He sat alone in the dark, watching the monitors in front of him without emotion. On the screens, he could see as the military slowly broke through all of his security defenses. He scoffed. Was this how it was all going to end? 

The “Einstein of the 30th century” killed by his own government, what a joke. He hated being called that anyway. Maybe after he died, people would see how much his potential was wasted and rename him as the “Alexander the Great of the 30th century. No no no, way too wordy. 

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw the military break past another one of his defenses. He was one of the most accomplished inventors in history. He alone revolutionized AI technology, bringing a stagnant field back to the forefront of innovation. Last month, this government declared war, and demanded that he help the war effort as a ‘loyal citizen’ should. 

Unfortunately for the government, loyalty was not really his thing. After being refused endless amounts of times, the kind-hearted leaders of this wonderful country decided that kidnapping was the best course of action. He was not going to let that happen.

He fiddled with the small grey sphere in his hand. For a thermonuclear bomb capable of leveling a city, it seemed pretty light. The monitors flashed red as the military broke through his final line of defense. Within minutes, they would find him. 

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

With a sigh, he looked out his window and took in the night sky for the last time. If he had tried to run, maybe he would have been able to see the stars for a few more nights. He hadn’t tried to run, though. He had been planning to, but as he looked for places to seek refuge, he realized that he had no one. No friend to look out for him, no family to support him, and no person that would truly miss him. 

“I wish I could do it over again.” He said softly. 

The door to the room was flung open, and a single soldier began running towards him. The soldier was a tall man, probably in his twenties. His equipment covered every part of his body and left him completely featureless except for his eyes. Maybe he had lost his goggles earlier, but no matter the case, the inventor could make out his inhumanly black eyes. 

“Doctor, please don’t do anything rash.” The soldier said in a deep voice filled with surprising sincerity. For a second, the inventor felt his determination sway, but that moment of weakness was promptly snuffed out. 

The inventor glanced once more out the window, looking at the stars for the last time. Then, the inventor activated the bomb. 

Everything went dark, yet somehow he knew he was not dead yet, but at the same time he knew he was no longer alive. ’How the hell can you be dead but not dead dude?’ The dead, but also not dead man, thought to himself. 

Then, a speck of light appeared in the darkness. That speck soon grew and grew until the endless darkness was now replaced with blinding light.

And then, the inventor was gone.