Robin Hood Retold by Yadav Hurry

In a distant dystopian future, humanity is divided into a rather unequal system, rather like the feudal system between the 10th and 13th centuries in Europe. It was started under the rule of the ailing Queen Elizabeth III whose royal family has attained global control. She believed that it was important to have class systems to divide people, and saw equality as a detriment to society; in her view this way people would not have to make a meaningful contribution to society to have what others had; the exact opposite of communism.

Robin Hood is an infamous bandit known for his exceptional talent for stealing valuable artefacts and wealth from the upper-class citizens. He is seen as a menace to society, and was hated by many of the upper class citizens who owned masses of land and possessions around the world. He is notorious for his thefts of the world’s most prized possessions – and has never been caught once. Nobody knew anyting about him – where he lived, what he did with all his loot etc.

After decades of ongoing, unexplained robbery, one of the royals, the brother of Queen Elizabeth III, narcissistic Prince Xander, challenges Robin Hood to a rather traditional game of chess in the palace, despite nobody knowing anything about him rather than his quintessential red cape. Xander was the reigning world chess champion, and had been for decades, beating people, robots and AI in a matter of moves. He considers himself the very best, and he is in fact.

The ultimatum was that if Xander won, Robin Hood was to return all the valued possessions he stolen during his lifetime. However, if Robin Hood won, not only would he be allowed to keep everything he had stolen, he would succeed the throne from Queen Elizabeth and yet continue to live in total anonymity if he pleases. This video message was broadcast all over the world on every screen imaginable. Instead of adverts, Xander’s 30-second long message showed up every day at 9 in the morning – his usual chess practice time following his large, royal breakfast – calling for Robin Hood to challenge him if he dares.

One day, Robin Hood accepts. He shows up to the palace, in a very unexpected fashion – dressed head to toe in a mysterious red robe, with dark clothing and a mask underneath.

Noone is alerted to his presence, despite the high tech, state of the art security surrounding the gigantic palace – til the second Xander sets foot in the room. He is startled, and he commences the game with a shaky hand.

Robin Hood plays with the naivety of a beginner, overthinking every move he makes. As the world watches, he falters, and his anxiety overwhelms him. However he reveals no emotion to the billions of viewers. He moves a pawn forward, creating a space for Xander to wipe out his white queen with his black bishop. As the most powerful piece on his side it seems like that there is no hope. Xander could not resist muttering, 'checkmate' with a smug smile on his face.

Robin Hood spends years in solitary confinement bound by chains at the very bottom floor of the palace. Floor -100. The Kings Quarters Prison. He can barely breathe, oxygen is sparse. He is alone in a dark room, with pests, low light, and cold stone walls. He is fed but two meals a day, and a glass of water. It's heavily guarded, CCTV everywhere, security drones, you name it. His body is weak but his mind is not. He spends his days hatching and perfecting his ingenious plan for revenge.

Around 50 years later, he is released on parole. At this point in time, everything has moved on - Robin Hood is no longer seen as the world's most wanted villain, Prince Xander is now King Xander I. But he has been unfairly imprisoned. The media over the past century has made Robin to be a mastermind villain, but this is revealed to be heavily influenced by the royal family, who are at the height of wealth for this era. A scandal is revealed on the decades of bribery of the royal family, changing the world's views on how they see the media.

His good intentions come to light during his five year parole, and he earns a reputation as an unidentified do-gooder - in the small, rundown house he lives in, evidence emerges of his financial transactions to other alien civilizations - his selling of his stolen valuable goods, earning him billions, however every last penny was put towards humanitarian aid and improving the lives of the lower classes in Queen Elizabeth III's corrupt and highly unjust feudal system.

His quote becomes known - 'I do not believe in the value of material goods and possessions - they simply come as an expense to the poorer livelihoods of our society.' - an allusion, once again to Queen Elizabeth's feudal system.

Now equipped with the support with the general public, the vast majority of who were at the bottom of this ridiculously unfair system, Robin Hood assembles a strike team to overthrow the monarchy, composed of over 200 of the world's most elite mercenaries, backed by global peaceful protests, in cities, streets, towns and regions protesting for a better standard of living for the vast majority who were not favoured by the Feudal System. Billions take to the streets in favour of Robin Hood's cause.

The royal family, despite owning a fair share of the world's entire wealth, know they no longer have control of their subjects, and therefore no real power. Xander I is distraught and feels hopeless, knowing that his legacy and the legacy of the royal family is coming to an end. All the accumulation of wealth and status that fueled his narcissism, slowly is disappearing. He accepts his defeat by famously takes his own life peacefully, by locking himself in Robin Hood's cell with no food and water as he no longer knows what to do.

Still unaware of Robin Hood's strike force, nobody succeeds the throne after Xander I. The royal family all desert the palace, going their separate ways to live in total seclusion, all over the galaxy. Some of the royals manage to escape to other planets and countries successfully, however Robin's strike force intercepts some of the servants as well as distant relatives to the late King Xander. Robin Hood, however orders the mercenaries to spare them, as he believes enough blood has been shed throughout the centuries. However, he believes they cannot be reformed so are instead sent into exile anyway.

Upon realising that the palace was deserted and the royal family had been disbanded, Robin Hood decides to start his own council with the mercenaries in his strike force. His council has the aim of ruling the world in a way that values humans and individuality over wealth and material possessions.