Flash!Mob: Into the Future

By Sixth Element Publishing

Another book, written and published in a week...? Why not! This time inspired by Teesside's TechNExt Festival and a super key note speech on Emerging Technologies by Kate Baucherel, our call out for tiny stories was very much a 'Go Wild With The What IFs'. What if... AIs become sentient? What if... we have to evacuate the planet? What if... robots take over? The future is not far away, and our wonderful writers consider what could be just around the corner. We hope you enjoy...

Featuring stories by Ross Young, J. S. Collyer, Aiden Darlow, Kate Baucherel, Marie Lightman, Ben McQueeney, Aitch Nicol, C.G. Hatton, Fred Johnson, Lisa Lovebucket, Amy Wilson, Liz Tuckwell, Sarah Leppington, C.K. Roebuck, Davia Sacks, Carianne Woodward, John Holmes-Carrington, Scaramanga Silk, Reino Terihmen and Dan Hoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sixth Element Publishing
• Release date: Jun 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215721612

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Book preview

1

NPC BY ROSS YOUNG

A lonely light bulb flickers overhead. The administrator steeples his fingers, elbows on the table top. He glares over his fingertips at the figure opposite.

I can explain.

I’m sure you can. Before you do, let’s listen to the recording.

The administrator straightens his tie, tugs at his cuffs, then reaches across the table. A smirk lifts the edges of his mouth before he presses the play button on a dusty tape recorder. The spindles turn and the spool of tape begins moving.

Um… no?

"No? Don’t be ridiculous. This server isn’t full. I hate this pay to play rubbish, but I have paid."

You’re a little confused-

Are you an NPC?

That’s… complicated. I suppose, technically, I am a non-player character but that’s because this isn’t a game.

Ugh. Pause game.

You can’t pause.

Enter help screen, contact customer services.

That’s not going to do anything.

"Oh, right, ‘Elvira, call customer service’."

This is awkward.

How are you still talking? Have I been hacked? Oh God, you’re one of those hackers, aren’t you? Please don’t wipe my EXP, I’ve had this avatar for years. Do you want bitcoin? I’ve got bitcoin.

You were plugged in, weren’t you?

Weren’t?

"Look. You’re dead. Like, dead, dead. I’m Death, the big sleep, the bucket kicker. If you follow me, I’ll show you the light at the end of the tunnel."

Can I respawn?

I’m so sick of this.

Where are you going?

Just keep playing.

The administrator sighs when the tape stops. Well?

Well? Is it any different from the way we were doing things before?

You’re suggesting we move the afterlife to some servers in the mortal realm?

They’re all in it anyway.

…you’ll be unemployed.

I can retire.

…I’ll need to run this upstairs, Mr Reaper.

Please, call me Grim.

2

CAFFEINE LOW BY J. S. COLLYER

Good morning, sir. Welcome to Metro Central Coffee Outlet. How best can I meet your refreshment needs?

Harry opened and closed his mouth a few times, palming the laser-gun in his pocket.

I can recommend the half and half synth-vanilla and hazelnut-infused skim latte, on offer today in our 12% on Tuesdays deal, when you purchase a protein muffin or bran bar. Have you a loyalty card?

Uh…

"I am also authorised to inform you that we