Write to Rank: 2023

Green Belt: Enduring Eternality

My grandmother's cybernetic heart sat on a pedestal between us. On the other side, white sheets rested on medical beds with black straps to hold us down. The crowd of thousands erupted in cheers that slammed into me like tidal waves. Normally I'd bask in the spotlight, but today I hated the heart, the ceremony, the crowd. I wanted nothing more than to never turn a day older.

"Welcome to the 31st of May's cybernetic enhancements ceremony!" The announcer's voice boomed through the center of the city while he skipped on robotic legs with red lights.

I much preferred my grandmother's. Green lights ran from her silver legs up to her metal cheek bones. With sixty-nine enhancements, my grandma had it all: metal hands, implanted blue hair implants, even a robotic eye. I once strived to be the same.

"This year we're blessed with Lila Chromium who is today's oldest participant," the announcer boomed. The crescent moon grinned like a god laughing at its subjects. "Her granddaughter, Kailee, will receive her sixteenth enhancement. How wonderous they're climbing toward greatness together."

The crowd roared, lights from their enhancements illuminating the city like glowsticks. I wished to be far away. Or at least as carefree as the families sitting in the darkness backstage. I could sense my mother's robotic purple eye trained on us.

"Mrs. Lila, any words for those striving toward where you stand today?" The announcer's elbow squeaked when he jutted the microphone toward my grandma.

"Remember your roots." She stood upright, forced by her cybernetic spine.

The announcer's eyebrow rose before he flailed his arms wide. "Exactly. We must praise the great President Rhodium. 180 enhancements and counting. A true hero for all of Yanden."

My grandmother's smile slipped slightly. I was likely the only one who understood her words' true meaning. I glared at the heart on the pedestal.

~ ~ ~

The cybernetic heart pulsed as if it couldn't wait to be inside my grandmother's body. The doctors dressed in white came with empty expressions. They weren't the focus of attention; it was a birthday celebration after all.

I couldn't break my gaze from the heart. Even when the doctors took my grandmother's vitals. If only if the heart wasn't there, she wouldn't have to go through with this. She wouldn't—

"Would you like pain medication?" the doctor asked her.

The announcer began the chant, "Endure!"

The crowd didn't hesitate to continue. "Endure!"

Tears whelmed in my grandmother's green human eye. Anger whelmed within me.

"Endure!"

I always admired those who said no, but then I witnessed the agony of my grandfather's screams four years ago.

"Endure!" My mother's purple eye shone brightly in the darkness.

"Endure!"

"No thank you," my grandmother stated. Only I heard the fear that laced her words.

The crowd bellowed praise. My metal nails dug into my robotic hands. I thought of her strapped down, screaming, seizing, dying.

I pushed the pedestal. It thudding onto the stage while the heart screeched against the ground. The crowd gasped. The announcer quieted. The doctor's brows furrowed.

My grandmother's expression never faltered. She bent down, picking the heart up. Pieces of metal fell to the ground.

With each piece, pride swelled within me. Without the heart, they wouldn't cut her open or force her to be more robot than human. She would live another year and we could talk about the sun, the world, and everything that was so, so wrong.

"Such a shame." The announcer sighed. "Does the family have a replacement?"

My grandmother stepped forward. "We do not."

I didn't understand why her tone was so solemn. Because we'd lose our prestige? It felt worth it to have my grandma live one more year. Afterall, now we were safe. I'd get my shoulder enhanced and the day would be over.

"Doctors, please resume," the announcer said. "For Mrs. Chromium."

The crowd erupted into cheers once more.

"What?" I asked.

I looked at the announcer, at the crowd, and then finally at my grandmother. I didn't understand until I saw her. She held her broken cybernetic heart in her metal hands. A gentle smile swept across her face.

"Please lay down," the doctor said.

The crowd applauded when the doctor tightened the black straps around her body. My head pounded while my heart sunk deeper and deeper into my chest. What had I done?

A doctor patted my shoulder. "We've opted for no pain medicine. Come this way."

The sheets were cold beneath me, and the straps dug into the parts where I still had skin. I stared at the large screen hanging over the stage, featuring our operations. I not only heard the screams but saw every moment excruciating pain etching itself in the familiar crevices of grandmother's face.

~ ~ ~

The day after my grandfather died, I snuck to the third floor of my home. I was worried how my grandmother was handling the death. After all, each hour it was broadcast on the news. They focused on the cybernetic heart failing to pump his blood while he seized and the black straps held him down.

While everyone was asleep, I climbed the metal stairs. The sun shone in the windows brightly. I squinted, avoiding the rays while recalling the stories of cybernetics failing from the heat of the sun. It would be better if the giant ball of fire never existed.

The door to my grandparents' room was already cracked open. I didn't even take a step in before my grandmother's voice rang out.

"Kailee, come in,"

"How'd you know it was—" I pushed the door open. My grandmother sat on the window seat; the blackout curtains pulled open. There was something beautiful about the bright sunrays shimmering alongside the green lights that ran through her body.

"Sit next to me." My grandmother patted a seat, safety in the shade. I crossed the room, staring at her glistening cybernetics. Was she trying to malfunction?

"Doesn't it hurt?" I asked.

Her jaw clipped open when she let out a laugh. "There's so much you'll never know," she sighed. "We didn't always sleep during the day, you know. Nor did we cut ties with our humanity."

She wasn't wrong; I didn't understand the words. Her blue robotic eye and green human one peered into me. It was as if each side of her face was a different person entirely.

"Tell me, why is it that we remove the human parts of ourselves?"

"So we live longer?" I answered but was certain it wasn't the response she was looking for. "And so we function more efficiently."

"And what do you suppose would happen if we all stopped getting enhancements? With no more false celebrations, we could go back to our roots."

"What do you mean?"

It was all too confusing.

"Sorry, little one." My grandmother stood, pulling the curtains closed. The familiar, comforting darkness seeped in. My eyes began to adjust once more. "It's about time we both went to sleep."

Word Count: 1171 words. 

Prompt: 1.2k words - Sci-Fi and Action Mashup.