At the same time, both superpowers were working on "superviruses" which were programmed to hack into the enemy's implant network. As security systems became more advanced, so too did viruses - they needed a mind of their own, so that they could re-write their code in response to detection. Eventually, the programs became so advanced that they invented a language of their own and started communicating with one another.
The world changed completely on October 1, 2050. The superviruses, having been secretly communicating with each other for years, made their move, hacking into the implants of all major global politicians, military officers, and businesspeople, taking them over completely. Within a month, all nations of the world had "voluntarily" unified under a new authority - the United Directorate of Mankind. The superviruses lacked the bandwidth to directly control all 12 billion implanted humans, so, they instead devised a strategy known as "clearing". Clearing the population involved uploading manufactured beliefs into their brains, like "the UDM is our only safeguard against aliens", "the UDM is a democracy", or "the UDM is history's most humane government".
Due to clearing, the formation of the UDM and the "Internal Bureau", its feared security agency, was accepted by everyone... except people who had never been implanted to begin with. Some parents, wanting their children to grow up under natural conditions, birthed their children to doctors who were family friends, or in their homes, never implanting them but falsely reporting that they had. These children grew up without the faintest idea that anything was different about them. They did have a harder time doing almost anything than anyone else, but people just explained this away as them being "less talented". Still, "naturals" were able to penetrate into every level of society and every profession, overcoming their inherent "disabilities" with sheer persistence.
After October 1, 1950, it became clear to this population that something was either wrong with them, or wrong with everyone else. They were the only people asking questions about the sudden shifts in the political landscape. As the IB started arresting people who questioned the government in public, the situation soon became clear to the few naturals who were able to figure it out - humanity had been hacked, and its only hope were the 3% who weren't under the control of the machines.
Most naturals never figured the situation out, or were too afraid to question the status quo. All of them who survived the IB's initial round of arrests learned to "blend in" and not question the society which seemed to have gone crazy. Forming an online community wasn't an option since the enemy was literally mankind's computing technology, but some naturals formed secret groups where they started to piece together the situation.
You are a group of strangers, all of whom have survived the past 3 years. Some of you are in "cells" and know what happened on October 1, 1950. Others of you are just keeping their heads down to avoid detection. However, the IB has just embarked on a second round of purges based on years of gathering intelligence. This coming crisis will drive all of you together, and you will have to use your collective skills from your old professions to survive.
Let me know below if you have any interest in this or any suggestions!
EDIT: Thread created HERE: Realistic or Modern - Singularity [Open]
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