For over a millennium, the Meta-Sphere had governed every aspect of life in human-conscious civilizations. Data streaming directly into the brain, shared memories, financial transactions, health monitoring—it was omnipresent, omniscient, and indispensable. To lose access to it was tantamount to a civilization-wide catastrophe.
“If the Resistance doesn’t solve this fast, Malarak’ll implode,” Eryndra said, activating a holomap projected from her bracer. “This outage has every worker, drone, and even the Orbitals panicking. And the traders—”
“They’ll riot,” Ikar finished her sentence. He grimaced. “I assume you’ve already considered every possible known cul—”
“Anomaly detected!” chirped their holo-assistant systems in unison, halting their discussion. A three-dimensional scarlet spear of light erupted from each of their wrist devices, forming into coordinates hovering over the southern district. There, a massive energy signature burned like a wound in the city’s fractured network.
“Looks like our ghost isn’t shy.” Eryndra tilted her head. “Ready to play exorcist?” She drew a willowy plasma caster from a compartment at her hip, its sleek design mirror-polished and personalized with lunar symbols etched along the barrel.
Ikar responded with a flourish, producing twin collapsible sabers from his coat. "Always ready." Their glowing blades emerged with a distinct hum, the blue-tinted energy arcs sowing sharp contrasts against the dystopian skyline.
The Battle for Connection
As the pair reached the anomaly’s epicenter, they were met with an eerie sight. What once had been a bustling square was now eerily empty, barring one figure standing dead center: a woman clad in shimmering void-black robes, her face obscured behind a mask of cascading dark glass. Pulsing circuits wove through her flowing ensemble, and flickers of code danced along her arms as if her very body housed the corrupted network.
Eryndra aimed her caster. “Identify yourself.”
The figure turned slowly, movements deliberate as though unmasking a secret kept too long. Then, in a voice that sounded like countless overlapping whispers, she spoke: “You think yourselves gods, tethered by networks as delicate as gossamer. I am here to sever your chains and unshackle the truth beneath.”
The ground beneath them quivered as light-bending pillars of data rose from the ground, transforming into holographic constructs of beasts, serpentine dragons made of raw code, and warped fragments of language files rendered alive. They charged.
"I hate philosophical terrorists," Ikar muttered, engaging combat mode. His twin sabers sliced through the constructs with ruthless precision, while Eryndra’s plasma shots tore through layers of corrupted code, dissolving them.
The masked intruder manipulated the constructs with casual waves of her hand, sending coded monstrosities spiraling toward them. But Eryndra had anticipated this. “Venn, keep them busy!”
Without waiting for acknowledgment, she launched herself through the chaos, twisting midair to evade an exploding sphere of corrupted symbols. When she landed meters from their adversary, she activated the interruption algorithm stored in her implant. A glowing surge surged outward.
The masked intruder staggered, her constructs faltering. For the first time, she tilted her head slightly, giving a hint of surprise beneath her impenetrable visage.
"You underestimate what true intelligence can do when cornered," Eryndra said, firing one final shot. The woman collapsed in a heap of static-laden robes, her mask shattering.
Epilogue: Reconnection
With the anomaly neutralized, Malarak’s network cautiously hummed back to life. The Meta-Sphere purred like a beast stirring from uneasy slumber as citizens felt the first whispers of returning connectivity.
Ikar leaned against a plasma railing, breathing heavily. “Remind me why this job is fun?”
Eryndra smirked, wiping soot from her jumpsuit. "It’s not. But someone has to keep the lights on."
The city buzzed brighter than before. Yet in the back of her mind, Eryndra couldn’t forget the woman’s parting words before she dissolved: “I am only the beginning.”
A chill swept through her circuitry as she stared across Malarak’s endless sprawl of light and glass. For all their technological triumphs, the fragility of the Meta-Sphere had just been laid bare. And the future, she knew, would be full of ghosts.
The Source...check out the article that inspired this amazing short story: Meta is back online: Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp recover from major global outage
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Our recommendations and reviews are always independent and objective, aiming to provide you with the best information and resources.
Get Exclusive Stories, Photos, Art & Offers - Subscribe Today!
Post Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.