Excerpt from Chapter 11 of 1000: Time Paradox

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We split up; I figured it was easier for us to scope out the charger and find it without getting caught. I wandered around for a bit, clearly not in the section that I needed to be in. I didn’t recognise anything on the walls or in the cases and the infographics were telling me about people I had never heard of. But I pushed on; maybe I would stumble upon it soon? There was probably some sort of interactive guide in the coms, but as I didn’t have one, it wasn’t like it would be any help.

I looked around at all the white objects, I couldn’t tell what half of them were or what they were for, but they were slowly getting more and more hardware based, still ahead of my time, but not from this integrated age.

As I walked, I found what appeared to be the first Death Machines. I looked through the cabinets at the prototypes, they were so elaborate, and I wondered how they even got them to the hospitals. The infographic behind me started talking about the design phase, about the idea; I wasn’t really paying attention, well, until I heard a familiar voice.

“We looked at what the system needed, what would create a better society. All we wanted was to wipe out prejudice, unemployment and just build a better global community. The first Death Machines promised that: once you knew that your death was predetermined and that what you did during your life wouldn’t change it, then ofcourse social barriers would break down. Who are you to judge a person for being gay or Chinese when you’re both going to die of cancer?”

I turned around and watched the woman talk. Of course, she was a lot older and she looked exhausted, but there she was, my little Maddy. My beautiful sister had grown up and found her place in society; gotten a job I was so proud of her for and contributed something phenomenal to the world.

I just stared, watching her talk about her amazing creation. I felt numb, I didn’t even know what to think or say, all thoughts of the charger had gone from my mind. I didn’t even take in anything she was saying, I was just so happy to see her, and know that she had done ok.

“JASOL! JASOL! Where the fux are you?” screamed Dean as she belted through the museum.

“I’m in here, dickhead” I yelled to her as I snapped back to reality. My face was wet and I couldn’t work out why, until I realised I must have been crying. I wiped my face dry as Dean ran into the room holding a charger.

“Look, I’ve got it, now come on we’ve got to get out of here!” She motioned for me to follow her out and I got myself together and scrambled after her. As we ran I heard security guards running through where we had been and I knew that we’d only just managed to escape.