Project Freedom

"A… revolt?"

"That's right, if it's true that Big Government bases its existence on ours, if we could free all the Machine Men from mind control we could organize an uprising against the heads of the government and finally gain freedom."

"How do you plan to free everyone? More importantly, where could we go once we are all free? The city is not big enough for us to live in humane conditions."

"Don't you remember what you said? Beyond the wall there could be freedom.

If we destroy it we would be able to spread around the world and finally live in peace.

If it's true that in the metropolis we are the only humans left, all we have to do is move to colonies and rebuild small villages where we can live in peace.

Think about it, all Machine Men are skilled workers, we could easily recreate a civilization outside this place.

Just figure out how to recreate another LaTes tower to protect us and we could be safe."

"Stop for a moment Kei, we don't know what the tower protects us from, and we especially have no idea how we can free all those people."

"That's exactly the point.

The tower is used to send signals throughout the city, so we could take the codes from our Machine Hearts and send out a signal that changes everyone's hearts.

We will call it, "Freedom Project".

"So once we gain freedom, everyone would revolt and by following your orders to the letter we would be able to subvert the government?"

"Exactly, just like that!"

"That's an interesting idea... But we don't have the code, though, nor do we know how to transmit it."

"We will find a way Sophie, you are a smart girl and you know a lot of people, there will be someone willing to help us don't you think?

I trust you and I'm convinced that as long as we stay together, we will be able to do anything, even conquer the whole world."

Sophie blushed after that sentence.

"I m-may know someone who could help us, however, I can't assure you of anything."

"Can we reach this someone?"

"Sure, I know where to find him."

"Then we can go-"

A loud noise interrupted him.

A group of Machine Men above them were violently tapping their feet in rhythm, creating loud vibrations throughout the building, then suddenly stopped.

"Kei wh-."

"Shh."

He put his hand in front of her mouth.

Suddenly someone could be heard shrieking.

"WHERE THE FUCK IS HE?

WE FOUND THAT BUM'S CORPSE WEST OF HERE, HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD REDUCE A MAN TO THAT CONDITION WITH HIS BARE HANDS, HE CAN'T HAVE GONE TOO FAR."

"We're sorry sir, but around here we haven't found any other tracks."

"Well… then we'll search the whole northern part of the suburbs.

COME ON MARCH!"

"AT YOUR ORDERS!"

The sound of footsteps resumed violently over the heads of the two boys, then gradually receded.

When silence fell, they waited a while for safety and then spoke.

"Now we're 100 percent sure he's looking for me."

"That man is completely obsessed with you...."

"I know, and that's why he won't rest until he finds me.

We have to beat him or he will never leave us alone."

"He said he will head north right?

Well, this is our chance, get the papers and let's get going, we can move directly to the street."

The two hurriedly retrieved their belongings, and after coming out of hiding, they set out for their next destination.

"Kei, hand me the music player."

"I don't want to be a party pooper, but this doesn't really seem like the time to be listening to music you know?"

"Of course I don't need it for that, but to call my contact."

"Can it really do all these things? It really is an amazing contraption...."

"Okay boomer…

…

Hello, it's me, Sophie.

…

Are you still there?

…

Perfect I'm on my way."

After some walking, they finally arrived at the place.

As it turned out, the person they were to meet was right at the hip-hop warehouse.

"So who exactly is this person who can help us?"

"Didn't I tell you? You already know him.

Oh there he is, hello Big!"

"Big?! Is he the one who is supposed to help us?"

"Of course, who else?"

"But that's just a bouncer!"

Big approached, and began to speak.

"You're the guy from that time, what's your name?"

"My name is Kei."

"Well Kei, I thank you for saving my friend in the past."

"Not at all, you're welcome, but how are you not under control like everyone else?"

"Well, it's not like I'm a Machine Men.

Anyway, Sophie, can you tell me what happened to you?

I haven't seen you for days and suddenly you call me asking where I am.

I would like some explanation about that."

The girl calmly explained everything that had happened from the time she went to Kei's apartment to the fact that they were planning to start a revolt.

"So the two of you were going to get rid of government control and now you would like my help in staging a revolt?"

"That's right, are you in?"

"Of course I'm in, I've got a couple of scores to settle with those Big Government bastards, I've been looking forward to making them pay since I got here."

To Kei, however, a doubt arose.

"Excuse me, but who exactly are you?

A Citizen coming here to be a bouncer for a shitty squatter disco is pretty weird, plus, what kind of business do you have with Big Government?"

"I've never had contact with them directly.

It's their fucking system that I can't stand.

You see, I was a renowned programmer, it was my passion from a very young age, and I was one of the best in the field.

Unfortunately, my origins hindered me a lot, you have to know that black people are practically extinct now and mine is the only family of that ethnicity left in the whole metropolis.

Because of that, my rights were not protected by anyone, and I was constantly being fired from every job, for unspecified reasons.

One day my patience went out the window, and i ran away here, finding my place in this 'shitty squatter disco,' as you call it."

"Wait a minute, you mean to tell me that there are people who are born naturally your color?

I thought you were just very tanne-"

Sophie hit Kei on the head, causing him to sink to the floor.

"Stop talking bullshit!

Sorry Big, he didn't mean to offend you."

"No, not at all.

The fact that he doesn't even know the existence of black people shows how much those bastards don't give a shit about minorities.

Now, however, let's get down to the facts.

First of all we should insert a program that will override the radio waves of the tower, in a chip that will replace the one connected with the radio station.

Inside the program, will be the code in your Machine Hearts, which will overwrite the original making Machine Men free throughout the metropolis.

I will also make a connection between Kei's heart and the chip, so that once the Machine Men are free, he can mentally communicate with them and organize the uprising."

"You are really great Big!" Said Sophie.

Kei re-emerged from the hole in the floor.

"Ouch, you really hurt me you know!?

You should really learn to regulate your strength now that you are so powerful....

Anyway, how are you going to extract the code from my heart?"

"I will use a simple scanner, it won't take long."

The three then entered a separate small room, where Big began to prepare the code.

"Kei… We can do this."

"All that's left now is for us to figure out how we can get into the center, Dexter said we're still subject to the effects of the barrier, but we'll find a solution for that too, right Big?"

"I'm done."

"What? Already?"

"I told you it wouldn't take long.

Now all you have to do is take it to the top of the tower and by following my instructions you will be able to modify the circuit to make it work to your liking."

"Speaking of which, do you know a way in-"

The door suddenly swung wide open.

A person wearing a ski mask suddenly burst into the small room, threw Kei to the floor and snatched the chip out of Big's hand, then made a run for it.