Entire community now depends on his Honda Civic
MILLBROOK, INDIANA – What started as a simple attempt to order takeout has transformed into a technological nightmare that has an entire community held hostage by one man’s Honda Civic, according to shocking reports emerging from this sleepy Midwestern town.
Gerald “Gerry” Potts, 47, a former insurance adjuster with a clean driving record and an affinity for crossword puzzles, never intended to become the sole transportation lifeline for Millbrook’s 3,847 residents. But three weeks ago, when he accidentally downloaded “UberDrive Pro” instead of “UberEats” on his smartphone, he unknowingly triggered what transportation experts are calling “the most bizarre monopolistic takeover in ride-sharing history.”
The app, which appears to be a sophisticated piece of software that tech insiders refuse to discuss on the record, somehow managed to redirect every Uber request within a 15-mile radius directly to Potts’ 2018 Honda Civic. Within hours of the download, his phone began buzzing incessantly with ride requests from confused locals who found themselves unable to access any other transportation options.
“It’s like the app has created some kind of digital vortex around our town,” whispered longtime resident Martha Henley, glancing nervously over her shoulder as she spoke outside Millbrook’s only grocery store. “My daughter tried calling three different taxi companies last week – they all said their systems were showing ‘service unavailable’ for our zip code. The bus route mysteriously got ‘suspended for maintenance.’ Even my neighbor’s car wouldn’t start until Gerry gave her a ride to the auto shop. It’s like he’s the only moving vehicle allowed in or out of this place.”
The situation has grown increasingly bizarre as Potts, initially bewildered by the constant requests, has found himself unable to delete the mysterious app. Multiple attempts to uninstall the software have failed, with the app apparently regenerating itself within minutes. Even more disturbing, local mechanics report that other vehicles in town have begun experiencing unusual electronic malfunctions, leaving residents with no choice but to rely on Potts’ Honda Civic for everything from grocery runs to medical emergencies.
Dr. Sylvia Chen, a digital systems analyst who specializes in app anomalies, believes something far more sinister may be at work. “What we’re seeing in Millbrook defies conventional understanding of how ride-sharing platforms operate,” Dr. Chen explained during a tense phone interview, speaking in hushed tones. “The level of control this application has gained over local transportation infrastructure suggests we may be dealing with an experimental AI system – possibly one designed to test population control mechanisms through mobility restriction. The fact that it’s funneling everything through a single civilian vehicle is either a glitch or a frighteningly sophisticated social experiment.”
Town records show that Potts has completed over 2,100 rides in just three weeks, averaging 18 hours per day behind the wheel. His Honda Civic, despite the impossible workload, shows no signs of mechanical wear – an anomaly that has local mechanics scratching their heads and quietly speculating about “enhanced vehicle modifications” that appear to have occurred overnight.
The financial implications are equally disturbing. Potts reports that while the app automatically collects payments from passengers, the money never appears in any bank account he can access. Instead, his basic living expenses – gas, food, car maintenance – are mysteriously covered by anonymous direct deposits that appear in his account exactly when needed, but never a penny more.
Mayor Patricia Rowland has been largely unavailable for comment, though sources close to city hall report heated late-night phone conversations with “federal agencies” and multiple visits from unmarked vehicles with government plates.
As Millbrook residents continue their dependence on Potts’ Honda Civic, questions mount about who or what is really controlling their small town’s transportation destiny – and what larger experiment they may have unknowingly become part of.
The characters and events depicted in this story are entirely fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, or to actual events is unintentional and purely coincidental.
