3024 Anno Domini
An object narrative from the future
The haul I am carrying is heavy. When I did the inventory after they loaded it on me, I listed medical supplies of all kinds and baby formula for the infants. Meanwhile, here I am two hours in the journey needing to do a lot of calculations in my head while trying not to drop any of my precious cargoes.
My journey was supposed to have been mapped from start to end but the strength of the raging river in front of me was the unknown variable because the storm started pouring half an hour after I departed from home. Now, I am calculating and trying to assess the next best route to my destination. As I await for the results, I try my best to stay under the sun to keep my batteries fully-charged. I am so grateful that the storm has passed and those dark clouds that were hovering above are now gone.
“Route-Change Completed. Destination locked”, the tiny display in front of my right eye flashed. I get up to do a quick body scan before heading to the South.
Out here in the wilderness the world feels so different, with nothing but the sound of the river I just left behind, the rustling of leaves as the wind blows past them, the occasional howling of some animal somewhere, and my footsteps over earth, stones, and grass. It almost feels like there is no pandemic killing millions around the world.
A thousand years ago, in your current time, someone like me was met with doubt and fear. In the year 3024 A.D., at the height of the 67th pandemic that hit since the previous millennium, we bring the only hope for those like you. I know everything about you but the most curious part is, you will never know the full extent of what I define as me.
My name is Atlas. Around the time the first variant of the COVID-19 virus devastated mankind, our kind emerged. Some called us robots with generative artificial intelligence for a brain.
Today, in the rural communities where I serve and where I am headed to right now, people refer to me as Dr. A.
👁️ What do you foresee happening in the future?
🔄 Restack and tag me to share your answers.
💬 Comment on this post so we can start a conversation.
We had a creative exercise at work and the innovation prompt was about using sci-fi to solve the world’s problem in the year 3000.
Whew, I love where this prompt took you. I've been a bit fascinated with iterations of Atlas since reading Jeanette Winterson's retelling of the Atlas story in a short novel titled "Weight." I should reread that.
Very interesting read Jen!!! Will this be the start of an series🥹