Summary: Eighteen years ago, a computer program was installed every individual became unique sum of data in this computer. The program was nicknamed the Stream. But there was a fatal flaw within the program and the coding. Some people cannot be Streamed at birth into a unique ID. These people are called Ghost. Free to do whatever they want in society. Rogan is one of these Ghost and takes advantage of his hidden presence via any means necessary. Truly embodying the ability to be free.
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Is this all we're worth? As a society. As a world. As a government. Is this all that is left? Are we truly worthless? Bending over the edge of my bed, I grab the syringe, just to have enough of that feeling. Like leaving it all behind. Like washing away everything away, just for the brief minutes of neural pleasure. The needle pinches my skin and just for that brief moment.
The world leaves my mind. I see cosmic streams of data, code in my mind. 1 and 0 buzzing and dancing inside my head. While my synapses tip tap and fire in every which direction. Cosmic auras, colors I could never describe, become the Northern Lights in my visual cortex. Just for that brief moment. Just for those simple five minutes, I have all, but left it behind.
When it has all passed, when time has faded, my phone begins to go off. Like a little jumping bean on the table, it moves with frequent vibration. I check the caller ID, and then press a little middle button before answering.
?It's me,? I simply say.
?Rogan, I have a job for you,? the mask voice speaks.
Like a slave to its master, I obey what the voice ask of me. The pay is good. The job is good, but dirty. Then again unlike a slave to a master, I do not need to follow any cause other than my own.
?I am listening Baby Blue,? I replied.
Baby Blue is what they call themselves. The masked voice on the other line. They speak. I listen. They beg. They plead. I say yes or no. In this world I have the freedom to say yes or no. Unlike the others programmed into the Stream.
?You're not going to like,? Baby Blue says hesitantly.
Hesitation. Fear even behind the mask. Fear of a no. Fear of rejection. Fear of me. Baby Blue takes their time, even smacks their lips. How unprofessional.
?I need you to create me a back door,? Baby Blue says cautiously.
?That's not the problem though,? I said trying to disarm Baby Blue.
?No, that isn't the problem,? Baby Blue pauses and takes in a deep breath, exhales before continuing, ?Look it's what we have been talking about for a long time now. I need a back door from one of the security offices. Patrol Building 1-0-5.?
I could feel Baby Blue pleading internally that I would say yes. Knowing full well that I preferred to be cautious.
?Just because the Stream cannot identify me,? I said slowly, ?Doesn't mean I like waltzing into security offices and hacking into their main frames.?
?Look time is almost up, please, just say yes Rogan,? Baby Blue sounds desperate.
He cannot get anyone else to do this job, but me. We're running out of time. The cloaking program will fade away like the buzz from before. Either I say yes or I say no. When I say yes, I get a lot of money. When I say no, Baby Blue waits before asking me anything else.
?If, I say yes,? I begin, ?What are you willing to give me??
?I'll deliver you some new parts, I also have a new program you might like to try out,? Baby Blue pauses, ?And I can talk to Antonio about hooking you up.?
Hooking me up, I hated the way it sounded. It had no class. It was not a classy phrase.
?You owe me,? I said, ?I am not a fan of very armed people, very ready to shoot me if I get caught.?
?If you get caught, just don't get caught, looks like our time is up,? Baby Blue says, ?Thank you. I really do owe you a lot.?
The conversation ends and all I hear is the dial tone. I know its safe. I know that it worked. Even though I cannot be identified, I still can be heard.
03 Jun 2014, 5:40 pm
