Just a little bit of blue

1.0 -beginning

Julius was a serious character. Working as a quant for the Griffon Consortium, he was in charge of the complex mathematical computations that go into the algorithms on the new ICS, the intelligent corruption scanner that the cyberbees use. They used to wear the V3.20 faulty ICS that allowed for the Boyazz scandal and led to his employer replacing Rangoon House as surveilance technology purveyors to the Earth Government.

(Image: Hüseyin Aldirmaz, Flickr)

As a well payed member of the ruling technocracy, he has always lived a life of comfort, distant from the slums that surround the center of New Constantinople, the two hundred something million people technological hub and capital city for the planet. He still couldn't believe the past two days. Hoping it was all a dream or one very realistic simulated reality gamepod, he continued to run along the Little Marrakesh bazaar as if his life depended on it. And it probably did, because the pain in his legs brought him back to reality and made him sure that this was no simulation.

The grimy walls and the floor full of litter were all new to him, as, in the Center City, all was brand new and shiny. Sticky mudbrick walls and the remains of the day's morrocan market brought him flashes of the newscasts that warned the Citizens not to exit the gates of the walled off, armed, compound where the elite lived, and of the reports of extremely violent outbreaks of rebelion that frequently happened in the outer cities. Hearing the buzzing of the bees drawing closer filled his mind with images of blood and pain, just like the ones he occasionally saw in the monitors of the company's security central.

Putting ever more effort into the run, he bent the corner to the left, his knees starting to break in pain, and he found himself in a narrow alley with no exit. Just a few more meters and he would be done for. He could feel the swarm getting to the bend as he grew near the end of alleyway. His chest burning from the effort made breathing difficult. He stopped and turned around, using his left forearm to wipe the sweat from the forehead. Looking around in panic, he searched for something to defend himself with. Certain death was on the way.

To either side of him stood two long grey walls with no doors, no windows, nothing to hang on to and nothing to hide behind. He could see the faint street light glitter in the metallic body of the first bee that entered the alleyway. Sweating profusely, he began to feel his heart thumping like a waterpump. Pam! Pam! Pam! His eyes set on the task of finding something to strike the bees. In the pale light that reached the end of the road he stood on, he could find nothing useful in sight. Wasted pieces of cardboard would do nothing against a swarm. Time felt like it was slowing down, as the flow of adrenaline reached the peak.

Pssst - he heard, breaking the spell of the adrenaline rush. He could see no one. He was sure he was alone. Pssst - again. He thought he was allucinating while he frantically looked around, trying to find the source of the hissing. Down here, man. Jump! - he looked at his feet. There was a hole where there seemed to have been a sewer lid. He hesitated. Jump already! - The voice demanded. stronger. - Come on! - it shouted. His eyes fixed on the bee that was an arm's reach of his nose, he felt the floor slip from under him, as he fell, feet down into the manifold.

• To be continued

Author's word: I am trying a new concept here, as I have never done this before. The idea is to write a novel, or, at least a very long story, in installments that can be read in a few minutes each. I hope you find it interesting enough to let me know that you are keen with the concept and throw in the occasional comment, so I know that the story is being appreciated and my effort is worth the trouble.
I'd like to know what you think of it, so far, and wish you all a good read.
Also, I deeply thank @wakeupkitty for the sponsorship that allowed me to publish this work so promptly. Thank you very much!

Julius will return.

Steem on!

15.01.25 - @hefestus

Disclaimer:
"Just a little bit of blue" is a work of fiction. Every event, character, planet, continent, country, city, street, building, corporation, institution and product mentioned in this work is totally fictitious and has absolutely no relation to reality or real events, persons, planets, continents, countries, cities, streets, buildings, corporations or institutions. Everything is derived from the author's own imagination and no AI products were involved in the planning, writing or revision of this work. Additionally, the story happens in the future, in a time that has not yet come, so, any considerations about the possibility of the occurrence of facts or release of products mentioned herein, in the years to come, are due to mere coincidence and in no way derive from the author's inside or 3rd party knowledge of any country, organization or person's plans to implement actions or release said products into the market.
Just to be clear: All that's written here is fictional and originated by the author's own toughts about what may happen to come in the unknown future.