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Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Strange Sci-fi Tales - Right Place at the Wrong Time [#167]

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           The time machine worked. No longer would he be stranded in his backward time period that valued looks and wealth over all else. No, he’d be in a far future, where science would be properly appreciated, and technology would reign supreme. His mind raced with the possibilities of whatever marvelous future technology awaited him. And beyond that, what incredible new fields of study he’d be able to explore. It may have been a one-way trip, but it would all be worth it in the end.
           “What could possibly await me,” he considered, “fusion power? Teleporters? Faster than light travel?” His mouth watered as the potential wonders danced around his thoughts. “What am I waiting for? The future is now!” He leaped out of his time machine, right into the middle of a city. His plan was to appear dramatically in a busy city street. Then he would become famous overnight as “the man from the past.” However, he was not ready for what met him.
           No one, there was not a single soul around him. He landed in the city alright, it was massive with buildings that stretched into the heavens. Yet, the whole city was dead silent, with not a light to be seen, despite the fact it was the early evening.
           “This can’t be right,” he spun around in search of other people. “It’s not abandoned, these buildings look well maintained.” He could not locate a single soul, even though the city’s asphalt felt quite warm, as though it were abuzz with traffic mere hours before. Yet, there was not a car or vehicle in sight, not even an abandoned bicycle.
           “Did they all disappear in an instant?” He considered until he turned his gaze skyward. “Oh my,” he stared in awe as he witnessed a massive fleet of spaceships leaving the planet’s orbit. It was a beautiful sight, one he’d normally be ecstatic to see, but something about the event struck him as odd. “Why are they all leaving?”
           He looked around at the abandoned city again, then returned his gaze to the mass of interstellar vessels. A creeping sensation consumed his senses as a wave of panic washed over him. Suddenly, every shadow and corner felt hostile and alien.
“What are they running from?” He realized.

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If you look to the future blindly you'll stumble over unforeseen problems.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy
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