All of Space and Time

The Heart of Kerblam

"I don't understand it." Judy said still confused.

"Ten percent. They want us to be grateful that 10% of people get to work. What about the other 90%? What about our futures?" He said and he did have a point. "Because without action, next time it will be 7%, then five, then one. I am stronger than you. And I am not going to stand by and accept it. People like me, my generation, we change things. We make things happen."

"Even if it costs people's lives?" The Doctor said darkly. "You kill a load of customers at Kerblam, let the systems take the fall for it, erode people's trust in automation, make people angry."

"Imperfect technology without conscious. Machines malfunction, that's what they do." Charlie replied.

"No, mate, that's what you're doing. Seriously malfunctioning." Graham called from behind the Doctor.

"Nice one, Graham." I said walking up to join the Doctor.

"I'm not your mate!" Charlie said angrily.

"Except, Kerblam's system does have a conscious." The Doctor said. "It's been fighting you, Charlie. It knew it. It sent a message across the galaxy begging for help. That teammate in Slade's office, it was coming for you. And then Kira, it took her, knowing how you felt about her, to show you how it would feel. Because how you feel right now about Kira is how all those families and friends will feel if your plan goes off."

"I don't care." He simply replied.

"I think you do. I think you came here with a plan, but didn't expect to fall in love. But that's what happens. Use it, Charlie, learn from it, please." The Doctor begged.

"No! No! If that's the price to change how everyone on Kandoka sees technology, then it's worth it for the cause." He shouted frantically.

"This isn't a cause, you're not an activist. This is cold blooded murder." The Doctor said getting more angry by the second.

"We can't let the system take control!" He shouted.

"The systems aren't the problem. How people use and exploit the system, that's the problem." She explained to him. "People like you."

He lowered his arm holding the mechanism. "I don't care what you think. The delivery goes ahead." He walked over to the railing and before I could stop him he activated it.

"Mass delivery procedures initiated." The automated voices of the Kerblam men said. Echoing through the entire dispatch level.

"Some one grab the controller!" Yaz shouted. I was the closest and before I could grab it he slammed it on the ground and stepped in it. He crushed it with his boot so now it was useless.

"What have you done?" Ryan said rubbing his head.

"You can't stop it now!" He said as Yaz pinned his arm to his back like I did earlier.

"Make it stop." She said to him and he shook his head in defiance. "We are not gonna let you kill all those innocent people."

"Destination coordinates locked." The system said. "Preparing teleport."

The Doctor bent down and looked at the controller to see if anything could be salvaged from it. "Doc, I hope you've got an idea of how to fix that." Graham said worried.

"Not enough time to fix it..." she said stopping for a moment. "Wait, new ideas..."

"What ever it is you need to think fast!" I said helping Yaz keep Charlie in place.

"Not enough time for that either.." she muttered. "Maybe worth a go..."

"Maybe?!" Graham exclaimed.