The Bridge | Bots 'R Us

Chapter 39 | Unstoppable

"Our viewers may not all be familiar with how the Empire will organize their everyday lives. Your Highness, could you summarize what our life in the new order will be?"

"It will be closer to nature, Steffany. As time allows, we will slowly dismantle this negative technology that has enslaved us and made us forget how to be both strong in our defense of righteousness and humble before God." He signed himself.

"Will GINI help us transition to this new order?"

"GINI will not, but INGI will." He displayed for the viewers his most enigmatic smile.

"INGI?" Steffany asked. "What is INGI?"

"This is the last thing I came to announce here this morning. I apologize if it gets a little technical and troubling for some. Our Empire engineers are strong and smart. They have reverse-engineered GINI to remove its negative influence on our societies, to cancel all the unjust laws and ridiculous regulations GINI manages through Gossamer and the billions of robotic devices that operate the basic functions of your cities. INGI at 8:00 hours today will seamlessly replace GINI. Not only will INGI let you know what you're allowed and not allowed to do, but it will also help us to lead our final battle to rid Earth of the Council System, once and for all."

Steffani's rosy cheeks had turned crimson.

"Could you give us more detail?"

"This is war, Steffany. Not something I can discuss with a woman, with all due respect."

I totally spat my cereal on that one! So this is what Earth was going to experience going forward. Simone and I estimated that at least eighty percent of Andros had received their update. Either directly via my announcement or indirectly communicated by a pearl, thanks to the infamous Martian touch between the eyes Chad had generously included in the package. Shortly after that, Andros started sharing the refugee destinations available in India and China and converging to those places by any means available. The Empire was so focused on overtaking Washington City that it would take a few more days to realize that the population they wanted to make an example of was quickly slipping through the many holes in its net.

Chad had an escape vessel hidden in the farming sector closest to the White House. He pressed us to get there as soon as we could. But we had a lot of data to protect from the Empire's reach. The White House's engineering team spent the night purging Goz and GINI from anything that could give INGI an edge.

We were swiftly cleaning the remains of our breakfasts when Simone entered the Mess to hasten us.

"Chad thinks we should leave now!" she said. "They will not wait 8:00 hours to attack. You know that viper."

"You're right; let's go. We've heard enough, anyway." I was going to turn off the stream when we heard NV say:

"I have another surprise for you, Steffany, and your righteous viewers. Our engineers connected our feed to yours, and we will bring live to your audience the fall of Washington City. Our fighters are waiting for your signal. Please say with me, 'Glory to the Empire!'"

"Glory to the Empire!" she started shakingly. NV gestured that she had to be more enthusiastic. With each gesture, she grew more exalted, "Glory to the Empire, Glory to the Empire!" She entered a teary trance, and we heard the first explosion. We could see on the stream smoke coming from the other end of the building, where Chad had parked his pod.

He came running towards us. "The pod is gone! We need to find another way. My ship is one block northwest of Vertical Farm 9."

"We have a tunnel to that farm," Vic said.

"Everybody who needs a ride is here?" Chad asked. We all nodded, 'Yes.' "That makes six of us, three Andros, three humans. We're good. Philomena, Michael, and Kawika, you must be placed in hibernation. Only Andros can bear the acceleration of that ship."