Koinonia Protocols: Part III
Chapters: VII, VIII, IX
VII.
I looked outside toward the station. Some of the robots were making their way through the crowd toward the train. The sound of the shifting carts was like lightning striking, and it shook me awake again as they made their way through the crowd. I have loved machines since I learned of their existence growing up they had always gotten better and smarter with me. Semi-autonomous beings fabricated completely to mimic organic life. Autonomous Minds which were now fine tuned into some of the most terrifying and useful allies the planet has ever seen. They keep balance and even then have changed the world order. Their presence now sensed as they enter on board followed by larger construction models. Some smaller ones crept in as well, all of which are likely being sent to the moon station for further assembly and repair of the nexus. These were Robots while some of the only beings actually able to operate virtually everywhere without major risks, they operate under the control of an AM. They lived and operated these shell bodies which they could swap between whenever necessary.
The machines were larger than the average person and could function physically in ways beyond the natural and biological as well. They had built their own designated areas onboard the train, so that they could connect to the larger network, receive tasks, and easily depart by moving around without disrupting most of the local populis. These machines felt like giants in comparison to me. They towered over most of the city or around buildings in various shapes and sizes, sometimes they wake up, and are then taken away, each looked as if they had a different task separate to that of the nexus.
Sometimes they were bipedal but more often than not the tops of their “bodies” were split down the center as if they housed something in the middle. “User units” some were shells piloted by ghosts somewhere around the city and most of the time you have to have your own hardware to really take control of the unit. Maybe the AMs carried teams together for larger tasks like ants? These all looked different, newer, lights and sensors cover the top sections of them each where any eyes would be a polycarbonate shielding covers their sensors, each facing in a different direction. This one was unique normally they usually only had one appendage on both sides of their torso like human arms, while this one they had two side appendages for lifting and moving objects. This one was a unique red color with grey accents. Someone was inside this one.
VIII.
More days passed. Workers, laborers, and city dwellers began flooding the cabins further and further as shifts were began to end, and the city now about to come alive again with the night. The sun crept on the horizon which meant that once again the moment had arrived to leave. Most of those that live within the city almost always worked for the government, or was contracted by a corporation. Little space in-between for free agents. Corps as entities however strong they were had just enough power to rival the federation and even bully some of the local municipalities if they had really wanted to do something like that (they do). Most of them never worried about revolt or dissatisfaction amongst workers because of how replaceable they had made them, they keep the trapped in little township systems like the ones down south in San Gabriel. The issues were that these days the corporations do not usually do the right thing while some do, others abuse the powers they have been granted, or taken, for further gains squeezing everyone else in the middle. Outside of the government racket the city suffers more because of these decisions, less money flows in and everything isn’t maintained the way it used to be they’re all sending the money somewhere else.
Most of the people working have no skill sets they sell their lives and time and whatever else that they can further leverage tokens to make any sort of capital to begin with. Some of the agents work for those that remember others are left to toil in this matrix. Not to mention how much was siphoned off from living expenses and sometimes vices everyone finds life very comfortable within these walls. Many people like to talk and blame themselves for not doing more to have more capital and wealth, but it sometimes seems like they’re trapped within their own realm too and can’t find a way out either. So I am stuck living and don’t know where to start these days. Living like this seems to be ingraining itself further into my own culture.
I sat a run down bar that I normally go to around the block not too close to my place but just far enough that I can wait around before catching the train out. I found a seat, wore leather and tables rubbed to shine, it felt old but the drinks were always cheap because they didn’t keep up with the place. I ordered some noodles. People hustle with people trying to fix their problems their businesses get into and try to get by through trading parts and pieces for necessities, whatever they can get their hands on and whoever needs things done they connect the people. Just then, Someone sat next to me and then turned their head and looked toward me,
“Hey,” they said.
“Hey,” I said back.
They didn’t open their mouth their eyes glowing slightly when the thoughts moved over. They lived in the same block as me. Their clothes still looked fresh, like they had money and lived comfortably enough metal synthetics and cybernetics that looked chrome and shined from the Light Emitting Diodes.
“Starting the night shift?” They asked. Their eyes scanning me and my body in a trance, waiting for response, I nodded as I locked eyes with them.
Most of my neighbors didn’t know what I did as a source of income, but knew that whatever I did, I did well enough to get paid decently. I am lucky to have learned so much programming and hardware design on my own to just have software that people pay me for to license. These days most of the information is trapped behind fire walls and that thing. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like trying to get through all of the security to access data, and still be able to work. They make the system impossible to navigate moving the goal once you’ve finally reached the finish line.
IX.
Years ago I once told myself, “When I finished my certificates I’ll also be able to apply to colonize the outer-zone, or at least sell years on the Nexus.” I’ve decided that it would be better for me than trying to stay here. I kept thinking this time was lost because the journey is nothing if it isn’t spent with anyone you actually want to spend it with. That feels especially true since you left this place doesn’t feel the same.
Your unit was a few doors down from mine, I see you walking by sometimes, smiling and introducing yourself to me and I couldn’t help but stare into your eyes. My mind went back to a memory of that job, I worked inside the city center too, while I had to do market analysis for a company. They tried to explain the necessity of bringing a product to a consumer had ended, and how now the market helps the economy flourish through increased sales and cultural hegemony through corporate to corporate sales. I nodded and waited for them to finish. It took about fifteen minutes before I could say anything. Certainly the sales person I see, I said. They blushed, It shows I guess.
The time came once again, and the city began to shift changing into night as sun burned away what ever hours were left as it dipped further and further toward the horizon. The gas from the building boiled off the chimney tops, I looked around then grabbed my bag and put it onto my lap. There was a person nearby coming up from section D of the city, they said their name was “Mars,” and their parents had been scholars of the old empires. A great civilization that had grew, stagnated, and collapsed from the weight of indifference and corruption. Mars like Aries was the god of war, but we haven’t seen a war in almost two decades The event pushed us further into the future as a society despite our differences, secret wars. Most if not all disputes were still settled within a court of peers and representatives tribunals. Mars told me it was nice to finally meet you, and then settled back into their holotec with eyes glowing.