“That’s assuming that the Singularity hasn’t already happened,” said Victor. “And we’re not sentient virtual personalities inhabiting a simulation of… - Ben Aaronovitch

“Of course now I realize it was a telepathic compulsion.”
I was afraid to ask from who—but I had to know.
“From aliens,” she told me.
“Aliens?”
“I’m not mad, you know,” she said. “I’ve been sectioned. They put me in for four weeks’ ‘evaluation’ and at the end the top shrink calls me into her office and looks me in the eye and says, ‘you’re saner than I am—go away.’”
“Did you tell them about the aliens?” I asked.
“I may have glossed over some of the details,” she said.

I want assurances," said Zach.
"You can have my word," I said.
"No disrespect, Peter," he said, "but I don't want a promise from the monkey, I want it from the organ grinder.

The Daily Mail had the scoop but the media had caught the smell of blood in the water and twenty-four-hour news outlets were running the bulletin every half an hour, with a teaser on the quarter in case your attention span was that short.