Benjamin Eubank

 It was a cold night that Simon Dash died on. If only he had known sooner that he would die this way then maybe he would of done things differently. As it was though, Simon died with nothing to live for. The day started out like any other day. As Simon awoke, he turned over to wake his wife, but seeing that she was already up he got up and went to the bathroom. Emerging some time later, and considerably happier, he walked out into the kitchen and sat down. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed that his wife was sneaking up on him with a gigantic box. Not wanting to ruin the surprise he ignored her. Then she burst out "Happy Birthday", and gave him a big hug. Upon opening his birthday present, he found a new V.R unit, and a card, which read: Thanks for being the best husband in the world and Happy sixtieth birthday. Tears welling to his eyes, he gave his wife another hug, and then went to the bedroom to get dressed. After eating breakfast, he yelled to his wife that he was leaving for work. This was his last year working for Micro-server, a famous company which conceived ways to prevent the over population of the human species. As he waited for the car pool to take him to work, he took a look around and sighed. He couldn't believe that in just fifty years the world had grown to twelve billion. Being born in nineteen eighty-six, he had watched the world slowly kill itself. Looking up at the smog filled sky, and hearing the sound of thousands of vehicle just on his block alone, he thanked himself for trying to solve the world's problems. Then the car pool arrived and he was whisked off to work. Twenty minutes later, they entered the city. The parked on the outskirts of town and waited for the speed bubbles to take them to their final destination, the largest building in New York City, The Micro-Server headquarters. "I still think since were executive that we should be able to drive into the city," he grumbled. But rules were rules for a reason. If any more vehicles tried to travel within the city limits, there would be more death and destruction that he wanted to be responsible for. Although it was not his fault that the city was so crowded, he always felt uneasy walking through those huge doors into the headquarters. It was really such a shame that they wasted so much space. Then the sound of the bubbles filled the air with an electric hum, and he stepped on to one and headed to the giant building in the middle of the city. Entering the building he was met with numerous happy birthdays and well wishes. Walking to the elevator he stepped in and pushed the seven hundred and fiftieth story. As the doors opened he noticed that something was different. For some reason it appeared as if the office, which was his, had grown empty. Walking to the main security officer, he asked what was going on. "The maintenance took all your stuff and moved it. They said something about you being a senior member, and that you would not need any of that stuff anyways." Very perplexed, Simon turned around and walked to the C.E.O's office. He walked though the glassy arches and entered the plush office. There, Bill greeted him, and explained that he was being moved to a bigger office since he was such a senior member of he company. Feeling more relieved, Simon then asked what he was supposed to do until they rearranged his new office. "Well, how bought you just take a couple days off, and then come back. Oh, bye the way, have you registered yet." Confused, Simon thought to himself, and then it his him. A couple years ago he had brought about the plan of E.V.A.C. This group, the Equilibrist Voluntary Acceptance Commission had been his brain child. It was given the right to end human life. The entire world had been given implants that linked their minds into a system. When a person reached sixty they had to register. If they failed to comply they were automatically sent to the penal colony on Mars. Also if you were found without one the same punishment applied. This way they ensured that all people were given equal rights. Since the United World of Nations had signed this pact only three thousand had been sent to the colonies. Upon having your name entered into the system you were put in a "Drawing". For every person born, a person died. A computer picked their number randomly, and they would receive a message that they had twenty-four hours to put their affairs in order. "I don't have to register, do I" Simon asked. Shaking his head sadly, Bill told him that even he had to sign up earlier this year. Its not big of a deal, Simon thought to himself as he pulled out his P.D.A, and went to the registration sight. Out of twelve billion people in this world what is the chance of me being picked. As he finished signing in, a little voice went off in his head that the EVAC had been started. Simon then went home, and told his wife all that had happened. "I told you it was a bad idea", she stated. Then he went to take a nap.Somehow falling asleep, Simon had the strangest of dreams. He appeared to be in a sewer somewhere. He was lying next to a gun and his wife lay before him in a bloody mass. He couldn't make out any other details except a little voice that kept repeating the same thing. "0011324 going offline". Then everything would go black, and he would start again. Realizing that it was a dream he forced himself awake. It was growing dark, and as he looked over at the clock beside him he saw that if was six o'clock. "I can't believe I slept this late. It's time for my birthday dinner. He hopped up and went to the bathroom. He looked into the mirror and examined his features. At sixty he was still quite a catch. His hair had never turned white, and was still as black as the day he was born. Although his hair was a little thinner than before. His eyes though still had the same fire and passion they did twenty years ago. He took some water and wetted down his face. Then he combed his hair. Satisfied with his appearance he went back out and into the kitchen to see what was for dinner. Suddenly a loud shriek went off. As he fell to his knees, his wife ran over asking him what was the matter. Then a voice sounded, and as he listened to it he grew numb and cold. How could this be happening? He had just turned sixty. Then all went silent. "What is it?" his wife cried out. Unable to answer in a steady voice he replied, " That was my EVAC implant. I only have twenty-four hours left to live." Then he fell silent. This had to be wrong. Such a well-respected man couldn't have this happen. For God's sakes, the system hadn't even been out for two years. "I'll be back honey, I'm going to the headquarters. Bill should still be there. I'll get this fixed, don't worry."Arriving at the building, he found it to be dark. Banging on the window, he was able to attract the attention of one of the cleaning robots. It opened the door, and he ran into the building and bolted to the elevator. Getting out on the floor he went strait to Bills office. He was there smoking a cigar. "Bill, you'll never believe this. My EVAC went off. We got to do something." Bill spit out his cigar and stuttered out "What". Then Simon filled him in. "I'm sorry," Bill replied. "I can't do anything. The choice is random and the mainframe is in a secure location even the president doesn't know about. Simon sank to the floor weeping. Then Bill walked over with a little slip of paper. Handing it over to Simon he whispered. "Here is the address of the guy who took out my EVAC. Do not tell a soul about this." Simon jumped up and hugged Bill. "I promise I'll make this up to you, I swear." Then Simon ran out of the building with a lighter heart. He looked at the address. It was only five blocks form here. It was in the very depths of the city though. He had always been warned to stay away form there though. Oh well, this is an emergency.Finally reaching the place, he scanned the area. He was in the most run-down area of the city. All the buildings around here had been demolished, but the UW had not cleared the area yet. Knocking on the door, he was greeted by a tall man wearing a white trench coat. "Come in quickly. Bill has told me about your problems. Hurry in before someone sees you." Simon dashed in. The doctor led him to a table and told him to lay down. Placing a gas mask over his face, he told him to relax and breathe deeply. Soon Simon couldn't move. He slowly sank into a deep unconsciousness. Before he went out, he thought he saw something. He couldn't be sure, but the person looked like the woman from his dream. Then all went dark.Waking several hours later, he sat up, and the doctor was leering over him. "Feeling better" the doctor asked. Then Simon paid him. It was more than he thought, over ten million, but at least he was still alive. He would have to go into hiding, but that was ok. He quickly made his way home.Opening the door he yelled to his wife to pack some bags. She did, and soon they had all there valuable possessions, and money together. Then having gotten all their personal items, Simon threw everything together into a pile and called a cab. Waiting for it he finally had a chance to think. He couldn't believe that he was a fugitive. He looked at the clock. It was almost six o'clock. He thought aloud, " I can't believe I was going to die in an hour. This is so absurd." Then another shriek went off in his head. He couldn't believe it. The voice had just said that he was in his final hour of life. The doctor had not taken the chip out. Filled with rage he ran over to his gun cabinet and pulled out his double-barreled shot gun. He called out for his wife. When she did not respond he went looking for her, but only found a wet Kleenex. He couldn't wait to find her. He had things to do.He quickly made his way down to the surgeon's office. Finding the door unlocked he barged in. There, standing in the middle of the room was his wife. "What are you doing over here?" Simon asked cautiously. "Come here, I have something to tell you", she stated seductively. Simon walked over to her, and she held out her arms. "What are you doing here?" he asked again. As his wife hugged him, he suddenly went numb and slid to the floor, dropping the shotgun. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a needle being removed from his neck. He couldn't believe this is happening. Then his wife went over and knocked on the back door and the doctor emerged. "Where's my money" she demanded. The doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out money. "Here is your five million. I can't believe you would do this to your husband."Simon started to regain feeling as a final shriek went off in his head. "There is one minute remaining", the voice stated. Simon forced his numb hands to respond. He was able to point the fallen gun at his wife, and then he squeezed the trigger. In one violent blast, his wife fell to the floor dead. She lay facing him. Then as the surgeon started to bolt out of the room, he was able to get enough motion to lift up the gun and pull off another shot. It hit the doctor in the throat knocking him down to the ground. Then the voice said "ten seconds. Nine. Eight. Simon slowly closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Four. Three. Two. One. Then all went black, and Simon went cold. As he slowly faded out of life a little voice beeped out "0011324 Is offline".