Luke Stokes in the future "sHORT sTORY" (ARTWITNESSCONTEST)

          In the year 3018, humans have evolved with technological advancement breaking every known protocol behind our current level of technology. The earth can no longer harbour the population of the humans on earth.
A certain technology was developed to solve this problem. A digital world was created where humans can live on it as a digital person.

      An unknown person that goes by the name “The Geek”. The Geek as they call him or her as no one knows his true identity. This created world operates on a special blockchain technology where humans live as a transcended digital personality. A decentralized world of freedom where anything is possible. It was the perfect system.
In no time, almost the earth population became a digital entity. The world was powered by the Steem blockchain. Protected by certain individuals called the Witnesses.
The Geek is called an urban legend, some people believe she or he perhaps do not exist. A myth perhaps or a cooked up burnt story. The fact remains this new digital world was created by someone or some persons.

The GEEK.

Everyone in this world had to give up their real human form to live there permanently. It is a world with unlimited possibilities. Everything went smooth until there were glitches in the system. Certain individuals were erased from the system. The first ever digital attack on the system. This is an impossible situation for the system is designed be unhackable. A decentralized world order. No one had answer to the problems. The world was designed such that no digital individual in the system can make any change on it. Changes can only be made by individuals who are outside the system but have a sync version of themselves in this new world. All witnesses in this new world are synced into the system.

However, everyone in this new word have already transcended.

---

---

---

---

---

The Plot

3 months ago Ace consolidation bank was robbed by unknown assailants. Information about the event was unclear. Report has it that no funds was stolen only sensitive data. The President of the bank Mr Jerry Banfield made a statement to the press that what was stolen was insignificant.

The case died down until recently a private investigative journalist who is considered to be a tree shaker got curious of that event. Since the incident, unexplainable things have been occurring in the world.
The first is the missing school bus driver that vanished while in transit. He crashed into a group of persons at the bus stop. All eight victims died. The victims’ bodies vanished as well. This is unlike this new world people never disappear.

Mr Luke Stokes a hobo drifter took it upon himself to solve this mystery. His only possession is a 1968 black Ford Mustang. That’s his office and his home. He likes to live on the move. He believe it makes it hard for anyone to know his where about.

He says

“be on the go, stay on the unknown and achieve your goal”

He is a heavy drinker and also a human chimney. He smokes the fuck out of his lungs. He went to the Ace consolidation building to get some information. Where I all started. Following his gut. His reputation precedes him. He didn’t make through to the building; security personnel’s stopped him before he could get any close.
He was a top shot investigative journalist but he lost his reputation and his respect when he tried to bring Mr Jerry Banfield down for corruption and illegal manipulation of the new world for his companies benefit 4 years ago.
He sat outside the building smoking when he noticed a tech employee was kicked out of the building. This is an opportunity to exploit he thought
Well hello there mate. The ex-employee noticed him immediately. I know you. You are …
He was hushed immediately. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Luke Stokes and I am sure we have somethings to talk about but not here. How about over a cup of coffee. Luke had a charming and persuasive tone of voice which helps him most of the time to get people’s attention.
I never got to ask your name he said. I am Neo aka the one. Neo sounds just right Luke said to him at the coffee shop. Neo was wandering how he got to sit with this worn out journalist. He found himself vetting out is anger and disgust of how he was fired from the company.
What happened exactly mate? Neo went one about finding a bug in the new world technology. Something that has never happened before. He got excited at first because for the first time in a long while he actually had a job to do. It is like hiring a set of people to ensure that the earth revolves round the sun for 365 one quarter days. that’s gotta be boring.
He notified his supervisors but nothing was done about it. So he took it up straight to management.
And what did they say? I was fired for incompetency that there is no bug in the system. So these has been going on for 3 months right said Luke. Yes! How did you know that? But of course that’s your job to know about stuff. You’re god damn right he said. They exchange contacts and go their separate ways. The next morning Luke receives a strange message from Neo with a map directing him to a strange location. What the fuck is this?
He tried to reach out to him but he was not reachable. So he traced him to his apartment. On getting there, he found cops all over the place. He thought of the worse but wished it wasn’t what it was. Neo is dead as he saw them bag his body out of the apartment. He was scared as fuck.
Fuck shit! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

This shit is deep. Luke’s soliloquy begins. This job will be the death of me. He rushed out hurriedly into the rain getting into his car to get some heat. He struggles to get his lighter on to smoke a joint.
Quickly, he took out his device and drove to the designated location the map Neo sent to him.
Drove in circles for some hours then finally arrived at an alley. This can’t be right.
It’s a freaking dead end. He was faced with a marbled wall.
Kinda strange as well. He drove slowly like he was tryna touch the wall. He hesitated.
I can’t go crashing my car on a wall. He got down from the vehicle then approached the wall. Putting his hand out slowly to feel the wall like he was trying test the heat of a fiery furnace. He touched the wall. His hands passed through. He took his hands out immediately. He tried again and again. Then he finally had the courage then entered fully.

The walls disappeared behind him. He was in a strange place. The room was suddenly dark with only a spot light shining directly on him. Suddenly the room lit up with several LED lights which extended beyond his reach till infinity.
What is this place? A female voice spoke softly. Welcome to PURGATORY. A place between the real word and the digital world. Here there is digital identity, makers and changes are possible. This is a safe place created by
THE GEEK.I am here to guide you on your journey.

Who are you? I am A.L.IC.E an Artificial Linguistic Intelligence Constructive Entity. You were sent here because your life is in danger. Your digital marker was been monitored and traced. Since you’ve been in here your digital marker has been altered. You can go out without being traced.

We are here to help you with your quest. As inquisitive as he is, he found himself not asking too many questions. He couldn’t believe it but he did. The Geek is real and not an urban legend or just a tale for kids.
For us to help you, you will have to accept to be a witness of this new world.
All the other witnesses are burned and can’t do anything to save what’s coming.

Do you Luke Stokes accept to be a witness? Do I have a choice here? He asked. Yes you have a choice. He thought a second then he concluded. I would accept the invitation. Without no delay A.L.I.C.E arranged a meet up with Mr. X. The location was sent to his mobile device.
You are to meet with Mr. X, he will guide you on the next step. Seconds later he finds himself back at the alley with is vehicle. The marbled wall was no more.

       The rendezvous point was at a parking lot in the Ace consolidation building. On arrival his instruction was updated to get into a black limo. He got inside and there he was with Jerry Banfield aka Mr. X.
He got agitated immediately but Jerry was able to calm him down. There isn’t much time left we have just 4hours or this will be over. What do you mean? The president of Ace Consolidation has found a way to create another digital world. Hence they will make this one a mirror digital world to the other thereby converting anyone still present here into a digital currency. Which explains the sudden missing persons.
We have a solution to this but we need your help in achieving this.
That's why I am here said Luke. With an evil grin on Jerry's face. That was the last thing Luke's face saw before he blacked out. He was sedated the moment he got in the vehicle without knowing. He woke up in a room strapped to a chair. Opposite was Jerry. He suspected the other Jerry was an imposter.
The door to the room opened and there was the imposter but now without the digital mask. It was Mr. Xeldal , Jerry’s right hand man.
I know what you must be thinking… I should kill you right away. Where is the fun in that hahaha
He laughed. Oh speaking of time. It is about that time for me to finish what I started before these witness meddled with my affair.
It wasn’t easy I must tell you. Impersonating Mr Jerry for the past 3 months. Dang! I deserve an Oscar.
Thank you for coming down here Mr. Luke. For me to accomplish this all I require are 2 witnesses. First you weren’t but now you are. He took samples of their witness genetic marker then placed it in the system he developed to activate it.

Using Mr. Jerry’s access he was able to manually override the system to access the digital word core.
Then the countdown began from 10 seconds.

Xandal was over joyed waking Jerry up. See it is about to happen. He noticed Jerry was unnerved.
Then Jerry said to him. Did you think for a second we aren’t aware of your plans? Luke stoke is the bait. His witness gentic code is obviously bugged. You didn’t even get to test it.

Xandal got furious yelling on the top of his voice. What does that even mean?
It means that his genetic code comes with a failsafe. Everyone except you will remain here. You will be moved into the mirror digital world and everything will return back to normal.
Since no one knew who was behind the hack we had to play a little game by bringing in someone new.

Adios.

The End

Witness featured

@lukestokes as Luke Stokes
@jerrybanfield as Jerry Banfield
@xeldal as Xeldal
@neoxian – Neo