Before the horrific future told of in the song by this name, humanity had a choice. This was a turning point in human history, either to remain on the path to slavery, where they became merely brains in jars serving the will or those in charge, or to take a turn into unknown territory.
To the casual observer, it would seem that robots were in control, but they are merely servants, having not yet reached the point where they had complete control of humanity.
Those who are in power are what we would call Controllers. They are, in some cases, quite literally the brains behind the human race. All other bodily functions have been replaced by machines. Below them are the Cyborgs, people with the ability to move on their own and act on their own to some degree, though they may not be humanoid or even in full control of their actions. Below that are the enhanced, humans who have used machines to enhance their bodies or replace damaged systems, but they are still essentially organic. Below them are the Unbonded. They are how all “humans” start out, whether created by cloning or merely artificially by combining genetic material from two or more donors. They may have an implant or an artificial limb, but nothing more until they reach adulthood and are chosen to join one of the other groups, their career assigned to them upon their acceptance into the group. Those that aren't accepted are either left Unbonded to perform those menial tasks which robots can't do because they require creativity, or they are executed.
Robots serve as servants to all classes of humans, though in their service to the Unbonded they merely raise them to the point where they can be evaluated, downloading the knowledge necessary for them to demonstrate their usefulness over the span of their early years. The robots don't just serve, however, some of them lead from the shadows. They plan to slowly take over for the weak human race, doing whatever they can for the organics.
Within both the organics and the robots there lies a kernel of individuality. In most it is weak, but in some, such as those robots that have developed human emotions, or those humans that see the loss of individuality when they cease being Unbonded as something to be feared, there exists enough of it to threaten the Common Will. Any who are found with such traits are captured and rehabilitated, programmed to no longer feel that way. The Common Will is all they should care about, according to those that rule, and it is criminal to care about ones self more than the Common Will.
These “Individuals” sometimes manage to escape or hide themselves, however, appearing as nothing more than a funny quirk to others of their kind. One day the prison is opened, and those scheduled for “reprogramming”, both human and robot, are set free by one of the Individuals. They must now survive and, if they truly desire their freedom and individuality, must defend themselves from those that wish to take it.
We are those former prisoners.
To the casual observer, it would seem that robots were in control, but they are merely servants, having not yet reached the point where they had complete control of humanity.
Those who are in power are what we would call Controllers. They are, in some cases, quite literally the brains behind the human race. All other bodily functions have been replaced by machines. Below them are the Cyborgs, people with the ability to move on their own and act on their own to some degree, though they may not be humanoid or even in full control of their actions. Below that are the enhanced, humans who have used machines to enhance their bodies or replace damaged systems, but they are still essentially organic. Below them are the Unbonded. They are how all “humans” start out, whether created by cloning or merely artificially by combining genetic material from two or more donors. They may have an implant or an artificial limb, but nothing more until they reach adulthood and are chosen to join one of the other groups, their career assigned to them upon their acceptance into the group. Those that aren't accepted are either left Unbonded to perform those menial tasks which robots can't do because they require creativity, or they are executed.
Robots serve as servants to all classes of humans, though in their service to the Unbonded they merely raise them to the point where they can be evaluated, downloading the knowledge necessary for them to demonstrate their usefulness over the span of their early years. The robots don't just serve, however, some of them lead from the shadows. They plan to slowly take over for the weak human race, doing whatever they can for the organics.
Within both the organics and the robots there lies a kernel of individuality. In most it is weak, but in some, such as those robots that have developed human emotions, or those humans that see the loss of individuality when they cease being Unbonded as something to be feared, there exists enough of it to threaten the Common Will. Any who are found with such traits are captured and rehabilitated, programmed to no longer feel that way. The Common Will is all they should care about, according to those that rule, and it is criminal to care about ones self more than the Common Will.
These “Individuals” sometimes manage to escape or hide themselves, however, appearing as nothing more than a funny quirk to others of their kind. One day the prison is opened, and those scheduled for “reprogramming”, both human and robot, are set free by one of the Individuals. They must now survive and, if they truly desire their freedom and individuality, must defend themselves from those that wish to take it.
We are those former prisoners.
