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The rain hasn’t stopped since the machines took over. It seems ages ago, but it has only been about twenty years in which humans were the masters of their domain. Now in this year of 2055 Artificial Intelligence has replaced the human mind to reign supreme on planet Earth. Flesh and blood human beings are now prisoners to artificially intelligent, but superiorly more intellectual robots that are shaped and designed like people. These robots are programmed with a chip that is superior to the human brain. These robots feel emotion, sense danger, and even have an attractive appearance that is much easier on the eyes than an average person. To say mankind was on the brink would be an understatement. Jonas Creighton is one of those men who knows it. The 50-year-old is currently lying down in his cell. On his forehead, like all the other human captives, is a marked barcode. All barcodes have different numbers, but all end with VI, VI, VI. Prior to the machine takeover, Creighton had lived a tragic life. He had gone through life being abused by others. From being sexually and physically abused by his foster parents, to being bullied and ridiculed by his peers for his social awkwardness. Jonas never had a friend and rarely received kindness. One of the rare occasions from his recent recollection was from a young lady who was there to assist him after he was involved in a nasty car accident. The young lady named Sarah Cowan aided Jonas. She asked if there was anything she could do to help. Jonas’ leg was badly cut. While others were there just taking snapshots with their cell phones, Sarah took the time to find a first-aid kit from her car. Jonas noticed the others taking snap shots of him while he laid helplessly on the pavement. His thoughts of humanity at that moment were mixed. Sarah came and helped him immediately. It was easy to see that she was an experienced healthcare worker. Jonas was deeply impacted by this moment. While most people would simply see this as a deed by a good Samaritan, it was the kindest act ever performed on Jonas Creighton. He thought about that moment often. He did so now while lying in his cell.Jonas actually gave himself up rather easily. Most people were coerced into receiving the mark on their forehead. It was basically out of morbid curiosity that Jonas allowed it to happen. His lack of empathy for what happened to other humans might be understandable. The only person he had genuine sympathy for was that young lady, Sarah Cowan. Jonas thought she was long gone. For the humans that did not receive the mark were all executed. In Jonas’ mind, Sarah was dead. Jonas also agreed to be an assistant to the robots. His job description basically consisted of taking “used” prisoners to the incinerator to be disposed of. These so called “used” prisoners were coerced into giving all their knowledge to the machines. This process was done by the machine standing directly in front of the person with a gamma laser beam going across the mark on their forehead. This was basically like a scanning device. It documents an individual's knowledge, secrets, fears, biases, beliefs, and values. It was quite a miraculous and phenomenal action that took place. It also was very cruel. It basically burned out the retinas of the person and the gamma rays would penetrate so deep and for so long that it would basically melt the brain. It was very painful. Jonas knew this because he witnessed the procedures. Jonas was also scanned during the procedures. The machines trusted Jonas because he showed little empathy toward the human subjects. Each prisoner, however, was unaware of what had been happening. They were locked in soundproof cells, which were more secure than Jonas’.Jonas looked at himself in the mirror. He studied his mark. But what the machines didn’t know was that his mark was a temporary tattoo of a barcode unlike all others. Despite Jonas’ inept social skills, he was an outstanding artist. He marked himself very immaculately. Jonas knew that his time was short, too. While other prisoners in nearby cells had varying thoughts that their marks could prolong their lives, they were gravely mistaken. Jonas wasn’t sure there was a God. Afterall, Jonas could have used His help many times in his life instead allowing tragic things to take place. While Jonas lies down in his cell, he contemplates the supernatural and starts to give his best version of a prayer to the Almighty. He closes his eyes and prays sincerely: “Dear God, if you exist, please help me now.” In a matter of seconds, a loud thud disrupts the prayer. A loose lead pipe falls to the floor and alarms Jonas. He looks at it and picks it up without a second thought. He decides to put it in his pocket. It felt awkward, but he inexplicably knew this lead pipe was going to be useful somehow. Meanwhile, in one of the cells, Sarah Cowan was saying a prayer herself. She had a mark on her forehead. She prays with her hands on a Bible: “Dear God, I’m sorry I took the mark. Please forgive me for my lack of faith. Please save us. I know something terrible is taking place. Please help us God. I beg of you. I say these things humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen” Jonas waits patiently. He knew the time was nearing to get rid of another prisoner. A sharp-looking, blue-eyed cyborg enters through the cell door. It speaks: “Are you ready for another laser show, Jonas? You know you like it” The cyborg smiles hoping to get a reciprocating glance. Jonas forces a smile. The cyborg gives him a stern look. It speaks again: “Let’s go. This time it’s a girl. I know you will get an extra bit of satisfaction this time, eh?” Jonas doesn’t respond. The cyborg tries to comfort him. “Hey, relax bro. That’s been your whole problem. You gotta learn to enjoy life. Seeing all these worthless people get what’s coming to them should be a thrill of a lifetime, don’t you think?” Jonas replies: “What about me? What’s going to become of me?” The cyborg answers: “No worries, you’re with us. Your mind is much different than a typical person. That’s why we chose to keep you around and help us out.” Jonas just nods and tries his best to avoid suspicion. The cyborg lets Jonas out of his cell and escorts him several feet down the concrete hallway. Soon after, they make their way to Sarah’s cell. The door opens and Jonas’ jaw is wide open as he realizes that there sits that kind young lady that had shown kindness to him a few years ago. Sarah’s eyes are red from crying. The cyborg has a bewildered expression, Sarah is grasping her Bible very firmly. Jonas looks at Sarah with empathy. The cyborg notices and immediately gives Jonas a stern glance. The cyborg scans Jonas’ head with a yellow light. The data signifies that Jonas is feeling empathy unlike any time before. The cyborg violently flings Jonas against the wall. "Stay there and watch," the cyborg instructed. Jonas obeys as the cyborg faces Sarah. She just closes her eyes as a red beam emits from the cyborg. Without hesitation, Jonas takes the lead pipe from his pocket and pulls it in front of the red beam. The laser backfires as the lead pipe acts as a shield. The beam strikes the cyborg. Jonas guides the beam by steering the lead pipe to the cyborg’s chip. It incinerates the power sourced chip located in the cyborg’s skull as it falls to the floor. Its eyes are burnt out. Sarah watches in disbelief. Outside the cell, two other cell doors open. A thirty- year- old man named Nathan and a teenaged young man named Jacob exit their cells respectively. The thirty- year -old man confidently paces out. The teenaged young man looks around with caution before exiting. Meanwhile, back in Sarah’s cell, Sarah looks at Jonas with kind eyes. She praises him. “Thank you. Thank God.” Jonas smiles and takes her by the hand. “We got to go”. Sarah obliges as the two scurry out of the cell and down the hallway.&nbsp;Moments later, both Jonas and Sarah approach a large building. It appears very inviting and enticing to enter. Hiding in an adjacent corner was Nathan. He notices Jonas and Sarah and is smitten by the beauty of Sarah. He carefully edges himself closer towards them. Sarah starts to walk towards the building, Jonas seizes her. “You can’t go in there. I will have to go in myself.” Sarah answers: “Why you and not me?” Jonas replies: “My mark is a fake” As he listens to Jonas, Nathan touches his own mark. Sarah inexplicably believes him and nods. He also hands Sarah the lead pipe. Jonas says, “you may need this” Sarah takes it, and Jonas tries to lighten the mood by smiling. He says, “I’ll be back.” Sarah laughs as Jonas walks towards the building. Before entering, Jonas spots a vacant and abandoned rest stop area. Nathan watches him like a hawk. Jonas walks into the bathroom. He immediately rips off a piece of his shirt. He looks in the mirror, applies water to the ripped piece of clothing, and starts to frantically scrub the mark off his forehead. He exits the bathroom and heads towards the building. Nathan comes in shortly after. He tries to rub away his mark, but to no avail. Meanwhile, the other cyborgs must have been alerted when Jonas had turned on the water. They started to flock together and march out of their areas. Many of them headed towards the area where Sarah and Jonas were by. Nathan hears some commotion outside. He peers outside and starts to see the cyborgs coming closer. He also notices Sarah. He gets an immodest thought in his head. He says to himself “if I’m going to die, I might as well get a nice piece of action before I go”. He runs after Sarah, grabs her from behind and wrestles her to the ground. He blurts out “Hey sweetheart! Just relax. It will be over soon. I’ve waited for so long.” Jonas starts to kiss her on her neck. Sarah is petrified. She screams “Please, no! I beg of you. No!” Sarah’s screams are heard in the distant by the young teenage young man, Jacob. He runs towards the screams and charges full speed towards them. The two men scuffle. The commotion draws attention to the cyborgs. The machines get closer and red beams start to appear as the two men continue to wrestle. The beam aims directly at Nathan’s back. Jacob’s hand gets in the way. The beam immediately kills the older man and badly severs the young man’s hand. The cyborgs continue their way towards them. Sarah raises the lead pipe, causing the beams to reflect off it and subsequently disable the cyborgs. In the building, Jonas has a premonition. He knows he needs to get to a door where the “mother brain” is located. It is basically the power plant that enables the cyborgs to roam. The room is guarded by cyborgs, and he really has no idea on how to get to the door unnoticed. He decides to pray again. “Dear God, I need your help to get into that door. Please help me.” Immediately afterwards, he spots a welder’s mask hanging on a peg. He recalled that the cyborgs used them when entering the door. Jonas felt he could use it as a disguise. He put the mask on and walked steadily towards the door. Some cyborgs noticed him, but they paid no mind to him as they thought he was another cyborg. Meanwhile, outside, Sarah is attending to Jacob’s wounded hands. She is stitching up the wound. Jacob is in pain, but he grins and bears it. She finishes up. The two embrace. Sarah says, “Thank you, young man, you were very brave.” Jacob smiles and says, “thanks for fixing my hand.” Sarah nods. “What do we do now?” Jacob asks. Sarah answers, “I don’t know, but I have a feeling everything is going to be alright.” Sarah looks deeply into his eyes. The glance appears to give him a confident, hopeful expression. Then, suddenly, a loud, thunderous explosion happens. Jonas comes running out like a bat out of hell. Cyborgs all around start to melt. Jonas had deactivated the mother brain, and this was the result. Inside the prisons, the doors all automatically open and the humans come out. Many run out and trample over each other. Others are helping each other to safety. Jonas finds Sarah. He says” They’re all gone now. It’s over.” Both Jacob and Sarah sigh in relief. “Now what do we do?” Jacob asks. Jonas responds, “I don’t know. We need to love each other, I guess.” Jonas turns away and starts walking off. Sarah responds, “Hey, you need some company?” Jonas smiles and looks at Sarah and Jacob. “Come on you two. Maybe we can help get things right this time.” They all walk off together. Meanwhile, there is chaos brimming with the escaped prisoners. Many are scared, some are fighting for supplies, some are praying. One thing is for certain, life will never be the same again. &nbsp;Hopefully we as humans can learn to love and depend on each other again.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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The Fall and Rise

DWPainter

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The Fall and Rise

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Derrick Painter

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