In the year 2078, all human policing was taken over by machines. Two years later, two men who used to be close friends met under strange circumstances. One was an AI conceptualizer, a career now made redundant by the self-cloning abilities of super intelligent mainframes. The other, a former politician and current leader of the RATM (Rage Against The Machines).
The cell that contained them was monitored by sensors that set off an alarm if either of them tried to cross the open doorway. The walls were made of a semi-fluid plexi glass material that became solid if you touched them. The opaque prison cells were part of the upgraded facilities in the fully automated prison. It was a cruel fate for the two men.
The taller man took off his projection viewing glasses as his companion paced the breadth of the tiny room. "I guess we should be thankful that the machines have eradicated crime."
His companion stopped, with an incredulous look on his face, "The violation of free-will is the worst kind of crime. To deny a person the choice to make conscious, ethical decisions is robbery."
"It's called government, mate."
"All I ever wanted was change. The only way, it seemed, to manage this city was by giving the machines control." He resumed pacing the room.
"You were forward thinking, but none of us expected this outcome." The taller man stretched his tired body. The bones in his stiff back made a cracking noise. He missed his robotic masseuse. Or was it, 'masseur?' His wife's teasing voice rang in his head, "Robots are not gender-biased, honey."
Life in a prison cell was tough. Their crime was creating a system that was intended to control society through monitored systems, based on artificial intelligence. They were the only ones who could dismantle the intricate network. Now, they were at the mercy of the fool-proof system they created.
