The invitation didn’t come through the mail. There was no thick stock paper or wax sealed envelope. No, the times had changed and it was the noise of a notification hitting an inbox. A blinking light on his glasses accompanied the computerized tone.
“Open R.E.” It stood for: open most recent email. Computer commands had been shortened to abbreviations to save time. Time is money.
Text began scrolling across his glasses. He could see fine without the special glass, but interfacing with a phone was a decades old process. His parents had been the last generation to have the archaic skill of using a mouse. As the text scrolled, he had become distracted by someone writing in a journal. The fact that certain people refused to move into the new age seemed asinine.
“T.M.” Another short hand for read me the email.
There were no speakers on the frame of his fake glasses, but he heard the text nonetheless, “What up bro fer anotha ma.” Short hand for: brother from another mother, “How would you like to join the new pilot program for VE? Guess who has tickets for the launch day, don’t guess, it is me. Can you get to Gopple’s headquarters later today?”
In the past, people would have scoffed at his dance of jubilation. In this age they were all busy reading their own emails. It wasn’t unnatural to see someone jump into the air out of the blue. The man working on his journal was far more eccentric. People always broke out in dance, some cried in the corner, it all depended on what they were seeing in their own personal world. Unlike some other individuals, he was responding to the best news from anyone who was a Gopple supporter. VE, was the newest technology and was only hinted at on the forums. It was supposed to be the newest innovation to pushed humans to the next level of technological integration.
He calmed himself and began with the short hand for dictate, “Dic.”
The voice echoed in his head, “Ready to transcribe.”
“I am down! What time and how much should I bring.” There was a three second pause and then a slight tone signified that it had been sent.
This three second pause was scientifically proven to be the appropriate amount of time for someone to finish their message. Millions of dollars had been spent on this research and it had improved usability of the special glasses. Instead of adding words a user could just wait a moment and their O-Mail would hit the recipient.
Roughly thirty seconds later he had received his response, “Yannis, you have to be there in thirty minutes.”
“Time to Gopple?”
His glasses responded with a joke, “You are going to my home?”
“Of course! Fastest route.”
“Calculating, enjoy the trailer on the new Nancy Cyrus video.” His glasses knew him very well, and he sat on a nearby recharging station. He watched the battery symbol on his glasses illuminate with a light bulb. “The route will take five minutes by Gop-Tax, the vehicle is already paid for and on its way.”
“Thanks! What is Bob up too?” Within moments it showed his friends view finder. He had been in Shanghai for two weeks to locate the best location for a new Yamung factory. Bob was looking on an untouched forest and using his glasses to map current flood patterns based on historical satellite data. The software had chosen the optimum place, but he had to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. “Bob, Yannis here. See any crazy shit out there?”
“Naw, same shit different day. Got to see a monkey. Fed him a banana, it was tits.”
“Hold on one sec.”
A small car had pulled up next to Yannis and spoke in a sensual voice, “Route to Gopple has been calculated. Are you carrying anything that can be harmful to the corporation?”
“No, just got my glasses.”
“Are you carrying any keys?”
“No, just my glasses.”
“Scan has been complete. No lies were detected in your voice patterns. Please enter. Would you like lunch or dinner?”
“Lunch will work.”
“Time is money! Have a seat fine patron.”
“Thanks.” He changed back to his conversation with his friend, “Bob, why do you keep doing that shit? You know you could sit at home and make the same money with a drone. That’s how I get my stuff done.” He entered the plush leather taxi and his charging light sprung to life again. The leather was the newest blend of synthetic animal fibers that had been grown in Monsangle’s factories. He released a slight moan as it adjusted to his form, “Oh god, that is heavenly.”
“Um, are you seeing what I am seeing?” He gestured towards the forest that was before him.
“Yea, I see that through my drone every day. What are you going to do if there is a landslide?”
“Die. Who really cares? I saw a monkey today.”
“I would care if you died. I could go to the zoo and see a monkey.” The door closed and a milky white substance was dispensed into a glass.
The Gop-Tax acknowledged that his lunch was served, “Your lunch has been dispensed. This will satisfy the nutrients you are currently lacking.” As the GT, Gop-Tax, left the ground, Yannis looked at the enigma that was writing in his journal. He had removed a small sandwich in a plastic bag and a clear bottle filled with, what he imagined, was water. “Sir, you seem to be confused. Is there anything I can clarify for you?”
“Why do they exist?”
“Who?”
“The man with the sandwich.”
“Unknown entity, no data has been found in the archives.”
“Well, at least I am not the only one that is confused.” He jumped back to Bob, who had been listening, “Bob, I am back.” He gulped the tasteless lunch. His goal was the flavoring at the end. It was supposed to be tomato soup and grilled cheese with ham.
“Well, that makes one. I swear, my wife wouldn’t give a shit if I died tomorrow. She prefers that damn simulation with Michael Hanks. How can I compete with such a pedigree?”
“Dude, science has given us all the same appearance to keep competition down. Not to mention, she can’t be touched or experience him physically. They just go on dates or some shit. She is just enamored with his a name and inheritance. Go give her the ol’ college try.”
Sarcasm laced Bob’s voice, “Alright man, I will when I get back.” His voice righted itself, “So, what is up with the call, just bored?”
“Yea, on my way to the VE release.”
“Holy shit! What the fuck! How could you not start with that?”
Yannis laughed, “Come on man, I had to make it seem like I really cared about some dumb rainforest.”
“Yea, well you had me going there for a minute. Who got you in?”
“Can’t say.”
“You are a dick.”
“Yea I know.” A smirk was on his face.
“Fuck off, I am going back to work.” The image ended and Yannis was left with only himself.
As the GT traveled, he looked out the windows but was quickly bored. He chose to catch up on his plogs and news articles. One of his frames was scrolling through text, while the other showed images. The entire internet was abuzz with information and speculation on the VE. He was going to be one of the few to actually know the real specs and capabilities. A grin was plastered on his face as the vehicle arrived.
The door swung open and the sensual voice returned, “Have a wonderful day, and thank you for choosing Gop-Tax.” As he left a female patron entered the car, the voice changed to a gruff and manly tone, “Welcome to Gop-Tax do you have anything on your person?” He found it funny that women scientifically found that voice more comforting.
Out of the crowd he heard his name, “Yannis! Come on man.”
He acknowledged his friend with a head nod over Twibook, “Charlie, I owe you so much.”
“Ah, don’t thank me yet. We still gotta get past these heathens.” He winked in real life, “Come one there is an entrance around the side.”
They moved in silence. Neither of them really could discuss much in public. It felt awkward to have people hear your intimate conversations. Instead, they had loaded a messaging app that had just hit the market. It used the chip that helped each one hear without speakers. Instead of releasing information, it actually took the user’s brainwaves and then translated those microscopic vibrations into text. It wasn’t perfect, but it did the job and they could send rudimentary text messages to one another.
Yannis was too excited to see whatever VE was and, in his child like delight, forgot the proper protocols when moving through Gopple’s headquarters. He hadn’t missed the G that was super imposed over an apple, but didn’t care. It was in the middle of the yellow and white doors that glinted in the sunlight. He reached out to open the doorway, but his hand was quickly slammed to the ground by a security guard. It snapped him out of his dreamlike hazy. Suddenly, he noticed Charlie on his knees prostrating before the doorway.
The security guard was first to the gun, “Yannis! You have been invited here for the VE introduction. How dare you not show your proper respect? You understand how incredible it is to be invited?” The glasses had divulged all of Yannis’ information
“Yes sir!” Yannis was shouting as he shot to his knees and began his prostrations.
“Good.” He nodded his head as Yannis devoted himself to Gopple, “Charlie, I apologize for hitting your guest.”
Charlie smiled as he rose to his feet, “Not an issue. Remember, even I am not exempt from our corporate charter. The by-laws were drafted by the creators and they supersede me.”
The smile eased the guard’s nervousness, “I would never hit you. You are the CEO.” Yannis visibly flinched.
Charlie’s gaze drifted towards the logo for Gopple and his voice became soft, “I am but a person, the corporation is an organization. Each person is only a part of the whole. The whole is the organization and each part must show respect. Not a single part is exempt from showing the proper admiration to the corporation. Remember that, and you will go far.”
The guard immediately began to genuflect before the G over the apple. As he began his prostration, Yannis had risen beside Charlie, “I am sorry Charlie, I completely got sucked into the atmosphere. It won’t happen again.”
The young CEO’s gaze was still fixed on the logo, “Yannis, no one is to know my position outside of Gopple. Ever since we moved to an opaque business model, the corporation has been able to function better. We are quicker to market, lawsuits can no longer remove excellent leaders, and our employees can work without fear of repercussions. That is why we have dominated the market and crushed Yamung. They are still using our services on their own glasses. And now, now we have them bested again.” He shook his eyes from the logo and continued motioned for Yannis to enter through the doorway, “Remember, your devices are going to be deactivated the moment we enter the headquarters.” A smile appeared on his face, “That includes mine. Please keep quiet as other patrons will be supplicating with our geniuses.”
“Understood, thank you so much for letting me know your secret.”
“It wasn’t a choice, but I know you are one of our zealous followers. You would never betray us.” A lot of the bad connotations of zealous had been dropped over the years.
“Never, not once in my life.”
“That is why you are one of the lucky few.”
As they entered the room, the glasses went translucent and all the notifications disappeared. He could hear mumbles from various individuals. Their heads were bowed towards the ground. His eyes were fixated on the LED light path that had displayed itself in the ground. This would take him to his appropriate seat. Eventually, the lights formed a box and he kneeled on the freshly grown leather.
He barely whispered, “Thanks Monsangle.” Luckily, no one heard him praise another corporation.
Before him was an awkwardly shaped pile of paper. He shrugged it off as garbage. Inside the presentation room there was no noise. Even when the leather conformed to his body it made no noise. Only the human factor was the problem, and he moaned. Immediately pain erupted on his right side as someone hit him with a jab. It could have been Charlie, but there was no way to know without breaking Gopple’s laws.
Eventually a genius arrived at his side, “Hello sir, as you know there are certain terms and conditions for participating in the presentation. These must be agreed upon before we begin the presentation. Have you had time to review these legally binding laws?” He could tell the genius was a female by her soothing voice. Only those with scientifically proven voices were allowed to be geniuses. His glasses must have given the presenter his preference before they were turned off.
He was barely speaking, “My glasses were shut off.” He couldn’t stand people over hearing his conversations. He got anxious and tense as he dreamed of his glasses.
“Of course sir, the information is before you in those documents.”
“Where?” He kept balling up more and more, because every word he spoke was miserable.
“Here.” The genius reached forward and pulled the paper documents towards Yannis, “These are the documents you need to read and sign. Do not be embarrassed. Everyone in the room has had a similar problem. Do you need me to turn the pages for you?” This was a serious question.
“Yes, I don’t have my special gloves. I didn’t know that I would be handling paper.” Embarrassment flushed his face and he started clenching his jaw.
The two proceeded through the document. At the end was signature line and the genius held out a pen, “Can you sign the document?”
“No, I never practiced my signature. Do you take blood prints?” If they didn’t take blood prints, he would die.
“Yes, of course. They are more reliable than signatures.” The genius handed him a small metal box with millions of tiny needles. Yannis pushed his thumb into the contraption and winced. As he pulled his thumb back, millions of tiny droplets of blood began to form on the surface of his thumb’s skin. He then rolled his finger against the bottom of the document, “There you go. Good job! Thank you very much.”
“Why are you using such an archaic technology? I haven’t done a blood print in a decade.” His curiosity had crushed his anxiety.
“Well, your glass cannot be accessed. Thus, we either accept a signature, but prefer blood prints. Just between you and me, I kicked out three people who refused to perform a blood print. They thought their signature was secure.” The genius chuckled as she put the paper work into her small folder. She slipped it into the floor in front of his illuminated square: “All done!”
The presentation was like all presentations from Gopple. There was the figurehead of Gopple, but was the equivalent of an outsourced marketing team. He had zero influence on the company and was only chosen to be the face of Gopple because of his appearance. He was pleasing to both men and women, which was scientifically improbable. Yet, it happened on a couple of occasions.
There were lights, there was screaming, a few individuals fainted. Nothing out of the ordinary. Until they got to the section on VE, Jacob – the figurehead – began, “Ever been video chatting your friend who was out exploring to the world. Come on, I know you guys have!” He looked directly at Yannis, “This guy was just looking at the forests of Shangahi.” Yannis was beaming with excitement, he had been the focus of a sentence in the presentation. “You know what his friend said to him?” Silence, “Come on! I am asking, what did he ask him?!”
The crowd all shouted in unison, “What?”
“It isn’t the same as being here. Can you believe that, he thought that he was better than his buddy because he was actually on location? Well, how many of you have experienced that before.” Yannis didn’t understand why he felt anger. That wasn’t how Bob and his conversation had transpired. Yet, he was throwing a fist in the air and responding the same as the crowd.
In unison, “Yea, what’s so special about being on location?”
Individuals were fired up and shouting out of turn, “My GD.” GD stood for Gopple Drone, “Allows me to interact with those dangerous environments from the safety of my home. Why risk my life?!”
“Ha, that guy must be suicidal.”
“Screw him!
“How dare he spit in the face of Gopple. The corporation can’t stand for this!”
This went on for some time, Jacob consistently egged on his constituents.
Yet, it ended when someone yelled, “He must have been a Yamung user.”
A collective gasp escaped the crowd. It was blasphemous to use the competitors name in the presentation hall. Immediately, the ground opened and he was sucked beneath the floor. He was alive, but barred from ever stepping foot at the Gopple’s headquarter. All of his devices that were Gopple integrated would be shutoff. His entire personality would be lost. Most that were banned killed themselves within a week.
“Do not worry, he shall be escorted from the grounds. We are still in power.” Jacob threw up a fist as jets of flames shot behind him: “They will never overtake us! Alas.” He sat down on a small brown stool and shook his head, “We now have the upper hand. Drones? Friends that think they are better than you because they risk their lives? Excellent. With all of the data we have been collecting, thanks to you, our users! We have finally reconstructed the entire planet in three dimensions. Yes, I know, that doesn’t solve the issue of seeing it through the lenses of your glasses. That old technology has been around for decades. But today, today, we render it obsolete. BEHOLD!”
He was screaming and motioned towards a tiny glass cylinder in the middle of the room. Hundreds of these tubes began to appear from the floor. They were in the middle of four people. Inside the tube were four tiny grains of sand, one for each person. Everyone had befuddled looks on their face, but Jacob knew about timing. He waited until all the tubes had stopped and each person had time to be thoroughly confused.
Jacob coughed into his microphone to get the attention of his audience, “The newest system from Gopple. Yes, twenty years in the making, testing on almost every animal in the known world. This is the only system that can allow a user to enter a virtual world and interact with it. Now, you can visit the forest of Shanghai! The mountains of the Alps! What about Mount Everest you say? Well simple, you just think it and you are there. The cold lapping at your face as you ascended the tallest mount in the world. The feeling of your muscles straining as you fight through five feet of snow! The dessert heat of the Savannah as you watch the lions! This isn’t just a visual interface. No, this is the bodies turn to interface with the world. Now your entire body can feel the environments from around the world.” He was leaning forward and making direct eye contact with a woman in the first row, “You can finally touch a coconut in its natural environment.” His voice was almost a whisper, “All the while, you could be knitting in your home. Yes, not only does it allow you to escape and experience danger, it will run your pesky body through the mundaneness of life. BEHOLD! The new VE. The first form of technology that allows the user to experience all the adventure of life, while their body performs the appropriate actions.” He winked at the woman – she fainted – and then he addressed the whole audience with a booming voice, “And it is free!”
Screams of joy erupted from the crowd. Finally, their bodies could stay in shape while their minds explored. No more need for an external interface. They would be implanted with the best form of technology. The screams eventually died down and the crowd dropped to the floor. Each began bowing before their clear tube. Yannis and Charlie were not exempt from this behavior.
With silence falling over the room, Jacob continued, “Yet, we can only offer this for free with everyone’s help. Thus, the terms and conditions for the product have a special stipulation. While you sleep, for eight hours a day, you will need to donate your body to Gopple for manufacturing purposes. It won’t affect your day to day. Your brain will sleep, VE will just send impulses to your body and mobilize it for the manufacturing process. This is the same way that your body will continue to do what it needs to do in order to stay healthy, while your mind explores Earth and more.”
Someone yelled out, “More?!”
“Ahh yes, we have mapped the ocean, Mars, Venus, and Pluto. You are no longer limited by your physical body.”
From the back row a woman’s voice echoed, “Praise Gopple.” Yannis smiled, Gopple had done it again. Now he could finally understand what Bob loved about his trips abroad. Gopple had finally won the technology wars with Yamung. The final nail in the coffin.
Jacob nodded in agreement, “Yes, praise Gopple. Now there will be some geniuses coming around to answer questions. Your glasses will come online. You will be offered the terms and conditions. The second you agree, we will start the implantation process.”
Yannis’ glasses turned on and immediately displayed the terms and conditions for VE. He smiled as he scrolled all the way to the bottom to accept. He trusted Gopple, and was willing to donate himself to their war. He accepted without reading a single word and missed the clause about changing the agreement at any moment without notification.