My Best Friend Is Different
My Best Friend Is Different — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
"Watch out for that drone, Zip!" Maya shouted, grabbing her friend's arm. A sleek silver drone zipped past, narrowly missing Zip's head. They dodged neon signs and cascading vines as they navigated the reclaimed cityscape. "Isn't this place amazing, though? Nature and technology, all mixed together!"
Page 2
"Amazing and slightly terrifying," Zip replied, adjusting his goggles. Maya stopped, pointing to a faded mural peeking out from behind a curtain of ivy. "Look! An old data port!" she exclaimed. As Maya brushed away the clinging vines, she revealed a small, metallic device attached to the wall. "I read about these! They used to hold all the world's knowledge before the Great Upload."
Page 3
"What's the Great Upload?" Zip asked, his goggles reflecting the blue light. "Legend says they uploaded all the human knowledge, and all of the feelings and memories, into a computer system long ago," Maya replied. "I've always wondered if there was some secret back door..." She fiddled with the device, a determined glint in her eyes. "You know, Zip, as Helen Keller said, 'Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.' And this, my friend, is an adventure!"
Page 4
"Okay, but what if it fries us both?" Zip asked nervously, backing away slightly. Maya grinned. "Relax! I have a surge protector!" She pulled a small, oddly shaped device from her pocket. She connected it, and the data port hummed to life, displaying ancient symbols and code. "Whoa! It's working! I think... now what?"
Page 5
Suddenly, a holographic image flickered above the port—a ghostly figure of an old woman. "Greetings, Seekers," the hologram rasped, her voice crackling with static. "You have awakened the Archive. To access its wisdom, you must answer my riddle: I am always coming, but never arrive. I am always near, but never here. What am I?" Zip's eyes widened. "A riddle? Really?" Maya chewed her lip, deep in thought. "This is like those history lessons! I think history is important to remember, but isn't this riddle a little bit antiquated?"
Page 6
"Time!" Maya shouted. The hologram flickered again, then solidified. "Correct," the hologram said. "Now, I shall grant you access. But beware, seekers. The Archive holds knowledge both wondrous and dangerous." Just then, a massive, clanking robot emerged from the shadows. "Intruders! Archive access denied!"
Page 7
"A robot? Seriously?" Zip yelled, ducking behind Maya. "Okay, plan B! Remember what I said about that data port?" Maya said, grabbing Zip's hand. "It has all the knowledge, right? That means it knows how to stop this clunker!" She started typing furiously on the data port's interface. "You find something too, I can't manage this by myself!"
Page 8
"Wait! I remember something from that history lesson!" Zip exclaimed, pulling out a small, rusty wrench. "Ancient humans used these to fix machines! Maybe we can short-circuit it!" Maya grinned. "Perfect! Now, according to the archive, the robot's weakness is..." She paused, her eyes wide. "Its central processor! Zip, aim for the back of its head! And remember, we can do this!" Maya said, shouting, "As Isaac Newton said, 'If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants!'"
Page 9
Zip hurled the wrench, striking the robot's head with a resounding clang. The robot sputtered, its lights flickered, and it crashed to the ground with a deafening boom. The holographic woman reappeared, smiling. "Well done, Seekers," she said. "You have proven yourselves worthy. The Archive is now open to you."
Page 10
"We did it, Zip!" Maya cried, giving him a high-five. Zip grinned, his face beaming. "I guess even rusty wrenches can be useful!" They stepped towards the data port, ready to explore the Archive's secrets, changed by their adventure. "I am pretty sure we will be more ready for future adventures," Zip said, as he continued walking on, towards the light.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)