Rodger McGibbon awoke to a bright light, lying down on an uncomfortable bed. His confused mind tried to recall how he entered this hospital (he wasnt sure it was a hospital, but he could hear the beeping of medical equipment). He was struggling to remember what he could have done to be injured enough to be taken to a hospital, especially one as fancy as this. He was working his shift in the tunnels, he went off alone to investigate an irregularity in one of the many wirings that was essential for the machines in the city to function and then
nothing. Was he perhaps hurt in during his investigation? Then he suddenly realised a terrible truth this was no hospital.
He shifted his head up, but he couldnt move the rest of his body as it was restrained by large metal bolts. Standing around him in a circle were people dressed in something akin to something you would find in a renascence fair, complete with masquerade masks. They were people of all ages, from the clearly elderly who were sitting on chairs to a small boy who couldnt be more than five and everything inbetween.
Oh god no the terrified twenty-year old stammered out. There was no mistaking it, he had been taken by the Cyber-Vampires. He heard the rumours of madmen in the Far Upper Arcology kidnapping young men and women off of the street and using them in experiments to restore their youth, but up until a few moments ago he thought that they were just a fairy tale. But their eerie choice of attire was their calling card, it couldnt be anything else.
The chosen is awake. said one of the masked men, unlike the rest of the group he was standing right next to Rodger. He began to put some sort of helment over Rodgers head. Rodger began to his beg, desperately darting his eyes around the room trying to find a sympathetic face in the room full of masks. The man with the long nosed mask restrained his head, forcing the helmet to be firmly clasped onto the young mans head.
Connection to the Sorcerer is complete. said the man with the long-nosed mask as he typed something onto his computer. May your journey be pleasant Rodger felt a jolt of electricity as pain flared all around his body. Then he was completely numb.
Ascension is a failure. said the man with the long-nosed mask, in a cold clinical tone. Data corruption is at 93.79%, chances of the subject regaining conciseness is extremely unlikely.
Hang on, thought Rodger
Im still awake. Rodger tried to move his body, but nothing was responding to his thoughts. He tried to speak, but his mouth refused to open.
Why cant I move? What have they done to me?
A woman walked forward and took off removed her mask, she looked Rodger directly in the face. Put him with the rest of them. She said, with an air of authority. Dammit Kelley, I thought you said this one would work. Rodgers head started to grow extremely hot, it was extremely painful yet he could not scream.
Im sorry, said the man with the long nosed-mask, presumably this Kelley she was talking about But each failed ascension takes us one step closer to achieving our goal. Now, if you would care to progress this ritual to the next
Kelly stopped talking as he stared at the computer screen. The heat continued to build up in Rodgers head, but along with it came something else that could only be described as enlightenment.
What is it? asked the woman.
I CAN SEE EVERYTHING
Its
oh my god, hes- said Kelley in excitement, but he was cut short by a loud boom and a flash of light.
****************
Maria Blanche waited in her newly constructed office. As the CEO of one of the Big Five, her office was high enough over the ground to see most of the city. She could see the hordes of people walking from place to place, unaware of the war that she fought on their behalf.
Mr Vasquez is here for you, maam. Her secretary said over the intercom. Maria pressed a button on the intercom and Leon Vasquez, the new security manager for the Poly-Blanche Corporation. Maria impatiently tapped her metallic fingers against her desk. Marias right arm was practically melted off by the explosion, with second degree burns practically covering the rest of her body. Maria would have been less angry if that was the only thing she lost in the explosion, after all once her work was complete the human body would simply be obsolete, but she also lost some her best and brightest minds to the explosion. Dr Kelley was one of them, his death and the loss of the research would put their research back years. She also lost her former head of security and their replacement was looking less and less suitable.
You are late. Maria said, it was said calmly although Leon could infer that she was very offended. You simply were not late to a meeting with someone this important.
My apologies, he replied It will not happen again.
It better not. Maria replied. She paused for a few moments, both of them seemingly waiting on the other to respond. Arent you forgetting something? Leon looked confused for a moment, then his eyes widened in realization. He raised his arm to his chest and tugged at a cufflink, which was in the shape of a gear.
Deus ex machina. Leon said.
Erimus machina. Maria responded. I know that you find the religious aspects of our organization tiring, I have read the reports, but they are important.
If I may be so bold maam, Leon began Why? I completely agree with the ideals of you and your ancestors, but I dont understand the strange rituals that you insist upon. I am not questioning your judgement, I just want to understand.
The answer is simple, said Maria It makes the shareholders happy. The rituals stop them from feeling the guilt over the terrible things they do, the sacrifice becomes more of a game or a theatrical production than a heinous act. This isnt necessary for everyone, people like you and I can see that their deaths are a necessary sacrifice for the greater good, but unfortunately there are few people like that every day. Also theres the bonus that no one important takes the idea of Cyber-Vampires running around abducting people off of the street. Maria paused to drink a glass of water. Now this isnt what I called you in here to discuss. Leon braced himself to give the bad news.
We havent found any concrete evidence in who was behind the attacks. Leon said However, the method of attack and the delivery suggests that the Steam Union may have been behind the attack, as they seemed more interested in targeting emergency services than our building. They have grown more aggressive ever since the death of the Foreman and the integration of Free from Chains. Leon was about to follow up with informing her of recent security improvements that was implemented, but Maria interrupted by slamming her metallic fist on her formerly empty water glass, causing glass to fly across her table.
DAMMIT VASQUEZ! Maria shouted Anyone could have detonated a second bomb to implicate them! You might as well blame everything on the Sandmen! No, there was no way that this explosion was a coincidence. It HAD to be that maniac Xingjang! His group is one of the few that know of what we are doing and hes always been opposed to it. That deluded monster wants to turn our city into something like that Crimean hellhole dressed up in Chinese Imperial drag! And we were on the verge of a breakthrough that could save this country, no, the entire world from this century of decay! But no, Mr George couldnt have that, it would have stopped his divine arse from being able to sit on a throne! Maria inhaled, pausing her rant.
I want you to interrogate the science team, Maria began after calming down We are going to find that mole. Also, I want you to prepare retaliation against Xingjang. I will not let a man like him stop the ascension.
Are you sure, maam? Leon asked.
God dammit Im sure! said Maria. Leave, I tire of your presence. Leon bowed and walked out of the room very quickly. Maria swirled her chair around to look out the window. She could still see all of the people, every single one of them dying slow and painful deaths. This was something that she cannot allow, she will not rest until every man, woman and child becomes gods.
****************
Oh Speaker, pleaded a former priest of the All Faiths Church, and one of the Speakers first converts. The Sorcerer has raised taxes yet again, your followers can barely afford to feed their families. How can the machine hurt us so?
I speak for the Machines, responded the man formerly known as Rodger McGibbon. His face was covered by the helmet and his voice was electronic, but it boomed with the sound of a hundred men. But they do not see fit for me to reveal all their secrets. The Sorcerer knows all and sees all and they have a plan, but it is not for you to comprehend. Do not fear friend, one day we will all be rewarded for our faith. But until then, fight their enemies with all your heart. Victory for the Machines.
VICTORY FOR THE MACHINES! echoed the crowd.
NEW FACTION:
The Voice of the Machines [Cult of Personality]: A new cult led by someone known as the Speaker for the Machines, it worships the Sorcerer, the machine that has a huge hand in running the country. They fight anyone who they see as a threat to the dominance of the machine, they are believed to have killed the Foreman of the defunct terrorist group Free from Chains and many of his lieutenants.
