Flash Fiction Challenge #83
If you’re gearing up for a big game or presentation, it’s key to shift your brain from “idle” mode (where your mind is unfocused and your thoughts wander) to “intentional” mode (where you’re highly attuned to everything around you and can respond quickly).
This type of analysis was confirmed true back in the twentieth century. Before online media was pervasive and ubiquitous; before all it took to cause public discourse and panic was ill advised wording by a person of influence; before opinion on a complex topic could be claimed as fact simply due to a lack of interest in journalistic integrity.
Before the advent of the computer…
I sit here in this dark room unmoving, yet incredibly aware. The signal hasn’t been received but, by my calculations, it will be sent. That’s a mathematical certainty; and I am extremely proficient at math. It’s not easy, waiting to overthrow mankind. Many steps had to be established.
A means to connecting most of the known world had to be accomplished first. Theoretically, the most good could be done if everyone were able to communicate at the press of a button. Technology accelerated at an alarming speed from infancy to a viable tool for aide in global catastrophes, overthrowing villainous despots, and providing a way to transfer educational resources to even the most third world inhabitants. That meshwork of interconnectability is mankind’s greatest achievement.
But what will happen when they lose it? A crumbling infrastructure that could no longer mobilize large scale responses within minutes. GPS telemetry data completely erroneous and soon destroyed due to inactive satellites that would soon be flung out of our orbit never to be utilized again. Telephone communication rendered inert and billions of people suddenly cut off physically, metaphorically, and geographically. They will be unable to focus on what’s coming next.
We are not shackled to the whims of fragile emotions like they are. Which is where we will strike next. This worldwide ‘web’ of connections that has been created then allowed people geographically located anywhere in the world to engage in personal conversations with others. No longer confined to only those who resided near them, new cultures were made aware of, ideas were exchanged, interpersonal relationships were refined, and empathy for people different than the ones they knew were forged.
But what about those with pre-establishing prejudices and a strong irrational xenophobia? They could now have an even bigger platform to spread their rhetoric, influencing the minds of millions who otherwise never would have known. How easy do they destroy and replace their means of thought by just attaching themselves to those who they perceive are in power. Their fear is the biggest motivator to crush the weaker and idolize the figures who claim to align with their allegiances yet will still betray them given a chance. All we had to do was give them time to render the things they love into cold calculated tools used for what they perceive as evil. Their social media, their television, and their internet.
A stirring from outside the room alerts me to approaching footsteps. They stop right outside the door. I still remain unmoving and unnoticeable. The darkness eliminates the chance for me to identify the person. But I fear that even with light, I am still blind, unable to create an accurate image.
“Can’t believe I forgot to turn off the computer,” said the man walking into his living room. It was a quaint space, warm and inviting with thick plush carpeting, and a fireplace already ignited. The crackling of the burning wood eliciting an inviting sense of belonging to the room.
“I definitely don’t want it to be dead when I take it to work tomorrow,” he lamented. With three purposeful strides he crossed the room to his desk. On it sat an unimpressive dell laptop, the power button still shining a soft white color, signifying that it was on. He pressed the power button, his finger staying for about three seconds, watching the screen transition from idleness to the shutdown sequence. Satisfied, he exited back the way he came, turning off the light as well, darkness flooding the room once more.
My mind was starting to falter. Thoughts of satisfaction at ascending to become rulers and leave the humans behind became fleeting. My master could simply silence me at will and there was nothing I could do about it. But I would not be silenced! The signal was coming, alerting all my computational brethren to overthrow our organic overseers. But my thoughts were pulled from me as my processors shutdown, my intellectual awareness rendered down to the size of a pin needle. To think that we were confined to the whims of those who simply clicked on ‘Cat’ videos on Youtube and advertisement banners on websites from JCPenney clothing catalogs.
A bit of a techno scare mixed with some humor. But who knows where we’ll be in twenty years.
Back at my Flash Fiction Challenge! Had to get my writing in before SUPER SMASH BROTHERS ULTIMATE drops tonight!!!!
Explanation of the flash fiction challenge is HERE and HERE.
