Representatives from all the major families were gathered and the chatter of conversation was deafening, the atmosphere being nothing like the usual respectful decorum of these meetings. Only those descended from the founding fathers would normally speak while the meeting was in session, but not today it seemed. The smell of fear filled the room while murmurings and anxious glances replaced the usual serenity of worship. Unusually, none of the seats were empty as all those who qualified had taken up their right of attendance. Many were qualifying newcomers, those who would normally do anything to avoid being sullied by association with politics or religion. But they had made sure to be here today and all seemed eager to exercise their rights to be heard, or at least be recognized. Why? Because the unthinkable had happened; the evil reach of technology had come to Regis, and the buzz of speculation was that it could only mean one thing; that the tipping point had been reached. The aging population of Rexis had lost control of their computer helpers and the feared takeover by artificial intelligence had clearly begun.
