They lived above the clouds, far from the germs and messiness they’d lied and cheated themselves away from. Luxury abodes with multi-dimensional holodecks immersed them in fairytale landscapes, where things were flawless. Blossoms never wilted; butterflies immortal. Crystal springs gurgled and the insects never bit. Lovers always smiled.
When the virus hit on the planet they weren’t worried. Social distancing had been their privilege for decades. The Overlords’ sky abodes were linked to each other in a wagonwheel configuration, all joined to the Platform. The Platform was the umbilical cord of life to the Overlords. Water, food, drugs, medicine, electricity, wifi, etc. all rose through the pneumatic machinery of the Tube under it. The hum of it throbbed like a heartbeat.
One morning they woke to silence. No one left and no one came on the bare platform. Now facing reality, they felt alive.
Sarah is today’s host of dVerse. Sarah says:
For this prompt, we ask you to write a piece of flash fiction in 144 words or less, including a quotation from a poem. This week’s quotation is:
No one left and no one came on the bare platform.
— from Adelstrop by Edward Thomas
Tao Talk 
I love a bit of sci-fi! I think the bubble has popped. I’d love to read more of this story.
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Thanks, Sarah.
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I wonder how it would feel to feel so sated… maybe you wish for the virus to come in the end.
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Very imaginative JadeLi. The futuristic upgrade to celebrities gated communities.
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Thanks, Len! Glad you “got it.”
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Great story Lisa. I thought your ending was going to be panic and pandemonium!
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Maybe that’s what’s next? Or maybe a quiet acceptance…
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Sounds like sheep to the slaughter!!??
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They are trapped in a device of their own creation. Maybe they’ll find a way to survive.
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I like your positive imagination!
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The sky is certainly not the limit for your fertile imagination. There’s a Sci Fi film out there called ALETA: BATTLE ANGEL that uses a similar premise. Some religions look at Heaven that way.
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It’s a common theme in sci fi and anime. Where this differs is there are no sky ships to get off and no means of communication for a rescue. Who knows, maybe the earth dwellers simply got tired of their sh*t and pulled their plug.
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This is fantastic Lisa.
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Linda, thank you!
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interesting fantasy but it was Tom Hanks and his wife who were first infected here … sometimes they have to venture out and then the bubble bursts! Great write
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Tru dat. Maybe some will try to rapel down the tube… Thanks, Kate.
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you totally cracked me up … as an ex-speleologist I somehow doubt that, but with your imagination anything is possible 😎
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lol
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I think this may be very close to reality for many of the 1%. Not sure they remember how to feel alive though…(K)
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You are probably right, K.
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someone popped their little bubble, it seems … Nicely painted!
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🙂 Thanks, Na’ama!
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I love these journeys you take me on Lisa! What a fun story you tell! 🙂
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Happy to oblige, Christine 🙂
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OOOOH! What an imagination!! Felt like a prologue to a dystopian novel!
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You never know…
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aaaah…
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🙂
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Wow! The rich may adopt this as a way of life in future. I like the idea of a wagon wheel configuration.
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You can bet they will, if we don’t exterminate ourselves first.
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That is some imagination Lisa…that was creative. I mean “wagonwheel configuration” and “multi-dimensional holodecks immersed them in fairytale landscapes”… great job Lisa.
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🙂 Glad you enjoyed the tale, Max, thank you.
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Intriguing story. I am impressed when others can make up imaginary worlds. Well done.
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Thank you, Ali 🙂
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If being alive is knowing vulnerability then they now know life. good thing too!
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Insightful comment, Petru, thank you.
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I enjoyed your science fiction ‘utopia’, Lisa, ‘above the clouds, far from the germs and messiness they’d lied and cheated themselves away from’. Who were these liars and cheats who left everyone else to die? I can imagine… Serves them right.
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Thank you, Kim, glad you enjoyed the story.
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A story according to the gospel of change. Bravo
Easter Blessings
Much🌼love
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Gillena thank you for reading and your wonderful comment ❤
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