The conversations had gone something like this:
“No laws broken; no harm done,” the team had proclaimed.
Kendra had insisted, “It would be sensible if the PPRE required each participant to meet up with the person they’d entered into a relationship with for one hour each week, in person.”
Dan agreed and said, “I like that each Productzen is allowed only one such relationship, which gives commitment and loving ownership a deeper meaning. This will resonate with people.
Another team member chimed in, “People buying our service will have a sense of pride, respect, and trust.”
A financial expert had said, “The relationship can be a mutual investment—that’s easy to structure financially.” She pulled up the pay structure for the whole team to see and explained, “But if the relationship is not accepted mutually, then if the initiating party chooses to force the partnership, they should be one hundred percent responsible for the cost of the services.”
“Agreed,” the team had answered.
Dan had queried, “What is the major difference between this relationship package and Orns’s relationship products?”
The team had thought about the question for a bit before another team member had said, “It is similar, except we should offer a clause that protects products from any contact or physical abuse. Human products must retain their physical value, which is something that Orns does not hold sacred.”
The manager had agreed by saying, “This clause can protect against illegal and distracting sexual encounters or other activities that are illegal for nonfree members of society.”
Another team member had refined the subscription by adding, “The monthly membership upkeep cost should be split by both parties, if they are willing, and this will generate a continual income stream for Nnect.”
A tech had said, “We need to include auto-renewing fees.”
The conversations had gone on and on as each team member built their piece of the platform.
As David left his room, the nervousness was so palpable in the halls that David could practically taste it. He made his way through the offices into the RITE marketing lab.
“What a day,” he whispered to himself. He remembered Gayle’s horror at the idea of any paid relationship. She had made it clear she didn’t respect online relationships. “Or me for that matter,” David said. “Her unregulated, untreated anti-Xchange propaganda is bound to get her in trouble with Quality Control.” David knew that comparing the place humans were raised to a prison was a symptom of insanity. That was where Gayle, David, and almost everyone he knew had been reared. It was a healthy, wholesome place. “It worked well for so many productive humans,” David reminded himself. That program was the reason that David was so successful as an employee and as a person. He was in the best shape and had the best mental capacity possible, or so he thought.
Casting the distracting thoughts aside, David approached his team’s RITE room. He did his customary prayerful intonation and door rub on the Nnect logo prior to starting the workday. This ritual allowed David to draw from the logo’s power and listen to his brand as it emanated strength into his person. “Nnect is always right.” He smiled to himself as the doors swung open. One foot in front of the other, with his head held high. The others in the room knew that their success as a team was due to David’s ideas and innovation. Got to strut a bit.
Little did Gayle know that this PPRE idea of his would save her from her ill-spoken words. “She will be better off in the long run,” he told himself. David could not and would not see her side in this or support her in her crazy notions of looking outside the corporate and social boxes that were Xchange. “Norms are a reason. She is probably going through some reaction to loneliness or fear of future failure,” David had told himself over his shake that morning.
David’s new PPRE would transform her reality. She would be happy with him and his investment. “But will she hate me?” He wasn’t sure. If she did, it would be unjust. “Of course she won’t hate me. This will be the best thing for her,” he said to himself as he walked through the creative-thinking round room, past the projection templating room, and into the project design lab. “She should not be given a choice, because she doesn’t understand what is good for her.”
Sitting down at his workstation, he tuned up some last-minute items for the project, double-checking and triple-checking the forced PPRE protocol. It would allow a user to search through the database and pull up people’s Selfies and see shortcut basics about them. Users could pay to see more details or a full life-size Selfie; at each checkpoint a customer would pay for more info and viewing time. The standard voice or text chats were still available, just like in the other relationship products, and Nnect would continue to offer the option of having multiple relationships at a time through chat rooms, but the new feature allowed users to buy the one-on-one in-person weekly date subscription. A pair could pay for it mutually, or one person could pay it all. It required a minimum of a one-hour face-to-face date once a week. The forced protocol overrode the recipient’s right to say no if the recipient was not in another PPRE relationship. This requirement was a written legal contract, reportable to QC upon failure to comply. It was beautiful. It was simple. It would be effective. And it removed the waiting and fear of rejection. It was quite an adrenaline rush when one thought about the power and the control this gave an individual. At the heart of the issue was the need for each person to have real live-time relationships with others. This was the key element.
“Added value to the world.” The emptiness inside each person would be answered with a real relationship with someone they liked. As long as they paid first and faster than others.
Bang and hissss. A kick at the door; a door sliding open. Dan arrived. Shortly after, a whiff of chocolate-strawberry coffee heralded the arrival of May. The rest of the team filled the room five minutes before the start time. The official test and subsequent review and approval by the CEO’s office would begin the launch. The team went to work running through scenarios, changing graphics and marketing schemes, and rooting out any pricing glitches. David stood in the middle of his team, directing the ten people running the various simulators; he would pause and ask for ideas and feedback as he led. It was exhilarating directing the orchestra of individuals into a cohesive whole. He felt like his own king upon a tiny throne. This was what it must feel like to be a manager. Three other such groupings worked vigorously in adjacent rooms.
“Joe, pull that final option out of the program. And change that screen to light green, and thicken the lines here and here.” He reviewed the final proposal, worn out by the adrenaline input from his brand and the intense mental session. “It’s done. Good doing, team.” He knew it was complete. He touched his brand in gratitude and then made the sign of Xchange over his heart. He paused to enjoy the silent victory.
May said, “Time to take it to CEO Saul and his team of experts.”
Three hours later, the CEO and his core team stood in counsel over the project. They approved it all, with only a few minor pricing modifications. It was a complete success. CEO Saul called his peers at Ssential, Thrive, and Tertain to inform them of the launch, as was customary with major projects. He turned, showing off his short, spiked mustache and chin patch with the blue tips, the shining bald head, and his silver business suit and silk shirt. His rich voice resonated sublimely as he spoke. “This will produce a need in our customers. Be warned that this idea could overload our system due to increased purchasing traffic. Amp up the strength of our generators, and turn on the emergency processing buildings to handle the volume hype.”
Turning from his technicians, he scanned his Upstart team. “Each of you will receive a freedom bonus. Congratulations!”
“Here, here!” Cheer erupted.
“You are one step closer to management, and Nnect’s innovation is back at the forefront, where it belongs. We will commemorate this victory with a celebration ball. You can each bring your
new date to the party as a reward—granted that you are able to find a date.” He laughed sadistically at the irony in his words. With that, he left the room.
“You are dismissed,” said the secretary, Susan, in a clear and sensually trained tone. She was trained as a professional communicator. It was rumored that she had even trained at a seminar hosted by Orns for management interaction improvement. “Report back to your original Nnect offices, and continue with your previous career paths. You each have two hours to remove your personal belongings from the RITE housing unit. Good doing, and may the stock benefit your careers.”
Joe, May, Dan, Kendra and the other underdogs got up and shuffled out, mumbling among themselves as they went. As David gathered up his bag and moved to the door, a hand grabbed his branded arm excitedly, startling him. Susan’s white silk gloves held his arm. “David-23, please remain to speak with CEO Saul for a moment.”
“Me and the CEO?” Fear filled David’s stomach with trepidation that knotted up inside him. “CEO? What have I done wrong?”
The CEO came up from the left and slapped David hard on the back. “Number Twenty-Three, relax and live a little.” His voice reminded David of the QC officer from the air train several weeks ago.
‘Live a little.’ Odd how similar they sound, he thought.
“You are a particularly wicked brute,” the CEO said. “It’s been reported to me that after your initial innovative idea for the PPRE, you continued to guarantee its success by activating the forced PPRE protocol. That clause alone will temporarily drive this project to the top of the market. Humans crave power and outlets for dominance. As long as authority is controlled and transferred into freedom shares, then management supports it fully, because it builds a secure future for our society.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“But by the stock, it takes a cold bastard to think up something that clever. That’s the type of creative genius I want in management training. Would you like another opportunity to prove your career skills through a RITE? There may be another freedom raise after the next project as well.”
“I work hard to be the best I can be, and I’d never think of turning an opportunity down,” David gulped, humbled by the CEO’s question.
“Well, I own you, so I guess it’s very kind of me to ask you before I ordered it.” He chuckled. The CEO found himself amusing. “If you perform brilliantly on this next assignment, I see big things in your future at Nnect.” The CEO leaned forward and held David’s hand like a vice grip. “Are you my man?” David could see the manufactured teeth and skin glisten. The teeth were so close that David could taste the mint breath as the CEO leaned closer toward him in a confidential way. A father inviting a son into his world. A coach confiding strategy to his team. A teacher counseling his pupils. A craftsman sharing with his protégé. “You remind me of an aggressive young man, Rex. He was a cold bastard who knew how to create needs for others. He pulled some very similar tricks out of his creative head and had the balls to implement them—ruthlessly effective, I believe was the term.”
“You are talking about your family, CEO, sir?” David stammered out the obvious.
“Family is a bygone reality.”
“Brother?”
“My hero. Role model.”
“Ohh.”
“Hahahaha, stop being so scared. Yes, of course that was Rex. You also remind me of me. I sold something very valuable indeed to launch myself into the spotlight and secure my current position. I know what it means to diligently work and to sacrifice everything for the betterment of mankind. Now look at me. I own a hundred thousand people. What does the future hold as we continue to perfect our utopia? That is a constant question in my mind. Dream big, I say, and what a dream. Will you dream with me, David-23?”
Inspired by the CEO’s frankness and passion, David was swept away in the vision. He was proud that he wore the brand of this man. He looked at the Nnect letters on his own arm, seeing them with renewed fervor.
“This next assignment will require discretion. You have been given a new level of security, a level-two security pass. You are now an Advanced. You know what that is?”
Advanced! David gulped, surprised and excited. They were the manager apprentices. A high rank for one so young. The next rank was a Proven. Above them were Self-Purchased positions, managers and board members. Advanced and Provens led many of the Nnectonian projects. It was a rung on the corporate ladder.
What an amazing day! He beamed, and his distress at Gayle’s potential anger faded. This was the sign he had been looking for. Success proved him just. The brand multiplied his pleasure in the moment.
“They will know you by the fruits of your actions and career,” CEO Saul said. “Isn’t that correct, Susan?” She nodded affirmation.
“You can count on me, CEO Saul. I will dedicate more time to being the best for Nnect, sir.” It came out as a formal pledge. A vow.
“Good, good. Susan will send your assignment details to your upgraded information chip.” Saul pointed a thick, pudgy hand at a shiny new portable device resting in Susan’s long and delicate hands.
She giggled as she handed him the portable device. “It is a 57Falcon. Manager approved.” David gasped.
“Susan, assign Productzen 23 to the Lave Labs Division in the Integration Unit. Add him to the new-life assignment, and get him self-defense lessons as part of the integration.” He wrapped his arm around David again. “Son, take the day off. Go enjoy your first date, and I will look forward to meeting this Gayle of yours at the celebration ball next week.”
“Gayle.” He was surprised. “How did you know, sir?” David blushed.
“It is my business to be connected. Plus my team of programmers reviewed your entire script, including the specific start-up program you put in place to prebuy Gayle’s rights. The relationship was secured in the system prior to the public release.”
“We know everything, David.” Susan smirked sensually.
Saul sneered in agreement. “Twenty-Three, you programmed it to purchase her first. You are the first human-doing, excluding Self-Purchaseds, of course, to have your own protected and sanctioned physical date time slot. Enjoy. Cold bastard indeed. You will do well at doing.”
The CEO and Susan glided out of the room toward the secure headquarters. David stared at the locked door for ten minutes as he tried comprehending and processing all that had happened. His face flickered from shock to apprehension to wonder and finally to excitement. “By your fruits they will know you.” With a nod to himself, he walked confidently out the sliding door and into the pristine hallway, a new bounce in his step and a new and deeper passion for Nnect in his heart. He was sold. Completely.
Chapter 14
Episode 5: For the Love of the Enemy
The white scratch lines on the rough wooden beam over his head taunted him. A month and a day of captivity had passed in the village of his enemy. Phel had had plenty of time to think and observe—too much time. His mind tormented him with doubts.
“Dirt, take my shit to the pit.”
“Sonz scum, clean my piss off the floor.”
“Don’t look at me. Stare at the floor, dog.”
“There goes the pooper-scooper.” The peasant children referred to him as the pooper-scooper. Latrine duty was the lowest position in town; it afforded much time for derogative speculation.
Jillian and Drane had forgotten he existed, busy with an invasion. Other than the taunts, few spoke with him unless absolutely necessary for a task. At first, he went about any task he was told to do but constantly looked for opportunities to flee and defy his captors.
Such a night happened as the moon rose above the cliffs and the ocean howled. Horsehoofs pounded on the road, indicating to David that most of the warriors had left on a raid. He attempted to flee. His ragged breath formed mist in the cold. One mile from town, he heard the howls of pursuit. The Moonz’s canine mutts scented him and tracked him within two hours. He was locked into a stockade for two d
ays and two nights.
One little girl with a pink bonnet visited him. She tormented him by drawing with mud on his face and pinching his nose until he gasped for breath like a drowning man. Having a child make you cry and beg in public was worse than humiliating.
“Momma says you are a bad man. She is working the fishery today. I get to play with you all day!” He later learned that the monster’s name was Clouwna. “The pooper-scooper loves me so much” the tiny voice sang cheerfully. After two days he was released with a stern warning.
He woke up with cold sweats, hearing her giggle, for the next month. He did not attempt to flee again. Phel had learned his lesson.
Over time his heart began to shift from defiance to fear to a sort of dulled respect, even interest in the barbarians’ way of life. The more Phel observed, the more he became fascinated by his captors. A strong desire to prove himself a strong warrior and a fierce man grew in his heart.
“Screw it all. Blast them for thinking I am weak and childish and foolish,” he said as he trudged with the shit buckets. “By the Creator, I will show them.” He scooped a moldy, simmering heap of human dung into a pit he had spent all day digging. “I am not worthless.” He wanted to impress them and show them his strength. Phel watched the warrior leaders, Drane and Jillian. He was beginning to respect them both and fantasize about the beautiful one, but watching them turned his heart to despair. He came to desire and secretly love the beautiful blond warrior leader.
“It’s not love! It’s respect,” he protested to a chicken that squawked at him as he shoveled human dung on the west side of the village. Dung and salt made for an interesting smell. “Love it is.” It made sense in the presence of such an imposing woman, but the growing feeling of shame toward his upbringing and his worldview was a subtler, insidious, unexpected change. And so he shoveled and struggled with himself.
A Tale Of Doings Page 17