《The Everything Chair》


 One.

    I sat in my cushioned seat with my arms and legs encased to the elbows and to the knees in the comfort of the Neuro Tubes. My head is supported by a headrest and the control inputs plugged into data ports in the back of my head. I was in the loving embrace of my Everything Chair, or EC. It cradled my body as a loving mother would. I had a nice model, which was a sleek, smooth gray, and had 1 white plastic chair pedestal. It had two helper arms and four folded traveling legs, like a resting robotic centaur.


    I never had to think about what my body needed. The EC fed me, helped me sleep, the black codpiece with a built-in catheter removed my waste. I never asked how the rest of my biological function was taken care of. The Neuro Tubes stimulated my sense of touch, enhanced the Virtual Reality system, and prevented muscle deterioration. The Data Inputs that were plugged into the lower right side of my skull, would allow me to control what was on the terminal, one of the best features of my EC. I was sold on the feature when they introduced it in an upgrade. Some folks actually had to vocally give a command, but my setup gave me more freedom. I could sit here being entertained or analyzing the data that was sent to me. Everything was as advertised. I worked for the Stilwell Corporation which was one of three Mega-Corporations. The System was provided by the Corporation. This network of connected resources was everything. It provided useful products, food replications, entertainment, and pleasures. All suited to me and what I wanted. The lifestyle, the perks, and all I had were provided by The System and my Corporation.


    I was feeling warm, something that was unusual for me. The blue skintight Environ Suit was sluggish today. The EC was usually quick to respond to this type of discomfort. I must have waited a whole minute before the cooling air enveloped my body.


    ¡°Com,¡± I said.


    ¡°Com,¡± the feminine voice of System echoed. I¡¯d chosen the voice, it was warm and comforting to me.


    ¡°Maintenance,¡±


    ¡°Maintenance,¡± the voice confirmed, ¡°Maintenance has been notified.¡±


    I watched the holographic images bounce around before me on my terminal. Followed by a flurry of corporate advertisements. The show I was consuming always fascinated me, the concept of going to off-world. I mean nothing ever went off-world, it was drones or off to Mars for retirement. I was far from that. It would be hard to give this up but once in a while, I wished I could be there among them. My mother always thought that I had an adventurous streak. She was afraid I would be a purist. Devoid of enhancements, shaming her status in this world. My parents bought me the best EC. The best education implants and eye augmentations that they could afford. I was not considered affluent growing up but look at me now. The eye augmentation makes analyzing data-efficient, plus it gives me an edge when gaming.


    I used to dream, but the EC now dumps drugs into my system, not only helping me sleep but sleep peacefully. I remembered as a kid I had nightmares but now I only have darkness. Which I prefer. I am not even sure if I can dream anymore, or if I had dreams at all. Maybe to me, it is a concept that we all have in childhood, but maybe it never existed.


    A red circle began to pulsate in the far corner of my screen. An alert made me aware that someone was trying to contact me.


    ¡°Com, Answer,¡± I commanded.


    The avatar of my friend Robert bounced onto the screen. It was a cartoonish caricature of him. My avatar represented me well, at least I think it looks like me. I don¡¯t think I have ever seen his face before or if that mattered. I have not seen a real face in many years. ¡°Rico my man, it looks like we have a grudge match tonight,¡± Robert¡¯s big-eyed, manic avatar spouted out.


    ¡°Whattaya mean,¡± I replied with a jovial tone.


    ¡°Theodore and Mackie have challenged us in Slaver,¡± Robert responded.


    ¡°Slaver? We totally kicked his ass last time.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I said, but he insisted.¡±


    ¡°Whatever, when?¡±


    ¡°Tonight at eight, Zeta 133 room 6.¡±


    ¡°Gotcha, Zeta 133 room 6.¡±


    The game number appeared on the screen and then floated over to a task schedule on the bottom right.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Right, see you in Slaver, and don¡¯t be late this time,¡± Robert said as his Avatar waved and shrank into nothing.


    ¡°Right,¡± I replied.


    My show started back up where I left off, I looked at the task appointment that I had created just for a second and my show paused.


    ¡°Do you wish to continue to watch?¡± System asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I replied as the show started again.


    I needed to give my attention to the show. My Corporation and their sponsors demand that my attention be given or they could lock me out. I suppose that is fine, but I can get agitated if my mind wanders off. It¡¯s ok though, I like it when the System dumps in a nice cocktail of remedies that soothe the agitation and send me instantaneously back to evenness.


    The show ended as it always does, on a cliffhanger and a series of ads. The holographic images faded into nothing and I am left in silence. My eyes felt heavy and tired. The System helped me along with a sponsored sleep aid. I felt the drug enter my body and watched the sponsor as I started to drift off.


    ¡°This sleep period is sponsored by Ambtrex. Rest is the key, Ambtrex.¡±


    I was startled by the door entry bell, I almost did not recognize the sound. My eyes blurred as I try to regain my composure. My EC instantly calmed me. It had been many years since I last had a visitor.


    ¡°Enter,¡± I said trying to shake off the deep sleep.


    The door to the room slid open, my apartment was large considering how small others could be. I liked the space and the bright white plain walls. It felt like I had more room to breathe, but it came at a premium. Most people don¡¯t care. They lose themselves in the virtual worlds, I like to look around once and a while, it makes me feel connected. My EC turned my body to face the open door. I could feel a rush of air and my Environ Suit made adjustments to my body temperature.


    A man walked in, it was startling. He did not come in under power and was not in an EC, he was using his own limbs. He was, in fact, devoid of any augmentations of any kind, or that I could see. He had clothing, like I have seen in eBooks, the network or vaguely remember as a small child. Coordinated work pants, shirt, and boots. He stood upright and smiling. He held a large toolbox in one hand and a tablet in the other.


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Maintenance,¡± he replied, ¡°Jon.¡±


    I stared at him not sure what to say, I¡¯d only seen purists in shows or the news.


    ¡°You are,¡± I stumbled over my words.


    ¡°I am, yes, a purist,¡± he replied with a smile. ¡°Now according to this work order, it seems your Environ Suit is responding a bit slow,¡± he said as he reviewed the information on his Tablet.


    ¡°Yes,¡±


    Jon walked over and crouched down at a panel by the back of my EC, he pulled a tool out of the toolbox. The room camera flickered on the screen in front of me so I could observe him at work. He opened the lower panel on my EC and started to scan the EC systems. The green optical beam shot out and made a connection to my EC.


    ¡°If you are a purist, then why do you work on machines?¡±


    Jon stopped for a second and then looked around the EC and smiled.


    "Good question, in fact, most folks just sit there with their mouths open. It is pretty simple really. I¡¯m good at it and these things don¡¯t fix themselves.¡±


    ¡°Do EC¡¯s break often?¡±


    ¡°They have little things here and there, but they have so many fail-safes,¡± he replied as he started to look closer at his diagnostic device and then poked at the small screen that illuminated his face.


    ¡°Are all maintenance people purist?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he said. He reached into the EC and tugged on something. ¡°There are some, you know, equality for all, a program for my disabilities.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen your type on the news, protesting.¡±


    ¡°My type?¡± He chuckled, ¡°I think some folks don¡¯t like the word ¡°disabilities¡±.¡±


    Jon put his diagnostic and tools back in his toolbox. He closed the panel on my EC and stood up.


    ¡°Well, that should do it, just a little fine-tuning,¡± he said dusting off his hands. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s been a few years since you left this structure.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­yes, is that unusual?¡±


    ¡°No, just that this EC has traveling legs and they need to get used once and a while, maybe every few months,¡± he replied, ¡°otherwise the joints could freeze up, or worse, require maintenance.¡±


    ¡°I guess I never thought about it.¡±


    ¡°Yep, no one ever does, use it or lose it,¡± he proclaimed. ¡°Well I am off, and you have a nice day.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    He left my home, the door sliding shut behind him.


    I sat in the silence of the room quietly thinking. My alert went off and my screen flickered to life.


    ¡°The System has detected that your thought centers are currently very active yet it detects no current activity with the System. Do you need a Med Check?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I responded, ¡°I would like to watch current events surrounding purists.¡±


    The screen flickered and the daily news brought up images of purists protesting while being watched over by large spider-like armored police units. For the most part, it looked peaceful as I listened to the commentary.

 Two.

    It was eight o¡¯clock and the avatar of Robert popped onto the screen after I connected to Zeta 133 room 6. His gaming avatar was so friendly and comical while mine was dark serious and brooding. I tried to make it look like me, with a hint of bad ass. The contrast spoke volumes about our play styles.


    ¡°I almost thought you were going to be late,¡± Robert said.


    ¡°Are they here yet?¡±


    ¡°Yep, they are in the game already."


    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± I said with authority.


    ¡°I got Theodore down, but I know nothing about Mackie,¡± Robert said.


    ¡°Did you look him up?¡±


    ¡°I did and I watched some streams, but I never found one of him in Slaver.¡±


    ¡°Well, I guess we will have to play to find out, let¡¯s go before they give us a bad time."


    ¡°Roger that,¡± Robert chuckled.


    The EC lowered my game visor and I felt my hands lock down into the controllers. I was ready. The Virtual Reality visor flickered and then a white light. It faded into the game lobby. I saw Robert¡¯s gaming avatar waiting. The room was like a square box, dark and dank and made from rusting metal. The weapons panel was against a wall displaying the latest in weapon updates and associated cost. The sleek lights beckoned to it, waiting for my input.


    I walked over and grabbed a 98a Harlan rifle and proceeded to load it. Robert grabbed his Second Thought Pistol and the Mark II net gun. We could only carry so much equipment unless we paid for more space. That was like a month¡¯s salary for me. For Robert, it was several months¡¯ salary. Robert flashed his stats up so he could see them. They floated above him and then with a flick of his hand they evaporated.


    We both rushed out of the room and into a long corridor. Then we entered the entry maze, a spawn camper deterrent. It was dark and had many different ladders going up into the ceiling to a trap door. We both made our way to the middle ladder and proceeded up. Everything went black. The small letters that spelled ¡°Loading¡± appeared for a second.


    ¡°They uploaded new textures, supposed to look fantastic,¡± Robert said over the com as we waited. I started to think if we even knew what it really looked like.


    ¡°God, the load times are awful," I stated.


    We appeared on a shield-protected platform in the sunlight. We both dodged behind crates. I looked at my wrist device and scanned the map for a target.


    ¡°Bingo,¡± I said spotting some motion on the spinning dial of my radar, ¡°2 o¡¯clock by that red structure.¡±


    I spotted the target, a human, a purist, or in this game a possible slave. We made our move. Robert rushed forward with the Mark II net gun raised and ready. His jet pack threw his body upward and back down onto some crates. I jetted up to a higher perch, watching from the distance. Not for the purist target but for Theodore and Mackie. A slave was a bonus value.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Robert was always pretty stealthy. The target was scavenging for food in some old rusted metal containers. I saw Robert fire his Mark II but the target rolled. The nets small metal balls wrapped around an exposed drain pipe. Robert was in the open and started re-loading. The Target pulled a small pistol and began to fire.


    ¡°Shit this little fucker is armed!¡± Robert said as his avatar rolled behind cover.


    I aimed my 98a Harlan on the target. I took a deep breath. Boom! The target fell. Struck by a stunning bolt from behind. I pulled up my gun in time to see, through my scope, Theodore caring his 98a Harlan was moving to the target''s location.


    ¡°Robert got a baddy heading for the target,¡± I said.


    ¡°Roger,¡± Robert replied, ¡°Crap!¡±


    I pulled my sights to Robert to see his Avatar evaporate as Mackie, who was using stealth mode, stabbed him. I pulled my trigger and my shot connected, right through Mackie¡¯s head. He evaporated.


    Blue bolts came flying my direction from Theodore¡¯s 98a. He was always a bad shot and they cracked and pinged around me. I rolled and jetted down to the ground and found cover behind a boulder and tall grass.


    The spray of shots died down. I ran from cover to cover and then jetted to the top of a building out of view of the target and Theodore. I set up in my new position knowing that he had to come this way if he wanted to get the target out.


    I stayed low and kept my eye open through the scope and waited. I saw him. Sure enough, he had the target in tow. I knew that would slow him down, so I took my time and targeted him. I took my breath and pulled the trigger. Theodore evaporated leaving the treasure behind.


    I knew that I only had a few minutes to get the target back to my slavers bin before the round would time out. I used my jet pack and landed next to the Slave. I picked him up and jetted to safety.


    ¡°That was a good round!¡± Robert said as I delivered the goods to the bonus bin.


    ¡°Mackie is better than I thought,¡±


    ¡°No doubt, but Theodore is still as dumb as a purist,¡±


    "I wish we could Slave him," I chuckled.


    We had eight more rounds to play before the challenge was over. We kept playing and we even lost a couple of rounds because of Mackie and his stealth skills. It seemed like targets were slim Pickens. I love seeing those bonus stars over our names. The golden, twinkling insults to Theodore and Mackie.


    ¡°Well back to the grindstone with me.¡±


    ¡°OK Robert, hang tight,¡±


    ¡°You bet!¡±


    The game had come to an end. And my virtual visor pulled away from my face. I sat there for a second contemplating the game.  Three minutes of silence before the advertisements would start. I reviewed the playback on the game and noted my mistakes. It dawned on me that we were capturing purist slaves but our avatars were free of enhancements too. I never thought about that before, maybe it was the Maintenance fellow. Seeing him moving around my space. I have seen purists all the time, on media, in games, and even when my mother worried about me in my youth. I willed the EC to move around a little and it did. The reality though is that the EC took up so much space that there was so little space to move. Then again if I want to move, I can always enter the VR lounge, but this real space seemed tighter in here than before.


    The screen flickered and the ads started and caught my attention. The ads for all the items that I could use or augment myself, even a little sexual stimulation for the right price. The ads suited to what I would do or like and they were all linked to my brain. They are accurate and it was always hard to not buy something. I also found them to be entertaining, sometimes more so than the show or activity themselves.


    The ten minutes of ads flew by and I managed to not buy anything. I was proud of my self-control. The System stopped and prompted me if I wanted to see more ads or a new show. I wanted to sleep and for some reason, I wanted to dream. The last thought I had was does the lights stay on or do they turn off when I close my eyes? I felt the rush of the drugs, a sponsor echoed in my head as I drifted off again into darkness.

 Three.

    I woke up with a shiver. A red light was blinking on the screen.


    ¡°You are currently experiencing a malfunction with your EC. Please do not panic.  The maintenance request has been escalated to the high. Your account has been credited for any inconvenience this may have caused." The Systems voice seemed calming or it was the anti-anxiety drugs.


    I don¡¯t think I have ever been this cold before. I remember watching an old movie and there was an explorer in an environmental suit walking in the snow. I remember that he said that without it the body would freeze to death. The show was interactive and allowed me to feel the cold. I started to think about that, but every time I would put the energy into thinking about the worst, I felt a rush of euphoria.


    ¡°Your Malfunction has been sponsored by Calmatin, why worry?¡± The sponsor¡¯s voice was soothing.


    "You are currently experiencing a malfunction with your EC. Please do not panic.  The maintenance request has been escalated to the high. Your account has been credited for any inconvenience this may have caused." The System said again but the voice became distorted by the drugs, it was metallic and cold.


    My eyelids fluttered closed, I am not sure why I was fighting the drugs, and I was not sure why I was doing anything. I could feel my heart in my ears, pumping. I could feel my hands, they felt cold and I tried to move them, but the tubes had like a static grip. I felt separate from my EC, like a captive. I have never felt like that before.


    Then I got warm again. I calmed down. My thoughts synced again with my EC. I could feel my breath slow and the drugs subside. My eyelids fluttered open.


    ¡°There you go,¡± said Jon with a warm tone.


    ¡°W-What are you doing here?¡± I was overcome by the drugs.


    ¡°Maintenance,¡± He tapped at his badge and then packed up his tool bag.


    ¡°I feel¡­warm,¡± My mouth felt so heavy.


    ¡°Yes, it looks like a regulator failed, very unusual, one in a million chance.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky I just live a couple of blocks away, Mason house. You need to get out more, you know for the legs,¡± He winked his left eye and then headed for the door.


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    ¡°Sorry, got work to do, the System is always watching me,¡± He replied as the door slid closed behind him.


    My screen flickered and ads began to play. I could feel my body being cleansed inside my suit, I felt my waste removed and my stomach fill. I could not pay attention, I was still a little shaken from the morning events.


    ¡°Work will start in five minutes, do you require more time?¡± The System asked.


    ¡°No¡­No that¡¯s fine,¡± I stammered as I shook off my feelings. It was quiet for those minutes, peaceful. The EC had soothed me and I was returning to a normal state of mind.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    My screen filled with ads and then went dark for a second. Lines of data started to appear on the screen, my brain went into autopilot. The data danced on the screen as my brain analyzed it, looking for patterns. I was good at decrypting and I could see things in a more organic way, I am natural at this. Corporations had long figured out that the Systems in this world could decrypt anything that was created with an algorithm. The System was quick, but then the corporations got wise. Humans can be, let¡¯s say more chaotic and random. I was there to spot these little bits of hidden data that may be of value to my Corporation.


    I could scan data all day. I was good at finding these little critters. I could not always decipher them but at least I could find them and send them to the encryption unit. If we could find what they were doing we could beat them to the innovation. It was an intense race at times but it paid well. The notification for my break blinked, my screen paused and ads followed.


    Then my screen flickered and I was greeted by a friendly nurse avatar with big eyes, a friendly smile, and a nurse¡¯s hat.


    ¡°Med Check,¡± A calm woman¡¯s voice resonated.


    ¡°I did not request one.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but we were notified that you had a stressful morning.¡±


    ¡°I did, but I feel normal now.¡±


    ¡°According to the report you were experiencing a high volume of distress, high heart rate, drop in body temperature and sporadic brain activity that the EC was not able to control with medication,¡± She followed up.


    ¡°Yes, it was resolved and I feel fine.¡±


    ¡°Do you remember your thoughts?¡±


    ¡°Thoughts?¡± I shrugged, ¡°It''s hard to say, I can¡¯t really remember any thoughts.¡±


    ¡°Try again, the System said that you may know more than you are sharing, remember this is for your health and well-being.¡±


    ¡°I felt disconnected from my EC,¡± I said struggling for an answer.


    ¡°In what way?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, disconnected, I have never felt that before,¡±


    ¡°Well we do not want that, I am notifying the Manufacturer of your EC so they can make corrections. I will also assign you a new drug to that feeling, we''ll see if that helps should you if you find that situation to happen again,¡± She said, ¡°Is there anything else I can help you with?¡±


    ¡°No, I just want to get back to work,¡± I replied


    ¡°Have a good day and be healthy,¡± She said as the screen flicked to a Med Check company ad, ¡°Med Check, Keeping you healthy is our number one priority.¡±


    I continued my work and again managed to get back into the swing of things. My productivity was down a few percent today, probably from the distractions I had but it was well within my performance matrix determined by the Corporation.


    My screen flickered and went to ads as my day ended.


    "Shuman''s Custard, when you have a hard day, nothing tastes as good as Shuman''s Custard. It''s a Classic."


    One of my favorites and one of the few things I still enjoyed tasting. I felt that I deserved it, it was a long day. I requested it. My Helper Hand went to the square box replicator mounted in the wall where the item was being created. I could see it being printed through the translucent plastic door. When it was done the helper arm removed it and brought it close. It was spoon-fed to me and it tasted good. Most of the time food was just there, nutrients and nothing else, pumped into my body, but on occasion, it was nice to taste.


    My screen flickered again with a list of activities that popped up for me to do this evening. I scanned the list carefully. There were some movies I have been wanted to see and gaming. On my friend''s list, I saw that Robert was already entrenched somewhere in the gaming world.


    On the bottom of the list was to go for a walk, I never look that far down but I remembered that the Maintenance fellow wanted me to get out, make sure I used the traveling legs on my EC. The adventure to me sounded good, for a change.


    ¡°Walk,¡± I said


    ¡°Walk, Calculating the route that would give you the most enjoyment,¡± The System replied.


    My EC came to life and marched me leisurely out my door. A sun visor slid over my eyes as I was plunged into the bright outside world. The door behind me slid close and I was on my way.

 Four.

    It had been a long time since I left the comfort of my home, the EC legs plodded along at a nice slow pace. The fresh air was refreshing, I never realized how stale the air was in my home. My mind wandered for a moment if this really feels refreshing or is it more so outside the dome. I looked up at the sunny sky above and the Honeycomb of gray beams that held the clear dome plates in place.


    ¡°Was that a real sky or a projected one? I am pretty sure it is real.¡± I mumbled.


    ¡°It is real.¡± The system replied.


    The buildings were hundreds of floors tall and peaceful, some silver other white with an accent of blue, they reached into the sky here and there, they were all people, all living in a little room, just like me. My EC continued on the path down the block. The EC would stop and turn to windows that had preprinted products in the window. Sometimes there would be a recorded message just for me touting the benefits of what I was viewing.


    Then we would be on our way again. We skirted a park, the green was vivid and the trees were amazing. I forgot how beautiful something organic was or how big it was out here. There were little round silver machines zooming across the grass keeping it manicured. My current path did not include the park, we started to veer away from it.


    ¡°Park,¡± I requested.


    My EC stopped and turned to the park.


    ¡°The Park is sponsored by Williams, the better Helper Hands,¡± The System said.


    An ad flickered to life in my visor and I was treated to a visual feast of deluxe helper hands that I thought could really benefit my EC. I was weak today and ordered them.


    ¡°The Williams Deluxe Helper hands are being printed and will be available for installation when you have returned home,¡± The System conveyed.


    The EC faithfully marched me forward down the preprogrammed path through serenity. It was a great trip, I loved sponsored trips, One long ad, and then silence. I took in the sites, the green grass smelled good as it was cut, sour but pleasant. The trees towered over me and for a moment I lost sight of the dome and buildings. I was feeling content for a moment and I don¡¯t think it was drugs.


    We continued on and the park path until it ended. I was a little sad for a fleeting second and then I was distracted by a window display of gaming controls enhancements. I fought not to spend because I saw that I was already close to my spending budget for the day. I started to lose interest in window shopping and I began to notice what was around me a little more. Nothing, emptiness, I saw maybe one or two others in their EC''s walking about but that was it. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I wondered how many people even have traveling legs. I knew Robert didn¡¯t but his whole life was the game. Mine too, for the most part, except for today.


    "Advertising has become ineffective, re-calculating a path to return home," The System said.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± I said.


    The EC turned back and we started back down the sidewalk only stopping for a moment or two to see an advertisement. The EC seemed a little more rushed now. The EC tromped down the walk and something caught my eye. A sign over a window, ¡°Mason House¡±. That is the place the maintenance fellow lived. There was a store window there but the EC was going to pass it by.


    ¡°Wait, View,¡± I commanded.


    The EC stopped and pivoted. There was an antiqued concept in the window. A book. Not an eBook but a real tangible book called ¡°Real Life¡±. I looked at it carefully.


    ¡°The allotted time for this Window has expired, do you wish to move on?¡± The System asked.


    ¡°Purchase,¡± I said.


    ¡°Would you like this as an eBook?¡±


    ¡°No, Tangible,¡±


    ¡°This does not fit your profile, do you need a Med Check?¡±


    ¡°No, just trying something new,¡±


    ¡°The book ¡°Real Life¡± is being printed and will be available for your enjoyment when you have returned home,¡±


    The EC turned and started to march away. The EC passed the door of the Mason House and it seemed unusual, it was on hinges and it did not slide open. There was no way an EC could fit through such a small door. I saw it for only a second, but I was sure that was for Purists only.


    ¡°Why else would you subject yourself to opening a door under your own power?¡±


    ¡°Just another wonderful service provided to you by your EC,¡± The system replied.


    I finally had returned home and my EC was settling into my spot. Ads flickered on the screen as one of my Helper Hands reached out to the new deluxe ones that were freshly printed and placed on a small table.


    ¡°Maintenance has been notified for the installation. Williams would like to once again thank you for the purchase of The Williams Deluxe Helper Hands," The systems stated, "What would you like to do now?"


    The list of available items appeared in front of me again. I scanned the items and I saw that Robert was still gaming. This time at the bottom of the list below ¡°Walk¡±, was ¡°Read Book¡±. I had never seen that item before, ever. I had never seen a tangible book. I¡¯m not sure why I ordered it. I scrolled to my favorite show. And I started to watch the ads and waited for the show to start, but I was thinking about the book.


    ¡°Do you wish to continue to watch?¡± The System asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said trying to pay the proper attention, I did like my show.


    I did eventually get involved in the story. The ads were particularly funny tonight and I forgot about the book and my walk.

 Five.

    My day ended the way most of my workdays end. I found a couple of unusual patterns that the System is analyzing. There seemed to be a lot of activity going on lately. My productivity was on an all-day high and I even managed to get the bonus today. I was feeling pretty good and it seemed like a good day for Slaver.


    My screen flickered to life after the allotted ads and my activity list spouted forth. My message icon was blinking in the corner. It was from my Mother. I have not heard from her in a while so it sparked a little concern. My anxiety was calmed as the EC administer the anti-anxiety blend.


    ¡°Messages,¡±


    ¡°Rico, It¡¯s Your Mother, please call me back as soon as you finish with work,¡± my mother said in a hurried tone.


    ¡°Fair enough, Call Mother¡±


    ¡°Calling Mother now,¡± the System replied, ¡°This call is sponsored by Newfound Jewelry, for every occasion.¡±


    The System paused and then the Avatar for my mother appeared.


    ¡°It¡¯s about time you called,¡± She said in a harsh voice.


    ¡°I just got done with work,¡±


    ¡°Look your father and I have come to a conclusion, we want to move to Mars to retire.¡±


    ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t need my permission.¡±


    "I''m not asking you permission, we want you to come over for dinner. We want to see you one last time before we leave.¡±


    "What? Why we can just do it over the Com?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your Father, He wants to see you one last time, just this once, when we retire we may never be able to see you again, it¡¯s already been almost ten years.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, seems kind of weird,¡±


    ¡°When we were young people still talked to each other, in person,¡± She added.


    ¡°OK, but only if you have that custard,¡±


    "You bet, be here by seven," She said as her Avatar blinked out of existence. The new task slid down to my task list.


    ¡°Plan,¡± I said.


    ¡°Planning,¡± The system replied.


    ¡°Trip to Mothers,¡± I requested, ¡°Arrive at seven.¡±


    ¡°The System has recorded that you have been very active outside of your home, do you need a Med Check?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°The System is calculating the route now. The System has calculated the route and reserved transportation. You will leave in one hour and the current ETA is 6:30.¡±


    ¡°Well there goes my day,¡± I said as I looked at hungrily at the Slaver item on my item list.


    "Your trip will be sponsored by Douglas Industrial, making your trip easier¡±. The System promptly went to a very positive ad about the fine things that Douglas Industrial has done to make my life comfortable.


    I decided to watch a quick show or two until the task went off. There were plenty of short attention span programs. The ad intervals almost seemed longer than the show themselves.


    My notice went off. The EC activated and pivoted to my front door which opened. My EC got up and exited my building. It was still light outside but the sun was in a different position and it was casting strange shadows for me. I can¡¯t remember when I left my home in the evening, ever. I found it calming and at the same time fascinating. The sleek egg-shaped Douglas Industrial transport sat in front of my door. An advertisement was displayed on the side of the vehicle and when it ended the door slid open. My EC folded itself comfortably inside.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    The vehicle began to move. The magnetic drive was smooth as it glided over the metal plates on the roadway. I felt cramped in the small space. My favorite show started. Anti-anxiety meds flooded my body. I have been whisked away to an off-world planet show along with a series of sensitive calming ads. The half-hour had drifted by and I did not even notice when we came to a stop. The door open as my EC stepped out of the vehicle yanking me out of my fantasy world. ¡°Thank you for using Douglas Industrial transportation, just one of many things we do to make your trip easier,¡± The System kindly said.


    There I stood in my EC looking at a building I had not seen for ten years. It was an older build, with white walls dotted with black windows and a clean ramp going to a door. It was short, 5 stories not like the 100 stories modern building I live in. I hated this home as a child, it seemed so beneath me, or at least that is what my mother told me. They worked hard to get me my first status EC and made sure I had good implants so I would not end up in a place like this.


    The EC took me up to the door and it creaked open. I entered the well-lit dreary hallway and made my way to an elevator. How primitive I thought. My room slid down to the bottom floor, I never had to see a hall. The elevator jerked and the door slid open.  The nostalgic smell of damp hallway filled my nostrils.


    The EC traveled down the hall and stopped halfway at a plain white door with a small camera. I paused as the System displayed a quick ad about Custard, the only thing I was looking forward to. The white door opened.


    I forgot how big my parent''s place was. When I was growing up here we shared this place, each of us having our own room and then on occasion meeting in a common room to talk. The kids are lucky these days. They can if they choose to never interact with their parents, the lucky bastards.


    The Common room was empty and sterile. A lone shared monitor perched on the wall sprang to life with music and ads. There were two doors on the opposite side. One opened and I saw my mother in her simplistic, bland EC enter the room. It slid in on a rail and did not have traveling legs.


    ¡°There is my boy,¡± She said.


    ¡°Hello, mother.¡±


    The second door open and my Father¡¯s simplistic, bland EC railed in.


    ¡°Son!¡±


    ¡°Hello, Father.¡±


    We sat in awkward silence for a moment, looking at each other. The room was filled with the sound of an intrusive ad about family and better communication methods. The ad ended in silence.


    ¡°It¡¯s been too long,¡± Father said.


    ¡°You could use the com.¡±


    ¡°An Avatar? How is that seeing you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see what is wrong with that?¡±


    "When I was a kid," He started, I rolled my eyes, "we only had exoskeletons, and we still depended on each other. The System was not even around. Can you even fathom that? The idea that we humans actually had to do things, create things, achieve things? Without this." His Helper Hand pointed to his EC.


    ¡°I have plenty, there is nothing I need.¡±


    ¡°Boys,¡± My mother interrupted, but my dad just looked at her, he had an emotional look on his face.


    ¡°What is that?¡± I asked him.


    ¡°What?¡± he replied.


    ¡°That, that look,¡± I felt almost defensive when I felt the drugs kick in calming me down.


    ¡°That, my son is an emotion.¡±


    ¡°Your father stopped his mood enhancements,¡± Mother interrupted.


    ¡°What?¡± I looked at my father who was becoming agitated.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s the real reason I wanted you here,¡± My mother said, ¡°To talk some sense into your father.¡±


    ¡°Why would you do that?¡± I asked him directly.


    ¡°Because it is human to feel,¡± he replied calming down, ¡°It¡¯s human.¡±


    ¡°Human, really?¡±


    My father looked at me crossly and then his EC wheeled him back to his room where the door promptly shut.


    ¡°To feel what?¡± I asked my mother, ¡°To feel shitty?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t know what to do.¡±


    ¡°Did you call to have a Med check?¡±


    "Yes, but they said, ultimately it was his choice," She smiled as she got a boost of drugs from her EC.


    ¡°A choice? This is what he wants?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but the Medic I talked to said this is a phase but it could mean that his neural systems are damaged. They recommended retirement.¡±


    ¡°I think they are right, I think retirement is a good idea,¡± I said, ¡°Sooner the better.¡±


    ¡°All he asked was to see you, in person,¡± She replied euphorically, ¡°We leave in a day or two.¡±


    "Well, I''m here," I sighed, "I hope he enjoyed himself. I came all the way here when I could be doing something worthwhile or productive."


    ¡°It seemed like the right thing, but you¡¯re right, I could have just asked you to talk to him via the com. I just could not get him to use it.¡±


    ¡°Home,¡± I said with disappointment.


    ¡°Arrangements are being made.¡± The System replied.


    "Bye, enjoy being off-world. Enjoy your feelings," I said as I passed my father''s door.


    "Oh, stay please," Mother asked.


    I just rolled my eyes at my mother


    My EC walked to the door. The visit was worse than I thought. I had a ton of drugs in my body fighting something inside. It was making me tired. I left and I did not even look back, I didn¡¯t need to.

 Six.

    I tried to watch my shows and enjoy the advertisements. I was thinking that a little retail therapy might help. It was not to be, there was something caught in my head, but I could not see it. I was feeling happy for the most part, but I would get a flash of nothing but numbness. Was my EC working?


    It was time to sleep and start over in the morning. One last advertisement.


    ¡°SleepMax, let us help you have the best night sleep you ever had. A new aid from the makers of Calmatin.¡±


    ¡°Order and Use now!¡± I jumped at the idea of the best sleep ever. My EC Clicked a few times and then a soft hissing sound as a new drug pumped into my system. It was new and it was very calming. My eyes grew heavy and I was off into the darkness.


    I was in the park and I was sitting there on a bench, as a purist, naked. Both feet were resting in the grass. I could not feel it, I could not feel a breeze, and I could not feel anything. I was there like I had an EC but it was not around me. It¡¯s human to feel. Is it? I felt nothing and I seem to be alright. I seem to be calm and happy. Am I happy? The System said that I am. I am, I am what?


    I woke up with a bit of a jerk, I shook it off. My screen was already lit and the icon of the Medic was already displayed on my screen.


    ¡°Med Check,¡± It said.


    ¡°I¡¯m alright,¡± I replied groggily.


    ¡°We registered high brain activity.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m OK.¡±


    ¡°I am recommending a new series of medications. It seems the medication you used last night did an unsatisfactory job in allowing you to rest,¡±


    ¡°OK,¡±


    ¡°Do you have anything to add to the report?¡±


    ¡°No, do whatever is needed, thank you,¡±


    ¡°Due to these unusual circumstances, your work has been canceled and a schedule of relaxing activities have been created for you,¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± I complied while still trying to wake up.


    The screen flickered on and an advertisement came up, in fact, a series of them. They were all very subdued and low in tone. They were relaxing. My activity list opened and I scanned the list of available activities. The door opened.


    ¡°Maintenance,¡± Jon said as he walked in.


    ¡°Maintenance? I did not request Maintenance,¡±


    ¡°The System did,¡± he said as he knelt down by my EC and opened a panel in the back.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Says here on the work order that you have been having problems with a drug management glitch,¡± He said as he started to poke around the EC innards.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Seems like a lot of glitches.¡±


    ¡°I agree, seems like I¡¯m busy all the time nowadays, this seems to be going around," he said as he started to pack up his bag.


    ¡°Did you find anything?¡±


    ¡°As with the others, nothing,¡±


    ¡°Others?¡±


    ¡°Yes, like I said, I¡¯m busy,¡± He stood up, ¡°Well there is nothing I can see. The System will continue to monitor you and will let me know if there is anything I can do,¡±


    Jon started to walk out the door but paused when he saw the tangible book by the replicator.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good book,¡± He said with a wink and then he was gone.


    I returned my attention to the list of activities. I was feeling pretty emotionally even. I then saw at the bottom of the list ¡°Read Real Life¡±. I thought about Jon and wondered why he called it a good book? It looked awkward and confusing to use. My helper hand reached out and picked up the book and brought it close to me. I looked it over, tilted it back and forth, Then my other helper reached out and opened the cover of the book. It still seemed so silly.


    ¡°Real Life,¡± I read out loud, ¡°Chapter one, as simple as feeling grass.¡±


    ¡°Would you like to commence reading or would you like the System to read it for you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡±


    ¡°Your reading program is brought to you by Reader 8, the place to find every eBook.¡±


    The story revolved around a young man in his early twenties who had an EC accident. It left him on the ground with a failed EC. It was quite frightening. He managed to free his hand from the neuro-tube to try to assist the EC to repair. His hand was immobilized. He willed it to reach out. All that was there was grass. His hand was tingling and in pain, his EC was in a complete failed state. His hand made contact with the grass and he felt it. The tingle started to subside, at first, he thought his EC was repairing itself, but then realized it was his own body. His own system was tempering the pain.


    Could that be true, can the body control such things? Of all the purists I have seen, they never looked in pain. The book described pinching the blade of grass between two fingers, feeling the mass of it. If he squeezed hard enough a liquid came out and wet his fingers. It was cool and constant until it evaporated into the air. His fingers returned to a normal dry state. The feeling was superior to any synthesized or simulated synthetic physical feeling. I guess I never thought that the physical sensations that I was being exposed to were synthetic. I never thought that I never had touched anything without my EC or at least not to my memory.


    ¡°Reader 8, the place to find every eBook,¡± The voice interrupted my thoughts and for a flash of a moment. I was annoyed. I liked my thought.


    I wanted to read the second story and it had an intriguing title, ¡°Sex¡±. It has been a long time since I went to a pleasure room, but what would it be like in real life. I willed my Helper Hand to turn the page. It did not respond.


    ¡°Another glitch?¡± I said out loud.


    ¡°According to ordinance 1172.1 this chapter contains information or content that has been banned by the Higher Morals committee of your government,¡± The System said.


    ¡°What? I have never been denied anything before,¡±


    "According to ordinance 1172.1, this chapter contains information or content that has been banned by the Higher Morals committee of your government," The System repeated, ¡°Would you like more information on this Ordinance or the Higher Morals committee?¡±


    ¡°Ordinance?¡± I puzzled.


    ¡°Ordinance 1172.1 the Secure Censorship Ordinance. The Ordinance was enacted in 2114. Since then, a three-tier secure classification system has been adopted. The Ordinance was amended in 2119 to provide, among other things, a finer classification by dividing Category II into two sub-categories, Category IIA and Category IIB. This is to protect citizens, from submissive materials that could harm national security,¡± The System droned.


    ¡°Stop,¡± I interrupted.


    ¡°Would you like to watch a show about how your government helps you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡±


    I am frustrated that I was being denied. I thought this was the time to play Slaver. I needed to burn off this mood, the drugs, and this denial


    My Helper Hand placed the book down and the screen flickered. The ads started and I whisked away from my violent refuge.

 Seven.

    I stood naked in the dark. The book ¡°Real Life¡± sat on a table lit by a light somewhere above. I tried to reach for the book but I could barely move my arm. I looked down at my hand and I willed my fingers to move. I tried again but this time my body collapsed to the floor in a heap. I tried to unfurl but I could not, I felt nothing, no sensations, no touch, and no pain. I lifted my head enough to focus again on the book above me. I wanted that book.


    ¡°You should go for a walk,¡± a voice echoed in the darkness.


    I twitched awake. My screen was lit and the icon of the Medic was already being displayed on my screen again.


    ¡°Med Check,¡± It said.


    ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡±


    ¡°We registered high brain activity,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡±


    ¡°I am recommending a new series of medications, it seems the medication you used last night did an unsatisfactory job in allowing you to rest,¡±


    ¡°OK,¡±


    ¡°Do you have anything to add to the report?¡±


    ¡°No,¡±


    "Due to these unusual circumstances, your work has been canceled and a schedule of relaxing activities have been created for you,"


    ¡°No, I need to work, I think it will help,¡± I said.


    The System was silent for a few seconds.


    ¡°After a quick review by Central Medicine, you have been OK¡¯d for work duty, have a good day.¡± The Medic said and promptly logged off.


    My EC took over doing its morning tasks as the daily advertisements played. I needed to work today. I needed to do something normal. My anxiety was managed but I could still sense that it was there, that it was hiding from me.


    My Screen flickered and the data began to display as I got into my work routine. I found the usual codes here and there and sent them on. I was on a roll and headed for a new personal best. It seemed easy to spot the strings of data that seemed out of place.


    I was scanning, once in a while, I could decode a string, pull out the simple lines and send them on. They were usually simple words that had no context. This time I saw three words. ¡°Go for Walk¡±. I stopped.


    ¡°System has detected that you have stopped, is there something to report?¡± The system asked.


    ¡°No, I just found a string of data that is unusual,¡± I replied, ¡°I am forwarding it now.¡±


    ¡°The System will red flag it, thank you, and carry on.¡±


    It must have been a good find. The system treated me to a small break and a particularly good series of ads. I continued on and did break my record. The screen flickered and confetti exploded as an acknowledgment of my performance. A golden shield dominated the screen as I unlocked the elite performance achievement. I smirked.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    My screen flickered off and then on again. A new series of advertisements and then my to-do list appeared. I saw that a new episode of my favorite show was available. I started to watch, going through the ads and then off-world. I could not stay focused. My mind kept drifting off.


    ¡°Do you find this show unsatisfactory?¡± The System asked.


    ¡°No it is fine, I wish to change tasks,¡±


    A series of ads played and the show flickered off. My task list showed up and I selected to take a walk.


    My EC walked me out of the building. My sun visor came down to protect my eyes and then I was outside. I could feel the air brush my cheek. Was this a real feeling? Was this created for me? I thought.


    We walked the same path as before and soon came to the park that I detoured through before.


    ¡°Park,¡± I commanded.


    I watch the required advertisements and sponsors. My EC trudged on smoothly walking through my desired path.


    ¡°Stop,¡± I requested.


    My EC complied.


    ¡°Walk on the grass,¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± The system asked.


    ¡°Yes please,¡±


    ¡°Recalculating route, this trip is sponsored by¡­¡± The System droned on.


    I was not hearing the ads. I focused on the grass. The EC started to walk off of the path. The EC only got a few steps in.


    ¡°Stop,¡± I said as my EC complied.


    I looked at the blades of perfectly trimmed green. I never looked at them before. Each individual blade. How green they were. I thought about the book and the story about grass. I wanted to do something else than look.


    ¡°EC, release my left leg,¡± I said nervously.


    "That is highly unusual, let¡¯s go over the health effect of what you are requesting,¡± The System responded.


    ¡°No,¡±


    ¡°Do you need a Med Check?¡±


    ¡°No, release my left leg.¡±


    A series of ads played in my ears and echoed around in my head, I felt a rush of drugs go into my system. The EC was trying to calm down my excitement. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. I felt restrained.


    I heard the click of the Neuro tube and then another rush of drugs enter my system. The leg tube split and opened on a hinge. My leg was dangling and my toes hovered over the top of the grass was out of reach.


    ¡°Lower,¡± I commanded,


    The EC lowered until my toes made contact with the grass. I felt nothing. I tried to my sheer will to move my leg, but it was motionless. It was the drugs, the drugs were still protecting me even if my EC could not. It was controlling the experience.


    ¡°Stop the Drugs to my left leg,¡± I instructed.


    ¡°That is not prudent, the result could be painful,¡± The System said.


    ¡°Now!¡±


    ¡°This is highly irregular, do you wish to have a Med Check?¡±


    ¡°No, just do it.¡±


    I felt nothing and then my leg began to tingle. The tingling became more intense, nothing that I have ever felt before. I sat there and bit my lip. I waited like in the book. The pain was almost blinding. I could feel the muscles tense in my face. The tingle started to decrease and my leg felt nothing again. I looked down at my foot, it was very pale. I willed it to move again. I felt my toes this time, I saw them twitch and then flex. It was a strange sensation, surreal.


    I stretched my toes again, fascinated that I could manipulate them. They were so weak but they were mine. I felt a cool sensation on the bottom of my foot, it was uneven and rigid but soft. It was the blades of grass.


    I tried to swing my leg and I achieved very little motion, I should be able to do more with it. I wanted to do more. I clenched my toes. I felt the blades slip between them. Such a simple feeling. I closed my eyes and clenched and released over and over again, enjoying it.


    The feeling did not last long. I felt a rush in my system as the drugs kicked in. My EC was blocking the feelings. I tried to fight to keep the feeling but the sensations left my body. I, once again, with no feeling at all in my legs.


    ¡°We do not have a Sponsor for this activity,¡± The System stated.


    I sighed, ¡°Home,¡± rolled off my lips.


    My EC complied and re-calculated its route home. The Helper hands gently moved my legs to the safety of the leg tube and it closed around it. I plodded off annoyed and despondent.

 Eight.

    I sat in my home surrounded by my EC. I was imprisoned, not mothered. I had quick flashes of anger. Drugs kept tempering it. I fought against the drugs, but they got powerful. I was in a forced state of manic depression, like a cartoon. ¡°What was I feeling?¡± I mumbled.


    The System was trying to distract me. Trying to relive my pain. I had a list of activities. I found myself looking at saved images of the places I have been. When I was young. I kept daydreaming about being off-world like my Parents will be in a few days. I kept thinking about being human-like my father said. He went off the drugs. He was right, but he seems so agitated, so out of control, and moody. Is that what being human is?


    Nothing I watched this evening was making it better. That brief moment in the grass seemed to be stuck in my head. I felt that with my toes, my toes, not an artificial simulated feeling. It was different, there was no denying that fact. The EC was synthetic.


    My EC kept prompting me, kept nagging me. It was like a distant echo in my head that I refused to let in. The commercials felt like they were getting louder. Like a truck going through my head. I closed my eyes.


    ¡°Would you like to sleep?¡± It asked.


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t quit,¡± I replied with my eyes still closed.


    The screen flickered and ads rolled, I could not hear them. I could not see them. When it was all quiet. I could hear my ears ringing. It was a shock. It was deafening.


    ¡°This 10 minutes of silence was brought to you by¡­¡± The system chirped.


    ¡°No!¡±


    My brain had hit a point and exploded. The drugs in my system could not mute the sound that I yelled out.


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°Do you need a Med Check?¡±


    ¡°No! Eject!¡±


    ¡°That would not be prudent, you run the risk of great bodily harm,¡± The System said. The voice throbbed and it was loud.


    ¡°No! Eject!¡±


    "There is legal ramifications to your request, do you waive your legal rights to ¡­" The System rambled on.


    ¡°Yes! EJECT!¡± I could not hear the system, I could not understand it. I just needed out.


    I felt a rush of pain drugs enter my system. I felt a brief pinch in my groin. The Neuro tubes clicked and opened. I was thrown forward, in free fall. I saw the floor coming fast. My helper arms in one last goodwill gesture caught me, spent me around, and gently lowered me to the ground face up.


    I lay there in a daze, looking at the ceiling. It was so white a sterile. I could see the flicker of the screen reflect off of it. I could hear the mumble of ads that were playing. My brain was drowning them out.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    I laid there and it was bliss, for the moment. I tried to move my arms and legs but I was still in the haze of the drugs that were pumped into my body. They laid there limp and motionless.


    My body started to tingle as my limbs started to come to life. First, it felt good and then turned into an intense feeling. I moaned as I clenched my hands. The thousand little needles each gouging at thousands of nerve endings.


    ¡°Do you need a Med Check?¡± The system asked.


    ¡°No! Damn it!¡±


    The experience in the park at least prepared me enough to know that it will subside and it did. My body calmed as I lay there. I tried to move. I sat up on an elbow and twisted my body to the side, I felt shaky. Then I felt cold. I started to shiver. My stomach was in knots. I could feel my insides bubble up. I purged.


    ¡°The hell,¡± I said as my stomach cramped up again.


    ¡°Do you need a Med Check?¡± The system asked.


    ¡°No!¡± I yelled as I weakly clutched my stomach.


    "Well, this is a mess," A voice behind me chuckled.


    ¡°Who¡­¡± I tried to speak but instead purged.


    ¡°Do you need a Med Check?¡± The System asked.


    ¡°No!¡±


    I felt two hands from behind grab below my armpits and sat me up. I was pulled to a wall and propped up. Jon crouched by me looking in his bag. He pulled out a rag and wiped my face and the front of my Environ Suit.


    ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°Yep, I got a request to look at your EC,¡± He replied, ¡°I did not expect to see this.¡±


    He got up and went over to the EC. He opened a panel and plugged in his diagnostic tool.


    ¡°Can you help me?¡± I strained to speak as my stomach was still cramped.


    He looked at me and gestured me to wait a minute. He closed the panel and typed something on the device.


    ¡°There a report was sent, I have done my duty to the System,¡± He said and then crouch by me again, ¡°I don¡¯t have any more Work Orders today, and I can take a break.¡±


    ¡°Help me,¡± I winced in pain.


    ¡°Why would you want to eject?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just needed out,¡±


    ¡°Do you need help back in?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I replied in pain and then dry heaved.


    ¡°Ok, ok, not on the shoes,¡± He said with a smile.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± I asked as my stomach cramped again.


    ¡°You do not have any drugs in your system, your body is not used to it,¡± He replied, ¡°that can be very dangerous. You sure you don¡¯t need a Med Check?¡±


    ¡°No! No Med Check,¡± I said as I grabbed his sleeve.


    ¡°Well I might be able to get Liz here, she might be able to help,¡± Jon said as he pulled out a com ¡°You can¡¯t do this alone, trust me.¡±


    It took forever, I was still sitting in my own vomit and my stomach was still cramping. I felt dizzy and I was sweating and shivering at the same time.


    I look


    ed at my EC, kneeling lifeless on the floor. I saw little droplets of red trailing to me. I looked down to see my exposed penis and to see a trickle of blood coming from the tip. My eyes closed. I was in darkness again.


    I could hear voices but I could not understand them.


    ¡°Rico,¡± said a warm female voice.


    My eyes fluttered as I tried to open them. My eye was forced open and a bright light pierced the darkness and blinded me.


    ¡°Rico, stay with me,¡± The voice said again.


    My ears started to ring again, the voices were drowned out. The lights flooded my brain and then nothing.

 Nine.

    I had flashes of reality, I felt the weight over me. I was still cold and still sweating. I remember two people talking about me. I could not hear what they said. I plunged into the dark. At times I could see my father or ads that did not make sense. I saw my screen flicker and I heard the System saying my name.


    ¡°Rico,¡± The System said.


    My eyes fluttered open and they focused. There was a purist looking at me. An older one, with gray hair and gentle wrinkles around the eyes. She was calm and kind. She wiped my bow with a cold damp rag. It felt good as I stared at her. I could not speak. She nodded her head and I slept back into my new dream world.


    ¡°Rico,¡± The voice said again.


    I opened my eyes again. She was still there with a smile. It was calming. I force my eyes open, tried to keep them focused.


    ¡°You with me?¡±


    I nodded my head, it took all the strength I had.


    ¡°Good, you¡¯re doing well,¡± She said, ¡°Jon hand me that bag of fluid.¡±


    ¡°Jon?¡± I muttered.


    ¡°Yep, I¡¯m here,¡± He said as his face entered my view, ¡°You look a little bit better.¡±


    She disconnected and empty bag off of a metal pole and took the fresh round bag from Jon and hung it on the pole. She connected it to a tube that ran to my arm.


    ¡°N-No Drugs,¡± I stammered trying to pull my arm away from her.


    ¡°It¡¯s OK,¡± She softly said, ¡°It¡¯s just fluid, you are dehydrated.¡±


    ¡°How long have I been here?¡±


    ¡°A couple of days,¡±


    I was missing work, I tried to sit up but I could not get my body to respond. I realized I was not in an EC. Jon held me down.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°You need to rest,¡± He said.


    ¡°My EC?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s at your home, waiting for you, just rest now.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡±


    ¡°You are going through withdrawals,¡± The woman said, ¡°Almost lost you at one point.¡±


    ¡°Withdrawals?¡±


    ¡°It happens when anyone leaves their EC, The System has all kinds of drugs in your system. It was rash of you to go cold turkey like that. You were lucky. I¡¯ve seen too many who tried the same thing and it did not end up well for them,¡± The woman said.


    ¡°If the System did not call for me, there was a good chance you would have died,¡± Jon added.


    ¡°I felt trapped, I needed out.¡±


    "Like Liz here said, you were lucky," Jon responded.


    ¡°I need to get back to my house, my job,¡± I struggled to sit up. My head went dizzy again and I floated back to the bed, to the damp pillow.


    ¡°Take it easy!¡± Jon said trying to reassure me, ¡°You need rest, it will all be there when you choose to go back.¡±


    "When I choose?" I was laying here sweating and dizzy. I could barely move. I did not have my EC. How would I move, walk, eat, or anything? I ached. Is this better? When I was with my EC I was always safe and I always felt fine. I felt strong in it. I¡¯m weak now, useless. My eyes started to close, I could not stop them. I''m tired, my head was hurting. I felt no relief, except when I slept.  It was the only choice I had.


    I sat on a hill under a tree with no leaves. The city seemed dark and dead. The landscape was gray and the protective dome was gone. I sat there looking over the park and I saw EC¡¯s slumped everywhere littering the ground, devoid of users.


    ¡°System,¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± The System replied.


    ¡°Where are the users?¡±


    ¡°What users?¡±


    I woke up with a mighty twitch. It was dark. I could not see much. I looked around. I was panicking. The room was old and had pictures of art on the walls, not sterile like all the rooms I have seen. I was in a bed without my EC. I struggle to sit up and I managed to do so. I swung my legs out of the bed. I was sitting. There was no support on my back and I felt myself slump. I could feel the cold floor under my feet. I closed my eyes, it was a new sensation to feel cold organically. It felt good. My muscles were there, kept in shape, enhanced to prevent deterioration, but I had no idea how to use them.


    It was very calming in here. It smelled good, smells I have noticed in the parks, floral. It was also very quiet. I have never ever been alone with this much quiet. It was a deafening lack of sound. I could hear my ears ringing. I closed my eyes again and then lowered myself back down into the softness of this bed. I pulled my legs in and laid there, listening to nothing.

 Ten.

    It had been several days, I was eating and tasting some of the best things in the world. Liz and Jon both would chuckle when they would see my reaction to new foods. I was eating all the time. The purist here at the Mason house grew their own food on the roof. Not that they did not have a replicator, they did, but they choose to experience food as natural. I never had to think about it much when I was in my EC. My EC did make my life a lot easier but there was satisfaction and exhilaration in doing tasks on my own. I was starting to understand why there were purists.


    The hardest part of the past few days was my moods, I was so used not to having them. Having them was scary, like a voice yelling in my head.


    I sat there brooding. My arms folded. Liz sat across from me in another chair.


    ¡°I hate this, I feel so weak. I don¡¯t even understand the stuff going on in my head.¡±


    Liz passed me a piece of paper. On it was a list of feelings.


    "I feel like a fool, like a kid. This is grade school stuff.


    ¡°It is,¡± She replied ¡°All our lives we¡¯re told not to feel, or to feel is bad. We are never told what to do with them, how to cope with them. Given drugs to wipe them out. They are simple. It takes practice to put words to how we feel. We have to stop and think about what that feeling means to us. It takes a lot of courage to feel.¡±


    Liz was the resident doctor. There were not many purists that had achieved that title. The System allows it because the Purist needed some kind of health care. She worked in a clinic not too far from the Mason House.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go for a walk, you got to train those muscles." She got up and helped me to my feet. At a slow pace and with Liz as a crutch, we headed up to the roof. I hated stairs.


    I sat on a chair at the top of Mason House. The city sprawled in front of me and the garden was behind me. I looked at the gray and white building some towering far above. There were no windows. I never even knew about these gardens which dotted the city. I never had a window, I never wanted to look outside. The breeze caught my face and I closed my eyes. Liz crouched and rubbed my legs.


    ¡°How does this all exist?¡±


    ¡°Purists work under the city where drones and EC can¡¯t go, the old parts. They provide encryption to secure data. Corporations can detect and decrypt any algorithm the System could create, but a Purist was the perfect random key. We are allowed to exist, but we are a hair away from being in servitude. It is a constant fight to keep what rights we have. To stay free.¡±


    ¡°Freedom? I thought I was Free. I never knew.¡±


    ¡°You know that game you played?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Slaver,¡±


    ¡°You never knew this, but it is real.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    "Yes, real. Purists are not allowed to leave the city. Leaving is criminal. The game you play is to capture purist for a bonus, Runaways."


    ¡°No?¡± I was staring in disbelief.


    ¡°Yes, you operated a drone.¡±


    ¡°That can¡¯t be, how can that be.¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°The system lies, the corporations lie and human rights suffer.¡±


    I felt guilt, a ton of it as my heart sunk.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, this is another thing that you will have to go through, another thing to think and feel about. Guilt is never pleasant.¡± Liz said with a caring smile, ¡°You can always talk to me if you need to.¡±


    ¡°Has anyone left the dome?¡±


    ¡°We are not sure, that game was pretty efficient.¡±


    ¡°Why are you so willing to help me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m human, you are too. You are not the first and you are not the last.¡±


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± I heard Jon¡¯s voice behind me.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I replied.


    I stretched my legs out and stood up, I was getting my own mobility back. I was still a little slow and exact but I was getting the hang of walking. Liz gave me a cane and a smile. I knew it was time to support myself.


    All through in this life I had a morbid curiosity about purists. When I was young I was rebellious and even threaten to be one. Shame my mother and father. I never thought I would be here. I thought they were freaks. Now I see the appeal.


    I have not been out of the Mason House since the ejection, Jon and I walked on the street. I awkwardly supported myself with a cane. I was already a bit tired even though my home was a few blocks away.


    "Keep on going, it gets easier with time," Jon said.


    ¡°Seems so close, but far away at the same time,¡± I was breathing heavily.


    We got to the entry of the building. Jon used his access key to call for the service elevator. The door slid open and we both boarded. The door closed and I felt the jerk as the lift shot us skyward.


    The door slid open and there in front of me was my home. I entered and realized that it was small, not a home but a room. I looked around and it felt claustrophobic. Jon followed me in. I looked at my EC slumped on the floor motionless. I touched it, ran my fingers across the smooth surface. I looked at how lifeless it was and how confining it had been. How synthetic it is. I looked at it with disdain.


    It protected me for so long. From what? I never had so much pleasure peeing in the morning or drinking a cold glass of water.


    ¡°Do you miss it?¡± Jon asked.


    ¡°Yes, I miss it sometimes when I am building my strength and I can feel the pain it takes to build it. I never felt pain in my EC, but I never felt anything real.¡±


    I turned and looked into my terminal. Jon pulled the inputs free from the EC and pulled the cables to me.


    ¡°Here,¡± He said as he handed them to me.


    I took them and looked at Jon, I felt a little fear looking at them. I reach up to my neck and plugged them in. The terminal flickered to life.


    ¡®Welcome back,¡± The System said and displayed a string of ads.


    I have not heard an ad for days now. I like the quiet. I bit my lip and allowed the ads to pass as a minor annoyance. My task window opened. There were at least a hundred messages from Robert and work. I selected a work message, one that said ¡°Urgent¡±. It opened to a discharge statement, I was fired from my position.


    "I figured," I muttered. Jon chuckled.


    "Hey, you got me fired!"


    "Sure, but there is no going back from an ejection," Jon said.


    I opened the last message from Robert.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Robert¡¯s voice echoed in the room.


    I felt that feeling in my gut. Guilt again. The truth is that my life and his were now separated. We played games but I don¡¯t remember once when we talked. I deleted it as my heart grew heavy.


    I transferred what money and resources that I had left to a portable asset stick and I logged off. One last series of advertisements and then the screen flickered off. I unplugged and dropped the inputs to the floor.


    One last look around the lifeless, sterile, windowless room. I was one of the thousands in this building. I always thought I had everything but when I looked around I had nothing. I backed out and the door slid shut.


    I followed Jon back to the elevator.


    "Once you are healthy and mobile, I will set you up as a trainee," Jon told me as we walked back to Mason House.


    ¡°To fix EC¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°Well, you got to do something,¡±


    ¡°I was thinking, something where I interacted with Purists. Something a little more real.¡±


    ¡°Huh,¡± He chuckled, ¡°I get it.¡±

 Eleven.

    It was dark, darker than normal. I reached for the lamp next to my bed. It did not respond. I could not see anything but a dim red light glowing from under the doorway. I sat still in the dark. I heard mumbles in the hallway, I heard footsteps.


    I heard a knock on my door and then it opened. A bright light shined in my face, my pupils contracted and all I could see was a blob of white no matter where I looked.


    ¡°Rico you OK,¡± Liz asked.


    "Yes, what''s going on?" I replied trying to avert my eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, the building lost power,¡± Liz stated as she took a quick look back in the hall.


    ¡°The whole building?¡± I said as I stood up.


    Liz handed me her light. Then she pulled out her key ring and switched on a small bluish light.


    ¡°As far as we can tell, the elevator is out too,¡± She sounded nervous, ¡°John went down to the basement to see what was going on.¡±


    I went out into the hallway. Folks were gathering in the Common room on the floor. One person was looking at the terminal and trying to get it to respond. It flickered and went dark.


    ¡°Not even the backup works,¡± the person said.


    I walked to the stairwell of the building, opened the door, and shined the flashlight down. It ominously lit the floors and the stairs. I wanted to go down. My nemesis, one step at a time. I was getting the hang of walking but stairs were a different matter.


    I held the rail and placed my foot down. I brought my other foot down to each step. I was getting the hang of it as I made slow progress. This was a bad idea. I convinced myself that this was better than sitting and waiting. I needed to know so I pushed on.


    On each floor I passed I heard voices of the tenants, I heard the questions and the mummers and speculations. Everyone was staying put. I came to the last door on the first floor. I stopped and rubbed my sore legs. I looked up at a sign on a door that read ¡°To Basement¡±.


    I opened the door to another flight of stairs. I sighed and took a deep breath and continued on. Once I got to the bottom I saw a small corridor with an open room at the end. I could see a stationary beam of light striking the wall.


    ¡°Jon, you down here?¡± I said with a loud tone. No one replied.


    I pushed down the hall to the open door. I cautiously peeked in.


    ¡°Jon?¡±


    ¡°Jesus! You scared the crap out of me,¡± Jon stepped out of the darkness.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    I was startled too and took a deep breath.


    ¡°Did you find anything?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Nothing, I can¡¯t get anything, not even the backup system is responding.¡±


    ¡°Nothing?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± He said once again, this time it made me worry, it made my heart race, ¡°We need to go next door, and they have the main circuit. It could be damaged." He reasoned.


    He rushed past me and ran up the stairs. I tried to follow but going up was way worse than going down.


    ¡°Hey Wait up,¡± I yelled after him.


    ¡°Take your time baby legs, I¡¯ll meet you there.¡± He said with a chuckle and then disappeared behind the open door at the top of the stairs.


    It took me far longer than I wanted, but I managed to get up the stairs. The top of my legs was in pain and I was sweating.


    ¡°This is worth it, remember this is worth it.¡±


    The basement door closed behind me as I forced the first-floor door open. It was still dark. There were people gathered around the open door in the main lobby that led out of the Mason House. It was dark out there too. People were, at the least, worried.


    I hobbled outside to the sidewalk. It was dark, very dark. I could not see the tall buildings, the road, and the sidewalks. Only what my light lit. I looked next door and I saw an open door. I walked over still scanning the area with my light.


    The building was quiet when I entered and I saw the service door open at the end of a hall. I saw a light jiggle up the stairs as Jon returned. His forehead wrinkled with worry and he was sweating.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± He swallowed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± I looked into his eyes.


    ¡°There is no power going to the main circuits,¡± He swallowed again, ¡°and by the looks of things there is no power at all.¡±


    My heart was pumping. ¡°That can¡¯t be, I don¡¯t even think that was possible?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I am heading down to Maintenance, I need to find out what going on.¡± Jon said as he shoved past me. He ran into the dark. I watched him leave until the flicker of his light was no longer visible. People stood outside the Mason House with lights looking around. They were defiantly worried, one child was crying in her mother¡¯s arms. She held her tight. I stopped and looked at them. My father and mother are off-world, I felt relief about that. Then I thought about the contact between child and mother I was observing. I was never hugged, at least that I recall. Was that why I was so disconnected from them? It looked comforting.


    ¡°Rico,¡± Liz called me from the doorway, ¡°Come with me, you need to see this.¡±


    I unsteadily walked to her. She put my arm over her shoulder and supported me. She awkwardly helped me up the stairs. It took forever but she was determined to get me to the roof garden.


    The roof door opened and we limped out to the middle of the garden, sweating and breathing heavily. I looked around. It was dark as far as the eye could see. I crept to the edge and leaned against the rail. I looked down. I saw the folks at the Mason house below looking around with blades of light from flashlights lighting the dark surfaces.


    I looked out further. There were little lights speckled throughout the city, other purists. What I did not see was a single EC, police, or vehicle. The city was silent.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Liz said with just a hint of fear in her voice.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know?¡± I replied, ¡°Jon said he was going to find out. Maybe this is just for a moment. We should just sit tight.¡±


    We did we sat on a bench and she held my hand. I looked down at it, feeling that warmth that I felt when she saved me. It was comforting. We sat there just looking out into the dark, feeling a breeze. Slowly others came up and sat quietly.

 Twelve.

    Jon helped me outside, the world was in chaos. The dark was lit yellow by scattered fires. I could hear the purists voices in the dark barking out orders. Groups of purists ran past me and off into the dark. I walked as fast as I could as Jon gripped my upper arm, rushing me through the city streets.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I asked him trying to catch my breath.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking you to central Maintenance.¡± He said looking around in the chaos.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°There is a terminal there, I can power it with the battery in my scanner, but I can¡¯t scan it at the same time. I need your inputs.¡± He replied.


    We weaved through the streets past people who were panicking, crying, and leading. We came to a wide road. There were several purists helping a man out of his collapsed EC. He was panicking, he was yelling and begging them not to take him away from his EC. He was in pain, a pain that I knew well. The backup power system on the EC failed, instead of power, it burst into flames. It was never designed for an outage like this. There was never supposed to be an outage like this.


    We traveled a few more blocks but were blocked by burning debris that had fallen from a building.


    ¡°Crap, we can¡¯t go this way,¡± Jon said, ¡°We got to double back.¡±


    He turned me around and we limped back. I looked up, the buildings were tall, immense and the flames were working their way up. Smoke billowed out of the vents and occasionally flames shot out of them. There had to be a thousand residents in the buildings. There was no way out for those souls. I was overwhelmed by sadness, my heart swelled, tingled, and felt heavy and there was a hopelessness I have never felt before. My eyes blurred as I felt a tear run down my cheek. I had only heard about tears, I have never seen one, let alone created one.


    Jon pulled out a rag from his pocket and handed it to me.


    ¡°Hang in there, wipe your face,¡± He said, ¡°We got to keep moving.¡±


    It seemed like it took forever. I was being overwhelmed by what I heard in the darkness, the crying, the pleas, and the fear. I was fighting all these feelings inside of me too. How could Jon keep his focus? How could I tune this out? Feelings are as much of a burden as they are a miracle. This was the darker side of my choice.


    We made it to the steps of a building with large doors, all have been slid open. There were purists in utility outfits running in and out of the building.


    ¡°Jon,¡± A purist waved as we approached.


    ¡°Max!¡± He shouted, ¡°Take Rico here down to the terminal, I need to grab my tools.¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± Max responded as he threw my arm over his shoulder and rushed me away.


    Max took me through one of the large doors and past some large construction vehicles. There were a lot of people in here, working and yelling. They were trying to get the equipment running and they looked frustrated as they failed. Max juggled a doorknob and force the door open. He tried to drag me in. I pulled away.


    ¡°I can walk,¡± I said.


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°Ok, Follow me.¡±


    I kept up as much as I could, he was rushed and kept looking back to make sure I was there. I pushed myself and then we arrived, sweating and breathing heavily. It was a computer room. Large systems lined the walls, all dark and motionless. There was a bank of terminals on the opposite wall. In front was a bay of docks for EC''s, but there were all empty. Max grabbed a simple chair and put it down in front of one of the terminals.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Here you go,¡± He said looking at me with promise. I sat down, sweating and my legs hurt. I sighed as I caught my breath.


    We waited. We heard the yells and the bustle of the facility, but still no lights. It had been many hours by now. Jon, out of breath, had made it and put down his toolbox. He tried to speak but had to swallow first. He knelt down and pulled out his diagnostic device and opened up the back. He plucked out a couple of wires. He then opened the side of the terminal and pulled two wires out. He grabbed another tool from his toolbox and soldered the wires together. He turned on the Diagnostic device and the terminal flickered on.


    ¡°Quick,¡± He said breathless and pointed at the input cables sitting on the ground. I plugged them in. The terminal was in emergency mode. A menu of functions appeared.


    ¡°Check the error logs,¡± Jon said as he pointed at the screen.


    I looked through the list of choices and selected the Error Log.


    ¡°The log is huge. The system went down, and then it was isolated,¡± Jon read out loud, ¡°This terminal has been sealed off, it cannot contact the network, it cannot see The System.¡±


    "Look here," I focused on a record and brought up the details.


    ¡°This System was compromised, hacked." He read, "That impossible, this only allows access to the Power Grid and to the Systems security. The systems were systematically pulled down. "


    ¡°Looks like there were payloads, worms, and the system was riddled with them. They sat dormant until they were triggered. The system did not even know about them. We were compromised and we were clueless. The System returned the attack with its own payloads. This was not the government, this was corporations. This was mutual destruction. There¡¯s more but I¡¯m too isolated to see it.¡±


    I tried to override it, but I was blocked, locked out.


    ¡°Who could have done this?¡±


    ¡°They all did, the fuckers,¡± Jon replied.


    Jon slid back and sat down on the ground. He looked distraught. The lights on the Terminal flickered as the battery drained. It went dark. I reached up and unplugged the inputs.


    ¡°Well?¡± Max asked.


    ¡°This is bad, really bad,¡± Jon looked up, ¡°Go to code red, and we need to get the lights back on. Tell everyone, we have to do this manually.¡±


    ¡°Shit, really," Max replied, "How in the hell are we going to do that?"


    "Get all the engineers here, find them all," Jon said.


    Max pulled himself together and nodded. He left.


    Jon lowered his head and rubbed the back of his neck.


    ¡°What going on Jon? What can we do?¡±


    Nothing right now,¡± He replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have the slightest idea what to do. Every bit of training was still dependent on something the System provided.¡±  Jon tried to hold it together. But he couldn¡¯t any longer. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.


    # The sky was illuminated by the orange of the fires, the building black and ominous. There was nothing I could do. I was in the way and exhausted. I made my way back to the park. I sat on a bench in the dark. Temporary, lights were scattered here in there.


    Bodies are laid in rows. People writhing, screaming, and convulsing. Some had stopped moving, even breathing. Liz and a handful of helpers were trying their hardest to comfort them. They kept coming, people ejected from their EC¡¯s, from the system. Purists brought them on stretchers, dragging them, carrying them.


    I tried to get up, but I was still weak. I sat there watching. I could do nothing. Two exhausted purists carried a limp woman close to my bench. They laid her on the ground and ran off. The woman was in shock, she stared at me.


    ¡°It will be O.K,¡± I said.


    ¡°Kill me,¡± She replied and closed her eyes. She started to convulse and foamed at the mouth.


    I slipped off the bench and crawled to her. I rolled her on her side. The convulsions subsided. Her breathing labored. I stroked her hair. Her breathing stopped. She went limp, she was gone. I sat there staring at her. A tear fell from my eye onto her cheek.


    The sky lit up as I sat there holding her. First orange and then yellow, the sun¡¯s rays illuminated the walls of the white buildings. The greens became vivid. The haze from the fires clouded the tops of the buildings and the dome was barely visible.


    I looked across the park. I could see hundreds of people. Laying on the ground, most were dead. I looked at Liz as she fell to her knees.


    I got up and walked to her, my legs shaky and exhausted. I kneeled down to her and touched her shoulder. She looked up and stared into my eyes.


    ¡°I can¡¯t save them,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°You can¡¯t,¡± I replied, ¡°but you saved me, and you will save others. I was not the first and I will not be the last.¡±


    We held each other tight. The future will look different. I don¡¯t think any of us can even fathom what it will look like.


    END.