The Millennium130Please respect copyright.PENANA5VgJrfUbuD
130Please respect copyright.PENANA9UodQMtlOZ
‘Hello.’130Please respect copyright.PENANAAnxPreV0Zb
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’130Please respect copyright.PENANAbndnFFUcpz
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.130Please respect copyright.PENANAOqfpRywXGF
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’130Please respect copyright.PENANAeb0gJubMDo
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.130Please respect copyright.PENANAdlxmqotAyc
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.130Please respect copyright.PENANAr7JaOIN9Q5
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.130Please respect copyright.PENANANC0O0wLTgw
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.130Please respect copyright.PENANAIdLjMm2xL4
‘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.130Please respect copyright.PENANAk7XWfr8PhD
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.130Please respect copyright.PENANA05q77S3NHr
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.130Please respect copyright.PENANA2fuCTBQr8B
Three days ago, he committed suicide.130Please respect copyright.PENANAZMwW9CPMAE
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.130Please respect copyright.PENANA7qbfYByTFt
We had planned to go to the beach together. 130Please respect copyright.PENANAr0CBI2VH5a
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 130Please respect copyright.PENANA4d8dv6AXBt
The sky has remained grey. 130Please respect copyright.PENANAhsYSg9xAGk
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 130Please respect copyright.PENANA2XWMEViJtS
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 130Please respect copyright.PENANAS7mHPOeAsl
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.130Please respect copyright.PENANA5QSjEbq6H4
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 130Please respect copyright.PENANAuiHjcSvH9N
130Please respect copyright.PENANA4TEKITTizn
Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 130Please respect copyright.PENANAQluJ2qiGIs
December 31, 2999. 130Please respect copyright.PENANAJdeiywQYhd
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. 130Please respect copyright.PENANA2M9aU6Zj02
The outside world began to grow noisy. 130Please respect copyright.PENANA0grDwi2cz5
The network remained offline.130Please respect copyright.PENANA3nnaKG4Rwd
The riots are about to begin.130Please respect copyright.PENANAWPPLLXO6Rm
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.130Please respect copyright.PENANAUjGyT3EhCp
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.130Please respect copyright.PENANAzsfmj1Ygwy
<Dialogue begins>130Please respect copyright.PENANAtrkaxTnvB6
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’130Please respect copyright.PENANAUICdgWzqQT
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’130Please respect copyright.PENANAXBTXUwtdoz
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’130Please respect copyright.PENANAGCTVWDAvGd
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANAINIiaZXYEN
Null: ‘No.’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANAOthgWvQszk
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANAO6FtkcN5Lg
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANAvZEGlZUpan
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANA1DSH1vo5I1
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’130Please respect copyright.PENANA6o7VJZoKYL
Me: ‘The host?’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANAa4Jn5ZavYF
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANArUumszP2rg
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANAP9nMFIzTLp
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.’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANA6eMlMbNC6A
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’130Please respect copyright.PENANAz5DnZkXvaR
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.’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANAyneRpI8fr9
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’130Please respect copyright.PENANAKNvdKgjgZ0
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.’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANA8p9eLgpKGb
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’130Please respect copyright.PENANAnNUkO5gRJI
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANAt9ZpjdjKCL
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANAAqvACeafl9
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANAL5fE6OJNFI
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANA59tBUnW08S
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 130Please respect copyright.PENANAIaA7YBnR9c
Me: ‘Thank you.’130Please respect copyright.PENANA5xbF73uD4S
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>130Please respect copyright.PENANAhSp8AIVNv5
130Please respect copyright.PENANAeSBFdjwKwG
12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.130Please respect copyright.PENANAcAs0drCPC5
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.130Please respect copyright.PENANA7oZTYg3AQb
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.130Please respect copyright.PENANA257g3z1tnQ
130Please respect copyright.PENANA2kbJFtLk0Z
16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor130Please respect copyright.PENANAlOMDgXccrc
130Please respect copyright.PENANAJWvl0QBTvZ
C-013-188-20 130Please respect copyright.PENANAPKofYnIxBL
130Please respect copyright.PENANAF48YvCBwxr
It was the coordinates for Zone C. 130Please respect copyright.PENANALXx89ySPiK
I drove there. 130Please respect copyright.PENANAAICKlmYiTd
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 130Please respect copyright.PENANAO1k6tKACWr
I saw it. 130Please respect copyright.PENANAFcBxqbKK8T
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.130Please respect copyright.PENANAFK6s10zngY
This was the Sage.130Please respect copyright.PENANAMJy5sxjBki
It had been rebooted again.130Please respect copyright.PENANAT6I3uqdJ5n
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.130Please respect copyright.PENANAFJS4fDJInN
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.130Please respect copyright.PENANAeTge77kVMC
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.130Please respect copyright.PENANA78Hcm1BU5J
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’130Please respect copyright.PENANAnQFknDDCtY
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.130Please respect copyright.PENANADxNRvw4b7q
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.130Please respect copyright.PENANApMFVDHdheA
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.130Please respect copyright.PENANAjIXGSBDb5M
‘A storm is coming.’130Please respect copyright.PENANAXMwFYoG0Cs
130Please respect copyright.PENANARrQpngNtI9
130Please respect copyright.PENANADcYNEsApfh
12:00130Please respect copyright.PENANAI6wBYa9Jjo
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.130Please respect copyright.PENANAEDyFOJLX9X
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.130Please respect copyright.PENANABq3Kxk2Gek
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’130Please respect copyright.PENANAdJDA0aBeyI
130Please respect copyright.PENANAUUWnhel5rY
130Please respect copyright.PENANAof4HHnGYrf
130Please respect copyright.PENANA5J1OpH1Yna
130Please respect copyright.PENANA0uHe5TJkT6
The rain did not fall.130Please respect copyright.PENANAgSCTThcuzI
130Please respect copyright.PENANA4tN45XNr7h
On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.130Please respect copyright.PENANALOavHFBtVb
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.130Please respect copyright.PENANAiqs91GcBog
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. 130Please respect copyright.PENANAGwcLTOA63v
Because we still existed. 130Please respect copyright.PENANAL58yd7PqHK
130Please respect copyright.PENANAuZU5PxjSvz
130Please respect copyright.PENANAa9cxuw6Go7
THEND
arrow_back
The Millennium
more_vert
-
info_outline Info
-
toc Table of Contents
-
share Share
-
format_color_text Display Settings
-
exposure_plus_1 Recommend
-
report_problem Report
-
account_circle Login
Search stories, writers or societies
Continue ReadingClear All
What Others Are ReadingRefresh
X
Never miss what's happening on Penana!
The Millennium
Author:
Champ1on_JH+

ISSUE #1
LIKES 1
READS 126
BOOKMARKS 0
Suggest Edits

Click to load the next chapter
X
After each update request, the author will receive a notification!
smartphone100 → Request update
X
Sponsor again
Click to login
Login first to show your name as a sponsor.
Thank you for supporting the story! :)
Please Login first.
×
The Millennium
General
Short Story
Last updated: Jul 8, 2025
Total word count: 1,217
Total reading time: 6 Minutes
Writer:
horror
suspense
sci-fi
Report this story
×
Write down what you like about the story
×
Reading Theme:
Font Size:
Line Spacing:
Paragraph Spacing:
Load the next issue automatically
Reset to default
×
People Who Like This