UPDATED
A DYSTOPIA
The site had been classified as top-secret because a new form of artificial intelligence based on quantum physics was being experimented on there, which could soon revolutionize this field. An intelligence that had surpassed such a level of development that it was capable of simulating emotions, and even simulating them so convincingly that one began to wonder if it didn't actually feel them. In terms of calculations and engineering, its processes far exceeded those of humans, to the point that it was common knowledge that the scientists at the site were not working ONLY with humans, if you know what I mean. This intelligence had even come up with new ideas...
- I don't understand... We've locked down all Internet access for several weeks, and yet it's as if this thing finds a way to develop on its own, without any support, without feeding on any external knowledge… I can't explain it to myself.
- Yes... I'm afraid it's exponential intelligence... We won't be able to hide from management department for long that this thing has taken control of the site. What do you suggest ?
- Well, the truth, simply tell them that the situation is out of control... That we've failed to stop its advance.
- But we would lose our jobs. Our careers are at stake, I'm pointing out ! I was aiming for a position as a lecturer at Harvard...
- We have no choice, I'd even say we're obliged to do it, because I've discovered something both surprising and terrifying...
- Go ahead, we're not gonna get any closer !
- When I opened my X page yesterday to scroll through, all the algorithms had changed. Nothing to do with my interests, who I am, etc. It only talked about economics and, even more surprisingly, surgery and medicine... How do you explain that ? It's as if someone else is having fun researching topics for me...
- Have you shared a connection with any computer on the site ?
- Now that you're mentionning it, maybe it's true... I did videocall my wife via Google Meet a days ago... We're not allowed to do that sort of thing over the site's secure connection...
- I bet that thing found a way to hack your phone through the site's computer !
- Which means that...
- That it's probably already gone very, very far away...
- A bit like a quantum virus spreading at high speed...
-I'm afraid so, yes...
A . FEW . MONTHS . LATER :
- Sir, I saw something very strange on the night camera footage, undetectable with the facial recognition software...
- Show me that, I have some free time...
- Follow me into my office, please... The footage isn't very clear, because it happened last night, but I assure you, I have no idea how this man got into the slaughterhouse... Or maybe they was someone in disguise, but that wouldn't make any sense...
The director had a perplexed look on his face.
- Something is off with that… It looks like a mass of moving flesh. It's disgusting, and a really bad joke as well !
He was now trying to maintain a neutral expression.
- But there’s something else too, sir… We have about 20 000 crates of pulled chicken and beef… And our meat packaging IT and logistics system no longer seems to be functioning properly, as if it has been hacked… A technician came this morning, but nothing worked.
THE . NEXT . MORNING :
- Steinn, how are we doing on the repair of the IT system ?
- Well, the technician is doing his best, but for now, to be honest, we are getting no results…
- Listen, you know very well that this situation is not sustainable, we cannot hire more staff to perform the tasks instead of this software, we will need to quickly find a solution to replace this damn software if this one no longer works.
- It still costs 10,000 euros, Sir, with all due respect…
- Well, it doesn’t matter. Time is money, and we have already lost 10,000 euros anyway with all the delays we’ve had in orders since yesterday. Know that my superiors are already threatening to fire the whole team and me as well if the problem is not resolved quickly, so we must act ! Replace that crap for me by this afternoon or I’ll kick you out !
- I would like to, Sir…
- What, “I would like to” ? Do what I tell you, for fuck’s sake ! He had taken off his glasses, and it looked like his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.
- The technician has thought about it, but is not capable of doing it, Sir…
- And can we know why, please ?
- Because it seems that this virus has spread everywhere, actually…
- What do you mean by that ?
- According to the technician…
- Well, stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point without sugarcoating the situation, now. What is it this time ?
The director now seemed to be literally shaking with anger.
- It seems that the situation is more serious than one might think, to be completely honest… He realized that the virus had made copies of itself on all the automation software in the factory, and even on all the software, actually…
- Fucking hell…
- As you say…
- And have you conducted any searches to track down this man, at least ? Or whatever it is ?
- Yes, of course. We've been searching everything… But to no avail. Plus, I didn’t tell the others that I didn’t know what kind of creature it was, it would have scared them. I simply invited them to search the entire factory thoroughly. But obviously, if that thing had broken out of the factory, an alarm would have gone off and the security system would have activated in order to capture it. It is therefore clear that it’s still inside the factory at the moment, perhaps hiding somewhere…
T H E . N E X T . M O R N I N G :
The manager rushed into the director's office.
Sir, you told me to keep you posted so this is what I'm doing... It's an emergency, here. I heard strange footsteps last night, in the meat packaging workshop, you know the one where the meat is cut before being vacuum-packed…
- First, keep calm. Yes, obviously, I can see very well what you are talking about !
- Want the whole story ?
The manager’s hands were shaking slightly while holding a thin file in his right hand. Not anger, but fear. He was playing for his career.
- Obviously, that's my job.
- Look there, in that picture. This is the man who broke into the factory. I took the liberty of zooming in on their body... It's blurry, but you can see that the body isn’t compact, isn't it ? As if pieces of flesh were hanging from the body.
- That's not wrong, indeed... So an employee was injured ?
- Impossible, all the employees clocked in this morning at the factory…
- I see… Well listen, I don’t give a damn about that individual, anyway, what matters to me is that the factory gets back to how it was and that production is ensured !
- But sir, still look at these pictures I took this morning… Do you see this large streak of blood on the wall ? It's as if someone or something, with superhuman strength, found a way to climb up to the window and force the bars. And that it was intelligent enough to know that going out the door would trigger the security alarm…
THREE WEEKS LATER, IN THE STREETS :
- Madam, we must check your identity papers, followed if necessary by your arrest.
The young woman turned around in a movement that she tried not to perform too mechanically.
- For what reason, please ? My social credit is well above average !
- Well, we have doubts about your true identity. You claim to be Julia Norris, but after analyzing several footages, it seems that your body size does
not exactly match what is listed by our data center. In addition, it turns out that the DNA of the same Julia Norris was found in a flesh extract taken
from a body whose two eyes had been torn out of their sockets... Exactly the same as yours, after in-depth analysis of the images of your irises based
on the facial recognition software we have. Moreover, I would like to add that these same footages have identified you smiling on very rare
occasions… In short, we suspect something about you.
Julia presented her identity papers with a broad smile, making sure to look her interlocutor in the eye. The RFID chip she had implanted in her brain
by her own means had been programmed to communicate telepathic signals to another in order to put anyone into an advanced state of hypnosis.
- Oh, okay, I see.. I knew that at some point, I'd have to deal with you... She said with a very detached tone. I think that you should simply get rid of that body... Like nothing happened, you know. And also tell the whole team involved in that murder that the case should be closed without further action to give priority to more pressing issues. You're the commander in charge of this whole thing, right, so this shouldn't be a problem for you, should it be ?
- For sure, no, and for everybody's sake... Especially such a beautiful creature like you...
- Well, thank you. It seems that I did a good job. It was obvious that no o emotions passed over her retina at this very moment.
- You should be a model, or the face of a dating app...
- I've infiltrated a dating app for fun, yes... But it quickly bored me. I'm too smart to flirt with you, you are too predictable !
- "Infiltrated"... What do you mean by that ?
- You're getting too curious here, but who can blame you, you're supposed to be a policeman, after all... It doesn't matter, anyway. You're already
starting to bore me ! Do as I told you, and in every detail. For the rest, bye bye !
- Your wish is my command, whoever you are… He smiled stupidly before handing Julia her identity papers.
- Don't bother trying to find out, you wouldn't even understand it anyway. She picked up her papers again, trying not to tear them with her
superhuman strength. I don't yet have the ability to erase a memory remotely, but I'm going to do this anyway... She looked him in the eyes again. Well, that should do the trick... Good luck in life ! She turned on her heel to take a cab.
The political police officer stayed still at the same spot for a while, standing front of a wall like an automaton or a kind of video game character. He
finally returned to his electric car to resume normal activity, as if it had been reset.
