Short Stories

2 - Teleport

I finger the crisp, blue bedsheets, not sure what to do with my hands because my cowardly self still won't dare to reach out and touch his fragile hand. The Justice tell us every day in the news that the controlled ends are punishment for some unpardonable crime the victim committed. I never imagined Great Gramp's name would appear on that list, he hasn't done anything wrong. He should be rewarded for bringing me up alone, God knows, I was a handful!

This cannot be right. I should be weeping and listening to his last words, or have I already missed them? No, surely not, his chest is still rising and falling as he sucks in shallow breath after shallow breath. The thought of missing his last words galvanises me, I pull myself together and stand up quickly. My skull, crunching into the synthetic nose of a motor 6 nurse, sends the chips installed with alpha 3 algorithms - that will discontinue Great Gramp's life - flying.

The nurse was going to finish him off... but I've delayed it - I hold back a smile - the Justice don't like their plans thwarted. That's when I notice his eyes flutter open for a few perilous seconds, wasting energy I'm not sure he has. The clatter must have awakened him. With a deep breath, I bend down and whisper the two words, 'Thank you,' in his ear. He surprises me by speaking in a hoarse growl, 'Use whatever means to make sure they don't end you too.' I don't understand, but it is then that the nurse comes back and ruthlessly inserts the deadly chips into the machine hooked up to my Great Grandfather's delicate mind.

I listen to the recording of his words to me as the addictive image of his body being shut down is broadcast to my thalamus over and over. I'm already half way home on the shuttle before I realise it's probably a good idea to delete the file, the Justice could easily access any of the files stored in my brain.

I have to scan my finger at my door three times before it finally opens with a hiss. I step inside. Musty walls, covered with holograms of beautiful beaches I have seen much too many times, greet me as I step through the relaxation room and notice a red light on the teleporter. I reach in and collect a letter, it is from the Justice, asking to meet with me to discuss 'an important issue', telling me to come alone.

I suddenly realise what Great Gramps meant, they're coming for me, too.

I squeeze inside the teleporter, fully aware of the warning label NOT SUITABLE FOR TELEPORTATION OF LIVING OBJECTS, and tap the button that will whisk me away.

Slightly confusing story, I guess... But then again, how are we supposed to understand how the world will work in a century's time? (Not that I deliberately tried to make it hard to understand, it was just difficult to write with the word restriction)