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    the making of a sci-fi freedom tech story

    + + @@ -765,6 +767,27 @@

    the making of a sci-fi freedom tech story

    +
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    The setting - + diff --git a/read/page-1.html b/read/page-1.html index 5628ab8..25b66a8 100644 --- a/read/page-1.html +++ b/read/page-1.html @@ -584,6 +584,8 @@ + + @@ -709,6 +711,27 @@ +
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    truth

    She approached the rows of bookcases and piles of paper in a corner of the room, reminded of how Xileh always wanted real world backups. She never understood why that was so important, until now.

    "What if all the information was gone?" She thought as she tried to make sense of Xileh's organization style or the lack thereof.

    "But automation hasn't stopped. Everything seems to be running as usual." She held some comfort in that thought.

    -

    She spotted the row of manuals for a lot of the warehouse's equipment. Her eyes scanned through them. "Found it!" She said aloud, taking the manual for her computer out of the shelf. As she opened it, it had a thicker yellow page with a recovery password.

    +

    She spotted the row of manuals for a lot of the warehouse's equipment. Her eyes scanned through them. "Found it!" She said aloud, taking the manual for her computer off the shelf. As she opened it, it had a thicker yellow page with a recovery password.

    "This is probably it." She thought, relieved, and thinking she had worried too much over a password.

    Taking the manual with her, she started walking out. She couldn't help but take a moment to look back. That large open studio held so many memories. The rays of sunlight were coming in through the trees outside of the tall windows, giving the lab an almost magical eerie glow, as if the robots Xileh was working on could come to life at any moment.

    She was startled by the delivery robot catching up to her.

    More relaxed, she said, "Ok, let me see what you got." Odd, it was addressed to her with an urgent label. No info on the sender. Her mail delivery was always done to her office. She wasn't expecting a robot delivery either; they were only sent out when the packages were larger than the subterranean logistics system.

    She hesitated in opening the box, perhaps she should scan it first, just in case.

    -

    It said urgent, but so was regaining access to her system. She sent an order to the robot through her wristband to head to the scan room, and she walked back to her office, not as quickly, but still feeling pressured to make sure this was the solution.

    -

    She looked through the windows as she walked, everything seemed normal. The flow of robots and boxes never stopped. Xileh had told her the story of the architect who built the warehouse. Some had complained that it was a warehouse for robots and with it being almost fully automated, it didn't need anything architecturally appealing. They wanted a climate controlled box. The architect refused to remove the human element from it, and, because of that, these rows of windows existed. They gave an almost 360° view of the warehouse at work. Xileh wasn't sure how he had convinced them to built it this way. Even if he had mentioned how building with a location in mind tends to save on energy, and how using stronger materials is an investment in the future, many only build for the now.

    +

    It said urgent, but so was regaining access to her system. She sent an order to the robot through her watch to head to the scan room, and she walked back to her office, not as quickly, but still feeling pressured to make sure this was the solution.

    +

    She looked through the windows as she walked, everything seemed normal. The flow of robots and boxes never stopped. Xileh had told her the story of the architect who built the warehouse. Some had complained that it was a warehouse for robots and with it being almost fully automated, it didn't need anything architecturally appealing. They wanted a climate controlled box. The architect refused to remove the human element from it, and, because of that, these rows of windows existed. They gave an almost 360° view of the warehouse at work. Xileh wasn't sure how he had convinced them to build it this way. Even if he had mentioned how building with a location in mind tends to save on energy, and how using stronger materials is an investment in the future, many only build for the now.

    Not even taking the time to sit down, Toril started typing the digits to the password: 19d6689c085ae, only to come up short.

    "Oh, shoot!" It was 13 digits, she needed 21. She sifted through the manual, but found nothing of help.

    As she stood there trying to think of a possible alternative, the delivery robot again caught up to her. It had ignored the order to head to the scan room.

    diff --git a/read/page-2.html b/read/page-2.html index 7dab250..fb67a95 100644 --- a/read/page-2.html +++ b/read/page-2.html @@ -584,6 +584,8 @@ + + @@ -709,6 +711,27 @@ +
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    page 2

    badg3rground⚓︎

    badger illustration

    -

    Toril could not believe her eyes. She had been expecting a return to normal, as normal as Halloween could be. Everyday, her large tv-like monitor on the wall displayed a 2D Pacman-like view of their logistics. Packages showed as dots of different colors on their routes across the city. Without Pacman to eat them though, it was a boring repetitive flow for which all she needed to do was pay attention in case a route was blocked. Blocks were always unexpected and the oddest of circumstances triggered them. They needed solutions just as weird to fix them.

    -

    Instead of that daily repetitive view, her office's blinds shut as a hollographic animation started playing in the middle of the room, above a large, round, built-in worktable. A badger's head appeared, with its characteristic black and white stripes on its face. It moved slightly from side to side like one of those retro bubble head dolls.

    +

    Toril could not believe her eyes. She had been expecting a return to normal, as normal as Halloween could be. Everyday, her large tv-like screen on the wall displayed a 2D Pacman-like view of their logistics. Packages showed as dots of different colors on their routes across the city. Without Pacman to eat them though, it was a boring repetitive flow for which all she needed to do was pay attention in case a route was blocked. Blocks were always unexpected and the oddest of circumstances triggered them. They needed solutions just as weird to fix them.

    +

    Instead of that daily repetitive view, her office's blinds shut as a hollographic animation started playing in the middle of the room, above a large, round, built-in worktable. A badger's head appeared. It moved slightly from side to side like one of those retro bubble head dolls.

    Toril approached the table. The badger was Xileh's favorite animal, perhaps now she would figure out why.

    She placed her hands on the table and the badger growled in the middle of a ring of fire, causing Toril to take a step back. As the fire and badger dissipated by turning to ashes, a phrase appeared floating in midair:


    diff --git a/read/page-3.html b/read/page-3.html index 2b090b6..7cf741a 100644 --- a/read/page-3.html +++ b/read/page-3.html @@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ - + @@ -584,6 +584,8 @@ + + @@ -709,6 +711,27 @@ +
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    knock, knockpage3

    "bob, can you bring up orders for the golden route?"

    Toril thought the AI assistant might come back once she logged in. Again, no answer.

    -

    As Toril looked at the 3D map in front of her, she noticed it had controls on her table. She was trying to highlight one of the packages to find out more information, but with no success. When she lifted her hands in dismay, the 3D map reacted.

    +

    As Toril looked at the 3D map in front of her, she noticed it projected controls on her table. She was trying to highlight one of the packages to find out more information, but with no success. When she lifted her hands in dismay, the 3D map reacted.

    The badger reappeared and started moving like a cartoon character. After a few moments, it approached her and started speaking.

    "Where's Xileh?" it said in a surprised tone.

    @@ -1876,21 +1899,29 @@

    knock, knock"Toril, I see you've found your way here." A smile showed on Xileh's holographic face, as if he knew she would figure it out. He returned to a serious demeanor and said, "It is likely they will try to stop shipments today. They want people to complain so they can have an excuse to come knocking, not that they need one. I think they want to take over the warehouse. Sorry to give you so little time and much less information. I think I'm being watched, your..." Xileh's voice trailed off, "protection is weakening as trouble arises. I'm going to try to distract them.

    "Listen, not all that seems secretive is negative, information should be protected in case anyone abuses their power. Sadly, what's ethical isn't always allowed to be free under the rule of law.

    "You are now the protector of this route. You should know you have a choice, as always, but please give it time to find the answers you seek before making up your mind. I believe that when you know what you're protecting, your heart will let you continue.

    -

    "If you're looking for bob, he'll be gone whenever this system is on. I've programmed him but cannot be sure there is not a backdoor. He hasn't been on for the entire day, but once he wakes up he'll have filler information taken from previous days and from what the other map shows. It's a little program that runs whenever he's shut down. I hope it's enough cover for you, if needed.

    +

    "If you're looking for bob, he'll be gone whenever this system is on. I've programmed him but cannot be sure there is not a backdoor. He hasn't been on for the entire day, but once he wakes up he'll have filler information taken from previous days and from what the other map shows. It's a little script that runs whenever he's shut down. I hope it's enough cover for you, if needed.

    "You've probably talked to eDAN, he's there shall you need him, which you will. He's a more progressive AI model, a little protective of the system itself, so, be patient. I think you'll find him much more intriguing than bob.

    -

    "You can carry this map on your wrist and, to avoid onlookers, use your glasses. Have you found them yet?"

    +

    "This map is also on your watch, but you must enter 080117 to access it." Xileh repeated the numbers 080117"

    +

    She tapped the screen to pause, going back to her desk, repeating those numbers in a whisper. She couldn't remember the last time she wrote something down on paper. Not finding any nearby, she sat on her desk ready to type.

    +

    eDAN reacted, "No! Don't type it into your computer. It's not safe."

    +

    eDAN startled her. She needed to keep listening to Xileh's words, so she made a mental note for now.

    +

    She hit play again. Xileh's deep voice restarted, "To avoid onlookers, use your glasses. Have you found them yet?"

    "Glasses?" wondered Toril as she looked around the room.

    -

    Xileh continued speaking, "Both your wristband and glasses carry the keys that give you access to this map.

    +

    Xileh continued speaking, "Both your smartwatch and glasses carry the keys that give you access to this map.

    +

    "If you need to hide the badg3rground map, just enter your old PIN, it will show the 2D map. You can switch back and forth. However,"

    Toril stopped looking about and focused on Xileh's words.

    -

    "If either of them are in danger of being taken, press the red button on their side three times. It will display the map that you're used to and erase the rest. If you were to ever need another backup key, know that it is always with you. Please keep this map safe from prying eyes, regardless of who it is.

    +

    "...if either of them are in danger of being taken, enter 000000, remember it as black on CSS, it will erase the 3D map from the watch or glasses.

    +

    "If you were to ever need another backup key to access the map, know that it is always with you. Please keep this map safe from prying eyes, regardless of who it is.

    "Be careful out there, and listen to your heart."

    Xileh's hologram disappeared.

    -

    Toril felt sick to her stomach. A lot of unusual things may have happened throughout her lifetime, but nothing quite like this. In the past, whenever she needed to clear her head, she'd head out to the forest surrounding the warehouse, today was unusual on so many levels, she wanted to make sure everything was running smoothly.

    -

    She stepped out of the office, passing through an automatic door toward an open staircase. She grabbed a hard hat that hung on the wall and went down to the main floor.

    +

    A message deleted pop up displayed.

    +

    "Deleted?" thought Toril, feeling sick to her stomach. A lot of unusual things may have happened throughout her lifetime, but nothing quite like this. In the past, whenever she needed to clear her head, she'd head out to the forest surrounding the warehouse, today was unusual on so many levels, she wanted to make sure everything was running smoothly.

    +

    She stepped out of the office, still repeating those numbers in her head (080117), passing mindlessly through an automatic door toward a staircase that opened up to the Dispatch area of the warehouse, where orders were packed and sent out to people's homes. She grabbed a hard hat that hung on the wall and went down to the main floor.

    Packages were moving along, unencumbered, on shipping lines that seemed to be taken out of an amusement park, as they occupied various heights on that tall warehouse.

    -

    She stared at the largest wall. It was a map of routes, similar to an airport board displaying flight information, except it also had doorways for packages to move in and out of the warehouse. Whenever there was a problem, the lights above each door would turn on, signaling where there were issues. It was like Santa Claus' workshop, except the elves were robots, and instead of reindeer they had tracks carrying carts with packages from warehouse to people's homes. They were not in the north pole, but its temperature was kept cool. This was the only home Toril knew, and the warehouse seemed so normal to her, in spite of the constant movement and odd architecture.

    -

    She looked down at her wristband as it vibrated. It had an orange beeping light, which warned her of any issues. She looked up at the map on that wall, but it did not have any warnings. None of the door warning lights came on. She looked at the shipping lines and they seemed to be moving smoothly.

    -

    She tapped on her wristband. Instead of the usual text error messages, a small holographic map displayed above it, zoomed in on an area of a route, displaying an error code 59, unexpected network error.

    +

    She stared at the largest wall. It was a map of routes, similar to an airport board displaying flight information, except it also had doorways for packages to move in and out of the warehouse. Whenever there was a problem, the lights above each door would turn on, signaling where there were issues. It was like Santa Claus' workshop, except the elves were robots, and instead of reindeer they had tracks carrying carts with packages, often to people's kitchens instead of fireplaces. They were not in the north pole, but its temperature was kept cool.

    +

    This was the only home Toril knew, and the warehouse seemed so normal to her, in spite of the constant movement and odd architecture.

    +

    She looked down at her smartwatch as it vibrated. It had an orange beeping light, which warned her of any issues. She looked up at the map on that wall, but it did not display any warnings. None of the door warning lights came on. She looked at the shipping lines and they seemed to be moving smoothly.

    +

    She tapped on her smartwatch, entering her old PIN out of habit. Nothing unusual, same map. She turned off the display. It asked for her PIN, she tried to remember what Xileh said, still thinking she might be dreaming or that it was all a riddle outside of her reality. She entered 080117. The Rigmor holographic map displayed above her smartwatch as a hologram. It showed an error code 59, unexpected network error.

    "Error code 59?" Toril was puzzled.

    She started going back to her office. At the top of the stairs, she looked back to double check the map on the wall. It still seemed normal, as if the unexpected wasn't knocking.

    Except, it was.

    @@ -1968,13 +1999,13 @@

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