Carlos conquers Carrington

One of the first effects of this "Net Zero Carbon" was over-husbanding of electrical power. This meant that the original voluminous streetlights, once seemingly fit for purpose, were replaced by tiny LEDs which barely illuminated the base of the poles that they were attached to. Big pools of scary darkness broken only by something that resembled a star in the night sky. They were almost indistinguishable from the rest of the distant firmament.

Carlos had just flashed underneath one of these impotent miracles of efficiency, when he noticed that his escorts, potential muggers on e-scooters, were gaining on him.

The time had come for him to crank open the super battery function of his scooter and go for broke. Onwards to the public facility not far ahead and to hell with his less-than-optimal charge status for the moment! With a certain grandiosity, and accelerating himself clear of his pursuers, Carlos arrived at the public facility easily. He watched as his trackers forlornly slid past, drifting back into the darkness and unlikely to bother him now that he had reached this bright oasis of light.

There were people enjoying the relief of the return of the light, wining, and dining in the restaurant corner of the public bar and there was the unmistakeable magic hum of excited voices, as if to greet him, when Carlos pushed open the entrance door to the garish interior of the public. It was a great relief to be in a world of light again.

Carlos slumped on one of the benches and ordered "A beer, please"!

He was safe, for now.