Machete Girl Issue 8.4 Cyberpunk Short Stories

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Flagella unfurled, coating her hands
in a kind of fur. Jeffery’s eyes stared
up unfocused, as he lay limp beneath
her. She placed her disabled hand on
into the 3DP Printer in the kitchenette.
one side of his skull and then put her
corporate oligarchy because they plant
A malnourished form, on the bed
other on the opposite side. The flagella
a flag on it, and then post a guard? I
disappeared into the largest VR helmet
penetrated his skull like two handfuls
think not.”
she had ever seen. The kitchenette
of grass boring through either side of
was dirty and covered in garbage
head. Each flagellum wove itself deep
“We wouldn’t have the
from what appeared to be months of
into his neurons. Her vision faded until
technology, medicine, and luxuries we
neglect. Months? Could he really have
she floated alone in a white space, with
DO have if it wasn’t for that corporate
been here that long? She approached
a healthy version of Jeffery, both of
oligarchy,” she said, defensively.
the skeletal form and examined the
them naked. He appeared to be in his
servers. Hundreds of blinking lights
early twenties, with some muscle defi-
“We are inside a massive
bathed his pale skin in color, shifting
nition. His eyes were a brilliant green,
structure made of identical rooms.
from moment to moment. The bed
no longer glassy. His black hair was
We are allowed to spend a night rent-
side table was covered in plastic toys
now clean and close cropped.
ing one of those rooms from them,
of the characters that populated the
a transient home. Allowed to explore
wall’s posters.
“Jeffery, do you have a final
our dreamspace comprised of their
whisper for this world?” she said,
approved content. Do you think our
She holstered her gun and
embodied in her own younger vision of
corporate paymasters live in one room
stepped behind the servers. With
herself, complete with green hair.
spaces they can’t even call their own?
her knife she severed several power
Do you think they restrict themselves
cables in one swipe. The body on the
“Who are you?” asked Jeffery,
to politically correct virtual fantasies?
bed convulsed. She stepped out from
no confusion in his voice.
Do you think they deny themselves
behind the server bank and up onto
anything? We need a more egalitarian
the bed. Kneeling on the bed over him,
“Your executioner.”
system.”
she pulled off the helmet. Glassy eyes
stared up at her from sunken sockets
“You’re too late. The corpora-
“And you think yours is better?” she
flanked by matted black hair. Facial
tions took away our lives a long time
asked, raising a green eye brow.
Recognition confirms target: Jeffery
ago. We walk these bleak corridors in
Thomas.
dead subservience,” he said, looking
“Yes. We need a more open
around him as if they were standing in
society, and part of that is access to
“Well, not quite what I was expecting.
the Los Angles Arcology, rather than
information. It’s time we redefined the
Jeffery Thomas, you are sentenced to
floating in an equally dead, white void.
dialogue and create a truly free culture.”
termination for conspiracy to distribute
Vehemence burned in his eyes.
copyrighted materials.” A blast came
“You have been charged with building a
beneath the covers. Her left arm went
massive piracy network. You steal from
“Your vision is noble, but
limp, dropping the knife. The blade
the creators of that content. What do
people are too greedy for a system like
sunk into the floor and stopped at the
you have to say for yourself.”
that to thrive,” said Whisper dismis-
hilt. With her good hand she crushed
Jeffery scoffed, “That content
sively.
his wrist. Pulling back the covers
is everything. It is the collective knowl-
revealed a broken hand holding a 3DP
edge of our species. It is the food we
“We are brought up in a world of the
MACHETE GIRL ISSUE 8.4
pistol. Add printing illegal weapons
to the list of charges. Blood soaked
into her jacket and she could feel its
warmth travel down to her finger tips,
dripping onto the bed sheets. Whisper
pulled the glove off of her flaccid hand,
and then with effort raised her bad arm
and removed the glove from her other
hand.
eat. It is the clothes we wear. Those
creators are not the ones who receive
compensation; it is the distributors
through their printers and VR headsets
who are stealing from everyone. Does
the entire universe belong to the
greedy for the greedy. They just need
a chance to see a different world.” His
eyes locked with hers, unwavering.
“I honestly hope your utopia
emerges, but today you become a
martyr to your cause,” she said, allowing
a kind smile to hover on her lips for
a moment.