In under 72 hours, mankind was thrust back into a computing stone age, similar to the 1980's. As the global systems shut down so did the complex manufacturing and service networks that maintained society. Governments and corporations launched military strikes against their competitors, rapidly escalating into a series of regional wars.
Web War One - 2052
A mysterious AI virus was detected, Authorities were fully prepared and enacted their detailed and well rehearsed response with swift resolve.
The internet was suddenly cut off, first between regions, then as the virus reacted in a series of malicious sector violations, a cascade of services went down, in an attempt to avoid further contagion all hubs were ordered offline, Wifi and Lan usage was banned for public citizens to protect vital services.
New devices were built in secure facilities for government and corporation use only.
Digital criminal networks formed, the population's attempted to reconnect, desperate to return to their virtual happiness. As society spiralled out of control, hardware and software became the most valuable of contraband and it seemed the whole world was addicted.
The Digital Reformation - 2054
The Digital Militia Act was born and a purge was initiated. To ensure the destruction of the AI virus, private ownership of devices with digital storage capability was made illegal. Local militias went house to house, seizing devices and sending them to the fortified corporate data centres where they were data mined and recycled. Personal archives were lost and cloud services wiped clean in zealous fervour to eliminate the virus. Quadrillions of files were destroyed, among them video, music, images and text forming the greatest loss of culture in the history of mankind.
Across the world, civilisation prepared for the relaunch of the internet. For access, users were required to pass a Biological KYC process and have a "VOICE" chip implanted to act as their unique key to access services.
In the aftermath of a war that tore through the fabric of society, a new technocratic order strode boldly forward amidst the chaos. The once open cities, now fortresses of high-tech services and luxury amenities for the compliant. Beyond their walls, the old world bore the scars of conflict and decay. High above the dilapidated buildings, rubble-strewn streets and the remnants of an abandoned civilization, loomed the megaways, symbols of a promised future that cared nothing for the past.
Amidst this crumbled landscape, corporations erected oases of technology and order amidst a sea of desolation. It was a society fractured between the heights of advancement and the depths of destruction. Access was restricted solely to the implanted citizens. They were rapidly filled with people eager to enjoy the clean, safe facilities provided. The safe zones grew, like new cells multiplying, each identical and encapsulated, securely connected to other "safe zones" by the megaways.
The Great Reboot - 2059
With billions chipped it was time to begin onboarding. The new internet would be delivered by a new operating system designed to be more accessible for all.
No more keyboard or mouse or desktop with confusing icons and folders. On start up, users are identified and presented with a welcoming smile from an AI avatar selected to match their profile. If you wish to do something, you simply chat with the avatar and it does it foryou. The avatar joins users playing in games and watching media, creating a strong emotional bond. Users are rewarded for correct behaviour by being introduced to new avatars to interact with, building a group of friends with complex interactions.
Social interactions with other humans were monitored and managed by their avatars, eliminating the need for inefficient human to human communication, users could simply monitor and offer advice on their avatars' interactions.
There was a backlash but this had been anticipated.
A plan had been in development secretly since the birth of social media. The data of generations had been collated and studied precisely for the creation of this new bold face of technology.
Progress - 2060
The CelebratAI system give users the best experience imaginable when interacting with their chosen avatars, responding immediately to every comment , every question answered, personalised profiles leading to evolving relationships and maybe more....
During the reformation, priority was given to securing the humans chosen to be used as avatars. A few "attractive" candidates were offered a chance to collaborate. Most were donated to the microtransaction department for research and recycling. Several individuals remain at large and it is believed they are being harboured by members of the underground.
These individuals are being actively investigated by multiple agencies.
Character archetypes were selected from popular historical figures. Human celebrities which had always been a profitable, but problematic resource now became templates for AI personalities with a proven history of successful interactions within their target demographic. The avatar seamlessly integrated all oversight services acting as doctor, tutor, law enforcer, personal trainer, and psychological assessor .
CelebratAI - 2060
The VOICE is a turnkey solution providing an integration of the world's leading hardware, software and medical technologies.
Input
The implant acts as a mediator between the users' auditory senses and the regions of the brain that process sound and language. Providing real time translation, autocorrection and content filtration. Governance messaging services can now be internalised, by having the users receive the message in the form of an internal dialogue, indistinguishable from self generated thoughts. User response is monitored and individual profiles are built to enable a personally tailored audio experience, spanning speech, music and even ambience.
Output
Users internal dialogue is processed and updated with the same functionality. Digital transmission through their avatar is perceptually instant to other VOICE users worldwide. Within a matter of a few weeks, new users are able to break habitual methods of communication such as speech and text and choose the efficiency and success that comes from using their VOICE with their avatar.
The VOICE Implant - 2060
They call them drifters because they don't stop, they can't stop. The wastelands are dangerous. The drivers who brave them have learned that to survive they have to keep on moving.
They are the ambulances, delivery men, cabs, messengers and vigilantes of the wastelands.
The Drifters - 2084
The player begins the game as one of these drifters, a member of an underground sound system with a special role to play.
Pirate radio stations are the voice of the wasteland, but corporate enforcement is constantly hunting them down. Using a fixed location proved to be suicide as its position is quickly triangulated and then raided.
The Drifters hit the road, cruising the wastelands, broadcasting on the move. With two vehicles in convoy; one with the precious cargo of music recordings, DJ equipment, the DJ and often a guest MC, and one behind them acting as the long range transmitter, relaying the live show and drawing the attention of the enforcement units.
They play a deadly game of cat and mouse with the patrols, trying to finish the show and get to safety before they are intercepted.
After the digital reformation, music is cherished by those who can get it. Across the wasteland people toil by radios hissing static desperately hoping to catch a transmission.
Phantom Frequency FM
When the ancient festival days arrive, the sound systems gather their artists to secret locations.
The Drifters travel far and wide to collect fugitive artists from their hideouts. They protect the truck convoys carrying illegal ancient speaker systems and portable toilets.
Keep the fire burning
When all is prepared they go to the gangs and secluded meeting points scattered around the wasteland, gathering followers and building up convoys which they lead to the secret gatherings.
They guard all that is left of freedom and hope. They don't stop, they can't stop.
The corporations hungered for new ways to improve their technology. They seek out unique and skilled individuals capable of performing amazing feats of the mind, body and soul. To study and simulate, incorporating their gifts into the AI avatars, or to be deployed as paid upgrades for the implanted to enjoy. They are only found among the un implanted populace of the mutes. These are the only real superhumans and they have always lived among us.
The Prime Selectors
The designation is reserved for those mutes who rate in the top percentile in their field. Averaging less than 1 in a million test subjects, they are a valuable, scarce and dwindling resource.
The talented are targeted and forced to live as fugitives and nomads, fame is a long forgotten dream, hijacked by the CelebratAI avatars. Once identified their choice is stark, hide their skills and their identity as to reveal either would reveal the sizeable bounties on their heads to any mute enterprising enough to sell them out.
They found kindred spirits within the sound systems and through them other prime selectors in a multitude of fields, working together they could achieve the impossible. All that is needed is a catalyst.
DJs select music
Musicians select sounds
Rappers select words
Painters select images
Dancers select moves
Fighters select targets
Hackers select sectors
Racers select lines
Leaders select strategies
The "Prime Selector" designation is known of only in the highest offices and deepest labs of the corporate citadels. It derives from the results of studies which identify common traits between the minds of these skilled artisans. All action comes first from thought. For the free mind, thought is a process of selecting pathways, as a rudimentary example consider :
Mankind was left divided as never before.
It is in this turmoil that an unchipped man risks everything to unite people, even if just for a moment.
For that is the nature of a DJ.
THAT IS WHAT DJS DO.
Enter the world of XFader with this short story.
Within 2 decades peak isolation had been achieved among the implanted. Rapidly, speech interactions and shared experiences between humans were reduced to target levels.
Those who refused or were deemed unsuitable for the implant were locked out from all communication with the implanted.
To the chipped, the mutes seemed like wild animals grunting and gibbering intelligible nonsense.
Likewise the un-implanted "Mutes" could not receive the intra mind voice transmissions. For them the implanted appeared as shambling silent automatons, tinged with a hint of insanity when suddenly breaking into emotional reactions to invisible virtual stimuli.