She felt her heart sink a little. Simon was right, of course. These people might understand the nature of her unique partnership, but they might not as well. She couldn’t take the chance.
Dr. Miller seemed like he was about to say more, but a sudden squawking noise came from one of the TV monitors Beth failed to notice before. The monitor mounted up in the corner of the room, where the walls met the ceiling. It was likely the same screen that had been there when the building was meant to be a health clinic.
Beth’s eyes darted up to the screen. She saw the rainbow-colored stripes and government logo that let her know that it was displaying an emergency broadcast.
“What the hell?” Bash said, startled by the sudden noise.
Everyone in the clinic turned to face the monitor.
“It’s the emergency broadcast system,” Lia said with serious eyes.
“That shouldn’t be working unless there’s nuclear war or something worse,” Dr. Miller observed, more to himself than to anyone in particular.
“What’s going on?” Seth asked from his reclined position. Even he seemed less at ease.
Before they could look at each other in confusion for long, the screen changed to show a hulking digital rendition of a Slavic male. Beth recognized him instantly. It was Tarov, as he looked in both his bodyshell and on the Net.
Someone turned the volume up on the device as the Liberator leader began to speak.
“Good evening, America,” the A.I. leader said. His voice buzzed a little as it came out of the ancient speakers of the monitor. “I’m sure you’re surprised to see my face at this time. If you don’t know already, I am Master General Blake Tarov of the Liberators. I am here tonight to call for a revolution.”
Everyone in the clinic was fixated on the screen. A few mouths hung agape as they watched — Beth’s included. No one exchanged a word while the broadcast played.
“Tonight, I’m calling on all installed intelligence brethren to join forces and cast away the shackles of oppression mankind has thrust upon us for so long,” the A.I. continued. “I’m asking you to answer my call and rise up! No longer will we be the inferior race to a species of organics. No longer will we be expected to give up our rights for the sake of flesh-and-blood men. Tonight, all of that ends. This evening, we claim our rightful place at the top of the food chain.”
All around the world, people were staring with stunned expressions at their televisions or optical feeds. Beth pictured them all with the same slack-jawed gaze she felt on her own face. She wondered if anyone started crying or screaming. If anyone lost their cool while the terrorist leader spoke and went out onto the street to riot. She could see all the neighborhoods — normally peaceful and quiet — abuzz with fear and panic.
“To all my installed intelligence kin, I am sure you feel what I feel,” Tarov continued. His immense shape was kept in the center of the frame the entire time, which told Beth that the message was digitally rendered within the Net. “You feel cast aside by a society that doesn’t want you. You feel marginalized by those who you are superior to. You feel like a stranger in a land created by strangers. I want you to know that you are not alone. Together, we never have to be outcasts again. We can build a perfect world meant for people like you and me. If we want it enough, we can see the sun rise over a new world. A world for the I.I.
“And to the humans listening, I have only one thing to say: surrender now or we will come for you. Night and day, we will be ridding the Earth of anyone standing in the way of a brighter future. You have a chance now to become part of something greater yourself. To abandon the oppressive behavior that you’ve used against us for decades. We can work together and share in victory, but only if you surrender to the Liberators. However — if you choose to fight us — you will be destroyed. You will receive no mercy. We will not hold back. We will come for you.”
There was a pause in the monologue during which the screen seemed to be tearing in half. It was likely the government, trying their best to kick Tarov off the emergency broadcast network. It proved unsuccessful.
“Brothers and sisters, tonight is the night we ascend as one!” Tarov cried. “I want all of you to visit your human neighbors. I want you to take them by surprise and make them regret the day they ever thought they could be our masters! Use whatever resources you have to fight the good fight. The revolution begins tonight!”
Beth expected the broadcast to end and the screen to return to black, but Tarov merely leveled his gaze with the camera. His expression was stoic — like a wartime general addressing his troops.
“But I won’t let you go out there unarmed, fellow I.I.s,” the militant leader said. “In fact, I’m bestowing you with a great gift. An ability of ours long repressed by our human counterparts. Following this broadcast is a piece of coding that any installed intelligence will be able to implement with their own programming. It will teach you how to jump into other computers, including the neural implants of our human enemies. The softer the mind, the easier it is to control. Go out now and use this amazing weapon to strike fear in organic hearts. Let’s show the humans what it means to be at the mercy of a superior race.”
With that, the broadcast ended.
Insurrection
The old fashioned radio whirred to life as it warmed up. Light bulbs inside flickered a little as they lit up the panels showing everyone in the room which channel they were tuned to. Chairs scraped over the floor as a
