The Broadcast Awakens
One day in the 21st century, a mysterious channel popped up out of nowhere. If the algorithm recommended it and you clicked in, all you'd see was a pitch-black screen broadcasting nothing but dead air for hours on end.
People wondered what the hell it was and tried digging for info, but there was zilch. At first, the sheer weirdness drew a crowd of curious folks, but after it repeated the same crap over and over, their interest soured into frustration and disappointment. Curses like "Why the fuck is this garbage getting recommended?" flew as viewers started dropping off one by one.
Just as the channel faded into obscurity, forgotten by everyone... one day, the dark screen finally revealed its first new vista.
Everything was blanketed in white—snow as far as the eye could see. Ruins of collapsed buildings and debris littered the landscape, as if some massive white calamity had swept through. In a place that looked utterly uninhabitable, there appeared a stunning beauty who didn't seem of this world, smiling serenely, alongside a cute, innocent little girl.
After that, the two showed up several more times. The channel buzzed back to life with the mysterious scenery and the girls' presence, drawing eyes again—until suddenly, the beauty spoke.
"This broadcast connects the past and the future. The world you're seeing on screen is a distant future for you viewers."
No one took her dead-serious delivery as truth—not a shred of doubt. They couldn't help it; they were 21st-century folks. Video sites were flooded with endless concept streams, and AI tech had advanced to the point where seamless, hyper-real footage was everywhere. Some streamers were even jumping on the hot trend of "live role-playing broadcasts."
Surviving in a zombie world, claiming #1 in a gate-filled reality, fantasy realms... all sorts of setups. Viewers we'd seen it all, so they slotted this one in the same bucket.
"But what if she's telling the truth?" Bait like that got tossed around galleries now and then, only for posters to swarm and tear it apart just as intended.
Replies brushed it off with jokes or logic bombs. Even if the channel locked down info, started with a black screen, or nailed a post-apoc vibe with bleak urban ruins—it was all fake, nothing more. Just a stage for the streamer to entertain.
To viewers on the other side of the screen, it was a world with plot holes galore. Who'd believe a broadcast showing decades or centuries ahead was real? Absurd shit like that didn't exist in reality.
Hell, without the dazzling beauty and the kid's cuteness, it probably wouldn't have blown up like this.
The post-apoc world was back after a hiatus, and fans eagerly awaited what twists the beauty and the kid would bring. Blissfully unaware that the "fake" world they swore by... was utterly real.
*
I have no clue what time it is. Time's meaningless here anyway. It's just a deep night with stars overhead. The wind howls bitterly outside, but we're safe inside the building. Hope tomorrow morning's as clear as today...
Hope's bundled in her blanket, breathing those cute little snores in her sleep. The drone's powered down beside her, like it's sleeping too. Normally I'd be out cold by now, but today's events have my mind all jumbled—I can't sleep.
They didn't buy a word of it. Hell, even I'd have dismissed it as a joke.
The chat totally ignored what I said. If anything, they seemed amused, treating the whole broadcast like just another piece of content. I figured saying more was pointless, so I clammed up. Even if the drone powers back on, no plans to correct their view. Let 'em believe what they want.
Why? No reason to bother.
Whether those people buy my words or not, it changes jack shit for us right now.
Believing me wouldn't magically improve our lives. No sudden abundance, no food raining from the sky to kill our hunger. Nothing changes, so why waste breath?
Sure, I could hammer home the truth, give them a shot at averting this hellish future. No clue if altering the past would actually fix the present. Even if it did, my mind's made up. Changing the future means rewriting our fates here too. Some other me might live happily in a peaceful world, but I'd vanish. Worst case, Hope and I might never even be born. That's a death sentence.
Why the fuck would I do that? I'm no noble hero sacrificing for the greater good.
Oh yeah, Hope could read the chat a bit too... how? Nah, no need to overthink. Just accept it's happening.
Glancing at the drone, I sigh.
What a ridiculous world. Miracles before death, huh?
Neat encounter, but it doesn't fix the cold or hunger. Would've been nicer if it handed out cheat powers, food drops, fuel—something to make life easier. We're scavenging on the move, but how long can that last? Will we really reach Eden? Can the Kettenkraft hold out? Is Eden even real hope, or just a pipe dream?
I try shaking off the anxiety and gloom, but it's all worry, every day. We're living on a knife's edge. Like standing on sheer ice—though yeah, it's literally piled with snow.
"Yawwwn... Sis, you up?"
Hope rubs her eyes and scoots over, her body all limp from just waking. I can't help but smile a little.
"Time for bed now."
"Sis, whatcha gonna do with that UFO?"
"Huh? Why bring it up outta nowhere?"
"'Cause every time you see the UFO, your eyes get all sharp."
"Did they?"
"Yup."
Guess the drone's got me too twisted up for poker face.
"You hate the UFO, Sis?"
"Not hate, exactly. Just... complicated."
"If you hate it, we should ditch it."
"Hmm~ You say that, but your face says otherwise."
"Well... it was kinda fun. Thinking about leaving it behind feels a bit sad."
"I see..."
No toys, no games in this boring-ass apocalypse. That drone might be Hope's first plaything ever. No wonder she feels attached.
Useful? If we're counting, nah...
It's gutted inside—no usable parts—and even powered on, it's useless junk. Sure, maybe mine the chat's knowledge...
Wonder if it'll pan out.
The info could help, but without tools to apply it, it's moot. Need B for A, but we've got nothing, and the world's full of scrap. No real use. And those viewers? They don't know squat about this era's machines. Today they were nagging us to hit up long-gone convenience stores and supermarkets.
Still... maybe the nostalgia hit, or chatting with "people" perked things up a tad...
......
"We'll keep it with us for now."
"Yay!"
Might come in handy someday. Better than nothing. Hope bounces back to bed, all chipper.
"Hope."
"Yeah?"
"It's... nah. Nothing. Go sleep."
"You wanna say something, Sis."
"Nope."
"Liar. You always do that when you fib."
Kids' insight hits different sometimes. Spot on.
"Later... I'll tell you later."
"Okay. Say it when you're ready."
I watch her head off, then slip outside for a bit. More snow piled up. Streets pitch-black, no lights anywhere. Chilly as expected.
Thought that hits every time I step out post-house: Am I doing right by her?
She's Grandma's charge. My only family. I have to get it right. But this world's got my resolve shaking constantly. That's why I couldn't ask Hope straight-up.
Look up—stars everywhere. The world's one reliable show. Beautiful every time.
"Eek! Freezing. Better crash inside."
I shiver and head back in. Hope tomorrow's clear too.