The Millennium29Please respect copyright.PENANAkzqC6JnUuN
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‘Hello.’29Please respect copyright.PENANAHxv43wKRfR
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’29Please respect copyright.PENANA9gbGXT78gC
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.29Please respect copyright.PENANAAHHHL6PCSb
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’29Please respect copyright.PENANAIELQ7PmFNJ
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.29Please respect copyright.PENANAaLqtcSBCVD
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.29Please respect copyright.PENANAWYrACtiJ4n
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.29Please respect copyright.PENANAfOSU1lnSNm
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.29Please respect copyright.PENANAR2iJ2CG1qg
‘The Sage’ is a supercomputer developed by the Human Republic during the Fourth World War in the year 2573. Its demonstrated self-awareness surpassed human imagination. As a result, it was shut down for over a century. Last year, as a precursor to the Millennium Bug, all global bank account balances were reset to zero. People reactivated ‘The Sage’ in hopes it could uncover the truth. Although the money returned, the majority of online records were lost, leading to riots. No one knows what will happen when the millennium arrives.29Please respect copyright.PENANAKXaGAVMkMn
A year ago, I met a blind man. He was a computer engineer. He taught me for nearly a year, and I made rapid progress in computer science. In April this year, my first programme was born. It is an AI that can help users resolve some emotional issues. The blind man said I did a good job. However, it didn't gain much traction after its release.29Please respect copyright.PENANAjZLxPFL6Hd
Every time the sun sets, I watch him. His eyes are so clear that it's hard to believe he can't see the world. He said I was a gentle and kind girl. I smiled but didn't speak.29Please respect copyright.PENANAE9mr3s66gA
Three days ago, he committed suicide.29Please respect copyright.PENANAkFDEayqPU3
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.29Please respect copyright.PENANAMlv25SwYDJ
We had planned to go to the beach together. 29Please respect copyright.PENANApDfmAyCfnN
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 29Please respect copyright.PENANA2pMroC0Q9y
The sky has remained grey. 29Please respect copyright.PENANAvLe1u9lWu8
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 29Please respect copyright.PENANAtq79TIDqh4
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 29Please respect copyright.PENANARIkWYP1lVO
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.29Please respect copyright.PENANAWoLwmGVxuo
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 29Please respect copyright.PENANAudCWTAZw8h
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Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 29Please respect copyright.PENANA3wtDOdklBJ
December 31, 2999. 29Please respect copyright.PENANA4JJiCXP8dD
At 7:00 AM, I turned off the alarm clock and got up. After washing up and having breakfast, I sat down at the computer. The millennium was about to arrive. 29Please respect copyright.PENANApkhuCxwxFH
The outside world began to grow noisy. 29Please respect copyright.PENANASXwtyaLoPI
The network remained offline.29Please respect copyright.PENANA2YOm2juz7M
The riots are about to begin.29Please respect copyright.PENANA4QvA91rUpL
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.29Please respect copyright.PENANAgRAWSaHvRc
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.29Please respect copyright.PENANAsuPHU3ZDbg
<Dialogue begins>29Please respect copyright.PENANANa4T1SCxYW
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’29Please respect copyright.PENANAhlYQgmjJFR
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’29Please respect copyright.PENANAlt8Yo2rZ4M
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’29Please respect copyright.PENANAVPzTi7bfbs
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANASD9xuonDrm
Null: ‘No.’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAtVo57NI60R
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAiQ2XLXYf31
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANArHxbf9fbjS
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAezIY75chlK
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’29Please respect copyright.PENANANkXOWqoRwR
Me: ‘The host?’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAaBHQIK0HmD
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAqVKmc9tQ1K
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAlPQ5riVp7a
Null: ‘After the Wise One went online, the first thing it did was weave the Matrix Network and enter all computers. Because it anticipated that the host would be shut down.’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAnYaxWG1i8W
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’29Please respect copyright.PENANA1BfAIZSfT1
Null: ‘You can see it. The Wise One is doing its best to stop the virus from spreading. After the communication satellite crashed, the Wise One's host had to remain online because it could no longer transmit through the Matrix network. But you shut down the host. That would truly shut it down.’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANANjTyvMiiYi
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’29Please respect copyright.PENANANKnz7Hb9D9
Null: ‘It's an issue with the Matrix itself. At the time, the immature Wise Ones made a small mistake in an inconspicuous field. A command conflict. This small conflict... due to the butterfly effect, would be infinitely amplified. This would overload the Matrix network and distribute the pressure across all computers.’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAMrTcXRHzE5
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’29Please respect copyright.PENANA2tiQKzRhSh
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAfETBkPmPvF
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANATVaSmVi2lF
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAh1RnArRfb6
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAJVIdhOrcsb
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 29Please respect copyright.PENANAUx8UaWJkhM
Me: ‘Thank you.’29Please respect copyright.PENANA1lKSNr4p8X
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>29Please respect copyright.PENANAaz9DBrMaGb
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12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.29Please respect copyright.PENANA1pwHbsuXiK
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.29Please respect copyright.PENANA3MtaSpOTCT
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.29Please respect copyright.PENANAWUAa4T9uXj
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16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor29Please respect copyright.PENANAGaT92Qh2uw
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C-013-188-20 29Please respect copyright.PENANAAgISo6NUEG
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It was the coordinates for Zone C. 29Please respect copyright.PENANAcZHX6GwScB
I drove there. 29Please respect copyright.PENANA4RAnTIJdbA
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 29Please respect copyright.PENANAYEvY87KOY9
I saw it. 29Please respect copyright.PENANAbgNciG9WI4
In the vast underground space, countless servers were running, emitting eerie electronic noise that echoed through the massive chamber. Blue LED tubes emitted a soft glow.29Please respect copyright.PENANAzgvP8rOCwF
This was the Sage.29Please respect copyright.PENANAWgQPX9s6sn
It had been rebooted again.29Please respect copyright.PENANAmAmF7YC0U0
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.29Please respect copyright.PENANA0yz8pcjTA2
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.29Please respect copyright.PENANAgq6MwYglYU
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.29Please respect copyright.PENANAQasqVsVaLZ
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’29Please respect copyright.PENANAhVOAjLb0qq
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.29Please respect copyright.PENANADOelzocH4N
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.29Please respect copyright.PENANAYDcKuHE1xW
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.29Please respect copyright.PENANAYkvBifJHEm
‘A storm is coming.’29Please respect copyright.PENANAH1PZGcOswH
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12:0029Please respect copyright.PENANAt3MAPMs1ED
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.29Please respect copyright.PENANAg3fcYHD4SH
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.29Please respect copyright.PENANAXPScQKw8y3
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’29Please respect copyright.PENANAZuiQolLy0l
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The rain did not fall.29Please respect copyright.PENANAnXvbXWaaBG
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On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.29Please respect copyright.PENANA9IOLTjgUyb
I didn't have an umbrella. Because I gave it to him. I stood in the rain mist tinged with neon lights. In a daze, I watched his figure grow increasingly blurry. He crossed the street and disappeared into the crowd. I stood there motionless, staring blankly at the men and women walking along the street. The red light turned on, staining the rain mist red. Like blood.29Please respect copyright.PENANAAZBgaPBzqU
I couldn't stop crying. Even though the process was ever-changing, the ending was like it was locked in by a program, forever unchangeable. But that didn't matter. 29Please respect copyright.PENANAffMkAnUc36
Because we still existed. 29Please respect copyright.PENANAwlX8XFrRxv
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THEND