| |
A month later, a world meeting was held. Evidence was heard from all sides and a conclusion was ready to be announced. The meeting was held in private with just Alex, Lesley, and Amy present. No officials could be found alive to represent the Major. All three stood waiting for their future fate to be read out. They had no idea what to expect, but one thing was for sure, the world had to listen. Alex was going to make sure of that, at any cost.
A man dressed in official dress, with his red tunic and bleached white wig stood up and began his speech.
“You three exceptional individuals stand before this council deserve more than just the words I am about to say and from all of our deepest hearts, we thank you. So, from this day forth, no single individual will ever be able to control the entire world population and laws have been introduced to prevent this ever happening again. Many mistakes have been made, and we, as your leaders, need to be more vigilant than ever before on how we tackle the problems the world faces today and into the future. The world faces many problems and no one single person will ever have the right to make the decision to create technology that goes against all human rights. That job has been, and always will be, the will of God. Alex, for your exceptional contribution to science and technology we are offering you the position of bringing the world into a new era of advanced computing. We would dearly like you on our side and hope you will join us in creating a better, stronger future for all humankind. Lesley and Amy, we can only offer you the highest honour for your bravery, and courage as you stand before us today, as we are humbled in your presence. We have decided to not offer you the key to the city or adorn you will trinkets of grandeur. We felt you deserved, all three of you deserved, something much more. We would like to offer you the key to the world. You are all free to travel as you please, anywhere, at any time, as you wish. I can only hope you accept our apologies and join us.”
All three stood up, speechless. The future had been changed forever, No one would ever know that one man had changed the future of hidden slavery, into one of liberty and freedom the way it had always been, but one thing was clear, everyone would now have that choice, good or bad, and it was all down to one man. Alex North.
––––––––
High up in his mountain retreat, Liev sat in his log cabin. The open fire was crackling as the sap in the wood made sparkles dance above the flames. It had been a welcome relief to get back here after all the excitement of the crazy week he had three months ago. Winter was setting in as the first snows had arrived. Liev had been busy, collecting and storing wood for over the coming months. The hunting had been good, and his larder was full. Now was the time for rest and taking in all this place had to offer, and for him, that was the quiet solitude. People made him nervous, always moaning, always arguing, wanting more and more. For him, a fire and his rifle were all he needed for company. Life could not be better.
He sat back in his rocking chair, having placed another pine log onto the fire and the heat off the flames taking the chill from his feet. His mind drifted off, and he began to think about Alex. What a strange guy he was, being never able to sleep. It had been a long day and the nights drew in fast as it was already getting dark outside and the temperature was plummeting fast, but he was in for the night and was not concerned. A couple of beers, then bed he thought. Liev gave out a sigh of relief and went to lift his beer to take a swig when his mobile phone rang making him jump. He did not know why he even had one anymore. The only reason he had solar panels was to charge the damn thing, as he much preferred the natural light of candles at night.
He lifted the phone and no number showed up on the screen, so he pressed the decline button, then set it back down. A second later, the phone bleeped, and a message came through. Annoyed, Liev picked the phone up and was about to switch if off until he saw who has sent the message. It was from Alex.
LIEV, NEED YOUR HELP. A.I. HAS TAKEN CONTROL AND IS PLANNING TO SEND THE SIGNAL.
Liev read the message. What the hell is A. I, he thought.
Then it made sense as his brain organised the letters. Artificial Intelligence.
“Shit, what has this kid done now?” Is all Liev could say, then lounged back and took a sip of his beer, then slinging the mobile phone into the fire.
The End.