Wednesday 6 June 2012

Hell

A Brief History
by John Xero


2033: Purgatory, a prison for the criminally insane, is built in the asteroid belt.

2190: After the Asmodean uprising, Purgatory is sold off and renovated into a casino and pleasure hub; among its patrons, many of its former inmates.

2501: Purgatory sees the last stand of the Abaddon Syndicate against the Holy State.

2699: Long-deserted, Purgatory is the launch site for the Apocalypse Missile. The station’s artificial intelligence, S’Tan, now six hundred and sixty six years old, watches the unquenchable flames of the expanding sun consume the Earth. S’Tan is still laughing as the fires reach Purgatory.



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13 comments:

  1. Larry Kollar6 June 2012 at 16:13

    Amazingly clever. That's all I can say about it.

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  2. Peter Newman8 June 2012 at 08:24

    Given how AI always turn against us I'm amazed we're trying to build one. Do scientists not read SF?

    Neat story btw. I think you got away with S'Tan...just ;)

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    1. John Xero8 June 2012 at 18:02

      There's a real heavy prevalence of AI in the knew David Brin novel, only part way through it though, so yet to see if it all goes horribly wrong or not... ;)

      Thanks, Pete. =)

      Verging on Stan, isn't it? More of a doddering old Satan... ;)

      Delete
    2. John Xero8 June 2012 at 19:00

      "knew?" What? ¬_¬

      Delete
  3. mazzz_in_Leeds8 June 2012 at 13:22

    Bringing purgatory home, where it belongs!
    I agree with Larry, this is clever

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    1. John Xero8 June 2012 at 18:03

      Thank you, Mazzz. =)

      Keeping the home fires burning... ;)

      Delete
  4. Jen9 June 2012 at 10:05

    Well you would go a bit crazy, after all that, I think. This is a very interesting version of hell. I wonder what comes next?

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    1. John Xero10 June 2012 at 18:11

      Nothing good. I guess that depends on how far out among the stars humanity managed to get...

      Thanks, Jen. =)

      Delete
  5. Steve Green9 June 2012 at 18:18

    Is it me, or is there a kind of poetic justice in this event?

    Purgatory, a hell of a name, a hell of a place.

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    1. John Xero10 June 2012 at 18:10

      I think you may have just struck on the tagline for the pleasure hub there, Steve. Devilish... ;D

      Thank you. =)

      Delete
  6. K.L. Coones9 June 2012 at 21:11

    I find this type of micro fiction extremely hard to do. Hats off to those who can pull it off like this, well done!

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