[ WP ] Some time in the future war is fought completely autonomously by machines . A densely populated city has become a war-zone , but the robots are programmed so well to avoid harming civilians that the humans living their can go about their lives completely ignoring the constant fighting around them

The city of the future, that's what they had called it. A sprawling city center of metal and glass stretching as high as the eye can see. Fully automated and catered to its citizens. A place of opportunity for a simple man like me to make it. Little did I know what a different world the megacities of today were from the secluded town where I had lived my life. 
 
 `` What is the purpose of your visit Mr. Winters?'' The harsh metallic voice came from a dark window located in the bustling terminal of the skyport, spitting the words at me. 
 
 I tried to peek in, to see who I was talking to, but only saw my own reflection staring back at me, bemused and lost. `` I- I'm new here and I have come for a job offer.'' 
 
 `` Business,'' the voice corrected, sounding entirely detached from the conversation. 
 
 `` Oh, yes that's correct'' 
 
 `` Passport,'' It was a command not a question. 
 
 A slit at the bottom of the window opened up and I tentatively put my papers through. The passport was sucked through with a gush of wind. After a few seconds of whirling and grinding, the passport was launched back out. 
 
 `` You have been cleared,'' the cold voice alerted me. `` You are authorized for 3 weeks of temporary access to the city. All developments of your business inquiries are to be reported to the proper channels.'' As if it were a after-thought, the voice added `` The City is currently in a state of warfare. Any interference with these activities are prohibited. Enjoy your stay.'' 
 
 `` Wait what? What does that mean?'' I waited for an answer but the window remained silent. `` Hello?'' 
 
 When it became obvious that whoever ( or whatever ) was behind the window was not going to respond, I picked up my backpack, containing everything I own in this world, and walked for the exit. 
 
 Outside was a sight I would not forget. Skyscrapers rose to the sky, touching the very heavens with their steel tops. The buildings were so intricately designed, it was unclear where one ended and where another began. On the ground level, expressways winded between the metal giants, the hum of electric vehicles zipping to their destinations. Among all this mayhem I found a tiny café; its green awning tucked between a skyscraper and an expressway, patrons sitting at tables sipping their drinks. 
 
 I was about to figure out where to go when I spotted it. There was a human-like figure moving towards the café, yet on second glance I could tell it was not human but some sort of machine. Instead of wheels it had treads. And instead of hands it had two guns. 
 
 I watched in a sort of a daze as the machine moved closer to the café. The metallic soldier raise its deadly arms in the direction of the café. With a sense of dread, I remembered the words at the window: `` warfare''. 
 
 `` Noo!'' I shouted, desperately trying to warn the people but it was too late. 
 
 The machine fired and the bullets sprayed towards the unaware patrons... and over their heads. The bullets found a mark on a similar type of machine that I had not even noticed, positioned on the roof of the café. It exploded in a display of fire and smoke. I rushed towards the people seated just below all the chaos. In the back of my mind I found it curious that not a single one had moved from their spot. In fact they acted like nothing was happening at all. A woman took another sip from her cup. A man yawned and patted his substantial stomach in satisfaction. Did n't they realize what was happening merely yards away? But I barely noticed this. My mind was focused on trying to rescue them, to warn them. 
 
 I reached the awning of the café and shouted, `` Run! Watch out! It's too dangerous to be here!!'' 
 
 As if to prove my point, the machine began to fire again. Bullets whizzed just above my head and I began to move, expecting that the café patrons would follow me to safety. But they just stared at me, one old man shaking his head in disgust and returning his eyes on his food. 
 
 `` What's wrong with you people!'' I yelled over the sound of gunfire. `` You need to move!'' But they did not listen. They did not move. 
 
 The firing stopped, but when I looked up I saw why. Three small airborne machines were flying this direction. The machine had stopped firing for the moment to aim into the sky. The flying machines in the sky were preparing to fire back. This was the eye of the storm. In any second, the area was going to be plunged into chaos. 
 
 I made a decision. If these people were not going to save themselves, it was up to me to stop this. I started running towards the gun-wielding machine. I did n't have a plan but if I could just somehow disable that machine then maybe the flying ones would leave. But I knew above all I needed save the people. 
 
 Bullets erupted again. All around me as I ran; rain drops of death that I somehow eluded. In this moment, I was brought back to my childhood, playing cops and robbers with my friends in the backyard of our country home. Of course I was always the cop, dodging the bullets of the robbers and saving the people. 
 
 Then I was on top of the machine, ripping and tearing, trying to destroy the weapons it called hands. The machine's emotionless head was inches from my own as we struggled, flesh versus iron. I was looking into the very face of evil and it gave me strength. I reached up for the head pulled with everything I had until it snapped. The machine fell back, nothing but a twisted heap of scraps. The machines overhead withdrew and I fell back in relief, everything going black, the last thought I had was a blissful one: I had saved the people... 
 
 I woke up. I was laying down on a couch in some sort of office. There was a desk which was curiously empty. A potted plant was positioned in the corner of the room. I looked over and saw a window, overlooking the cityscape, high above every other building. Just above us was the clouds, just a heartbeat away from the heavens. 
 
 The door opened and a man walked in. He had a aged faced but one that had aged well. His eyes were of a man who seemed to know exactly how you felt. He had a slight smile that seemed to convey that he knew the exact words I was forming. 
 
 `` Where am I?'' I asked `` What happened? Who are you?'' 
 
 The man put out a hand to halt the words spilling out of my mouth. `` You were very brave out there,'' he said simply. 
 
 `` But...'' I had so many questions. What were those machines? Why did n't the people run or even react? 
 
 The man casually walked over to the desk and sat, taking me in with a measured look. Then he spoke. `` My name is Mr. Montemercy. I am the CEO of InterGlobal Corporations'' 
 
 I recognized the name instantly. `` You were the one who offered me the job'' 
 
 `` Yes. We picked you because of your unique qualities. You were born outside of the megacities that have dominated this planet. In fact, the small town you grew up in was one of the last remaining pockets of undeveloped land left in the world, 
 
 `` Let me explain what we do here. We manufacture Autonomous Warfare Units, or AWUs.'' My eyebrows shot up in surprise. `` Yes, you are already familiar with one of our products. Our corporation is at war with other companies. In our world, land is the most precious commodity we know. Whoever has the land has the power. To answer your earlier question, these robots are specifically designed not to harm any civilians, per regulations. That I why the people at the café did not react. They have become used to this state of constant warfare. Wherever they go, there is fighting. But it does not affect them,'' 
 
 `` But why do you need me?'' I asked. `` I am the last person you want. I lived on a farm for goodness sakes. There was not a single machine in my house?'' 
 
 `` Exactly!'' the man exclaimed with delight. `` There is not a single machine in your house. The problem with people today is that they have become lazy. Everything is done for them. There are robots that make food for them, that drive them, that tell them what is planned for their day, that think for them. You are untouched by this. You are one of the last pure, uncorrupted humans left on this Earth and we need what is in your mind,'' 
 
 I was speechless and I just waited for the man to continue. This was all too much to take. 
 
 `` Let me tell you the problem with our AWUs. Yes they are autonomous but they do n't fight for anything. In fact they are much like the humans of today. Programming tells them what to do. They are un-motivated. But if they think like you do, imagine how much better they would fight than other robots. Think about it. You were motivated to save the people in the café, right? This was all you thought about. And you managed to defeat one of our machines. Albeit, they are programmed not to fire at you but with your motivation and their firepower, they would be unbeatable. We want to study you, find out what makes you tick, then program those ideas into our machines.'' 
 
 As he spoke, I was slowly becoming more horrified, more disgusted. `` No,'' I answered `` I will not take part in this. I ca n't. I will not be a test subject to further your agenda and spread more destruction. I decline your offer.'' 
 
 Montemercy nodded, all the while with the look that he knew this was all coming. He slowly left his chair and began walking towards me, smiling sadly. `` The fact is you have already accepted. You are already working for us. In fact, you have been for some time.'' As he spoke his voice began to morph, from the soft human tone to a harsh metallic voice, the same as the window, and my heart grew colder with every word. `` This is a simulation. Day 3,743 of your time with us. We are slowly integrating your very essence into our fighting machines. We will begin the simulation again. You will arrive in the city. You will save the people. And you will bring us one step closer to our goals,'' 
 
 He was standing above me now. It was very cold. The feeling in my arms and legs slowly faded away to nothing. As my vision blurred, the voice said, now void of all human emotion and as cold as ice, `` What is the purpose of your visit Mr. Winters?'' 
 
 
 
 

