Rimelion: The Exploiter

2. Charlie

After all, I was still seething over that layoff twenty years in the future—or was it in another simulation? All this simulation mumbo-jumbo was messing with my head, and the obnoxious ringing phone wasn't helping. Wait, what—a call? From the R&D center, no less!

"Hello? What's going on?" I demanded. "You can't force me to work anymore!"

"Greetings, John. I wanted to reach out because I received a notification that you have terminated your contract with us," said a bored monotone voice—too flat to be robotic. She had to be real. "Your dissatisfaction with our workplace is disappointing to hear. However, we value your feedback and would like to extend an exciting opportunity to you. We are currently running a test program for our next-generation capsules, the Mark 3. As a valued member of our team, we'd like to offer you the chance to participate in this program and receive a complimentary Mark 3 capsule for testing purposes."

Her words sounded like she'd repeated them a thousand times. "We believe your expertise as a tester will be invaluable in helping us refine and improve the performance of our products. By participating, you'll continue to shape the future of our company."

Did she say Mark 3? My current capsule was just the first model—no nutrition feature, no sanitation options. This was definitely an upgrade. There was only one catch. "Can I play the game?"

"I regret to inform you that current restrictions remain in effect, and as of now, no exceptions have been granted by your superiors," she replied, her voice so lifeless that I actually felt sorry for her. What a miserable job. "Therefore, you must adhere to the established protocols and comply with the regulations accordingly."

"Then what exactly am I supposed to do with the capsule?" I asked, completely baffled. "I terminated my tester contract, so I can't even log into the test servers."

"Dear John, I would like to clarify that, within my role and responsibilities, I am not authorized to question or challenge any directives issued. My objective is simply to extend this opportunity and provide the necessary details for your consideration. Therefore, I must request a definitive response from you—either accepting or declining the offer presented. Your decision will be duly respected, and we appreciate your prompt attention to this matter."

Oh right, corporate nonsense. Once, they'd given me ten days of vacation and flight to plant trees in Indonesia just because I'd stumbled around a hallway half-drunk and the janitor's kid saw me. Yeah, I didn't get it either, but in the corporate world, you just took it and didn't ask questions. "Sign me up! When can I expect the delivery?"

"We would like to request permission for our technicians to enter your apartment within the next two hours to install the capsule. We understand this may be an inconvenience, but we assure you that our team will strive to minimize any disruption to your daily routine. We greatly appreciate your cooperation and look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience."

I glanced around my apartment. The only things of value were my old TV and the current capsule. "Sure, I've got nothing valuable here, so I'll go see my friend. Thanks, miss!" I heard her groan before she hung up.

I dug through my closet, threw on a plain shirt and jeans, and dashed outside. Lucas was waiting! The scorching sun hit me like any other day, but the last time I'd walked these streets, I'd only seen robots. Everyone else, except a few wolves like me, was at home playing the game. But now the streets were packed with cars and people—so many living, breathing people!

The smell of exhaust wasn't exactly pleasant, but it beat the endless blackouts in the future. I darted through the crowded street, grinning at strangers like an idiot. One guy shook his head and hurried his pace, but I just smiled wider, skipping and jumping along until I reached a ten-story white building.