3023 The D-Day
Category A: Highly Commended (2023) Monash Short Story Writing Competition
Author: Shreya Kalani
It is the year 3023, The Earth is a barren wasteland. The great war, which ravaged over one thousand years ago, devastated the Earth, and left nothing of it. To survive, humans had to migrate to Star 18, where a new species rose, a mortal like no other, a mind faster than a thousand computers, a physique which human athletes dreamt of, and the grim reaper never appeared knocking on their doors. These extraordinary beings were known as droids.
Next came, humanoids, acting as interpreters between the humans and droid. They are a mixed breed between humans and droids. They are not as smart as droids, nor possess immortality.
Lastly there are humans, who have now become slaves to the droids, their job is to grow crops for the food pill. They have no civil rights and are forbidden to express their opinions. Lest caught inciting a form of rebellion, humanoid officials will take the person away, the fate of the alleged criminal unknown.
James woke up, in the same cubicle, same bed and same drab grey uniform, he has known for life, but not anymore, he and his friend Anne, had been working hard for the past 6 years, devising a plan to overthrow the droids and bring back the regime of the old world, where humans where in power. Today was the D-day, where his and his fellow comrades’ fate was determined.
He brushed his brown hair with an unnatural fear spreading through his body, he took a minute to look himself in the mirror, he saw his green eyes and wondered whether this was the last time he would see himself alive.
Looking at his cubicle with a finality, he locked his front door. On the way to their secret headquarters, he ran into Anne, her bright red hair and brown eyes holding a certain sobriety which worried him. Everything about Anne, even in her drab grey uniform screamed of happiness. He could see she was holding back tears.
“You know, you don’t have to do this, Anne.” James said trying to reassure her.
“I must do this, to give my brother, a better life than I had.” She said with a certain determination blazing in her eyes.
They headed to the headquarters and addressed their fellow rebels. “This maybe the last time you see us alive. In case we are caught, bomb the headquarters, and declare us as traitors.”
He and Anne snuck in the Headquarters of Star 18, they knew they had to enter the Computer Chambers and destroy the CPU, to kill the droids. They successfully snuck in and were on the verge on destroying the CPU, when two humanoid officials came in and arrested them.
For eighteen months, they were tortured brutally, and in the end, they were released with their memories wiped.
Few months later, while walking around the city, James bumped into a red headed stranger with twinkling brown eyes, and a sense of recognition flashed in both their eyes.