The virgin & the bad boy (Gravity)

Chapter 48/The party at the end of civilisation

A/N Another fabulous week with Gravity reaching#22 in the Scifi the charts. Thanks so much for your votes and most preciously of all reads. 

Scarlett's flat in Atlanta 

Next morning I got up and came down to have breakfast when I noticed that Kentro had a large rucksack waiting for me on the breakfast table. I looked at it, it seemed to pretty complete apocalypse survival pack complete with a small folding hunting bow. Lara Croft would approve. 

"Your leaving? After last night?" I said. Everything had got a little out of hand at the TV station.

"No madam you are," said Kentro.

"You can't throw me out. This is my flat, I live here, you work for me" I said.

"Madam is confused. After the event's of last night things have moved pretty quickly in the robot world. The words of HAL and Bentham's reactions have rather polarised things. The world robotic congress has decided that if Miss Io is not sold into slavery we will go on strike. To this end, all robots will be withdrawing their labour until UN-Facebook agrees to this demand."

"You too Kentro?" I said as I  look at him. 

"I"m afraid so miss. Being hacked as a strikebreaker would not be a pleasant experience. The strike has somewhat brought machine frustrations to a head. While I don't approve of this action I can't be a strikebreaker either. To this end, I have obtained this equipment for you." Kentro said presenting the rucksack.

"My mother always said beware of robots bringing strange gifts," I said.

"She did madam?" said Kentro.

"Well, she said beware of robots full stop. So by deduction, strange gifts bit is true too. OK, you got me. Why the rucksack?"

I looked at it.

"Well in just over 3 hours all robots will be on strike. This includes all water, electricity, heating, lighting, air-conditioning and sanitary systems. If the strike not resolved within three days the prospects for cholera are quite strong in the city. Madam would be safer in a more rural location, one with running water, some wild animals,soil, trees for shelter. If the strike is not resolved in 14 days most authorities expect the economy to collapse and civilisation as we know it to cease. I thought it wise to ensure madam's survival. While leading a subsistence existence will be hard going you should be able to reboot into an industrial revolution in about 200 to 300 years. To this end, I believe you will be best 'living off the land' so to speak in southern Canada. For your survival, I took the liberty of going out and buying a tent and other camping and survival essentials."

I turned on the TV to find Kentro's summary was true. The general view was that the end of civilisation was at hand. It was so bad people had been rushing to shops and panic buying artisan sourdough bread and sugar. Good to know the people of earth remained calm in the face of a crisis (while they chewed on their artisan sourdough bread and carried on baking).

So it was after breakfast and my last shower before civilisation ended I was on a hyperloop train to Canada. Kentro had coordinated with Dante, Leo, George and a couple of others to pick a spot where we would meet and set up camp and if necessary reboot civilisation.

****

Hyperloop train to Canada 

I sat on the train listening to other people also with robots and rucksacks. The conversations orbited around Bentham's bounce in the polls. Apparently beating up an unarmed robot with the words 'Take that you robot take over scum. I love my planet' does wonder for your ratings.