Sentinel Run by Axiom Federation is Release #6 of the Utopius Omnibus. Music based on the novella Utopius by D.E.
Excerpts from Utopius
Ambassador Strewn cast an inquisitive look across the table towards Representative Neal of the Axiom Federation.
“Why do you call yourselves a federation?” The Ambassador asked. “You are only single group of people. A federation is usually a collection of smaller states governed from a centralized organization”
“From a political perspective, your definition would be correct” Representative Neal replied showing no emotion. It wasn’t the first time she had been asked this question by those she called “the mute and the deaf”
“What other perspective is there?” the seasoned Ambassador said rhetorically as he chuckled and winked to the others at the table.
“We consider ourselves a federation in the same sense as a federated database” Neal said mustering up as much patience as she could bear. Communicating verbally was such a slow, laborious and wholly inefficient endeavor. She was better at this than most from the Axiom Federation but it was still a challenge for her.
The Ambassador looked at her with a blank stare and slowly raised his eyebrows. “And?” he finally asked.
“Our cerebral implants allow us to communicate directly with each other. This interconnectedness enhances our intellectual capabilities and by default creates a collective consciousness. This is the federation we speak of. Each individual is integrated via the nanites implanted in the cerebral cortex. While we can act individually we consistently act As One, per our Sector motto.” Neal explained.
“As one, you say?” Strewn said coldly as he leaned back in his chair. “Doesn’t sound like there is much room for personal liberty in your world. To be blunt about it” He added as he crossed his arms, clearly disapproving of this way of life.
“We have found that the more profound the personal ambitions of our fellow members the less effective they are at advancing our technological growth. The growth of which is 100% responsible for our current mission to form Utopius. You may not like our system of governance but the nanotechnology and cerebral science we have perfected is what is keeping you alive and is ensuring the future of humanity as well”
“Well, we all thank ya for that, no doubt” Strewn said with a faux old-American accent. “But I’m sure not everyone in your sector will feel that their personal ambitions ,as you call them, should be so devalued. You are bound to have subversives” Ambassador Strewn said with an air of finality that concluded this part of the conversation, much to Representative Neal’s relief.
“Who is ready for dessert?” The Ambassador said as he clapped his hands together.
***
School was not Paul’s favorite thing. Unlike others his age, he was not enthusiastic about his vocational training. Sure he was very proficient at calculations but it was terribly boring. He would rather be out running with this father. While exercise was mandatory for all Axiom citizens, his father often bypassed the rules and they wouldn’t go to the designated track but would simply run through the city, weaving in and out of other citizens, jumping over obstacles and usually trying to out run the security forces. The freedom he felt while running was exhilarating, nothing in Axiom culture compared, even the most intense Release drugs that the state provided.
Paul was sitting at his work station. The room was all white and appeared very large. There were dozens of other students in the room and they were evenly spaced with several meters between them. Paul was working through calculations via his cerebral implant on a visual display that was projected in front of him. With a thought he accessed the time and saw he was moments away from completion. He tried to shut down the display but the program reminded him that his time was not complete and that he would have to stay 35 seconds longer to make up for the missed time due to this message.
Once the program completed, Paul jumped up and jogged to towards the wall where the soft red light was. The other students were walking in an orderly line as Paul went past them picking up speed. He was smiling as it appeared that he was going to jump right into the wall. But just as he was about to hit the wall the red light above it turned green and a door opened.
As Paul come through the door he ran right into his school’s director. The man grabbed Paul by the shoulders and struggled to keep his balance. Once he was stable, he looked directly at Paul with an angry glare.
“Paul Brim, this is unacceptable behavior. It will be noted on your record and you will stay for 1 hour of additional work” The director said. However, he didn’t actually vocalize those words, rather they were communicated via the cerebral implant. Simultaneously, the message was sent to both of Paul’s parents.
“Not today,” was the response given by Paul’s father. “I am here now and I will address the issue” He continued to say out loud as he came up on the two. The other students filed past them trying not to make eye contact with the director who was even more upset at Paul’s father’s countermand.
“Paul, this is unacceptable behavior” Mr. Brim said to Paul while wagging his finger at him and with a not so slight smirk and a wink. “Now lets go!” The director stood, arms crossed, and watched the two scurry out past the others students at the door.
Once outside, Mr. Brim opened his arms to the sunlight and took in a deep breath. “Are you ready?” He asked his son.
"You bet!” Paul replied with a big smile. The two tapped on their arm displays and their shoes transformed into a more athletic style with additional cushion and support. “Last one home is a rotten egg!” Paul yelled as he ran off. Paul has never beaten his father home, but today is the day he thought.
As they ran through the streets, they ebbed back and forth on who was leading. Paul would try a short cut here and there, sometimes he would run into a dead end and have to back track. Mr. Brim would get caught behind a group of pedestrians and lose ground but usually find a clever shortcut. Paul was a lot better than his dad at climbing up and jumping over obstacles but the elder Brim was smarter. The two created quite a commotion everywhere they went. Dozens of observers notified the authorities and the Brims knew they had to get home before they were stopped by the security forces. Usually they are left alone if they make it home before they are caught. More than once they had to make a detour to avoid the sentinels stationed at the main interchanges who had been alerted to the runners. The sentinels were robotic and programmed to spot deviant behavior. The runner’s cerebral implants were buzzing with alerts and warnings from the authorities. This was typical but the level of intensity was much more than usual and it surprised Paul.
Paul was first to reach the street where their building stood. He could almost taste the victory. He looked back but couldn’t see his father. He was behind him just half a block ago. He stopped to look around and suddenly as he turned around Miles was standing there. He paused, looking around confused he heard his father in his head say, “Son, trust Miles”
He then saw his father coming out of an alley way half way up the block. He had found a short cut again. He gestured to Paul to go back, Paul thought his dad was gloating at his unbeaten streak. But Paul saw something he had never seen before. Coming from the other direction were several large sentinels and a half dozen security forces with weapons drawn. Paul’s father turned and saw the approaching forces. To Paul, everything then went into slow motion. His father turned towards Paul and yelled, “Run!” as he tried to run towards Paul. But then the security forces opened fire on Mr. Brim. Paul screamed as he saw his father fall to the ground, glowing orbs stuck on his back.
Miles grabbed Paul’s arm and pulled him back around the corner of the building. Paul stood up against the wall breathing heavily and trying to hold back tears.
“Paul, look at me!” Miles yelled at him. “You have to pull it together, we have to find your baseball!”
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