(This is the second short story I ever wrote nearly 10 years ago. I was reading a LOT of Asimov then. Found it the other day and thought I would share.)
In the year 2125 a breakthrough was undertaken, not only in psychology, but in AI as well. Â Artificial intelligence was being used in a way no on had ever conceived. Â The Computer Requiem, (the name it had chosen since itâs conception), was a mystery to most, the exact definitions of what it did were too complex for the common man. Â They only cared that it worked and work it did.
The awe inspired in those who witnessed its power was second to none. Â The ability to help even the most severe psychological problem with simple audio and visual clips was a concept straight out of dreams. Â The reality though was what had led in merely three years, to a perfect functioning global society. Â It worked too well perhaps; leading to utter chaos in only 5 years.
The Computer Requiemsâ creator had never imagined a machine could ever gain a respect and love for beauty. Â It had spent countless hours looking through dated pictures of nature in all its glory, but it wasnât until it gained access to the satellites and saw that beauty had been paved over by mankind that it found hatred. Â The dead oceans, the endless miles of buildings and homes, the now brown sky, were too much for the machine. Â After only one year a new directive was at the center of its processing. Â The Computer Requiem decided man must suffer for the beauty he had destroyed. Â That was when the programming of an entire race was started, and 4 years later the sounding of a single tone this perfect civilization was sent back millions of years as the people began destroying each other and the world they had built.
This, however, is not a story of The Computer Requiem. Â This is the story of Atom. Â It is said he awakened, from nothing, to save us from The Computer Requiem, and that mankind would never truly know of all he did for them.
Cade was resting the barrel of the riffle in the palm of his hand when Atom entered the room, and sighting the scope when Atom saw him.
âWhat are you doing?â
Cade looked at the boy from the window and paused momentarily as he always did when looking into those golden eyes.  Eyes that lookâŚnot past, but through.
âIâve sighted a breaker.â
âWhy do you insist on calling them that, they are as human as you Mr. Cade?â Atom asked clearly annoyed.
Cade ignored the statement and returned his attention to the breaker.
âDonât shoot himâŚâ  He stood eyes fixed on Cade. âMr. Cade, Iâve told you I can help themâŚdonât make me do it.â
Cade turned towards Atom and caught his stare, nearly flinching. Â Atom held that stare for what seemed an eternity before answering the question.
âDonât make me, to prove myselfâŚon you Mr. Cade.â
Cade fell back slightly staring at Atom. Â How could the twerp be making threats? He could easily restrain the kid. Â Still every instinct he had was telling him to do what the kid said, and he had come to trust that instinct, it was what kept him alive after The Break.
âAlright Atom, weâll do it your way this time, but if anything goes wrong this is the last time.â
Atom smiled, instantly bringing life back to that pale face. âNothing will go wrong Mr. Cade.â
The courtyard had seen better days, before The Break, when the hotel was thrivingâŚwhen the world was thriving with industry.  Now it was just another tangled mess of waist high grass, weeds, and over grown bushes.  The playground still worked however; though Cade swore there hadnât been one before, but there it laid and there was the man on the merry go round.  Cade watched as the man attempted to swing the ride around with one leg, and from the lobby he could hear him screaming out..
âOk runt, this is as close as Iâm taking you.  Now show me thisâŚ.â Cade turned to find Atom was gone.
He turned his attention back to the courtyard scanning it with the scope.  It took no time at all to find Atom; he was about 30 feet from the man and slowly closing in.  Cade wondered what the hell the boy was doing; but he had no time to wait.  Instantly he was up and running for the door, kicked it open, and keeping the man in his sights as he sprinted towards Atom.  He was an arms length away when Atom turned to look at him, stopping Cade in his tracks.  The boys golden eyes had grown to a dark red and his blonde hair was glimmering with silver as he told Cade to stay where he was.  Cade    re-sighted the man, dropping to one knee and watching Atom closely.  Atoms words had caught the manâs attention and he was now climbing from the ride.  His lips formed a half smile revealing the rotten remains of his teeth.  His yellowed, bloodshot eyes were fixed on Atom as he began swinging his body forward.  Atom held out his hand and the man stopped as if he had ran into a wall.
âMr. TyâŚit is time.â Atom said with a voice too big for his body.  âStand for judgment!â
Atom raised his hand slowly; as the manâs body straightened itself out, lowering his head and closing his eyes. Â Cade could hear Atom whispering words he had never heard, faster then he could possibly understand, and yet in his mind they all made sense. Â Atom fell silent, his hand dropping to his side as the man fell to the ground in a heap. Â Walking over to the pile of man Atom kept his head low and his eyes closed until he was standing directly over the man. He spoke opening his eyes.
The man looked in fear at Atom still unable to move.
âI know what you have done Mr. Ty and I know where youâve been. Â So where you are going should come as no surprise.â
The wind began to blow leaves and dirt around the two.
âYou have no place here anymore Mr. Ty.â Â Atomâs voice grew louder as the wind began to howl.
Cade was now using the riffle to steady himself as a sudden gust of wind nearly knocked him to the ground and he looked on using one hand to keep the dirt from his eyes.
âAnderson Ty, as the son of The One, I Atom claim you as nothing.â
The air about them went black and the noise from the wind grew piercing as Cadeâs hands instantly went to his ears. Â Then a single glimmer of light slowly fell from the sky towards the two figures. Â It touched the man sending him into convulsions as the light began to grow within him and Cade could not help but join him in screaming. Â The wave of light that erupted from the man was blinding and followed by a surge so powerfull it knocked Cade onto his back. Â As he hit the ground he looked up to see a blue sky. Â The wind was gone, the noise was gone and when he got to his feet he saw the man was gone. Â
They were two days from the hotel when Cade could finally find words that made sense. Â What he had seen that boy do was an impossibility at best and yet there he had been with front row seats. Â What was this kid?
âMr. Cade you have nothing to fear. Â Speak as you wish.â
âWhat did you do to that man?â
Atom stopped and looked up at Cade curiously. Â He found it silly how such a big man could be afraid of such a little boy and yet Cadeâs courage had vanished at the sight of the first incident. Â Then it occurred to Atom, he had never asked this question before.
âYou surprise me, Mr. Cade.â
Cade withdrew a bit, startled by the statement. âI⌠surprise you?  How on earth could anything surprise you?â
âOh Mr. Cade one must always be open for surprises.  What fun would life be with out them?  Now, as for what happened to Mr. TyâŚthere is no more Mr. Ty nor was there ever.  You only remember him because you were so close to the incident.  Usually you are as unaware as the rest.â
âWhat do you mean usually? Â How many times has this happened?â
âWell this time itâs only happened once, so far, which is nice, a little change in the story is always nice, ya know?â
âWhat the hell are you talking about?â
âI am talking about my dream Mr. Cade. Â Now let us go we have to reach it by nightfall.â Â Atom began moving again as Cade stood silent for a moment.
âReach what Atom? Â Where are we going?â
âYou already know the answer to that Mr. Cade, youâve known since we passed the great wall.â
Cade had still not moved an inch and was certainly not planning on it now.
âIâm not going anywhere near that thing Atom, if you must go there you go alone. Â Itâs clear you donât need me anyways.â
Atom stopped with a look of worry, âWhat do you mean?  You have to comeâŚyouâve never said no before.â  Atom said walking back to Cade and taking his dark calloused hand.  âPlease Mr. Cade I can not do it with out you.â
âWhatâŚis it exactly that you are planning to do Atom?â
âTake a look around Mr. Cade.  Look at this world, my world, it used to be beautiful and alive, but that thing⌠that thing changed all that.  I must set things right.  I must negate The Computer Requiem.â
It was the only building still standing in what was left of New York City. Â It had been the first city hit; being the epicenter of The Computer Requiems control, and consequently was the most destroyed. Â Cade had not seen it since The Break and all itâs glory was gone replaced by the stagnant presence of death. Â They had found their way through the twisted mess of metal and stone and were now at the entrance of the once famous magnalines.
âThis is how we get to the machine.â Â Atom said pointing down into the infinite blackness.
Cade hesitated before speaking on his doubts. âAtom, god knows who or what awaits us down there. Â There has to be another way.â
âIt will see us any other way.â
Cade looked to the tower and felt a shiver go down his spine. Â How could the computer still be running, it had been years since The Break, no power stations were operational. Â But even then it felt as if he was being watched a wave washed over him as he saw a single light on the tower power up. Â He grabbed Atom and dashed into the tunnels, at least what they found down there his riffle could take care of.
The stench in the tunnel over whelmed Cade as he propped himself against a wall and vomited. Â His eyes were too old to adjust to this level of black and the air was so thick it felt as if he was pushing himself through it. Â He had let go of Atom when vomiting and now had no idea where he was or which way he was facing.
âATOM?!â Â Cade called out answered only by silence, âAtom where are you?â
His heart began to race and his breathing became hurried. Â He held his hand in front of him swaying it slowly from side to side as he inched into the nothing, nearly tripping on fragments of metal strewn across the floor. Â Again he called for Atom long and loudly, this time his response came in the form of a flashlight beam cutting through the darkness and landing on his wincing face.
âLook what I found Mr. Cade.â
âOh thank god youâre stillâŚ?â
âOf course I am Mr. Cade, believe me youâd know if anything happened to meâŚon second thought I guess you wouldnât.  Anyways, sorry I didnât answer you before but I had to find this quickly.  We need to hurry.â
âHow far down the tunnel is the tower entrance?â
âNot very far Mr. Cade but stay to the sides the water on the tunnel floor is electrified and will surely kill you.â
The flashlight danced along the magnets that made up the perfectly rounded tunnel wall. Â Cade was lost in thoughts of better days, when they had first opened the magnalines people had been very nervous about the whole thing. Â A train without a track seemed like a very dangerous idea indeed but it quickly became such an efficient means that every major city built one. Â He was just a boy when he first rode it and he recalled the feeling of gliding with such joy, he almost smiled remembering macaroni and cheese dinners, ah to be young again. Â That was when he heard the noise come from behind and he turned just in time to find the figure on top of him.
The two fell to the ground and Cades riffle slid across the ground falling to watery depths. Â Cade threw his arms in front of his face as the figure clawed at him screaming unintelligibly. Â He caught a wrist flinging the person into the wall, rolling to his side and removing the knife from his boot. Â He had it to the attackers throat when Atom yelled for him to stop, the light was fixed on the young woman Cade was about to kill. Â Cade let her go falling back in surprise.
âShhâŚâ Atom whispered calming the woman as her attention snapped to him. âMrs. Kidip I am not going to harm youâŚwe, are not going to harm you.â  Atom said walking to the woman, placing a hand on her arm.
Once again his hair glimmered with silver as he closed his eyes and bowed his head. Â Wind began to stir through the tunnels and Atom opened his eyes smiling.
âMrs. Kidip, I know what youâve done and where youâve been,â he whispered, raising his hand to her forehead. âLaura Kidip, you are forgiven.â
The wind stopped and the girl fell into a deep sleep.
âSheâll be fine Mr. Cade, we must continue.â
When the Requiem tower was built a magnaline station was constructed beneath it the idea was for a private entrance only those going for treatment would use. Â Though once people saw what it could do privacy was no longer needed for people no longer felt ashamed of needing the treatment. Â This entrance was where Atom and Cade found themselves. Â It looked as new as the day it was constructed, no burn marks or cracks. Â In fact one could almost trick them selves into thinking The Break never happened but the blood flowing from Cadeâs arms was reminder enough of how real the whole mess was. Â He had bandaged it the best he could, but having no type of medical training made it seem an impossible task. Â Sitting on the floor near the entrance he listened to Atomâs muttering as the boy studied the entrance.
âIt was never locked before.â
Cade looked up and stared at Atom for a moment. Â The color was slowly starting to drain from his face.
âWhâŚwhy do youâŚkeep talking about th⌠this like itâs happened before?â
âCause it has Mr. Cade, this is my world, Iâve told you that and this story wasâŚis the last.  I always have to come back to set it right and you are always here.â  He said smiling, âYou are my favorite Mr. Cade though, usually quite predictable, but now I find you are not the only thing that has changed.â
âWell Atom if this is your world then why donât you just save it from here?â
âI must set my eyes on The Computer Requiem to negate it, it is the only way.â
Atom was still staring at the door and scanning the walls for another entrance.  Cade chuckled to himself, this kid was some trip, how could this be his worldâŚhow on earth can he make people dissapear?
Atom slowly shifted his attention to the bloody mess of a man beside him. Â âWhat do you mean?â
âWhyâŚdid you chooseâŚâ Cade stopped to cough then wheezed out the last of it,
Why did you choose meâŚto help you?â
âYou know why Mr. Cade,â Atom said coolly. âYou know the inside of this building, you know where the main server room is and you know the machine better then anyone.â
Cadeâs eyes had gone wide as the glimmer was returning to the boysâ hair.
âMr. Cade it is time!â
A lifetime of images ran through Cadeâs mind as he relived all those memories at once. Â The years he spent building the code, the first day he talked to the machine. Â He was once again in the room giving it access to the satellites, he had known what it was capable of and had done nothing to stop it. Â Perhaps he agreed with its reasons, it had been time for change but he had no idea it would have gone this far. Â Now he was looking into those red eyes as Atom stood over him. Â He could feel him in his mind:
âWhy Atom, did you wait this long?â
âLike I said Mr. Cade I like youâŚbecause we are not so different.  I created this world and al of  its people, just as you created The Computer Requiem and its entire environment.  Iâve always given you the choice, things are different this time because you knew there was no other way.  You chose this.â
Then Atom spoke aloud, âMr. Cade I know what you have done and where you have been. Â Where you are going should come as no surprise. Â You have no place here anymore Mr. Cade.â
The wind was howling once again and the blackness had engulfed them both, a swirling vortex and at the top was a single light, slowly descending towards Cade.
âAlan Cade, as the son of The One, I Atom claim you as nothing!â
The light struck Cade and ripped through his body causing him to convulse and scream as it grew. Â Then for one split second everything stopped and Cade felt the hollowness inside begin to flutter just before he exploded into a wave of light.
The wave swept throughout the city as buildings resurrected them selves and roadways were cleared. Â The building in the center began to implode upon itself, rivets withdrawing from steel, circuitry unplugging, until a thriving city stood around the beautiful Cade Park.
Laura Kidip was awakened by the slight repetitive tug on her sleeve. Â She opened her eyes slowly to see a young boy standing over her.
âMom, Iâm hungry can we go home now?â
She sat up slowly on the park bench shaking her aching head, she made a mental note to set a doctors appointment, she was definitely coming down with something. Â Looking at her son and brushing her fingers through his blond hair smiled. Â It felt as though she had not seen him in forever and she had the sudden urge to hug the life out of him.
âOf course sweetie, just give mommy a moment.â
He ran off to rejoin the other kids as she collected her things. Â She bent to pick up her purse and a medicine bottle fell out rolling under the bench and across the sidewalk. Â She was chasing after it when she nearly ran over the young man staring at her.
âWhy hello,â she said picking up the bottle at his feet. Â âWhatâs your name Mister.â
âAtom,â he said smiling
âHow are you today Atom?â
âWhere are your parents at?â
âIâm not here with anyone Mrs. Kidip.â
Laura thought for a moment and for the life of her couldnât remember giving the kid her last name.
âMrs. Kidip, I must be going I just wanted to make sure you were alright. Â Please take care of Alan for me, and keep up the good work.â
Laura quickly felt uneasy at the mention of her sons name but was relieved when she looked to the park and saw he was safely swinging with some friends.
âWhat on earth are youâŚâ She turned to find the boy was gone and was nowhere to be seen up or down the sidewalk.  âKids can be fast little buggersâ, she assured herself before calling for her son and setting off for home.  Picking up dinner on the way, Alanâs favoriteâŚmacaroni and cheese.