"Witches?" Ethan thought. It was an utter impossibility that witches had made it this far south of the the Central Tower. What dark power were they wielding to journey so far away from the up-link?

Ethan and Kahlen lived in a time ruled by dark technology. Where civilization had sacrificed their humanity and vitality for the simplicity of technology. Those who wielded technology like a second breath from their souls were refereed to as Witches and those who fought against the onslaught of this slavery, like Ethan, were know as Lotechs. They had abandoned the ease of technology in an ever present battle to remain human, non-augmented, alive. While the last remnants of humans surrendered to the genetic augmentation of their beings, Lotechs fought for freedom and enlightenment.

Even as Ethan's legs pumped with all their might, blood and adrenaline coursing though every fiber to reach is son, his heart was already resigned to his son's fate. As a father you wish the best for your children and maybe this ending was better for his son. No more hunger, no more battles, no more pain. Ethan barely had a moment to register his loss when the Witches crested over the ridge of the valley. They glistened with their circuitry ablaze, like ancient armored knights of old. Their eyes as red as the demons their ancient namesakes reportedly served! A host of twelve ravenous Witches descended the cliff side in a fervor only a machine with a program impervious to rewriting could be. The coven saw their prize, they collectively shared all knowledge and desire to consume Ethan and all humanity like him.

Ethan faced them as a man who has lived a life a meaning does, with his head held high and his soul clear of regret. The last image burned into his mind eternally was that of his son's collapsed body and he smiled with the sweet knowledge he would soon join him in Lotech paradise.

Always remember that the basis for technology we enjoy today, electricity, was considered witchcraft a few centuries before.........and science appears as magic to the uneducated.