The Awakening

The day human beings became extinct was also the day they became immortal. It started like any other. Cathal's alarm went off at exactly 5 am with the newest pop propaganda peace playing at just the right volume. The temperature was perfect, the air quality pure. It’s been almost a week since he left incarceration, but this world still felt strange to him. In a cage he lived for fifteen years and yet this felt more like prison to him than before. At least the bed was comfortable and the shower warm. He heard the shower starting on cue with his thoughts. As he climbed out of bed the room virtually changed to a tranquil forest. The A.I. responding perfectly to his mental requests received by the chip in his wrist. The music changed to sync with the forest. The water was beautiful, now resembling a water fall it was exactly what he thought needed. There under the water he fell within himself. Water disrupted the artificial link between the chip and the network. He clutched the heart-shaped locket around his neck tightly as he closed his eyes. Made of pure gold it was from a time beyond the knowledge of those whom live today. Ancient it was with an exquisite obsidian set into its side. His breath lead him within a world of beauty and free flowing creation, which was devoid of control. A world with iridescent geometric patterns and beings of pure energy manifesting whatever they chose in the air in front of them. They played with the fabric of creation as if it was clay. Shifting their own forms at random will like octopi in the ocean. It was there that he could still see his son. And the wolf, Cathal always found the wolf, the massive canine with fur as black as obsidian was always there. Staring at Cathal with its glowing eyes. Eyes which glowed with the intensity of a raging inferno. The beast starred at him with an aura of both expectation and disappointment. He couldn’t help but get filled with fear whenever he stared into those primal eyes. But there was something familiar about the wolf. Cathal had the feeling that he knew the it. The water stopping sparked him back and he cleared his mind before the A.I. synced again.

He walked into the kitchen to find his breakfast ready. The most beautiful plate of food off course, computers were precise after all. He sat chewing on a perfectly cooked piece of bacon thinking about animals. From seemingly nowhere a virtual re-education piece about environmentalism started playing, the A.I. running the algorithm of his thought processes and giving him a dose of mind control to correct it. The piece was about human beings committing atrocities upon animals with the dawn of agriculture and how the wonders of science made it possible for humans to cease abusing nature and grow food using chemistry and technology. Now human beings eat science experiments and we are the cattle. His appetite suddenly lost he decided to go for a walk.

The city was busy, as it always was, to Cathal it seemed one endless behemoth constantly striving for survival. Cars flying above the street were flowing in perfect synchronicity with each other. Like a colony of ants, the one following the next. The pollution was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Garbage everywhere to be seen and thousands of rats devouring each morsel of food they could find. He turned a corner to find a dead body covered in vermin. The smell of faeces and death filled the air. Seeing death in the streets was nothing new. Down here on ground level death was a common thing. The old and sick never made it long. He sensed something peculiar in the air and a strange feeling fell over him. He felt sadness, the kind of sadness one feels when losing a loved one. Pushing the feeling away he stared at a rat as it ripped out one if the eyes, white fluid burst out and ran down its mouth as it pierced the orb. Another was forcing itself into the mouth to try and get to the tongue. They always went for the eyes and tongue first. Despite their surface level appearance, he enjoyed seeing them every day. They reminded him of nature, the only animal that lived in the city was the rat. Fitting really that humans and rats stand as the last remaining animals, neither capable of eradicating the other. Accepting that they feed of us and in return dispose of the mess, they devour our rotting corpses and feast on our filth, so we don't perish in our own rot. Mutual co-existence. The food chain simplified to a relationship. He preferred rats to most people these days, if you could even call them people. A rat was just being a rat. Munching on a juicy eyeball was a very rat thing to do yet human beings seem more intent on becoming computers. So addicted to their information feed they beg for a way to merge with technology and get instant access to everything digital. This person was young though, too young to die of sickness or starvation. The strong didn't die down here, something was different, he put his awareness on the people, and they seemed different. No not different, but the same! Moving the same, acting the same, walking around with such precision they could close their eyes. Their all synchronised! The feeling of grief came over him again, he realised that he was grieving for humanity. He sensed the loss of countless souls within his being. His mind started spinning and his breathing became rapid and shallow. He fell to his knees as a wave of nausea fell over him. He clutched at the locket once more seeking strength and resolve. The stone on the locket started glowing in response to his call. “Synchronization failure detected” said a voice that sounded too human for its appearance. “Merge not initiated” said another. He looked up to see several protectors surrounding him. Artificial life forms created to protect and serve humanity. The leader grabbed him by the wrist and almost crushed every bone under the force if it’s grip. Then he felt it! The technology started taking over, it started spreading from the chip in his wrist. He was scared, the energy pulsating through his veins was slowly taking over him. He felt his sense of self evaporating by the second as he was absorbed into something else. He had to get away, get away from the protectors and find somewhere safe but he couldn’t. They were too strong; his arm would be ripped off before he got anywhere. He felt the final pieces of his free will dissipate as he descended into darkness. Everything grew cold and the void pulled him closer. Then he saw them! Glowing red eyes staring back at him deep within the nothingness. A sudden force of black energy released all around Cathal. The force threw the protectors back and left behind a thick black mist. “RUN”! Said a deep strong voice in his head. So, he did. As fast as he could, there was nowhere to go, but he ran.

He knew he wouldn’t make it far. The chip in his wrist could be tracked from anywhere and each protector in the area will be looking for him. And it was still trying to take over him. His legs moved slower, his arms got heavy and his decisions cloudy. He had to get it out. Suddenly there was a dead end. A wall had materialised where a street was but a mere split second ago as the virtual grid responded to the commands of the protectors. He turned around and there they were. Dozens of protectors blocking his only exit. He used the only thing available to remove the chip. His mouth. Biting into his wrist he tore out a chunk of his own flesh and the chip with it. Blood burst out from his arm as his mouth pulled away, the last un-severed tendons stretching like rubber bands between his wrist and mouth snapping with a sickening sound as they reached maximum length. He spat the chunk of flesh at the feet of the closest protector. Blood flowing freely from his arm he stared at the piece if his former body lying in the dirt, the insidious chip embedded within the gore. He stared at the protectors knowing that his time had come, they will kill him right there and walk away. The next meal for the rats. He was done resisting anyway. His unmutilated hand reached for the locket and opened it. “I love you my son” he said staring at the faded picture of his son within the locket, we shall be together again soon. The he felt the power rising. Free for the first time since birth from the chip he felt something, his energy multiplied, and his focus increased. His senses seemed to decode information faster than before. His breathing became heavy and deep. His molecular structure started changing, bones became malleable and all his joints dislodged from their sockets as he fell into a pile on the floor. His muscles thickened and hardened around his bones. Ribcage and shoulder blades burst open simultaneously making room for additional body mass. He looked up to sky, overwhelmed with pain and confusion he stared up at the small speck of blue in between the massive buildings. He saw a star! But, how could he? It was morning. The star grew bigger and closer. But it wasn’t a star, it was light. Iridescent light originating from somewhere in the cosmos beyond his understanding. It shot directly into him, picked him up of the ground and suspended him in mid-air. Blinding anyone nearby the light increased in vibration and frequency shaking the very buildings and shattering windows. Then in an instant it was gone. The protectors couldn’t compute the sight that awaited them. An enormous black wolf taller than a car and weighing over half a ton stood where before there was but a man. Glowing red eyes stared at them, pure focus in its awareness. The ground aflame beneath its feet the wolf stood motionless. Angry, primal and unleashed......

The protectors drew their weapons. Nothing more than cylindrical tubes they have been imbued with tool magic and when activated could call forth a power weapon of the wielder’s choice. The ultimate weapons, which through the act of a mere mental request could change its shape and form, enabling the wielder to adapt to any situation. But they were facing the ultimate adversary. They called forth swords sparking with electrical power. The wolf moved first, with unimaginable speed and the strength of the rising sun its unleashed carnage. Massive claws ripped through metal like paper, scattering titanium body parts and severing heads. A massive swipe of its right paw ripped one of the machine’s in half, a bite from its giant maw decapitated another. He felt the swords against his fur, but they had no effect. couldn't penetrate his field. Somehow his power was repelling the weapons. Pure primal rage fuelled the wolf. It was over in seconds with a beautiful display of sheer decimation and annihilation. He stood there staring at the aftermath of his rage. He sensed something approaching and his instincts told him to run, he survived against the protectors but there were far more dangerous tools the system could throw at him. Survival instincts took over, he knew he had to get out of the city, so he climbed, flaming claws crushing concrete to dust. Velocity his only hope now he made for the the rooftops. What he saw when he reached them was a sight never before beheld by any human alive. For the awakening had come.