{"id":100042983,"date":"2024-07-22T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/?p=100042983"},"modified":"2024-07-23T00:44:49","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T00:44:49","slug":"little-green-pills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/?p=100042983","title":{"rendered":"Little Green Pills"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Robots assembling robots and me at the stack, six hours a shift and then another four after my spell at Fish. Two years and what\u2019d I got? I tell you. Enough bleeting rage to fill a multidimensional sphinx. And I\u2019d had it, you know? Betters. Went up to my super after the first six and told him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s this big hulk of a droid. A regular mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I told him, it, whatever your prefs. Said I was done and said he\u2019d see me in two but I laughed in his pudge of a face and replied, like, see you in hell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I ripped out my code, chucked it on the floor and strode outa there, no looking back to see if my gesture had had any effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Went to Fish for the sandwich and lime. Filled it with eths and had two, then three, then stumbling back to the factory, punched at the door and what do you bleeting know, they\u2019d taken us series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hit that button for a good halfs. Then went back to Fish for more lime and adds, fell asleep, woke up in a fuzz and went back again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Got called up to the office. This hag of a girl saying my attitude \u2026 attitude?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The promises been made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And she was like, my assessed character was the correct match for observation at level one when I started and due to no improvement shown in the regular assessments; and it was all like this, going \u2019bouts how they\u2019d been fair, done the requires and if I wanted better, then good luck in trying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then we kinda sat there staring and she said she\u2019d come up with another offs ifs I was willing \u2013 and it hits me kinda briefly, like what was I gonna do for creds?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I asked what it was. All like, couldn\u2019t care for stree either way but leaned back in the chair, watching her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHit me,\u201d I said, though even with my level one intels, I could tell it was somes dodge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a pill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA pill,\u201d I repeats, like. Not as if I\u2019m a user but I\u2019ve had plenty of \u2019em. Mostly hallucoes. Space adventures to Martia for those of us who can\u2019t even afford a zeppelin ride; dragon fighting on Zephra island; being a hero in the Juniper wars. Took a bad one once that left me paranoid for six months; aliens climbing the walls at work, at home, along the streets. Faces moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA pill?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot that kind,\u201d she told me. Not like the others, and I said, I\u2019d no ideas what any others were and she laughed out loud. Real husky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calming down, she said this one was to improve my level. Experimental. Still trying it. Trying on a few subjects and there I was, the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSures,\u201d I answered. And she handed it over, saying I should take it right aways. A little green bead with stripes of grey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis will improve \u2026 my brain?\u201d I asked her with only her laughing and slides over some water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReport in as usual tomorrow. One of my colleagues will be here to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Went home with no affects and waded the streets like with the usual feelings of seeing the hanging visuals of stuff I\u2019d never be able to buy and the robots passing me, higher status androids that took the piss. Upgrade your status<\/em> one sign said. For that you need money. For money you need status. Better offs striding along with the droids. Important missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bought a manga and dived in to Bleach. Sat in a dark corner of the joint, on the edge of what ends up as the dancefloor laters at night \u2013 just me in theres, no lime, no eths. Fruit and manga \u2013 \u2019bout this woman abusing astronauts. Blood and guts. She wants to be the only one left. When she is, she needs food. Plenty of that around. On ice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, Jo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I looked up. It\u2019s Cheese. \u201cBleet you doing here Cheese?\u201d It\u2019d been a month, you see. He\u2019d headed down Tokyo for a job loading chips and he\u2019s good like that. Two million\u2019s his record. Blinding, dull. But he\u2019s got ambitions an\u2019s almost up to three in stats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019re doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cQuit the obs,\u201d I told him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYa freaking me?\u201d No need for details though. Gave him the bit \u2019bout walking out, \u2019em begging me to come back, saying they\u2019d give me a chance. Put me on two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBelieve that?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s well tall, Cheese. Pics him looking down at me sat there on the step \u2013 smoky dance mist waving \u2019bout us. He was wearing his bacl travelling stuff. Tight. Yum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust got back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And he sneered kinda tired an\u2019 looking at my juice. \u201cBrain fried, huh?\u201d I asked him. All those chips and he knew I knew; knew he was after music and afters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He got us both one and came back to sit. We moved, through to a table and his stuff he threw in the stabs locker; took off his jacket and shirt and we kissed for an hour or that, feeling an\u2019 drinking. The place filled up and the music got louder. Thudding. Lights brighter. Flashing and we were on the pack, in \u2019em an\u2019 thrashing it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sweating and ready to conquer the world as we left, was \u2019bout three then. Spewing tunes following us out as we stumbled back along the paves; no carrier, though plenty shooting past. Taxi? Must be kidding. We joked \u2019bout how one day. Level ten\u2019s Cheese\u2019s ambition. By thirty. Then he\u2019ll marry me \u2013 least that\u2019s what he\u2019s saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBleeting yab.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We held hands up the wells to my box. Left his stuff at Bleach. Get to my box an\u2019 we don\u2019 need wish anyways. Just our bodies, you guessed it. Cheese\u2019s that kinda friend. Marry me? More likely go for some level twenty. Chances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woke up in the middle of the night in a sweat. Cheese purring to himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside there\u2019s sirens. Squads pending down on some gang. Moves over. Take a couple for show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the sink I gots water and my throat \u2013 describing it\u2019s kinda lame. Like tar. Tar and metal. Liquid running through it like a pipe. Stomach\u2019s the bin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fell over, one hand clutching the sink. Other hand\u2019s dropped the glass \u2013 shattered all on the tiles. Cheese\u2019s still sleeping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then pass out like that, feeling kinda wonderful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Morning was like, you can guess. Eths\u2019 never been good the day afters, howevs they distil the shree and that\u2019s somes even level ones know. Though they say synth\u2019s the bean \u2013 but who\u2019s gonna find the creds for that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discrims \u2013 but what\u2019re we cares?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBleeting \u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was Cheese. Rolling over. He\u2019s gotta go. Kiss kiss. \u201cThanks for havin\u2019 us.\u201d Yeah, right, Cheese. Pleasure\u2019s all mine. He\u2019s out and just me and the brush. Glass cuttings. Damps the blanket and all in the blower. Chose some nice dress for once, ambled along to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Danced along the side of the paves. Taxis and carriers. Droids and the morning rush. The holos sang down, proud of me, the soon to be level two and who knows? Take enough of those things and there\u2019s no stopping me \u2013 shove \u2019em down; give us the lot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upgrade ya status and fly me to Martia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I punched at the wall. The door and it shunted in perfect moves. Was watching it, understanding it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there was this guy. Tall and grey. Thin an\u2019 hardly there and he was like, \u201cCome this way,\u201d an\u2019 I followed him down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sloping. One-seventy-two degrees. We were off to a lower floor. Nevs been down, usually ups to the tenth. This guy, he\u2019s like not speaking and all series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He took me to this room. Slid me into a chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Straps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An\u2019 he was like, \u201cTell me what you feel.\u201d While there\u2019s me, looking round at swirling walls of smoke. The movement, it struck me again \u2013 that strange understanding of movement. Like, I knew where it was going and understood where it was before and knew why and it was all connects. The movement of the smoke I mean. Not real, just videoscreens. Virtual. Yet there was a pattern and I got it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDunnos the word,\u201d I said. \u201cKnow what ya asking but dunnos the word.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was sat in another chair opposite. Just the two of us. The chairs were made of Cererian steel and I knew that too, though how, you gotta ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood,\u201d this guy replied. Sats and that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYa wan\u2019 me to take another?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn time \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had a fist against his chin, his profile still fuzzy. Concentrating on the smoke, I guess. An\u2019 then the walls, moving. Shuddering, but just a fraction. I told him this and he seemed kinda interested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoving, how?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShifting?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVibrating,\u201d I managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had a pad and was writing stuff on it. Swiping. \u201cGood,\u201d he was saying. Then he got up and left and it\u2019s just me an\u2019 the smoke. Like that for an hour. Memorising. But there was more an\u2019 where the hell was my other pill anyways?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He came back on the sixty minute dot. Pad again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTell me about your mother and father,\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019d\u2019ya care \u2019bout \u2019em?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And he was silents, like. Watching me. An\u2019 knew I was stumped. Could tell. Already things were getting more \u2019an bit weird. So I got up and demanded another pill. Gotta see, \u201cGotta see,\u201d I was saying. \u201cGotta see more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And he sat there, nodding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFive minutes,\u201d he said. \u201cFive minutes and five more questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Was moving back and to in the room and he came over all quiet and circling but was just a feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was in the chair, still at him and he at me and number one question and it was what\u2019s the square route of forty-eight?<\/em> and I told him six point nine cos it was obvious, like. And the number two was what colour\u2019s rain?<\/em> and I knew the colour when he asked \u2013 like it hit me and we was staring each other but I still couldn\u2019t tell you anything \u2019bout his face; just that sort of guy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t haves the word,\u201d I told him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut you can see it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe colour, sure \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow far away is my chair from yours?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSix hundred and twenty two cents,\u201d I said to him, immediately, like; not really thinking \u2019bout it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince I entered this room, how many times has my heart beat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFour twenty,\u201d I said, again without the thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is your name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stood up, kicking over my chair, really circling him this time. Me against him. Me in control. \u201cWhere\u2019s my next bleeting pill?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s it matter?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And he seemed sats with that cos he stood, then shaking my hand an\u2019 left while I was just roaming, circling and then banging on the door, asking for the pill, screaming \u2013 by then my head hurt cos morning and back at work \u2013 dragged to somewhere, asked these questions. Felt like doin\u2019 more than screaming \u2026 roaming place an\u2019 kicking walls. Bleeding toes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Two and a half theres, and a droid came to let me out, escorting me back to the hag\u2019s office. Head\u2019s all fuzzy and on the way kept telling the droid, this big ugly one, that my name was Jo and it\u2019d all been a mistake. \u201cIf I could just have another pill \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSit down,\u201d the hag told us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re doing fine,\u201d she reassured us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In another chair, twitching my fings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slipped it over, a glass, water and all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Popped it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cT\u2019tha it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all for today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBack in the afts?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDepends on you,\u201d she was saying. \u201cOff to Fish?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike always,\u201d I answered, rocking in my chair but decides and not moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us \u2019bout your parents. Forgot your name? Square route of forty-eight?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSix point nine two eight two zero three \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I sat there, mutts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBleeting Cheese,\u201d I was mumbling. \u201cHow many girls like me he gots?\u201d cos I was seeing it all, hopes and dreams: they just push you along whereas reals is all of us; dying slows and me a swell. Whole lot of us, like the robots. Lives, dies. Expires and moves on; world moves on \u2013 ants, hives. Pushing it and for what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMore pills,\u201d I told her, shaking in my chair. \u201cI gotta see more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twitching monitors an\u2019 her hair was grey and fizzy, dead follicles but somes breathing, eyes all bloodshot and \u201cJo,\u201d she was saying, cos that\u2019s my name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wanted to put me at ease. Controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJo,\u201d I said back, repeats. \u201cAnd yours?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cClaire,\u201d she said, human and scared somes. \u201cYou need to slow down, Jo. The effect has proved stronger \u2026\u201d and she hesitated and said, \u201cquicker,\u201d and I knew she was worried. Way she looked. Big huff, deciding on words, then: \u201cYou are the first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis experiment? The pills?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFirst human?\u201d I asked, cos I knew they must\u2019ve tried it on animals. \u201cWhat\u2019s it before? Monkeys? Dogs?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMice?!\u201d Frigging bleetsh! \u201cYou go from mice to us? How stupid you think I was?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hesitation. Then: \u201cThere was pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, gots it.\u201d I stood. \u201cGet it in a human, quick as poss.\u201d Me, the blank slate. Level one an\u2019 thick as canvas. I stared down at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour emotion \u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a kind of intelligence she told me. Emotion \u2013 an intels they didn\u2019t predict. She said I didn\u2019t need another pill, that I should slows, again with the slows and no pill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her head nodded, but then I got a thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThem pills. They\u2019re \u2026 what\u2019s the word. Nano \u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNanobots,\u201d she replied, still with the worries an\u2019 hard to guess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRobots,\u201d I said. Robots. Robots assembling robots and me watching \u2013 the level one me, watching and what\u2019d I become?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou may experience a few unexpected changes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA few \u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019d suggest you \u2026\u201d She coughed an\u2019 seemed undecided on somes. Then: \u201cGo home and sleep,\u201d she told me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re letting me out?\u201d Cos if I was her I wouldn\u2019t. But I swerved, said nothing extras and no kicking over or trashing. \u201cTomorrows?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She nodded an\u2019 I stretched. No point in argues. They had stuff to decide, full of cares, I could see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, Cheese.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThink I\u2019m emotional?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEmotional?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, you know.\u201d I\u2019d gone to the window, looking out at the swarm. Bells and carriers. Dusk and one by one the neon had come to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was back in my box an\u2019 Cheese had turned up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomes said to me today,\u201d I shouted back at him. \u201cThey said, Jo, you have emotions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey said it makes me intels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIntels? You intels, Jo?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheese had come over, all cares and grabbed me. Sats and not shaking no more, but then laters I was spinning. We were under the sheets, damps and simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey Cheese, you wanna go again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Cheese was out, sats and snoring, the pig. Got what he wanted, whereas me, I\u2019m in the bathroom; neck, sparks, stomach\u2019s hard and it\u2019s not the blue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stood in the pulsing darkness, I counted a two point eight humidity: two point eight three five one two seven three five four six nine seven \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I said to Cheese (who\u2019s like turning in his sleep) that I thought somes was up but he was like, \u201cCome back to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then laters, he was awake, properly this time an\u2019 on top of me weirded out by whatever an\u2019 not just the neck now \u2013 under my skin, at the belly an\u2019 metal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was standing over me, freaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat the hell they do to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cT\u2019s\u2019all right, Cheese.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJo,\u201d he was whispering. Totally lost it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cT\u2019s\u2019all right,\u201d I said again. \u201cLevel two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I could see his brain working. Weighing up the pros and cons. There were creds in his bag but he saves and stocks, Cheese. Got a plan. He\u2019s always got one. Whereas me \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stared at him more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTwo others,\u201d I was mumbling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTwo \u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, two others. Like me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There it was, clears. The guilt and no question. Two others an\u2019 I\u2019m the third. Girl in each city: so obvs an\u2019 I\u2019m dips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLeech!\u201d I was yelling. Suddens. \u201cLeech!\u201d an\u2019 I\u2019d smacked him one \u2013 picture Cheese on the floor, scrambling around, stuffing things into his pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUser!\u201d I was screaming, an\u2019 his right arm was bleeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey pretty?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYa crazy bitch!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I shoved passed him, went to the bathroom and there was metal at my neck. Little tentacles poking through. Stomach hard as bolts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want this anys!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thirty-five seconds later an\u2019 I\u2019m up and following Cheese \u2013 out my box, on the paves but no sign of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just me an\u2019 the minions. Drones, sparks an\u2019 neon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI dunnas wan\u2019 this anys!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was repeats, roaming about randoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This kid on a pod came up to me. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d he was saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t look like a robot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA new model.\u201d That came from his mate. There were two of \u2019em.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo human-looking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI dunnas wan\u2019 this anys!\u201d I was squirming and that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a she<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing my eyes and blocking, blocking it all, all of \u2019em out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe should help it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCall someone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCall who?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then one of \u2019em said somes about police and that shook me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stood straighter, snarling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frightened faces and they scarpered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Found a sheds by a store, for crates and was there \u2019til they picked us up \u2013 six hours. Must\u2019ve been tracking. Then back to this room again. More questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you remember about your childhood? What is your name? The square route of sixty-five?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a> Prods and questions. Get us outa here. They say write this. I say bleetsh to \u2019em all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m throwing down this pad an\u2019 pen. They wanna play, let\u2019s play.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

END<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Chris Morton’s stories have been described as being in the genres of slacker lit, sci-fi lit, sci-fi psyche, magical realism and avant-garde. He is the author of the novels, English Slacker and Hard-Boiled Wonderland. His science fiction stories have been published by Cannon Press, The Colored Lens, State of Matter, Longshot Island and the Untold Tales Podcasts.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An English teacher for over twenty years, Morton is also the author of the teaching guide: TEFL Flashcard Games for Young Learners.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One Robots assembling robots and me at the stack, six hours a shift and then…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":100042985,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,3292],"tags":[227,3324,3296],"class_list":["post-100042983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-fiction","tag-fiction","tag-pills","tag-prose"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100042983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=100042983"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100042983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100042990,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100042983\/revisions\/100042990"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/100042985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=100042983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=100042983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=100042983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}