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Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Strange Sci-fi Tales #11 - Out [#78]

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            Out of time and out of luck he sat in the corner of the space station, bathed in the warm glow of a nearby star. The heat was unbearable, and it only grew worse as the station drifted closer to the star. The man was alone in the station, his only companion was the star. Not even the machines on the station functioned, the computers were fried and the robots melted. There was no chance to save himself now. He wondered what chain of decisions lead him to such a horrific fate, but his mind was too clouded by the heat to recall.
            The man forced himself to his feet and slowly walked to the far end of the station. He walked and walked until he could go no further. An airlock stood in his path and beyond that the vacuum of space. He placed his hand along the airlock and considered what to do next. His fate was sealed so his only choice now would be how. Would he silently accept his fate, or exit through the airlock and go out on his own terms? Neither option was attractive, but they were the only options he had.
            With a heavy heart, he opened the airlock and stepped inside. The interior door closed behind him, now only a single wall separated him and the outside. He hesitated for a moment as his finger reached out to the next switch. Regret filled him to the core, but the boundless heat behind him encouraged him onward. With the click of a switch the outer doors opened, and the man was bathed in light.
            The man stepped out onto a cold steel floor in an enclosed room. It was filled with lights, computers, and monitors. He was quickly met by another man in a military uniform. The military man smiled and patted the other man on the shoulder.
             "Congratulations," the military man stated, "most people are completely fooled by the simulation, but you saw right through it." The other man broke down into tears.
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When you escape a hopeless situation, it isn't necessarily a victory.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy
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