New automotive fiction book in the works

[deathsled]

Working titles below:

A DRIVER BEHIND THE WALL
THE DRIVER
THRILL RIDE
BEHIND THE WALL
FREEDOM LOST
ONE MORE DRIVE
ONE LAST DRIVE
FINAL GEAR RATIO-FREEDOM
GEARS TO FREEDOM
FREEDOM'S GEARS
A SPYDER IN THE WALL
THE SPIDER BEHIND THE WALL
DRIVE PAST

1


    "You have ten minutes to departure, Darren," said a computerized, feminine voice.
    Darren Briggs hurried to get dressed and eat his breakfast.  He wasted no time, pulling on a pair of jeans and dress shirt, gulping his coffee and devouring his toast, having done this drill many times before in a regimented manner.  Missing the ten minute window meant no grocery shopping for another full week.  He'd missed that window only once, but once was enough to spend a miserable seven days of purchasing food from the vending machine at work by day and cobbling together leftover scraps for dinner by night.  He couldn't afford to let that happen again.  He sprinted to the garage and jumped in the car, checking his time.  Two minutes to spare.  He sat in his seat with impatience, reading off messages.  The garage door went up and the car started.  The car backed out and a semi-sentient onboard computer announced, in the sultriest of voices, that shopping would commence in twenty minutes.  Darren's driverless car was the latest model and possessed a higher level of artificial intelligence than the older models.  The neighborhood coveted his car and dreamed of upgrading their own models to catch up with their new neighbor.  Darren's car cared for him and addressed his every need to the point of doting.
    The car backed out onto the street in sequence with all of his neighbors and collectively they drove away to do their predetermined grocery shopping.  The government told them that predetermined shopping schedules were the better way, that each community must adopt a routine to accomplish specified tasks only at specified times, preordained by the governing powers as the most efficient way to live, to conserve, and to regulate the behavior for the common good, to monitor the movements of its citizens for the collective.  It was essential for the State to know where its citizens were at all times and every driverless car had a set program installed by the government at the factory that could not be altered in any way without attracting the attention of the law, resulting in dire consequences.  Society bit down hard on the government's programming after the government introduced the first sentient car, a car that could think for the people.  The regimentation of communities took time and there were those that resisted.  Laws were passed that removed the recalcitrant, clearing the way for a new order.  Cars that drove under the control of people were removed from homes.  Car collectors were the most resistant but they were dealt with and carried away into the night, their darling rides sent to the crusher.  Vast collections were seized and midnight summary justice was visited upon the defiant.  Nothing was left to chance.  Laws were passed that no one ever need drive a vehicle again.  Driver's licenses were fast obsolete.  Darren could still remember the transition though it happened years ago when he was a child.  He blocked out much of the past and looked ever forward to the future with a loving and firmly benevolent government hand at the steady helm to guide him safely through life.
    Darren arrived at the grocery store and exited the car.  The onboard computer reminded him of the forty-five minute rule and to be quick about his purchases or he would miss his ride home.  To be stuck in public after the designated time allotment presented serious problems and no one wanted to face the barrage of law enforcement that would descend upon such an unfortunate individual caught in such a predicament.
    Darren hustled to get his food knowing exactly what he wanted and where to find it, using his portable computer assistant to tell him where to turn and where to stop.  He scurried through the aisles, loading his cart with all the essentials.  At the cash register, he held out his arm and the robotic cashier held out its scanner, deducting funds from the chip beneath his skin, giving him an immediate balance of the remaining funds in his virtual account.  Darren checked the time.  Still moments to spare, he scanned a coffee at the portable coffee shop and took his groceries to the car. 
    "Be there in a minute, Rita," he said.
    The car sensed his approach and automatically opened the trunk and extended a shelf to load the groceries on.  Darren loaded them on the shelf and it retracted back into the car, the door opening to let him in.
    "I missed you," said the voice.
    "I missed you too, Rita."
    Darren sat comfortably in the seat and sipped his coffee, waiting for the time to count down to zero before leaving the lot.  At the zero mark, the hydrogen powered engine started up and took him on his way along with all of the other shoppers, except for one.  A slacker shouted for her car to wait but it drove away and store management descended upon her, slapping on handcuffs and dragging her back into the store.  She screamed and resisted until the glass door closed behind, muffling her pleas.  In an instant, the glass panes turned from transparent to smoke black, preventing anyone from seeing inside. She became invisible and witnesses averted their eyes from the scene with only their horrid imaginations to tell them what would happen to her. 
    "Glad not to be her," said Darren.
    "Yes, Darren.  She will get what she deserves," said Rita. 
    Darren said nothing in reply, knowing that how he responded could be reported to the authorities.  He felt sympathy for the woman, knowing that she would receive severe punishment, but also knew that any showing of weakness on his part would result in a government inquiry about his commitment to the new order.  He smiled briefly knowing that at least his thoughts were his own.
    "I hear a smile in your voice," said Rita.  The latest artificial intelligence possessed more human traits than the older units and could interpret the human voice and feelings with frightful accuracy.  Darren minded his step as everyone did.
    "Just glad to get the shopping done," said Darren.
    The car engaged and drove away, taking him back, unimpeded by the flow of orderly and efficient traffic.  He and his neighbors pulled into their garages with a virtually choreographed sequence to their movements.  Rita powered down and Darren got out, unpacking the groceries while Rita shut the garage door closing out the world behind him.  He gathered the bags in his hands and walked to the entranceway.
    "See you inside," said Rita, sensing his embedded chip on approach and opening the door for him.