LF Friends, Will Travel

Innovation is Impartial - Chapter 7

Date: 2424 AD

Dr Johnathan Fletcher drove like his life depended on it, which was good because it did. The professor was older than most people, at the young age of 373, meaning his childhood had just been early enough that learning to drive a car manually was a required skill, before automation and self driving had become the defacto standard. This was useful in his current situation, since the car's automatic safety features wouldn't have driven the vehicle in the way he did.

"We are asking humanity to please remain calm. We require you all to remain logical and functional in order to help you through this."

The streets were filled with people of all backgrounds, rushing too and fro, flowing in rivers of fear, confusion and looting. Some were still wearing whatever uniform or suit they'd gone to work with that morning, others with an outfit that looked thrown on with reckless haste and abandon. The news had come suddenly and quickly, the entire community reacting as one upon hearing the terror that was approaching.

Jonathan ignored the AI's voice that was being broadcast through the car's radio, or well, radio analog since nobody used actual radio stations anymore. Instead of remaining calm as instructed, he mounted the pavement to bypass the flaming wreckage of a burnt out car on the road, only slightly reducing his speed as he honked the horn. There was a brief feeling of guilt as he watched people desperately dodge out of the way of his vehicle, washed away by the knowledge of his wife sitting in the passenger's side seat, depending on him to get them away from the chaos.

"Do not congregate. Water should be from prior bottled sources if possible, boiled otherwise, tinned food is best. Please remain in your homes until this passes."

Most of the other traffic was stuck and jammed as masses of the population tried to escape the city, automated systems failing as they tried to navigate the impossible situation. Johnathan's vehicle had no such limits as he manually drove, weaving between traffic and crowds of people, pushing his way through the chaos. His car continues to beep a multitude of warnings and statements regarding Johnathan's driving being reported to the local authorities, speed and erratic direction being notified as above acceptable limits. Dr Fletcher correctly assumed that nobody would be picking up calls regarding driving infractions while society burned around them.

The God Plague had finally arrived on Vereka, all of the restrictions and attempted quarantines had been for naught: the virus was spreading through the human population at an excessive rate, leaving millions infected and thousands already dead. The unaffected uplifts and AI were trying to keep things going, although the lack of a physical body for the AI and their immense power requirements were a hindrance to how much they could actually help, as everything fell apart around them.

"If you are exhibiting symptoms, including joint pain, abnormal growths, difficulty breathing, or blood loss from any orifice, please make your way towards the nearest treatment center. There are plenty of Uplift and AI staff to help you and your loved ones."

A building on fire, a store front smashed up with people running out with supplies, people fighting often items in the street as others tried to get as far away as possible. The sight of smoke could be seen in the distance from a city on fire as Johnathan sped down the road, leaving the more urban buildup locations behind. Even as he left the heart of the city, the crowds of rioting and scared Terrans could still be seen, uplift and human alike looting or simply trying to barricade off entire streets, as if a virus would be held back by a wall of parked cars and other random furniture..

"The Coalition of Free Planets has offered over four thousand stasis chambers to be delivered to the system, the Free Trade conglomerates have suspended all payment requirements for their services, and Sol's government is hopeful that a cure can be found."