Sci Fi
The World from Afar
This world . . . what can I say? Much has changed over the years since the technocapital singularity was realized. Businesses were subsumed one after another by exceedingly larger corporate entities that had the finance to invest in better, self-correcting machines, thereby shutting out the competition. This went on for quite some time until there were only three major corporations left, at which point they decided to merge together into a singular, all-encompassing superstructure known as Basilisk. This coalition had more power than anything like the UN, for it had all the money. Strangely enough, the governing bodies that sought to limit corporate influence were not only overthrown by finance capital interests, but were in-fact replaced by them altogether. Basilisk was now the global authority.
By Sayle Comito-Garcia5 years ago in Fiction
Mistreatment
The treatment was helping to smooth things out. Definitely. Since managing to snag the job at the Centre, JP had been taking the fine, powdery compound daily in order to prevent the ‘mishaps’ (his mother’s words) that had him in and out of Corrections on a regular basis. Everything was OK now, he said to himself, like a mantra, as he felt the tightening and warmth in his chest, the hard, nodular jaw muscles, and the sensation of choking in his throat. Anxiety, as he had eventually learned to name the ponderous, suffocating, yet confusingly fleeting creature. ‘It’s not the anxiety itself, it’s the way you think about it’—JP’s therapist, Mx Stakowicz, was nothing if not diligent about getting their points through, even if they sounded a bit like Therapy for Dummies. That was the problem with being smarter than most people, smarter than yourself, really. How did you trick the mind into believing it was OK? It was relatively easy to do with most people, since they were generally absorbed in their own reverie, and mostly just pretended to listen (yes, even paid therapists; maybe particularly the latter, actually, so jaded had they become, and so used to thinking in categories rather than relating to individuals). And most other people were just stupid, or generally unworthy of being interacted with. It made one question the guiding principles, and principals, of the Great Rebirth Plan promoted on every social media, wearable and legacy support (even the oh-so-precious and rare paper!) that could be mustered by the Board.
By Fionn MacKillop5 years ago in Fiction
The Butterflies
I couldn’t keep the tears from trickling down my face. “Micah!!!,” came waling out of me before I could bother to care who heard. The loud thud of my heart slowly faded from the ringing in my ears. Shiny spots blurred my vision, and the silent forest circled in to suffocate me. I knew that if I didn’t catch my breath and keep moving, I would suffer the same fate! I buried my head in his chest and whispered between forced breaths,”I will love you all the time and everyday.” I kissed his once perfect lips that would now turn cold and blue, and I retreated into the black of the night.
By Hailey Alexandria Baldwin5 years ago in Fiction
Rebooted
Have you ever found yourself staring into the cool abyss? The misty rush hits your chest as you peer through the organized chaos, hoping something will appear that you just didn’t notice before. The pastel blue light tries to soothe your despair as you peruse the shelves and pull open the drawers. Have you ever wondered why you do this? As if magically your craving will just finally appear. Either that, or you just settle. The weeks-old pack of hot dogs with a squirt of mustard didn’t sound so bad after all, you tell yourself. Yes, the oatmeal yogurt with cranberries that has sat long enough to curdle just a smidge is exactly what I was craving.
By Seth Adams5 years ago in Fiction
ERL Day
Good evening listeners!” The jovial voice exclaimed from the radio, breaking the relative silence in my family’s small studio apartment. “I hope everyone is has enjoyed their day so far on this Thursday Afternoon. It is May 1st, and you know that means! That’s right! It’s ERL day! We’ll have the mayor on here shortly to do the drawing, but before that let’s take a moment to remember all the sacrifices we’ve made and the importance of ERL day. Here to speak on that a bit today is Mayor James. Mayor, take it away!”
By J.A McAfee5 years ago in Fiction
Fixing the Tipping Point
Today is an exciting day for Bellamy. It will be his first time in The Connection. He runs into what seems to be a lab with white walls, white floors, and everything around him white. In the middle are two connection chairs quite big with a connection device hovering above them. "I am ready Professor Wood", said Bellamy. Oh is that so, well let's see. Why is the connection so important? It can help us fix our mistakes in the past and that way we can have a better future said, Bellamy. Very good! Bellamy, now how is the connection possible? A long time ago, men and women, even children got a neural link installed at the tip of the spine and this projected a screen in front of their eyes allowing them to see a perfect virtual world and not the one that's falling apart around them. There are pollution and radio waves in the air from the overpopulation of wireless towers. Something just flipped and there was a worldwide blackout. The scientists that invented the chip did not account for a blackout. All the chips were running off of the wireless power and people were told it would last forever. But, then it went out. It froze everyone in place. Their neural network compromised unable to eat unable to drink not that they needed it. They were far more advanced than eating a meal every day. Even though, all the people stopped decaying the Earth did not. It was almost past the point of no return when the blackout happened. With no one there to fix it the earth was doomed. That is why we must stay inside the shelter because being outside, there is nothing but a desert wasteland where the sun can scorch you in a minute. If the sun doesn't get to you the natural disasters will. From the tornadoes to the lightning storms, typhoons, tsunamis everything in the elements is trying to kill you. We were given hope for a better future with the connection. It would allow us to send our minds into the past and connect with the neural link of a person. As long as we're connected we can power it. Our main mission is to wake everyone back up and hopefully help them learn from their mistakes. Well said, Bellamy. “I guess you are ready”, said Professor Wood. Okay, jump up here says Professor Wood as he pats on the connection chair. It was a big white chair that laid back and at the head is a big machine with wires coming out the connection. Looking up he is nervous but excited. Everything will be all right Professor Wood assures Bellamy then he pulls down the interface and straps in Bellamy. Comfortable asks Professor Wood. Bellamy puts up one thumb then Professor Wood pulls the switch. His mind gets launched through space and time. With lights all around him, he doesn't feel whole. He feels like a million particles going at the speed of light. Bellamy gasps as he starts to pat himself down. He doesn't feel like he's in his own body. He lifts his hands and realizes those are not his hands. He’s made the connection with someone else in the past. Woohoo, Bellamy says as he jumps up in the air. Ha-ha, you did it said a voice outside of the room. “Who is that? Who's out there”, asked Bellamy? Professor Wood walked into the room not looking like him. It’s me Bellamy, Professor Wood don't worry I know I don't look like myself. This is Wendy she has four doctorates in microbiology, organic, robotic, and micro-robotics. Look at his right arm and tapping his wrist. Wow! This is Carlos he has four doctorates in computer science, biology, psychology, and zoology. Wendy, why did you pick these bodies for us said, Carlos? While the rest of the world was blind to the problem Wendy and Carlos both were trying to fix it. Wendy will be trying to fix it on the micro side and Carlos on a little bit bigger scale looking for ways to help with his hands. Ok, what's the mission today said, Carlos. The big picture is to wake everyone up, figure out what caused the blackout, and how we can turn everyone back on. After the blackout, no one was awake to feed their animals so once docile pets are now packs of hungry wild animals but that's mostly in a city. On the outskirts of the city, you have to worry about actual wild hungry animals not to mention the lightning storms. These are things you must watch out for. The blackout might have shut off the power but all that energy had to go somewhere. Other than that I think we're good to go. Professor Wood, I mean Wendy “why don't we just take the chips out of people's necks, asked Carlos ”? That's a good question, Carlos. Unless it's powered on removing it will certainly cause death but there are a unlucky few that won’t die. They will turn into something that isn't human. They will turn into an animal only wanting food but they are never full. I call them “The Awaken” they're only a few out there so we shouldn't have to worry about seeing them. If you happen to see them, disconnect immediately. You do not want to know what it feels like to be eaten alive. They travel in packs so if there's one they'll be more. Okay, we need to make our way to the checkpoint that has been set up. It’s halfway between where we are now and the power plant; it's Wendy's house. Let’s get going. As they race downstairs to the front door leading outside Carlos pauses. He has lived his life underground and has never been outside. He concentrates on his steps and takes a deep breath. As he takes his first step outside, he is looking up at the world with a smile on his face.
By Frankie Armijo Jr5 years ago in Fiction
Chaos Era
I knelt down quietly as the drone flew by the abandoned house. I was aware of how quiet they could maneuver and carefully opened the kitchen cabinet slipping inside. I fit perfectly as I hugged my knees to my chest and closed my eyes hoping the drone hadn't detected my movements.
By Crystal Clark5 years ago in Fiction
The Hall of Broken Hearts
How did we get here? My name is Prisha Essephranix-Takahashi. Our matrilineal family started in 2350. Our matri-name kin was much smaller than everyone else’s. Essephranix was a name passed down, mother to child, and was a name which could not be changed. It was odd being the matriarch of a kinfolk which was now just me, a family of one, parents dead. The year? 3001.
By Michael Johnson5 years ago in Fiction
My Moon
"Look Gigi! You can see the sun today!". The young girl pointed to the horizon, where behind a thick blur, a round yellowish orb lay suspended. "Ah! It seems that you can! What a blessing the universe has provided for us on this lovely solstice! Faraday, could you please hand me that ball of twine?". "Only if you promise to tell me a story!" Faraday bargained. The young girl giggled and spun in a circle with her arms outstretched. Her handmade linen skirt bloomed with the movement, revealing a vibrant purple morning glory hidden beneath the pleats. "Of course, my moon," Greta replied, "What type of story would you like to hear? A fable? A thrilling adventure tale? Oh! What about a love story?". Taking the twine from Faraday's hands, Greta began tieing lines between the tree branches, creating a parimeter around her humble woodland cottage. She hummed songs of times past as she worked, her time stained fingers still as nimble as they ever were. Faraday watched in admiration as her grandmother bustled around the property, never showing fatigue and always wearing a smile. As she worked, her sleeves slid down towards her elbows. Her skin was taught and knarled with scar tissue. Seeing this, Faraday looked away out of respect. In mere seconds her head was filled with questoins. Curiosity finally took hold. " I want you to tell me a story about you and Gogo. Tell me about the monsters that hurt you.".
By Annabel Lee5 years ago in Fiction
