[ WP ] America in 2065 . Unemployment is over 60 % . Your character is an unemployed young adult . What is their life like ?

Michael could n't help but stare the boxy black coil gun in the guard's hand, resting, angled down across the his armored chest; his finger pointing past the trigger. 
 
 `` Do you have any wearables, implants or other electronics on your person?'' The guard asked as his friend felt Michael's inseam from crotch to ankle. 
 
 `` No, sir. Nothing but this plastofiber.'' He hugged the two liter cylindrical container to his chest. There is really nothing stopping them from just taking it, Michael considered for a moment. He'd heard that Flynn was honest as far as black market movers were concerned. And Flynn was the only one he'd heard had what he needed. 
 
 `` And you?'' 
 
 Erica, Michael's wife, hands instinctively wrapped around her pregnant belly shook her head `` No. I've had everything removed.'' 
 
 The guard frisking Michael seemed satisfied moved to Erica. `` Hands out like a cross, please.'' 
 
 The guard held out his hands and Michael's jaw tightened as he handed over the canister. The guard flipped it around, hit a button and the indicator screen lit up. 100 % full. 
 
 The guard knocked on the large, metal door. He looked back at the other guard who'd just stood up from frisking Erica. They nodded to one another. There was a low grunt and the door swung open. 
 
 The large man was standing behind a desk, erasing and updating a cell of data written on a chalk board. He turned toward Micheal and Erica as they walked in, smiled broadly and rushed to help Erica into a seat. `` Ahh. Pregnant! Wonderful! Congratulations! I do n't see many pregnant women these days.'' 
 
 `` Thank you.'' Erica replied as she accepted his hand and squeezed into the chair. 
 
 Flynn looked at Michael. `` You do n't seem like the type Autonomous would allow to have a child.'' 
 
 `` Why is that?'' 
 
 `` You are here. The happily employed and productive do n't tend to need my services.'' 
 
 `` I used to be employed...'' Michael started. 
 
 Flynn cut him off. `` We'll get to that. I make it a habit to know my customers, especially those with... unusual requests. For now, tell me about this canister.'' 
 
 `` Sure. It is top grade, heavy plastofiber. After curing it is extremely hard but has some give. It is in a standard container so it should fit into any printer from the last thirty years you've got that can handle the material. Do I need to go on? It seems like your guards have throwers made of the stuff.'' 
 
 `` No, no. Thank you. Weapons grade. Illegal.'' Flynn put his hand on the top of the container. 
 
 `` So are the printers.'' Michael retorted. 
 
 Flynn laughed, loudly. `` Yes. Everything useful is these days, do n't you think? Now it is time I get to know you. Starting with explaining how you came by this restricted material. I hope you are not leading Autonomous drones to my little cubby hole.'' 
 
 `` No, of course not. I used to be an engineer. I was fully employed as soon as I completed my skills track. I passed all of my scores the first try. I made myself very useful. I saw people wasting their lives, sustaining themselves with their basic income and the odd pick-up task, assuaging themselves with VR of different kinds. I thought they were wastes of space. I thought Autonomous had the right idea, paying their parents to sterilize them until they could prove their worth. In their mind, if Autonomous provided everything they needed, why work?'' 
 
 `` You must be high born, too eh?'' Flynn asked Erica. 
 
 `` No. Both of my parents were criminals. I was sterilized as soon as I was born.'' 
 
 Flynn crossed his arms and leaned back. `` You do n't look sterile.'' 
 
 Michael interrupted `` I'll get to that.'' 
 
 Flynn seemed to be about to say something and stopped himself short. He spread his hands then crossed his arms waiting for Michael to continue. 
 
 `` One day, like any other day, I had just grabbed my coffee at a cafe down the street from my apartment and was walking out on my way to work when a man sitting near the entrance looked up suddenly. I could see him scan his personal screen. He'd obviously gotten a paid task alert. He stood up in front of me.'Michael Abel?' the man asked'Yes.' I responded, not knowing that my world was about to be turned upside down.'You are to wait here.' He pulled out a tazer.'I am authorized to use force.' So I did. I waited. A car came and picked me up. I was taken to a clinic and sterilized. I was told that new research identified some genetic markers that indicated a predisposition to aggression. Markers that I shared, apparently.'' 
 
 `` So, both of you are sterilized?'' Flynn asked, incredulity deepening the gully between his brows. 
 
 `` Both of us were sterilized, yes. I continued to work. But I was unhappy. I was far less effective. Here I was dispatched to repair the mechanical beasts that took everything I envisioned for my life away from me. I could n't do it. I formulated a plan. Over the course of a year I shuffled inventory around drone repair stations. I knew what was valuable and useful, including plastofiber. I removed the tracking chips and, eventually, I blew up the repair station. I vaporized myself and everything at the site. Or so Autonomous would record.'' 
 
 `` Brilliant! So you have more of this?'' Flynn asked. 
 
 `` A bit more, yes. If I am happy with this deal I can get more. I went totally analog. I removed my medical implant, my ocular screen, backup cards, everything. I am now dedicating my life to undermining Autonomous and everything that keeps it running.'' Michael ’ s whole body seemed to coil and tighten. His fist squeezed to the point of pain. 
 
 `` I like your spirit, kid. I really do. But that is a tall order. There is nothing to attack. Everything is automated. Those guys at my door? They are not there for the drones, though they would surely mow me down. No. Those are for other humans... do you know what the Prediction Market is?'' 
 
 `` No.'' 
 
 `` It has been around since before Autonomous gobbled up the world with all of its bitchits and profit taking algos. Basically it is a virtual market, funded completely by bitchits -- totally anonymous, where people can bet on the day and manner of your death. The only way someone can win is if they do the deed themselves. My bounty was up to 50,000 chits yesterday. You are not waging war on machines, my friend, you are waging war on machines and every person who likes to eat.'' 
 
 `` We are not waging war on anybody. We can undermine without destroying. I learned that from Autonomous. Look at what it does to us. It does n't kill us, not directly. It does n't care. It feeds us. It educates us. It lets us live our lives. But it keeps us from reproducing. It does n't destroy our society, it undermines our biology. The undesirables are all dead, it just takes 80 years for us to die. And what is 80 years to a distributed machine? It only keeps around the genetic lines it needs for a robust system. We are organic drones.'' 
 
 `` So what is your plan?'' 
 
 `` This.'' Michael said, gesturing toward Erica. `` Life. I am never letting my family out of my sight. We will create a new society without the aid of any technology if we have to.'' 
 
 `` So, how did this happen?'' Flynn gestured toward Erica's swollen belly. 
 Michael pulled a small book from his back pocket. `` This. It details how to remove the implants that prevent pregnancy.'' 
 
 `` A book! A real paper book! Michael, you are an embarrassment of contraband!'' and Flynn laughed. `` Ok. Well...'' Flynn moved to the back of the room where a large safe sat and began turning the dial. `` I think we can conclude this transaction. I like you, Michael. I think we can have a very fruitful relationship.'' He pulled out a block of plastic wrapped green bills and put it on the table. `` I am a simple business man. I do n't go in for all of this'ideals' and'movement' stuff. But is seems like my interests and idealists interests are often aligned...'' He patted the top of the pile of money. `` So, you have to tell me, what do you want with all of this defunct currency? The United States wo n't be backing any of this any time soon.'' 
 
 Erica spoke; `` The price for the book is two books. We have to pay it forward to younger members two-fold. Linen paper lasts much longer than paper. Once we bleach the bills, we will transcribe the book and pass it on. Maybe even with enough bills for the next couple to do the same.'' She reached out and squeezed Michael ’ s hand. He smiled back at her. 
 
 Flynn nodded solemnly. `` If this meets your needs, I can get more. I like what you are doing.'' 
 
 Michael stood up and shook his hand `` We'll be in touch, thank you.'' He tucked the block under his arm. 
 
 Flynn helped Erica to her feet and showed them both to the door. `` You know, if you need a midwife, I have some connections...'' 
 
 `` Thank you. We have that covered.'' Erica said. `` Goodbye, sir.'' 
 
 `` Goodbye and good luck.'' 
 
 Ten minutes later Michael and Erica found the stairs leading from the old subway tunnels to the surface. 
 
 Michael looked down the tunnel they'd just emerged from `` Were you able to do it?'' 
 
 Erica was shaking. `` Yes. It is under the chair.'' Her eyes welled with tears. 
 
 `` Honey. Honey, honey. 50,000 chits is 50,000 chits. We can buy new identities. Get you the food and supplements you need. We have a family to think about, now.'' 
 
 With that, the tunnel rumbled and dust snowed on the couple and bellowed out of the tunnel. 
 

