"The world reached its technological peak in the year 2163. Resources are now scarce for technological advancement and our digital computers have reached their final and maximum upgrade. Many theorists and philosophers believe that the world will stay stagnate for centuries to come. They believe a war will spark---"
What a bunch of bullshits is this person saying? Wews, how could a war happen right now without human resources at all? Many soldiers and a lot of equipment were lost 3 years ago you know.
Ohhh you there. Yep, you. Sorry, I am your mentally ill character who is now a retired soldier from the last war. Welp, I was assigned 8 years ago---
"Hey Estre, are you listening to me? Why are you even watching the television? I thought you ain't interested in the news nowadays?"
Ohhh come on, I was about to introduce myself. Welp as you heard, my name is Estre. Estre Luck. The one sitting beside me is my best friend name Rick Nio. He is a programmer and I won't lie, he is very good at it.
"Oiii Est!!! Are you ghosting me right now? I know you have some sort of trauma but geez, don't be a burden in my house."
"Geez, shut up, I was introducing you and me to the readers you know. Now you ruined the atmosphere" I answered with a sigh.
Now that he mentions it I have a trauma of some sort, but I can't remember it to be completely honest with you.
"I am going outside Ricky, I want to see how grey the world is right now"
"Okay then buy the groceries for me please, too lazy to go outside" he replied with a disgusting smile on his face.
"Fine, fine, fine. Is this all the list?" I answered quickly because this is typically my job at his house.
You guys might think I am the burden in his apartment but no, it is the other way around. I am doing all the housework that you guys could think of and this dude will just sit in front of his monitor for whole days and nights. Welp, I am staying at his apartment so I actually don't mind doing them but still, this dude is getting on my nerves lately.
"Yeyeye, that is all the groceries you need to buy, oh by the way bring my EC with you"
By the way, this EC he's talking about means 'Electronic Cash'. Today's era doesn't use those paper money or some sort due to lacking resources that is why EC was invented and used by all people.
I got outside of his apartment and started walking towards the nearest store. What a depressing environment I lived in. There are a lot of houses, apartments, and buildings yet no people are using them. 8 years ago, I was assigned as a troop soldier for the United Countries of the West, or USW for short. A lot has happened during the past centuries to the point where countries are starting to merge or connect so that their people would survive. At last, most of the western countries agreed to unite thus becoming one country. The same also happens to the United Countries of the East or UCE and the United Central Countries or UCC. The UCW consists of North and South America and 40% of countries inside the continent of Africa. The UCE consists of Asia, Australia, and 60% of countries inside the continent of Africa. Lastly, UCC consists of all European countries. After a year I became a troop soldier under the UCW, and a war was declared by the UCC on UCW. UCE is luckily a neutral country which is why they didn't participate in the war as long as we won't touch them. The people of UCW don't know any reasons why the UCC attacked us suddenly but we, the soldiers, were tasked to protect the borders between the two countries. Many people died during the war and the results are devastating. From 13 billion global population turned into 6 billion in 3 and a half years. With this damage, both countries stop attacking with the fear the UCE will attack both of us if the war was prolonged any longer.
"But still, I can't even remember myself when I was on the battlefield, my doctor said that it was just a mental trauma but for some reason, it doesn't sound convincing" I talked to myself quietly under the grey clouds.
The scenery in front of me is the byproduct of the war that happened 3 years ago. There is still radiation everywhere which is why I am currently using a gas mask. Most buildings are now ruined, and the roads are empty as if no one was living here 3 years ago. As I was looking at the scenery around me, I had already reached my destination. If you are expecting some sort of fancy grocery store in your mind then sorry to disappoint you but it doesn't look like that at all. If I were to compare it with something, then it would be those ATMs that I saw in history books during the 2000s. I stand in front of the machine, click the groceries on the screen, scanned the EC at the machine, and whoooosh. Done.
I know it is kinda anti-climatic and you might ask how will I get my groceries. A delivery robot would deliver the goods to our apartment. Because I use the EC of Ricky which has the data of his address here, the task is now accomplished.
I was about to leave when someone was looking at me. Wait no, 'something' is looking at me. I don't know if a spy robot is spying on me or if it is just the surveillance drones flying on top of my head but my instincts told me it was the former. The moment I confirmed the direction where I was looked at, I ran in the opposite direction. Rule number one when a spy robot is spying on you, run. You can't win against these metal creatures because they have built-in ninja-type techniques which are hard to comprehend. Heck, they look like a black ninja when I saw one during my military days. As I run through alleyways and debris, I stopped because for some reason the robot stopped following me. Then I realized, I was surrounded by people in military uniforms.
"Well shit, I serve this country for almost 5 years and this is what I'll get. With all due respect, why I am being arrested right now?" I talked to provoke them but sadly, no one answered.
"Well, well, well Estre, I am very sorry I can't answer your questions but please cooperate with us" as I heard the familiar voice, I saw his disgusting smile as he look at me. Ricky is with the soldiers.
"Oiii, what are you planning to do, I am very confused right now," I asked.
"Don't you have any common sense Estre? Or maybe I should call you Est? Nah never mind, Estre will do, I didn't even treat you as a friend. If it is not obvious enough, we will be arresting you under the violation of invasion of another country." He answered.
Huh? Rather than answers, I found myself full of questions but 'invasion of another country? I didn't invade UCC and UCE after the war---
For some reason, I felt many ants bite different parts of my body and I fell. When I tried to look up, I find myself lying on the ground with 5 to 6 electric guns attached to my body. I can't move an inch and my body is shaking.
"Don't worry Estre, just sleep for a while for me?" Rick told me those words and after that, I was knocked down unconscious.