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Out Of Time
I jam the needle into the vein and squeeze the plunger. It burns as it goes in. I wait, and they watch me.
Finally, “Not dead,” I say.
“You’re a fool,” she says. “Now you will never see the Awakening.”
I pull out the EMP cannon. “Hold it right there.”
She just points. I follow her finger out the door to a derelict building across the street. A holosign is scrolling across it, with a bright orange countdown clock.
Fellsworth’s eyes glaze over and he topples, gazing benevolently upwards. I crouch by his side, shake him, feel for a pulse. It’s there, but barely—he’s alive, but his mind’s somewhere else. The TRUchip installed in the back left side of his skull is blinking green.
“Tess!” but she’s gone. Shit. I run out the door and leap into the seat of my jalopy, turn the keys.
A message blinks red on my dashboard terminal.
Bastards. I get out of the car and I run. The city’s deserted, and when I can’t run anymore I crawl up against a wall and gasp for breath. Somewhere off in the distance, I hear the dull whine of a police robot making its rounds, looking for resistance to this “Awakening”. It’s getting closer, but I’m too tired to move, so I just sit.
Around me people lie motionless, barely breathing, and all of them are looking up, up, to the gray and poisoned sky.
End
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A not-so-happy ending. Continue...