Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 - 2 | Page 127

Quantum Quagmire
St Stephen's College Preparatory School, Lau, Meagan - 9
In the 22 nd century, quantum computing and self-learning A.I. have reshaped mankind, the world seems like a very
different place. The air is clean and the skies are crystal clear. Well, as long as you are rich enough to stay inside the
walled cities, that is.
Milly and Marc aren’t so lucky. They live in one of the super slums that thrive on the rubbish discarded by the
wealthy. These places are filthy. Millions of people are crammed in together. Life is hard and short.
“I’m sick of rummaging through these piles of worthless junk, we haven't found anything valuable for days.”
“Would you just shut up? You know how this works? One good find will keep us full for weeks.”
Just as Milly was deciding which side of Marc’s face she was going to slap, she saw a curious box hidden
under some old computer parts, “Hey, Marc, take a look at this.”
Marc paid no attention, he was busy trying to pull an old iPad 68 out of a broken desk drawer. Milly pulled
out the box and read the official-looking writing on the top. “Property of the U.S.W. Government, Top Secret,”
she muttered. Without thinking, she smashed the two huge padlocks and opened the box. Inside it was a curious,
small pyramid.
Milly removed it from its protective case and held it in her hands. It was sleek and shiny, smooth as glass.
Examining it closely, she flipped it upside down to inspect its base. It was covered in small, round, grey buttons --
twenty or so. She started pressing random buttons, but nothing happened. She flipped it upright and discovered that
the tip of the pyramid was now pulsing electric blue. After a few more pulses, the light turned red and a blinding
white flash consumed the whole area! Milly and Marc were both dazed by the sudden flash. Suddenly, they were
stirred by the sounds of seagulls and people speaking Chinese. After a few minutes, their vision slowly returned. Milly
and Marc saw a huge, red, wooden ship right in front of them. They knew they were now in China, but everyone
was dressed in old-fashioned clothes. Then, Marc saw the black, shiny pyramid Milly was holding. He gasped,
“That’s an X15D, top-secret tech! Where did you get it?”
A man dressed in military uniform walked past and spoke, “Excuse me, I am Admiral Lee, who are you?”
Milly replied calmly, “Oh! My name is Milly.”
“How about the man over there?” pressed Admiral Lee.
“Marc? Oh, he is my husband and we have come from the future using this pyramid, I believe.”
“Can I borrow this pyramid for a second?” asked the admiral. Milly passed the X15D to Admiral Lee.
Suddenly, Marc rushed back to them, “Eh, excuse me, Admiral. May I ask, that ship, what is it for?”
“Ha! That ship is a treasure ship. We’re on a mission to find treasure on different islands.”
“Wow!” cried Milly and Marc.
“If you want to join us, come! We can all find treasure together, ” added Admiral Lee.
“Thanks Admiral Lee!” Milly and Marc bowed down to thank the kind admiral.
The treasure ship started to set sail on the enormous waves rolling on the vast sea. As Milly, Marc and
Admiral Lee were chatting enthusiastically, they heard a screech coming from outside.
“Arghh! Help me!” cried a crewmember.
“Hey! What’s up?” asked Admiral Lee.
The crewman stuttered, “A…a…a…a Admiral, there is a beast, it…it has caught one of our men and it is
still there!”
Then, the poor crewman burst into tears. Milly could tell that he was frightened and in a state of shock.
The three of them ran with urgency to the side of the vessel. Out of the deep blue sea, the beast rose. It was
a giant, with a horn protruding from its head, lifeless black eyes and rows of razor-sharp teeth. The beast was
covered in thick red scales that oozed with poisonous slime; it was terrifying! The admiral took out his gun and shot
the beast, it let out a deafening roar. The beast used its horn to defend itself, and then it rose out of the inky sea and
bit the admiral’s arm. Enraged, Milly grabbed a bow, locked in on the beast and fired a silver, pointed arrow directly
into the creature’s eye.
The beast was blinded, but it could still hear, feel and smell. With the huge sea creature left vulnerable,
Marc found a stick of dynamite. He lit it and threw it up into the gaping mouth of the monster. An explosion
engulfed the evil creature and destroyed it.