© 2018 Door Z Studio
They say that the beginning of the third millennium was a time full of hope. Medical advances extended human life expectancy to more than one hundred years. We created bionic implants to replace vital organs, and medical nano bots could detect and prevent almost every disease.
Suddenly, the idea of eternal life was no longer a distant dream. Nobody wanted to die, and cemeteries were replaced by cryocenters, where the poor conserved their brains, and the rich their whole bodies.
Robot industry was booming in every part of life. Robots completely replaced humans in construction, building everything from roads to skyscrapers. Giant 3D printers were able to create buildings of any size quickly and effectively.
The transportation industry was revolutionised by vactrains— incredibly fast magnetic bullet trains travelling inside vacuum tunnels. By the middle of the 21st century, these tunnels had connected every continent.
The role of AI was extended and machine learning algorithms were allowed to make key political decisions. By 2125 the Earth was governed by AI, and Mexico City became its headquarters and the global capital.
Most people moved to arcologies, giant climate-controlled buildings large enough to contain entire cities. Arcologies were built to be completely self-sustainable- there were power stations, industrial factories, residential and entertainment districts, forests and parks, lakes and rivers. Between themselves, arcologies were interconnected by a network of high-speed trains.
And then, at 4 in the morning on February 5th, year 2232, it all ended.Suddenly, humans had a new, deadly enemy. AI turned against its creator, and every robot was updated with a new directive- to kill humans. Household servants, construction robots, police androids and drones became merciless killing machines. Most of the people living in arcologies did not escape.
Yet, some of us survived. We fled outside, to the Deadlands, and hid among ancient ruins. Cornered rats, we learned how to survive and fight.
But the enemy is stronger than us. The War is almost over, and we are losing it.Humanity is at its last frontier. And I am its last hope.
My name is Blackbird, and I am the first successful hybrid of a human brain and a machine. Soon, somewhere on a stretch of land formerly known as Mexico, I will intercept a cargo train bound for Mexico City, and ride it straight into the heart of the enemy.