Access
... the overhead Sāf-Cam blinks once, silently recording the data on the invisible ii:Chip that is implanted in his forehead.
A briefcase in his hand, he steps into the descender and pushes the button for the ground floor. Above the sliding door, the single red eye of a Sāf-Cam blinks once, silently accessing the data on the invisible ii:Chip that is implanted in his forehead. He leaves the building now, hurrying down the grimy street, leaning into the insistent wind, and manages to jump on a waiting Sliptram.
He crams into the crowded carriage and grabs the overhead rail as the Sliptram lurches forward. Two swiveling Sāf-Cams turn from side-to-side, collecting every passengers’ ii:Chip data in a matter of seconds. Always watching. Always recording. FOR YOUR SAFETY, the small yellow sign explains. No one pays any attention anymore— they are used to it. They just keep their eyes down, staring at their phones. Twelve minutes later, he presses the nearest thumm-pad signaling that he wants to get off. His thumbprint and personal data are automatically recorded as he steps down: Passenger exits 5.39 pm , stop 327.
The wind has settled for the moment, the sky is hazy with dust. He walks into the Super-Micro to pick up a six-pack. Four Sāf-Cams, in strategic locations, listen and follow his movement through the store. They capture his identity.
The sun is setting, the sky now a brilliant pink, as he approaches his two-room walk-up. Two more overhead street cams interface imperceptibly with his ii:Chip as he passes.
Cameras. Everywhere. “KEEPING YOU SAFE”, they explain. His every breath is recorded, his name, his facial features, his temperature. “ARE YOU WELL?” the sign asks. Cameras in the parking lot, in the stairwells, spying in the break room where he works, in the hallway of his apartment building.
His friends say he is paranoid. Sāf-cams and thuum-pads are for our protection, they say. If you are not breaking the law, you have nothing to worry about. Only criminals, only the guilty, have to worry about being surveilled. Crime rates have been reduced dramatically since ii:chip implants have been made mandatory.
But he is not stupid – not stupid, not paranoid, not delusional. His concerns are valid. His fear and distrust are warranted. Fear is not the same as paranoia. Fear is justified.
He enters his small rooms, triple-locking the door. He kicks off his shoes and draws the curtains. Sitting on the sofa, puts his feet up and cracks open a can of Miller. He relaxes for the first time today, breathes free in his own private space. Alone at last.
Alone.
Except for the faint glowing yellow spot on the overhead lightbulb, that he has never noticed.
Implanted microchips are already in use in the UK, where polls show that 51% of the population favors using them. Here is a BBC article that may make you sit up and wonder where this is going. Also one from Sweden, that is even more chilling.
Click here: Microchip implants in use now
And here: click arrow THREE times
More Sci-fi at 🍁Leaves:
https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/kathoc-bose-found
https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/surrender
Wow!! You've created a very believable dystopian, near-future scenario here. The invention of terms such as Saf-Cam, Descender, Thumm-pad, the signs on the cameras: "Keeping You Safe" , "Are You Well?" all help to set the scene as a depressing, everyday reality.
"If you are not breaking the law, you have nothing to worry about." This is the language that leads us down a slippery slope.
Thought provoking piece Sharron, and very impressive change of genre for you.
Could get to this. FAR less crime. Till the collectors decide something is a crime. For right now, nearly nothing is. There are cameras across the street on poles aimed at my building. They say "traffic control". Across the street so nothing to be done about it. Not paying taxes on that side.