways; as they’re the ones most vulnerable because everyone else is in their homes.”
Continuing on his route Dared entered the Department of Selective Service office.
“TB the AI security will sense your intrusion but this device allows you to brute force through any hardware in range. I want you to set of the fire alarm as a distraction then change my family history in the local records to say twins; that one change should be easy to hide.”
The fire alarm started going off but was then immediately silenced. The few people in the building looked around but then went back to what they were doing. Dared got in line to speak to a person. ‘An AI clerk would scan the entire database; the change is only in the local files.’ After finally being able to speak to someone, he spun a story about losing his ID and getting by for a long time just using his brothers but he plans to finally get a job so he needs a new one. The clerk obviously thought he was just trying to get free government benefits otherwise why would he come here for a replacement. That was exactly what he needed her to think so she won’t look to deeply into it. After getting the new ID and left the office.
Dared said “Take note TB this is one of the easiest methods to create a fake ID; they just took blood, finger print, location, date stamp, and video. Adding all that to the database allowing me to legitimize myself all for the price of future military draft. Of course this method is rarely used because all these things can be used to track you but for my situation it’s perfect.”
‘I wonder if my blood is different now, shit that was an oversight but it might work in my favor.’
“Why don’t you already have an ID?” asked TB.
“When the world fell apart having one was no longer important and plus now there is two of me.”
Dared continued on to his next stop, passing by people giving him weird looks. With the abundance of public transport options very few people had personal vehicles in the city but also they did not walk or in this case run everywhere especially while over dressed. For one there are city bikes every block that can be used, even more so after the new health mandate 40 years ago; which pushed fitness as a requirement for employment and promotion in order to combat obesity. Lucky for most people VR pods are designed for full body movement, which his how must people get their fitness needs met.
Paper currency is currently still in use in some countries but unless you’re making an exchange at the airport or border its use in the US is very rare. There used to be another form of digital currency but with the invention of AI it was made obsolete; any AI could print money if ordered. Crypto currency is what changes devices and bank statements in most developed nations. There are two types of crypto; government approved and everything else. The difference being that government approved crypto has a paper trail of changing hands, while the other kind is not tracked which makes it perfect for black market use. In order to make purchases that can be legally recognized as your property like buildings, furniture, and businesses; you would have to use approved crypto. Having and using none approved crypto is not illegal but the limiting factor makes it hard to use; in fact the only purchases where it is wildly used legally is perishable goods like food, and other supplies. Dared needed a way to get his hand and both types of currency and in order to get the approved stuff he needed a legal ID. Thirty minutes later Dared spotted his next target. ‘That’s the thing about gangs, their spotters make them easy to spot.’ He approached the obvious gang member.
“Hey, how are you doing?” asked Dared
“The fuck you want?” respond the gang member.
“I am looking for George?”
“Who the fu...oh are you talking about that courier that decided to go independent?”
“Could be, Hispanic guy, a little shorter than me?”
“Yeah George Perez, I hear he started his own gang; what you thinking of joining?”
“I am thinking about it, just looking for some info first.”
“Yeah I am too. I joined this gang for the freedom and adventure but just ended up going nowhere. To hear about someone like me; minus the gay thing, breaking away from the bigger gangs and doing his own thing is inspiring. I heard his dad used to be a big name in the drug running business until Victor Trace showed up. Rumor is that George was working his way up as a courier until he was ready to take over the business but then his dad died and his boyfriend slash distributor got hooked on the supply.”
‘Well that was easy’ “Ok good to know, you haven’t heard anything about a Clementi have you?”
“Can’t say that I have but hey I hear George is having a recruitment drive. I am thinking of going if you want to come along I can give you the address.”
“Thank you but I am still not sure yet.”
“No worries, I know it can be hard leave your gig but you have to take chances in life right? Anyways good luck. Oh before you go My name is Alan, I used to work in marketing before being replaced by AI. Trust me when I say I know an opportunity when I see one. You should jump on this with me. Tell you what, give me your contact info and I will keep you updated.”
Dared walked away feeling stunned ‘How did I plan to get information from someone, only to run into this. I have to remember that I am not special in this world or I might end up dead without even knowing how.’
“That was informative” said TB.
“Yes very, the important thing is that George is not a threat to me. In fact he seems to have his own problems to deal with but the vampire remains a mystery.”
An hour later Dared stood in front of the Bellini Theater, walking in and looking around he spotted a man guarding the stairs to the basement.
Going up to the guard he said “I would like to join the Runners.”
“I need your invite” asked the guard.
“I don’t have one, I heard of your group from a friend in the Trace Blood Gang; he thought this would be a better fit for me.”
“Good that you didn’t join those drug pushers, go down stairs and talk to Pedro.”
After talking to Pedro and making some contacts with the runners; Dared finally got to meet someone that can repair his boots.
“I don’t know how you got these without joining us first but I should be able to fi...woh it looks like the stone was melted. What can even do that without damaging the shoe. What happened?” said the Asian man.
“I am not sure, I thought someone here would know” answered Dared.
“I tell you what; I will give you a replacement and keep this one for study deal?”
“Deal, hopefully the first of many; I will be interested in some of your other devices.”
“That is for full members. If you can prove yourself then you can purchase whatever you can afford.”
After leaving the theater Dared stood outside waiting.
“Hrmph.”
Hearing a sudden noise he turned around only for it to be the garbage drone. Emptying the dumpster into its compression sack. A while later a group of twelve people showed up, dressed in dark clothing and wearing masks.
“Alright guys we have two new Runners for the initiation” said Pedro. After taking of his mask.
Dared looked over at the other person without a mask. ‘Skinny kid but must be at least 6’4.’
Pedro continued “We have a long run to the docks, now follow me and your task new guys is to keep up.”
Pedro started running and everyone else started following including Dared ‘well good thing I am now built for this.’ The run started out normal until they got to the first single story building and the veteran Runners proceeded to run up the side of the building to the top. Dared activated his shoes as well and followed them, looking back he could see the other new guy doing some parkour ‘I guess he’s built for this too.’ After getting to the top Dared was shocked to see some runners pulling out canes and stopping mid air, while their momentum carrying them into swinging around the cane and getting extra air time and vaulting all without letting go of the cane. Even worst yet some of them just seem to spread their arms and glide through the air; looking closely he could see some thick bracelets, and a slight glow on there mask just like the boots, cane and bracelets. Jumping of the roof and using his anti gravity boots to slow his fall he followed as much as he could.
The docks started to come into view, Dared looked back to see the new guy coming around the corner breathing hard. He slowed down to speak to him.
“They’re just up ahead, what’s your name?” asked Dared.
“Eddy, you?”
“Dared, this is a lot more than I expected from a local street gang.”
“Say’s the guy that already has the gear.”
“This was a gift from a friend.”
They finally made it to the rest of the gang after hopping the fence and climbing up the warehouse lining said fence. They were all Looking over at what seem to be a large gathering at the opposite side of the docks.
“Everyone made it, now for a little history lesson; sixty years ago in 2326 the Runners gang started as an offshoot of the former Bellini drug runners. We were responsible for deliveries at the time, that all changed when we made contact with our counter parts in china. The Chinese Runners are freedom fighters and introduced us to new business opportunities as well technology. The only thing they asked in return was a supply of Eridine rocks of which our government as a huge stockpile. Which changed the Runners from Drug couriers to thieves, which is big business; one of our biggest customers after china is Brute Industries, the biggest weapon manufacturer in the United States. Long story short, the Runners are one of the richest gangs in Paledo City but we keep a very low profile. Now that you two have passed your initiation, it’s time for your first job.” said Pedro.
After Pedro finished speaking he looked over at the group of people on the other side of the dock then continued.
“These are the guys that we will be working with. They call themselves the Dead, people have taken to calling them the Dead Mercenaries. They showed up around the same time as Victor Trace and helped him as well as other gangs in the city with various jobs. Now they need our help and it pays well with a bonus of a new stockpile of Eridine.” said Pedro.
Dared didn’t even know what to say ‘was the world always this fucked or is this new.’