Futureworld 3030: Summary up to Chp. 13
In the current year, 3030, the world population stands around 250,000. About 50,000 of those people are in big pharma and other global corporations. The other 200,000 comprise the general public, ‘the masses’, who die off each and every day. The year is 3030. Water is not only a scarcity. It’s a luxury. Purified water is only available to the 1%. The rest of society is thrown aside. Once public access to water was cut off around 2650, pharmaceutical companies jumped on the opportunity. They devised products that could serve as ‘safe alternatives’ to water and food. The FDA had been dissolved at that point, and any hope for humanity was welcomed with open arms. Although these products did work in the short-term they have long term effects that no human being could withstand for substantial time. Gareth works as a staffer at Unicorp, the largest pharmaceutical corporation in the world. His father is an executive there and wants Gareth to work his way up, but Gareth has no interest in doing so. Franklin, a man in the masses, struggles to survive in the streets of Altera. He and his friends surround Gareth on his way home from work one day. A shakedown and discourse leads to a deal. Gareth is going to help take down Unicorp with the ‘help’ of Franklin. Gareth has no intention to work with Franklin, yet offers him the role of confidant in order to not be killed in the moment.
Year 2744:
Dawn is the leader of the Resistance and has become Unicorp's most wanted fugitive. Most cities in the world have been destroyed or abandoned after the so-called ‘water apocalypse’. There are remnants of major cities such as Paris, Tokyo, New York City, and others, however, the majority of them have become desolate wastelands. Altera is a major city state along the Pacific Coast of what formerly was the United States. This is where Unicorp and Global Surveillance are headquartered. After most international organizations dissolved, Unicorp took the reins as the largest most powerful entity not only in Altera, but on Earth. Despite years of technological advance gained over the last few centuries, Unicorp holds the intellectual property to nearly all developments. In fact, they control the cellular grid and internet as well, so anyone wishing to use such networks would be monitored by Unicorp. In order to stay off the grid, the Resistance uses little to no technology and relies upon word of mouth. Since Dawn has become the most wanted person in Altera she has gone incognito and refuses to use any form of technology.
A day-long cat and mouse chase leads to Global Surveillance officers capturing Dawn. She is brought back to their holding cells and shown the unfortunate fate of fellow Resistance members. While on the verge of her breaking point, Dawn is met by the 'man in blue' , who makes an offer and presents her Unicorp's most recent project.
Year 3030:
Gareth and Franklin sneak their way into Uniplex. Gareth has to put up with Franklin's antics while trying to download important files, and they are both surprised by another late night visitor. They nearly get caught by security guards upon entering the Uniplex center and ultimately are met inside by a coworker of Gareth’s, Shelly. After witnessing their planned recon mission, Shelly storms out of the building which causes Gareth to think the worst and expect his demise. However, Shelly ends up being on board with the upheaval plan and wants in.
Year 2744:
The masses gather together in Altera Square for Unicorp’s big announcement. Dawn stands atop the stage waiting behind a curtain and prepares her endorsement for the upcoming project. She has recently started working for Unicorp. In spite of all the torture she endured, Dawn has taken the position due to the bribes and incentives given to her. They have assigned her to be liaison to the masses in an attempt to amend the ongoing turbulent relationship. Unicorp’s new project will require a lot of volunteers, who they hope to persuade with synthetics and rations of water. Unbeknownst to them is that they will be participating in risky experimentation. The sole goal of the project is to find a way to have humans able to survive solely on synthetics and alcohol. Due to the constant decrease in Earth’s water supply, Unicorp is looking for alternative routes to survival. Most had thought, including Dawn, that Unicorp wanted the masses to die off so that they would have more water to themselves. However, that is far from the case. They need the masses in order to forever adapt synthetic composition. If viruses were to break out, which has happened throughout history there would need to be ‘guinea pigs’ in vaccine trials. Unicorp wouldn’t want to risk infecting their workforce and jeopardize the corporation as a whole. The masses are basically lab rats. Dawn witnesses the horrors of Unicorp's experimentations. Although she wants to distance herself from the company, the man in blue shows her why noncompliance would not be a wise decision. Her family’s safety would be at risk.
Back in 3030:
Gareth and Shelly sit in a corner booth at Unibar 6 waiting for their drinks to arrive. This is the first time they have met since Gareth discovered her note expressing interest in the plan to slowly dismantle Unicorp. Shelly sits there with a red three ringed binder in front of her on the table. Gareth sits nervously with his palms sweating across from the girl he has had a crush on for the past two years. They discuss how they will infiltrate Uniplex and gain access to the water supply. After a few drinks and awkward flirting, they come up with a plan. Gareth then goes to meet with Franklin to tell him about carrying out the plan. They argue about Franklin’s involvement and Franklin doesn’t trust Gareth. He talks to him about the struggles of the masses and they both leave unsure of one another’s loyalty.
Year 2749:
Dawn sits at the head of the table in the Uniplex conference room. Around her are a dozen or so other pharmaceutical executives from across the world. It is the Unicorp 2749 Summit, and they have to come to gather at Uniplex for a week of meetings and demonstrations. Dawn is now serving as Chief Operating Officer at Unicorp. She is dressed in a dark suit and even darker demeanor. Becoming the puppetmaster of a corporation she once vowed to take down has melded her into a whole new being.
It leaves us now here. Chapter 13. A flashback to 2719 Dawn as a young girl in the Resistance headquarters during a drone attack.