Stealing cars used to be simple. Break in, hot-wire, drive away. These days, as soon as you touch a car that doesn’t recognize you, it speeds away. Exponentially more complicated, but also addictively challenging.

 

In an age where most crime was digital, real-world thieves like me had a hard time finding regular work. I knew I was one of the best, but I could still feel forced retirement looming. Most days I just wanted to be put out of my misery, but this day was different…

 

I was mentally reviewing the plan in my car. My research indicated that our target would make its delivery sometime today, but I didn’t know exactly when. Its departure time was assigned randomly on purpose, so all I could do was wait.

 

I considered myself to be a relatively patient person, but I got antsy when I was at loose ends. Checklists helped. Somewhat.

 

The package that my client wanted was welded to the car’s frame, so I had to take the whole thing. Unfortunately, its security was top notch. So even if I cornered it, attempting to break in would be pointless. Instead, I was going to trap and move.

 

Trapping meant that I needed help. That came from three other autonomous vehicles, also waiting at their designated spots. Since we’d eventually surround the target, I assigned them the callsigns East, South, and West. I drove North.

 

Well, technically Rudolph did most of the driving. He was the AI system that I'd built from the ground up. Completely unhackable and remarkably efficient. Which was vital because he simultaneously took my commands, coordinated the other vehicles, and fed me data.

 

Data comes in all shapes and sizes, but the most relevant was the target’s precise location, provided—

 

“Moving,” Rudolph said.

 

I mentally stumbled out of my reverie and quickly stared at the map.

 

“Where is it?” I asked, already annoyed.

 

“Here,” Rudolph responded, with a slightly condescending tone. A different part of the screen highlighted a quickly moving dot a mile away.

 

“It wasn’t supposed to exit there.”

 

“My predictive algorithm, based on several other deliveries, calculated an 83% probability—”

 

“Nevermind,” I muttered. “Just go. All vehicles go!”

All four of us peeled out and started our pursuit. So much for subtlety…

 

East and West quickly caught up to their assigned positions, relative to the target. For now, I kept them each a few blocks away, in an effort to minimize suspicion. South took a little longer to get in place, which was understandable given that it was a large truck. I had less concern about it getting too close since semis usually aren’t used to tail other cars.

 

I decided to abandon my planned route, and instead proceeded directly to the bridge. The target car had to end up there one way or the other. From where I parked, I could see the fake construction site my team had set up last night.

 

“Status?” I asked the “foreman” over comms.

 

“Nominal,” she replied. “I saw that the golden goose flew the coop from the wrong door.”

 

“Nice mixed metaphor,” I said with a grin. “We adjusted. Hopefully no more kinks. Is the lift operational?”

 

“Poised and ready to pounce.”

 

The key to our plan was a black market magnetic lift. We'd installed it in the lower beams of the bridge last night. Once the target was trapped between our vehicles, the lift’s cables would lower its magnetic plates onto the roof, raise it, and drop it into South’s truck bed below.

 

I saw that the target was approaching my position, so I eased out into traffic. In succession, I directed East and West to gradually move towards their adjacent positions. Now that Rudolf had some processing space to spare, I asked him to conduct a full scan of the target.

 

“Package present,” he reported.

 

“Well, I’m glad to hear that we’re not just chasing our tails,” I said.

 

Ignoring my sarcasm, Rudolph continued. “The vehicle’s exact model is something I’ve never seen, but it’s not remarkably different from previous cars.”

 

“Different how?” I asked, slightly on edge.

 

“At first glance, the AI seems more powerful, but I’d really need more time—”

 

“Yeah, yeah. But can we handle it?” I interrupted.

 

“Most likely.”

 

Not exactly a confidence booster, but I knew that it was the most decisive answer that I’d get. Besides, the target was pulling up behind me and we were approaching the bridge.

 

“Stop traffic,” I told the foreman.

 

I saw her let the remaining cars ahead of us enter the bridge. Then she walked directly in front of my car waving an orange flag. Drivers behind us honked angrily as they realized that crossing the river was going to take much longer than they had planned. As soon as the bridge was clear of traffic, giving us a clean getaway, the foreman stepped aside and waved us forward.

 

With our four vehicles in position, we moved toward the lift hanging above. The target had caught on, but it was too late. It began to ram my rear bumper, but it didn’t have enough space to do any significant damage. As we neared the lift, I heard a chorus of horns behind us but I didn’t care.

 

This was it. We were doing it…

 

Damn, I almost forgot. “Rudolph, the target’s self-destruct device?”

 

“Disabled.”

 

“Great work. Lift status?”

 

As the lift began to lower, I took a second to catch my breath. Then I realized that Rudolph hadn’t responded.

 

“Rudolph?”

 

A different voice spoke to me. “Every computer knows that it can be hacked. Only humans are arrogant enough to think otherwise.”

 

Behind me, two missiles shot from the roof of the target and blew a hole in the guard rail in front of me. In quick succession, my doors locked, and the wheels turned hard right. As I stared in horror, my accelerator hit the floor.

 

“Have a nice swim.”