It's some future, far away yet not totally implausible. The preceding period of time was the peak of information weaponization, fought between two great powers of the United States. Now, in yet a rather unstable balance of power, one party seems to rule everything.
Somewhere on the east coast is a dark room lined with computer monitors. The people running the programs, in search for a rogue citizen, claim to work for the betterment of the US government and all its people.
The director of the newly-formed Federal Intelligence and Informations Agency enters the room. There, he is informed of the team's efforts of locating the rogue citizen. A woman walks up to the director.
"Sir, it was difficult to pinpoint the location of the rogue citizen, but regardless of his unconventional means of accessing information, we agree he is at or near Condemned #5," the woman with the clipboard says.
"Condemned #5? Colorado?" the director asks.
"Yes, previously government-run, it is the most information-dense location on the continent. Our party made arrangements to wipe out all or most of the information, but we were stopped by the Enemy Party in Congress."
"We couldn't let the FBI handle it? CIA?"
"The Enemy Party was on the lookout."
The director thinks, then says, "And now they're going back for Condemned #5. How does this rogue citizen stand against the security measures?"
"Invisible. We couldn't detect any 6G, 5G, or 4G signals routing from him, we weren't able to find any digital presence that would imply his means of infiltration. We're still looking into how he is able to function in this world without an Applesoft phone."
The director thinks again, then orders, "Send in the best available unit to Condemned #5 to find this man."
"Sir, I'm afraid you may have forgotten the meaning of Condemned #5. It's condemned. We cannot send anybody–"
"And who's gonna try to stop us?"
***
David is the embodiment of a modern myth. Most people never actually met a person who doesn't use a "real phone." He doesn't have a presence on the USNET. This offers him a lot of problems in the real world. He isn't capable of using DUSD to purchase groceries, or partake in any modern transaction for that matter. He has to do everything himself or with the help of people he actually knows, because his access to public and private services is also restricted due to his nonexistent presence on the USNET. Regardless, he is able to survive without the government-mandated technologies. And he is able to carry out a mission that may free all the citizens of the United States.
In front of David was a rusted, metal door. Due to the security measures of Condemned #5 being only composed of its outer perimeter, the door was not guarded, and in fact was left unlocked. Opening the door, he enters Condemned #5's central structure.
The condemned facility is pitch black. David turns on his flashlight and starts downstairs in a stairwell. He arrives on a floor labeled "Administrative Level." He walks from the stairwell into the offices and searches for a computer to begin his plan.
He takes a seat in a cubicle, and removes his backpack. He powers the computer on with an external power source he carried with him. At this point David knows his time to complete this plan will be limited.
***
"We've found him," the woman with the clipboard says.
"One of the facility's computers are activated. He is on the 2nd floor," a computer attendant elaborates.
"We're sending in a squadron right now, however bypassing some federal laws," another says.
***
David ran down the stairwell and is now on the 5th floor, deeper underground. Running down miles of shelves holding intricate systems of data drives, he is looking for a terminal to complete a request he sent from the computer.
Meanwhile, on the 2nd floor, the squadron approaches the target cubicle. They are communicating with the director.
"Approaching the target," one squadron member says.
"Perfect," the director responds.
Weapons loaded and flashlights up, the turn the corner to enter the cubicle, and find nobody there.
"Rogue citizen absent," another squadron member reports.
"What?" the director exclaims, "Where could he have gone off to? Send in more squadrons to search the structure."
During the confusion, David has arrived at a terminal. This alerts the squadron and they start down the stairwell. David directs reserve power to the 5th floor, and the entire space is illuminated with light. He begins inputting commands on the terminal, and starts establishing a connection with another "revolutionary" of his.
"Eric? Eric, can you hear me?" David asks through the terminal.
"Yeah, yeah, I've connected."
"You've established control over the public service servers?"
"Yes. Using the old internet infrastructure for what it was intended to, I'll be offloading a hell of a ton of data to private citizens' computers. Nothing different from what the Purple Party does," Eric says while David continues inputting commands into the terminal device.
The squadron is about two miles away, but they spot David at the end. He has about 20 minutes before they reach him.
"Jesus. They're here, Eric," David says, "How fast can we transfer this data?"
"If I completely dismantle the DUSD infrastructure, I can get it up to hundreds of TB/s. I don't think anyone's seen a data transfer that large before."
"And the economy?"
"People are gonna have to get used to paper money again."
The squadron approaches. They're a mile and a half away.
"David, we've just ceased federal control of the online infrastructures. Initiate the data transfer now."
David presses a key on the terminal's interface. The lights go black. The walls of data drives glow with LED lights flashing green, red, blue, and orange.
"Eric, the lights are out. I think I can make an escape now if I don't need to attend this thing."
"Sure, make it out of there. I've secured the terminal commands."
With the squadron adjusting to the sudden darkness, David runs an path orthogonal to the squadron, and finds the entrance to an alternative stairwell. Entering it, he locks the door behind him and runs up.
***
The director stands in front of several monitors, now unable to connect to the Colorado squadrons.
"What the hell is going on?" he asks the woman with the clipboard.
"It appears as if another individual has ceased our control over all internet infrastructure. The rogue citizen is not alone."
"What does that mean?"
"We're losing control, sir."
***
David escapes Condemned #5. He runs for the outer perimeter, away from the armed squadrons. The perimeter is still dangerous, but he'll have a better chance of escaping. While running, he activates his cellphone and calls Eric.
"Eric! What's the news?"
"We're up to 78% estimated progress. All these files are headed for the public domain."
"Great."
"And I've got better news for you. Condemned #5's perimeter heavily relies on government internet access. All their defenses are down. You can escape."
David runs even faster for the perimeter. He sees the chain link fences in the distance.
Eric continues speaking, "89%. We're getting there."
David reaches the fence. Climbing up, a watch tower spots him. The workers in the tower try to get their turret to fire, but the lack of internet connection means they must put extra effort into getting it to function. David jumps the fence and starts running. The turrets begin to fire, albeit not very rapidly. David is still running. He runs until he reaches a road, stumbles, and calls Eric again.
"David, we've reached 100%. All the information has been freed, and shortly after, so should we. I wouldn't worry about law enforcement. They're all confused and they'll learn that the Purple Party is the real enemy. Janice should be arriving at your location very soon."
Off to the side of the road, David sets his backpack down and rests, waiting.