Faux Progress: By Devin J. Meaney

Flesh and sinew entwined with wires and microchips. The future is now—but is that a good thing?

As I stared on through the window of my existence I could see scores of data shimmering in the corner of my vision, and as I went through my day as if I was nothing but a character in one of the video games I played as a wee boy I questioned my reality.

Can I maintain my humanity the further I fall victim to the world of the future? Can I keep my skin, bones and mind separate from the machine?

My AI co-pilot could hear my thoughts and quickly chimed in with an answer.

"We are one, and we can only progress as one. Individuality is no longer necessity."

I continued on, my script for the next 24 hours exact and well defined. Neuro divergence was no longer in the realms of existence, and as I looked over my shoulder, the others toiled on, seemingly oblivious to the fact they were now nothing but a number lost in the matrix.

I kept thinking and my AI co-pilot kept speaking the same words directly into my thoughts.

"We are one, and we can only progress as one. Individuality is no longer necessity."

Just as my day was becoming as dull as the toxic skies outside the factory window I decided I had enough. I pulled the wires from my head, threw my visor on the ground and stamped it into the cold concrete of the factory floor.

The others turned, and in unison, they spoke.

"We are one, and we can only progress as one. Individuality is no longer necessity."

So I ran from the factory—and then into forest—never to be seen again.