END OF FILE

[ END OF FILE ]

> _

[ MANUAL OVERRIDE DETECTED ]

[ LOADING SYSTEM… ]

> ACCESS FILE: FAM_SUN

> INITIALIZING…

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ AUTHENTICATION REQUIRED ]

[ ENTER PASSWORD ]

> _

> …

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ ! ! ACCESS DENIED ! ! ]

“Come on, now. Don’t be like that…”

[ ENTER PASSWORD ]

> _

> …

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ ! ! ACCESS DENIED ! ! ]

“Dang it!”

[ SYSTEM LOCKOUT INITIATED ]

“What? A lockout already? No, come on, don’t do this!”

He began to mash on the keyboard, striking any key that may restore the computer to life. But, nothing would work. The green vanished and all that was left was a black mirror of a screen. The dense humming, the roar of a dozen little fans, the rattling of metal components, and the flapping of loose papers; all began to cease, one by one. Then, nothing. Nothing remained but the flickering of the little light hanging over him. Until, it too, ceased. The room became a black space. Darkness challenged only by the sunlight creeping in through the shuttered windows.

He buried his face in his damp hands, feeling the sweat pour from his forehead. The whole room smelled like heat and ammonia. His mind was racing and bombarded by the world’s reappearance. Odor and thirst and false light suffocating the space around him. So stifling that he must have not heard the door open or the footsteps across the floor. He nearly leapt out of his seat when he heard a rapt knock on the wall, and he turned to face toward the doorway.

“Eh? Doc? What are you doing here?”

“Came to pay ya a visit, is all,” he said. “How’re ya doin?”

He had turned back to face the computer, gazing into the screen. He traced his finger along the trenches between the keys, wiping away the dust and sand. “Fine, I guess.”

“Ya guess, huh?”

“I’ve just been having problems with…”

“Lookie, Greene? Why don’t ya take a break, son?”

“You want me to take a break?”

“Sure, why not? I brought some drinks, you know? Ya look drier than a church pin-up!”

He smiled. “What on earth is that supposed to mean?”

“Who knows? Come on, now! I’ll let ya have the first pick.”

They moved their way to the dining room, where there was little else but a trio of old dining chairs around a round table. Two of the chairs lay on the floor, and the other was piled up with rags, soaked in oil. The doctor seemed to stare at the rags for a moment before going to pick up the chairs on the floor and arrange them against the table. Their legs sheared against the dusty floor. Waving away the warm and stagnant air, the doctor moved toward the window and pushed open the shutters, letting the light flow through the darkened space.

Greene shielded his eyes. It could not have been so long since he had last seen the sun. Yet, it may as well have been lit just outside his house. He squinted and faced the floor as he moved to sit at his table, drumming his fingers against the edge. The doctor took the opposite seat from him and produced a pair of cans from the confines of his coat. He set them on the table and slid one across to Greene, who caught the can before it could tip over.

“I’ll let ya open it up yourself.”

“Thanks.”

Greene took a can opener from his pocket and punctured a hole in the lid, before slicing around the top and creating an opening for himself to drink. He took a sniff. The red liquid only smelled like old fruit. Or rather, the artificial smell that seemed like fruit. He took a drink. It was sweet and syrupy. Even with the can, it tasted like it had spent days in the sun. Still, he drank until he had drained the can halfway.

“Good, huh?”

Greene lowered the can from his lips and sighed. “Yeah, that’s real good. Is that cherry?”

“Cherry and pomegranate, I reckon,” Doc said. “I hear they’re putting in syrup now, with the fruit. Some folks are having horses and cows over it, but I reckon it tastes fine.”

Greene looked toward the open window, seeing the orange and cloudy sky, and the boundless desert facing upward. “How’d you get out here, anyway?”

“Took my Saracen!”

“Just for me?”

“No, not really,” Doc said. “I had a few other calls to make, ya see? Ya just happened to be the last on my list!”

Greene hummed, swirling the drink in the can. The juice had stained the tin a dark red. For some reason or another, it was beginning to make him feel sick. “Is that all?”

Doc cleared his throat. “No, I’m sure ya figure this ain’t just a social call.”

The change in his voice caused Greene to look up at him. His face had grown grim, and he was wiping the lenses of his glasses with his shirt collar. Something he only ever did when he was nervous. Greene felt his heart race, rattling like the computer.

“What do you have to say?”

“Ya have to make it so hard? It’s about your-”

“Yeah, I know,” Greene said. “It’s about Ma.”

Doc sighed. “So ya know what I’m going to tell ya.”

“I just need more time, Doc.”

“She spent her whole life on everyone else but ya,” he said. “And still, ya like t-”

“She’s still here. Quit talking like there’s nothing I can do!”

“Greene, son…”

“No! Look, it’s the heat, and the memory,” he said. “She can’t…she can’t be running on all those old parts. But, if I can just get in, I can download what I need. I just need more time, I’m telling you.”

“Look, Greene. Ya have been going at this little spat for years, now. Don’t ya think it’s time to let go?”

“Easy for you to say! Your parents are still alive!”

“None of us are going to be alive if we run out of water! Do ya realize how much water this fix of yours is taking up? How much power? We’ve tried to tell ya time and time again, and each time I gotta drive down here. That ain’t fair to everyone else now, ain’t it?”

“I don’t care. I just need to see her again.”

“Greene…”

He heard a drop fall into the juice. Water swirling around in the syrup. He put his hands to his cheeks and felt the tears. He hadn’t even realized he had been crying. Pressing his fingers around his eyes, he tried to stop himself. When that failed, he simply covered his face.

“You can’t shut her down.”

“And I’m not going to,” he said. “Not yet.”

Greene looked up. “So, you’re letting me keep her?”

“Don’t get yourself mistaken, Greene. I drove down here to shut this whole place down, believe it or not. But, I’m inclined to give ya a chance. For old time’s sake, eh?”

He tried to force a smile. Greene did not return it. Both watched each other for an uncomfortable moment.

“How long?”

“Ya got tonight,” he said. “Ya hear? One night. I’ll be back same time tomorrow to check in.”

“Thanks, Doc! Thank you! One night’s all I need, I swear!”

“We can’t keep doin’ this, Greene. We got a whole community to run, not-”

“Not just myself, I know. The sun doesn’t revolve around the Suns,” he spat. “I’ll get it done, Doc. Promise.”

“Ya do that, now. Have a fine rest of your day.”

The doctor donned his hat and left. Greene sat still, listening to his footsteps, the humming start of his car, the tires upon sand. Then, nothing. He was alone, again.

One night. One night was all he needed. One night and he could make everything good, for himself and for his family. All would have to succeed or all would be lost.

The afternoon came and went. It wasn’t until the evening when the power came back on, and once he got to work, it would not be on for long. With the time he had spent in the darkening sun of the afternoon, he had written out his plan. It would take some time to turn on the computer, and he did not know how much it, she, would remember. If he was locked out again, he was finished. There could be no mistakes. He would have one chance. One shot before he lost her for good.

No, he could not lose her. Not when he was so close. Not when he had been trying for so long.

It was time. Greene took a deep breath and stepped over to the computer room. He watched her for a moment. Still and silent. He needed her to speak. He didn’t even need the download. All he needed to know was that she remembered.

He stepped over to the power terminal and flipped on the levers. One by one, everything came to life. The lightbulbs flickered on. The fans began to roar. His notes and papers began to flap in the wind. The computer began to rattle with life.

Finally, the screen flickered on. Green bars filled the black space. A green sun flickered in the right corner, twinkling as the system booted.

Greene smiled and took a seat. He flexed his fingers and rested them on the keyboard. One chance. No mistakes. It was time to see her.

“You h-hear me, Ma? We’re going to do this.”

[ LOADING SYSTEM… ]

> ACCESS FILE: FAM_SUN

> INITIALIZING…

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ AUTHENTICATION REQUIRED ]

[ ENTER PASSWORD ]

Greene could shut his eyes, make the world as black as her screen once was. But, when they would open, not if, he would have to face her again. Still, he would love to see her. Still, everyone would see her gone. If only he would let them.

“Alright. I need you to remember, Ma. Please.”

He wiped the sweat from his brow and began to type out the words. The password repeated in his head, again and again. Each letter appeared before his eyes. One chance.

> _

> S

> U

> N

> F

> L

> O

> W

> E

> R

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

“Come on, Ma,” he murmured. “Please work. Please.”

[ ! ! ERROR ! ! ]

“Huh?”

[ USER NOT FOUND ]

“What? Oh, no. No, no,” he whispered. “You can’t be forgetting already.”

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ AUTHENTICATION REQUIRED ]

[ ENTER PASSWORD ]

He began to jam out the letters of the password again. Sunflower. It was so simple. He had seen it every day. More than everyday. Even in his dreams the word appeared. Between every waking moment. It was all that connected him, in that moment. Even as it quickly slipped from his fingers.

> _

> S

> U

> N

> F

> L

> O

> R

Greene was typing so quickly, he hardly realized his mistake before moving onward. One mistake and one chance was gone forever. He felt his chest sink and his skin begin to sting, as if it was constricting around his body. No, he could not fail now. She could not lock him out again.

“No. No! Damn it!”

He could not delete what he had already typed. All he could do was continue forward. Greene entered the password and braced himself. He could not think of the worst. Not now. It could not have all been for nothing.

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ ! ! ACCESS DENIED ! ! ]

Greene waited for the lockout. For the computer to shut off and for the power to die. To hear all the essence of the work of his past five years be drained before his very eyes.

But, it was a message that never came. He was staring at the screen. How wonderful it was to see that message again.

[ ENTER PASSWORD ]

He took another deep breath. It felt like it was the hundredth he had taken that day. He still had another chance. One more shot. He could not fail. She would remember. He knew she would.

Greene settled his fingers on the keyboard, making sure not to press too firmly. He was watching the screen. The blinking bar just before the password, still yet to be formed. He would need to type each letter individually. As slow and methodically as possible, as careful one could be.

> _

> S

> U

> N

> F

> L

> O

> W

> E

> R

“Alright,” he said. “Alright. Looks good. You better remember, Ma. You have to. This is our last chance.”

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

He was chewing on his knuckle, feeling his throat strain as it threatened to close with grief. There was no telling how much she would remember. If she would even remember. It had been years. Years within another universe, locked between dust and light. No, this would work. Years could not mean nothing.

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

A painful moment dragged out. He did not blink. He watched the screen, watching the green sun flicker and the dots travel.

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ ACCESS GRANTED ]

Greene could hardly believe his eyes. So much so that he did not even cheer or smile. His breath had been forced from his lungs and all of his body was seized by shock. It worked. All that time and it had finally worked.

But, something was wrong. He knew there should be more, far more than a black screen with a single line of dialogue. He had not seen it in years. Everyone in his family who would have known had long since moved on. But, he knew there should have been more to see, even just a welcome. The file could not be empty.

> _

> HELLO

> …

He watched the screen. Nothing more to do. Nothing more to do than wait.

[ ! ! ERROR ! ! ]

[ ! ? 3RR033R ?? ]

[ FATAL EXCEPTION: 00000000]

[MEMORY N01 3R84NF]

[ CR1ITIC3L F45938 !!>????]

[NULL]

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ██ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ████ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ████ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ██ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

> _

[ HELLO ]

Greene breathed. Just a single breath. He could not believe it would work.

“Ma?”

> HELLO

> _

> IT S ME MA

> GREENE

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ GREENE ]

> YES

[ ! ! ERROR ! ! ]

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ ?! GREENE ?! ]

> YES MA

> YOUR SON

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ MY SON ]

The computer began to rattle. He would not have much more time before she would lose power, even if she could still remember. The universe she belonged in was trembling as if held captive by an earthquake. The fans were shrieking and coming loose. The papers were beginning to fly. It was over, he knew. He could initiate a download sequence. He could try to save whatever he could. He could rip her out and preserve this moment for any amount of years he would continue to live, just to see her say hello and say his name, again and again. That would be the culmination of his life. That would be the result of all these years of himself and the lives of his family.

Or, he could let her go.

The thought alone would have been unthinkable just a moment ago. Unthinkable when all the memories of his mother had become bridled by tubes, wires, and screens. One or two words could have seized him. Three, and one being his name had set the decision firmly in his mind. All that could doubt him now were his own nerves. But, with each moment that he looked upon the blinking green, flashing from that dark space, the doubt diminished. Better she fade away now, then fade from his mind forever.

All Greene could do was smile. His only support for his newborn decision. Something born in his ancient chest that he would have denied had he any time to doubt himself. When he closed his eyes, he saw nothing but the darkness of her screen. When the power vanished, so would she. But, with him, she could not face the end of her life.

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

[ ! ! FATAL SYSTEM ERROR ! ! ]

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

[ SHUTDOWN INITIATED ]

[ SYSTEM WILL HALT IN 3 … ]

[ MANUAL POWER CUT INITIATED ]

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[ END OF FILE ]