The cyborgs' aircraft was quite unique. Rather than resembling a normal passenger plane, it seemed to be an entirely circular aircraft. Its wings were attached to the circle, except that unlike an helicopter, the wings were attached with the body rather than at the top. One could wonder whether it would look like a weaponized beyblade when spinning.
The cyborgs led their human captives towards the aircraft, parked in the open ground. The road was blocked due to it, though no one in their right mind would want to approach them willingly.
The leader cyborg was still in his human disguise form, and looked like an average normal man is his late thirties. He wore a brown suit, and had a clean-shaven face with black hair. Though his smile was synthetic, it looked quite real and set their test subjects at a slight ease. Except Jack and Jill, they knew what was to come.
"Welcome humans. As you have guessed, we are cyborgs, the pinnacle of human evolution. We just require you to play a VR game to collect some data regarding life, I hope you'll co-operate." The cyborg said casually, trying to pacify his captives.
"You lie! That machine will kill everyone!" Jack yelled. Everyone turned towards him, and the cyborg gestured everyone to be calm.
"Jack, my friend. I realized we have done you wrong. Our last AI was rather faulty, and took a destructive approach towards its subjects. However, this one takes a radically different approach. We realized that the data results need to be customized for each individual, and therefore, our data collection machine will collect data about your personality and life experiences and use it to set your mind upon a life course most beneficial to your well-being. You don't believe us? You can try it."
"You played the same trick last time." Jack said in contempt.
"Precisely why we wouldn't do it again. Suit yourself." the cyborg paused.
"Who volunteers to go first?" He asked. No one stepped forward.
"Come on, you'll all have to come forward eventually." He added. There was some shuffling, but everyone was still too intimidated to step forward. The cyborg pointed at two people in random.
"Bring them forward." he ordered, and the cyborgs behind pushed them ahead. One was a chubby bald old man with a graying beard, while the other was a lanky young brown lad who was sweating with fear. Jill recognized that the latter was Chad, the friendly representative from Allbackup who had helped them settle in the town. She wanted to stop him from entering the fatal machine, but felt powerless.
She watched as they both went inside the booth grabbed the VR headsets. Chad hesitated, but the cyborg nudged him with his gun. He put it on, and as expected, for a few minutes nothing happened.
Then when the old man removed his VR headset, he had tears in his eyes.
"Joyous world!" he exclaimed, raising his hands into the air, happiness exuding from his entire being. What just happened? Jack thought.
In contrast, Chad just put back the VR headset. He wasn't as happy as the old man, but had a look of contentment and satisfaction. He went up and shook hands with the leader cyborg.
"This really is 'the' Allbackup for life. You'll save and fix a lot of lives with this." he remarked. The cyborg nodded, smiling.
"You both may leave now. I would still like to conduct a few tests before taking the risk of rewriting a cyborg's goals." he replied. Chad and the old man walked away from the premises. "Life's good." the ruddy old man remarked randomly.
One by one, all the test subjects except Jack and Jill took the VR simulation. Although everyone's reactions were of varying degrees, they all seemed to have a positive result. Jack wanted to believe them, but the trauma still lingered in his mind, causing him to doubt. Jill stood by his side, waiting for the inevitable moment.
"I see you still regard us with distrust." The cyborg remarked, his comrades forcing Jack and Jill forward, towards the new machine.
"Well, you have no choice in the matter. We'll forcefully do good upon you." The cyborg chuckled dryly, as they walked into the booth.
"Trust me, it'll be okay." Jill comforted Jack, who was looking around desperately for an opportunity to escape.
"You won't die, not on my watch." She said, looking into his eyes. Jack nodded.
They put on their VR headsets.
Jill found herself in a completely unexpected place.
YOU ARE READING
Aimless Town
Romance'It doesn't matter anyway.' This was something Jack used to say to Jill all the time. Until they arrive in a town which exists to match people with things that matter to them. Unable to return to the outside world, they have no other option but to a...
