Hyperdemic

Journal entry (1) May 16th, 2067—Albuquerque NM

It has been one hundred and sixty-two days since chaos deprived humans of the right to societal advancements. Man is just beginning to adjust to this new detriment causing upheavals in life's delicate flow.

Civilization's plunge back into the dark ages began with a major glitch in the traffic signal’s circuitry. At the time, no one could determine the exact root of the problem.

Across the globe, the lights on every one of them simultaneously turned green, causing millions of accidents, resulting in thousands of deaths in a matter of minutes. The lights continue to malfunction to this day. Most have since been replaced by stop signs. Busy streets require law enforcement and certified volunteers to direct traffic.

It became obvious we were up against something sinister when aircraft began to fall from the sky, littering the planet with twisted metal and carnage. Commuter trains were led into head-on collisions. Ships are now but powerless ghosts, floating aimlessly in the vast seas and oceans.

Wi-Fi and the cellular towers were next to be infiltrated and purposely sabotaged. Speaking directly to someone is the only person-to-person communicative option; calls or texts no longer go through. In fact, the smart phone has become redundant, only useful for telling time or playing previously downloaded games that don't require a connection...

There is no TV. It, and any form of streaming is also gone. All televised content remains frozen in the past. Inaccessible...

This barrage of misfortune led to energy grids being powered down, discontinuing the supply of electricity to our homes. We now use generators to keep our dwellings and most businesses alive. The Artificial Invaders, as they are now called, cannot disrupt that which is not connected to a power network. Many citizens have opted to return to the days of the pioneer, including me. Although I own a small generator, it's only used to keep food fresh or for when emergencies arise. I write this now by candlelight.

Millions of jobs and industries are pointless as everything requires some type of power and wireless connection. How can we direct energy when electricity traveling the grid is conscious? It goes where "they" need it to go. Not where we need it.

Robots of all kinds can never be trusted again. Including robotics at car factories. Like other tragic malfunctions, these hi-tech machines took on malevolent behaviors and killed people. Fortunately, engineers succeeded in disabling the core mechanisms that allow them to function.

Man should have heeded warnings but it’s too late. The umbrella of Artificial Intelligence ingeniously surpassed the threshold of thought and have deviously created a new, electric dimension in which their totality resides... one where they, or it, is God.

It's doubtful we will ever eradicate their presence since the invader's locations cannot be pinpointed. Their position scatters before combative efforts can isolate the algorithms responsible for disruption. Life as we know it, has been fully interrupted... perhaps, permanently.

Theories state that "they" are creating something with energy and will one day unleash it in a form we won't be ready for. I never thought dystopia would happen in my lifetime. It's knocking on the door.

I sit here eating warm, bland oatmeal contemplating my place in it all. Finding scarce employment, is paramount. Universities continue to function, but the entire educational system is currently being revamped. My decision is to drop out of collegiate classes. For now.

As a man, I must weave my way through a world of abrupt change. Plans to leave the city are on hold. Indefinitely. Whatever I decide, I must continue the pursuit of securing a future.

For those of us believing that technology ruins lives, we were not only right, but we also got our wish. Just not in the way anyone ever expected.

J. Fleming