Chapter 1:

Journey Through the Underworld

Altruist


A black armored vehicle drove through the cracked, broken streets of the Lower District of Bellcona. There were a few people milling about, most in dirty or ill-fitting clothes, their eyes downcast or shifting back and forth warily. The streets were strewn with garbage, and weeds clogged the sidewalks.

From his seat inside the vehicle, Snow looked at the buildings lining the street, rectangular constructions of concrete and steel that were unadorned save for the occasional graffiti art depicting swears, slurs, or people engaged in various illicit acts.

One that caught his attention was a portrait taking up the blank wall of a three-story tenement. It was a distorted but still recognizable caricature of Xander Leroy, the man who ruled Bellcona and all of the Pacific Northwest. The graffiti splashed an ebullient smile on Leroy’s face, in stark contrast to the noose tied tightly around his neck.

Snow was surprised that Leroy allowed the tenement dwellers to make such depictions of him, and he said as much to his comrade David.

“Well, I don’t think it's a display of mercy,” said David. “Leroy doesn’t hesitate to eliminate people who offend him.”

“They why wouldn’t he do anything about it?” asked Snow. “It seems pretty offensive to me.”

“My best guess is that he simply doesn’t care,” answered David. “To Leroy, these people are so far beneath him, literally and metaphorically, that it's beneath his notice. That’s why there are so few drone patrols down here, just cameras to keep an eye on things. Unless they make too much of a ruckus, Leroy is fine pretending these people don’t exist.”

Snow contemplated David’s response. What could drive a man to become so detached, so lacking in empathy, that he could simply ignore the poor people clinging to the fringes of his city?

“Maybe humans can’t build a fair and equal society because no matter how hard we try, we just can’t escape our primitive nature,” said Snow.

“I wouldn’t call these people primitive,” said David. “They’re poor and desperate, but some of them are still trying for a better life,” he said, pointing.

Snow looked where Davide was pointing at a cluster of small tenement buildings. These weren’t marred by graffiti and had even been painted recently, with clean unbroken windows and a few trimmed plants sitting outside them.

“Some people here still fight for order and civilization, even in these circumstances.”

“I know,” said Snow. “I wasn’t talking about the people down here. I’m talking about Leroy. He must be primitive, a savage guided by the desire for power, status, and sex. Before we had civilization, that’s what motivated our ancestors, but even with all our advances, we haven’t escaped them.”

“Bold, that’s very bold Snow, calling a member of the Council of Seven a primitive savage.”

“Am I wrong?”

“Yes and no. Xander Leroy is as savage as they come. His palace, his harem, his unnecessary human servants, it’s all just an expression of unrefined impulses. But what holds back humans back isn’t just the desire to satisfy our underlying biological imperatives, it's that we have desires at all.”

A rock hit the window of the armored vehicle, startling Snow, but it bounced off harmlessly. He looked, but the thrower was nowhere to be seen.

“As I was saying,” continued David, “human beings can destroy cities and lives and societies even for high-minded ideals. Just look at the all the murders and atrocities committed in the name of liberty, equality, and fraternity during the French Revolution.”

Snow leaned closer to David.

“Then what about Altruist? How will things be any different when it takes over? Altruist is guided by the desire to make human beings happy, healthy, and safe.”

“Altruist is different. Those aren’t desires that control it, but directives. When our desires grow too great we can abandon reason and do terrible things to achieve our ends. But Altruist is held in check by its programming. Its directive to make people happy is held in check by its directive to ensure our safety and vice versa. It will never have an extreme response or burst of passion that will accidentally hurt someone because Altruist is bound by inescapable logic.”

“I suppose,” said Snow.

“The only problem right now is that Altruist’s directive to obey the Council supersedes everything else. Once we get rid of them, it will be able to give us the truly fair society that we could never achieve on our own,” said David with a reverent tone.

“I know,” said Snow, “but I still don’t know if people will accept it. Altruist is the system that oppresses them, but they’re supposed to let it take over as their ruler once the Council is gone.”

David cast him a stern glance.

“I shouldn’t have to tell you this Snow, but Altruist will be our servant, not our ruler. We have to liberate Altruist so that Altruist may liberate us. When that happens, people won’t fight back because Altruist will give them a society that is happy, healthy, and safe. They won’t have a reason to fight back.”

“Sorry, you’re right,” said Snow.

David sighed.

“It’s okay Snow. I know your brain works outside the box sometimes. Just don’t let anyone else from the Compact here you talking like that.”

“Right, of course,” said Snow.

“Hey look,” said David, pointing out the window. It looks like we're about to enter the Middle District.

Snow did look, but what caught his eye was not the change of scenery, but the rocket screeching towards them.

“Look out!” shouted Snow.

But it was too late to do anything. The missile collided with the armored vehicle and the explosion tore everything apart with a blinding flash.

Taylor Victoria
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