Space Technology

He clenched the heart shaped locket that once belonged to his sister. He wore it around his neck as a reminder. A reminder that his dream job killed his entire family, but it wasn’t just his family’s blood on his hands. He remembers the look on his sister’s face, the screams of innocent people, and the anger that he felt.

Fifteen years ago, Riggs was offered a job as an engineer with Space Technology. This was a company that specialized in the future of technology and space. Kade and New Space, was their biggest rival. Riggs was the youngest employee for the company, he never imagined meeting the founder, Thomas Spence. Once Thomas realized Riggs potential, he offered the job and just like that, at the ripe age of 24 he was the head engineer. He was tasked with creating technology that could bring free television to everyone simply by using the satellites that Elon Musk sent to space back in 2021.

In 2031, Riggs was able to complete his task. He figured out a way to use Elon’s software and created a signal that smart TVs were able to sync into which ultimately created free television. When news broke about this signal, Kade was furious. He wasn’t mad at the fact that people had free television. He was angry that someone was able to use a software that he created for Elon, to create free tv. He was upset that he was not the one to create free tv. He decided then that something had to happen. He had to be the one that provided this free service, not some fresh out of college kid. So, he sat back, and he waited. Waited for the right time to cause Riggs demise.

Riggs was on his way to his parent’s house to have dinner. It was a tradition that every Sunday the family sat down and had dinner. It was a bit annoying, but he enjoyed spending that time with his little sister, Ember. As he pulled into the drive, he saw her signature fire red curls in the window of the house. He honked the horn to get her attention, and within minutes she was at the window, her green eyes shining like emeralds. He waved and made his way into the house. Rebecca was the first to greet him, there was no denying the similarities between his sister and mother. They both had the fire red curls, the green eyes, and the same freckle pattern across the face. While his mother stood at 5 foot, his sister was surpassing her standing about 5 foot 3 inches. She was the top runner on her track team, her athletic body kept her strong. Riggs was proud of his sister and what she was doing with her life, but he was a little jealous that her athletic ability was natural and his was…well, almost non-existent.

While Ember was the spitting image of their mother, Riggs was his father. Jason was about 6 feet, with the biggest brown eyes, he played football in high school and college. He could have made it to the NFL if he hadn’t met Rebecca. Story as old as time, they met and fell in love and had Riggs. Riggs was not as tall as his father, just under 6 foot. When he looked in the mirror, it was like looking at his father, the same brown eyes were staring at him, and that black hair never seemed to be under control. Riggs was more of a book worm than an athlete, but he did make it to the gym and got his work out in.

After his family greeted him, they all sat down to eat his favorite meal, home made chicken pot pie. His mother would make everything, including the pie crust from scratch. There was nothing like Rebecca’s chicken pot pie.

“Riggy”, cried Ember, “you said that you had something for me, you know I’m impatient. WHAT IS IT?” Riggs answered her question with a laugh.

“Emmy, can’t you wait until I get some of this pie in my tummy, I’m starving.”

Ember pouted but decided to just wait until he was done eating. He always scarfed down his food anyway, five minutes wouldn’t be long. They finished their meal in silence, enjoying every last bit of Rebecca’s hard work. “You out did yourself, Rebecca,” said Jason, rubbing his belly.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she replied, “Now Riggs, please tell us about work.”

“Well, as you know, I have created a signal that allows everyone with smart TVs to have free television…so as a present to everyone, I bought you guys the newest smart tv on the market.” Ember was the most excited as she was the one who really watched tv.

“Thank you Riggy, now I can keep up with everyone at school!”

Riggs nearly fell over when Ember lunged herself at him for a hug. He was happy that he could provide this gift for his family. They never were very well off since Riggs came into the picture. Once he was born his dad quit football and took a job at the local gas station while his mom stayed home to care for him and his sister. He always felt like he had to make up for his birth. His paternal grandmother would remind him that his father left school because of “the mistake.” His father often told him to forget about what she said and that he was not a mistake, but the only one who truly made him feel like he was not a mistake was Ember. He always cared for Ember, and she loved having him as a brother. On her 10th birthday he carved a little heart locket for her out of wood. He glued a picture of them so that she would always remember that he was there for her.

Jason was setting up the new tv telling Riggs that he really should not have spent his money on a silly television for them. Riggs just rolled his eyes reassuring his father that it really was nothing. Jason plugged in the tv and right at that time there was an explosion. No, not just one explosion there were many explosions, one right after another.

Riggs woke up feeling sore, confused, and his ears were ringing. He got up looking around and saw that his parents house, and most of the neighbors’ houses were destroyed. He immediately started looking around for his parents and sister. He found his dad near what use to be the tv, but he was gone, his hand still holding the plug. He started calling for his mom and Ember, while lifting debris searching for them. Then he heard Ember calling him, he lifted a bookshelf off her.

“Emmy, are you okay, what hurts?”

“Riggs, what happen?”

“I, I don’t know…something with the tv I think.”

“Riggy…it hurts.”

Riggs saw the fear and the pain in her eyes just before she closed them and took her last breath. He knew she was not coming back and started hearing the rest of the neighbors looking for their loved ones. He took one last look at his sister and took her locket. He continued to look for his mother and found her behind the couch, she too was gone.

Riggs snapped his eyes open, that was enough going down memory lane. It was time to get his revenge. Kade must pay for his sins.

*Flashback*

“Just do it, I don’t care if people die.”

“But sir, there are millions.”

“I don’t pay you for your opinions Striker.” Kade said, “I pay you to do the dirty work. I want you to push that button, and I want you to do it NOW.”

Striker gave Kade one more pleading look before he pushed the button. At first nothing happened, but then one by one they heard the booms. Kade gave a satisfied look as he watched the explosions from space.

Kade had discovered a way to make the free tv dangerous. He updated his software creating a special code. This code would cause every smart tv that synced with the satellites, to blow up. He figured that when the smart TVs blew up, and some users ended up as casualties, then no one would want the free tv and he would have his fame and glory back. He could come in and blame Riggs for not being safe, then he could take Riggs work and use it for his self, and in a couple of years he would relaunch the smart TV’s and free tv.

While Kade was imagining his success, he did not notice that the damage caused by the explosions also damaged all of the satellites. This caused a technological failure, and life as they knew it was over. Back in 2033, everything was converted to technology, it was easier to follow. Now, now everything was destroyed. Half of the population of Earth was gone, the satellites fell from the sky and nearly destroyed the other half. People are fighting for power, food, health, and their lives. Riggs knows where to find Kade, and as he clenches that locket, he devises his plan. Kade won’t know what hit him, but he will feel the pain that they felt, that she felt.