Everyone looked at Tucker.
“Oh, you?” Conrad asked. “That’s the reason. They’re drawn to them. Programed to find them.”
Tucker stepped back farther and they stopped moving. “Who programmed them?”
Conrad shrugged. “No one knows. And it’s possible that it was no one at all. That they evolved. They were given a type of AI that continuously learns and adapts. Why don’t we go back to the house and I’ll explain it all.”
Everyone seemed to immediately agree with that and followed Conrad back to the buggy. Except Tucker, he stayed a few more minutes and looked at that pit.
Even though he wanted to know more, he was in awe of it and couldn’t pull himself away just yet.
<><><><>
“A few years after the Genesis,” Conrad explained when they returned, “they started moving people from the north, south, and east, even west. It was done in lottery style, much like with the ARCs. Only people wanted to move instead, they didn’t want to get on the ARCs.”
“Why?” asked Finch.
“Uncertainty. They knew they weren’t going to some far-off planet, they were going to a future Earth and they just didn’t want to chance it.”
“They knew?” Finch asked. “When did that become common knowledge?”
Conrad shook his head. “Oh, I don’t know. I knew my whole life, since I was a boy. I was happy to stay here and when I found out it was safe, well, bingo, I hit the jackpot. But others wanted a piece and it could have worked. The bots were moving everyone efficiently. Folks out this way were not happy though. If you had an extra room, you had to take in people. Just the way it was.”
“You mention bots,” Sam said. “You mean Risers?”
“No. Risers are a whole different make. Heck, there were all kinds of bots,” Conrad said. “Teacher bots, doctor bots, emergency workers, you name it. The Risers were the enforcers, they pretty much replaced the police and military. They got the name Riser because they rose up and thought for themselves. At one point, early on, they were doing good. Weren’t harmful. But what they had in AI, they lacked in durability. They weren’t built to withstand the elements, and the storms and everything else started wiping out the Risers and every other type of bot outside this area. Only the builder bots were durable for weather.”
Nate asked, “Builder bots?”
“Yes, the ones building the ARCs,” Conrad explained. “Conditions worsened with disasters, and the amount of people migrating out here dwindled, so they started moving the bots as well. That is when I think things started to unwind.”
Nate shook his head. “I was convinced there was a plague of some sorts.”
“Oh, there was, a bad one,” Conrad stated. “It went on for years. They developed a vaccine and focused it in the safe zone. But it didn’t help that much. In fact, the sickness was the trigger that started it. The Risers started killing anyone with a symptom. Didn’t matter what it was. Those bracelets gave your health status and transmitted it to the bots. They took you out. Of course, they started taking everything out. Including the medical bots. Especially them because they were trying to help people. Strange.”
“They took the people out,” Finch said. “We saw bullet holes but no blood, at least any remaining.”
“There wouldn’t have been any blood,” Conrad replied. “The bullets were from humans fighting. The Risers took you out by sending an electrical charge into the bracelet.”
Rey looked at Tucker. “Get rid of those bracelets.”
Conrad chuckled. “No, you have to be wearing it to work. Has to be touching the skin. And again, I haven’t seen a Riser for a while.”
“How did you stay alive? I mean, how did they not kill you here?” Finch asked.
“Easy. We didn’t have any bracelets,” Conrad replied. “That is how they track and see you. You don’t wear one, they don’t see you. Not sure how that works. Like I said, people fought their way out. I know this, though, the moment you snap that thing off or unhook it, you better run. They knew you’d removed it. They’re on you in a minute.”
Finch sat back taking it in. “How long had the bots been around?”
“Hmm.” Conrad partially whistled as he exhaled. “My whole life. I know my father had several farm bots when I was a kid. Older models from when he was a kid. I don’t know for sure. They evolved so much. I thought you guys had one, but maybe I’m wrong. It was before my time. Not sure if the ARCs did. Then again, they left ahead of schedule.”
Nate leaned into the table with folded hands. “The ARCs left early?”
“They did. I guess with the disasters increasing and the plague just starting, they took their chances and waited in space for the wormhole to open. I don’t even think they were full. Like I said they had a hard time getting people to leave, and they were forcing them. They left ten years early…I remember seeing it in the sky. Of course, I remember them coming back as well. That wasn’t too long ago, though. Five years.”
“What?” Sam asked in shock. “The ARCs came back? Then they didn’t go through the Androski?”
“At least one of them didn’t,” Conrad said. “I saw it. It flew overhead. I don’t know where it landed, though. Too far for us to look and they never came here.” He shrugged. “You know what?” He snapped his finger. “One of my farmers, Mr. Lane, he may know. He took a horse and went to the highest point. He may have a good idea where they went.” Conrad stood. “Why don’t I go fetch him for you.”
“That would be fantastic,” Finch told him. “Thank you.”
“I hope you folks will stay for a meal,”
