Mimetic Response 5

On the first floor of a high-rise apartment, Tim Mertz stirs from his [[bed]]. His stomach growls as he plants his feet on the ground. He glances at the [[kitchen]], sighs, and takes the only seat at the [[table]] in the center of the room.

Tim's bed lies on the ground in the corner of the room. Next to the bed are a series of shelves that Tim had built into the wall. They are low to the ground, level with his bed, and a laptop sits open on the shelf next to him. He rubs his eyes as the title of the chapter he'd been reading last night stares back at him. //Escape.// He notices his virtual reality headset is still plugged into the laptop. //The World// is printed on the visor in big block letters. He unplugs it and opens the [[news]] to see if the talking heads are saying anything different this morning.

"As farmers move to double their prices yet again more and more people are being priced out of the market. How could these people be so heartless?" "Heartless? It's not just the price of food, Sarah, across the board the cost of living has just about quintupled in the last few years alone. How do you expect these farmers to provide your food if they can hardly even afford to surv-" Tim [[closes]] the laptop.

Tim's apartment contained a single room, and the kitchen took up another corner of it. It was clean, but there wasn't much to keep clean. He had a small sink, a hot plate, a pan, and a mini-fridge, [[mostly empty->closes]].

The table is small. There are a few items scattered about, organized in no particular way. There's a [[key]], a bottle of [[water]], an [[H-01 respirator]], and a [[To-Do list]].

Just the one for his apartment. Tim has no car.

The tap water isn't safe.

The smog makes it unsafe to go outside without an H-class respirator. The new H-01 model has a visor to keep the dust out of your eyes.

* [[Check if food will be delivered today]] * Meet with [[The Conglomerate]]

//We apologize for the delay. [[Click here]] to track your order. If you would like to expedite your delivery for an aditional fee, please visit our website at www.food.gov//

//We are unable to locate your order at this time. Please [[try again]] later.// //Hey! Down here.// //Try scrolling some more.// [[Hack into the website and put Tim's order on the priority list.]]

The [[link->To-Do list(2)]] still doesn't work.

* ~~Check if food will be delivered today~~ * [[Go out to the store for food]] * Meet with [[The Conglomerate]]

Tim stands and grabs his key and his mask from the table. He takes a few deep breaths as he peers out the [[window]]. He hates going out, but there's no helping it. At least the [[store]] is just down the block.

The Conglomerate is an underground network that guides average citizens into positions of great power in the virtual world. But as the real world and the virtual world become increasingly interconnected, these virtual identities begin to have a strong influence on real world matters. The Conglomerate claims to be altruistic. This is who has recruited [[you]].

Tim's windows are long narrow slits across the top of the wall facing the street. The first floor apartments are depressed into the ground, so his windows look out at the ground level of a narrow alley. The sky, unseen from inside, colors the buildings across the street a dark orange, and neon signs from the night before shine through the smog that gathers on the street.

//Resh's Market// is only a couple minutes away from Tim's apartment, and he walks as quickly as he can. He isn't the only one. He sees a couple run to Resh's from their apartment across the street. They have no masks, so they run with spare clothes pressed to their faces. One of them is still coughing as Tim steps through the air-tight room leading into the store. Many of the shelves are as bare as the week before, as though they hadn't been restocked. Tim scavanges a couple gallons of milk, a few cartons of eggs and a loaf of bread. It wasn't much, but Tim could make eggs a dozen different ways now. And just like that, Tim crossed another item off his [[to-do list->To-do list(3)]]

* ~~Check if food was delivered~~ * ~~Go out to the store for food~~ * Meet with [[The Conglomerate]]

(if:(history: where its name contains "To-do list(alternate)")'s length is 0)[Yeah, //you.// I know, you're new to this. I mean, you didn't even help Tim with his food. But that's the nature of the work, I guess. Don't worry, you'll catch on fast. Tim has a great opportunity ahead of him, and you're going to help guide him down that path. ] (if:(history: where its name contains "To-do list(alternate)")'s length is 1)[Yeah, //you.// Look, you seem like you know what you're doing so I'll get right to the point. If you didn't pick it up when you hacked into his account, you've been working with Tim Mertz.] Tim Mertz, or Eston Haight in the virtual world, is a recently elected a cyber-politician with a background in macroeconomics. I know, I know, he sounds //super// exciting. Except he has no background in politics or macroeconomics. We've forged all his documents and told him what to say and how to act in order to get the seat we needed. At this point, Tim is in way over his head and this mess might start spilling over into his real life. He's going to be making some very powerful enemies, so you need to help guide him through this safely, if you can. [[Alright, let's get started->Alright, I guess. Is this safe?]] (if:(history: where its name contains "To-do list(alternate)")'s length is 0)[[I have no idea what's happening. How did this get on my computer?]]

Tim's webpage refreshes itself to show his order information. [[//Your food will be delivered between 4 and 8 P.M.//->To-do list(alternate)]]

* ~~Check if food will be delivered today~~ * Meet with [[The Conglomerate]]

Please stay calm. The Conglomerate doesn't usually recruit people without any experience like this, but we need to distance ourselves. If you follow our prompts and everything goes smoothly, we will wire transfer your payment directly to your account. We have other options. You can say no. [[Alright, I guess. Is this safe?]] (link: "I'm not comfortable with this.")[(goto-url: 'http://www.google.com')]

Tim should be signing into [[The World]] soon. When he does, your thoughts will be transmitted to one another so you can communicate. Tim will be making an argument about the importance of restructuring our economy. If Tim finally gets this passed, it could tip the economic scales back in our favor for the first time in nearly a century. Think about that. Just follow our prompts and everything should go as planned. And there he is, he's online. Good luck. [[Wait, what? Shit- he can hear this?]] [[Hey, Tim. Can you hear me?]]

Have you been living under a rock, or something? The World is what The Metaverse tried to be a few decades ago. They didn't have the technology, so it flopped, but The World is exactly what it sounds like: a second world, just like our own. Maybe a little too similar if you ask me. We finally get the chance to make the world of our dreams and what do we do? We make a replica. [[What was I saying?->Alright, I guess. Is this safe?]]

//I can hear you. I'm actually relieved you sound professional. The last person would not stop thinking about food. I almost told the World Congress the recipe for Bisquick's Ultimate Pancakes.// [[Don't worry, I'll keep it professional.]] [[Pancakes actually sound great right now.]]

//Yeah, I can hear you. You're not going to be all weird about this like that last person, are you?// [[I'll try to keep my thoughts to a minimum? How do I even do that?->Don't worry, I'll keep it professional.]]

Tim walks through a long promonade leading to the headquarters of The World Congress. A shallow layer of water fills the walkway and he scatters his reflection with every step. The authenticity of The World would never cease to amaze him. The only hint at simulation is a capital //C// that hangs in the air before Tim like a tear in reality; the calling card of The Conglomerate. Pixels dance about as The World tries to overwrite the graffiti. Tim walks through the glitch without breaking his stride and the pixels fade to dust in the air behind him. A staircase at the end of the promonade leads down to a pyramid depressed into the ground. The water from above trickles down granite walls, filling the space around the pyramid like a mote. [[Tim enters the building.]]

//Shit, really? Please don't do this to me.// [[I'm kidding! I'll be serious now.->Don't worry, I'll keep it professional.]] [[Really. You're the one who mentioned food!->Don't worry, I'll keep it professional.]]

Tim takes his seat in the auditorium to wait for his turn to speak. He is visibly nervous. His fate now depends on the help of total strangers; mostly you. //So, what's the plan here?// [[Take a deep breath. The Conglomerate has provided me with a script. When it is your turn to speak, I will tell you what to say, and you will repeat after me.->I'm just pulling your leg. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths. We'll get through this.]] [[I have a script here, but it doesn't seem very convincing. I might wing it.]]

//What?! You can't be serious. Do you even know anything about macroeconomics? 'Cause I don't! If you won't read me the script I'll have to fake an accident or something. This can't fail!// [[I'm just pulling your leg. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths. We'll get through this.]] [[I'm just pulling your leg. I promise, I'll read the script. (Lie)]]

Tim's introduction finishes, and he makes his way up onto the stage to thunderous applause. So many people filled the stands that it was impossible for anyone to recieve a quiet welcome. "Hello everyone. It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to speak before you all again." [[Read the script labeled //Intro: Statistics.//->Begin reading the script.]] [[Read the script labeled //Intro: Regulation.//->Read the script labeled Intro: Regulation.]]

You begin to make up your own speach and Tim follows along, trusting. After you get through the first sentence, (link: "You hear a knock at your door as The Conglomerate cuts your connection.")[(goto-url: 'http://www.Google.com')]

"I understand that some of you are among the mega-rich. I also understand that some of you are like myself; reaching for impossible change from a hole in the wall. A new economy, one that works //for// the people, will be the culmination of these changes we've all worked so hard to achieve already. It is the //coup de grace// to the fraud committed every day in our so called "fair" markets. It is a promise that equality will win out." [[Final stretch!]] [[Go off script.]]

"And to the trillionaires among us here today, I say this. We the people, we the impoverished, we the exploited: we are inevitable, and we will have change." The crowd roars into a cacophony of cheering, whistling and applause. The majority celebrates, while a select few shuffle off into various groups of disconcerted suits. //I can't believe its over. We did it!// [[You did great, Tim.]] [[Finally, its over.->You did great, Tim.]]

The Conglomerate cuts your connection to The World. A message appears on your computer. [[//Payment has been wire transfered to your account. Thanks for playing along.//->closes]]

"I'm going to start by sharing with you all a statistic we've been desensitized to over the years. Over 80% of our regional income falls into the hands of only 10% of the population. This has risen over the decades and it will continue to rise until something is done. Here's another fun statistic for you all. Over 60% of the mega-rich spend more than half of their time in privately owned servers around The World, while their properties, not homes but investments, sit empty for years at a time. What is the point of such wealth when opulence can be simulated? The mega-rich are not unlike the dragons of classical fantasy, sitting atop a horde of riches that multiplies itself //ad infinitum// until it is passed on to the next generation." [[We're half way there. You're doing great. (Continue reading the script).]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Pancakes actually sound great right now.")'s length is 1)[[Why'd he have to mention pancakes? Do I even have any Bisquick?]]

//I hate you. Please don't stop reading.// "I understand that some of you are among the mega-rich. I also understand that some of you are like myself; reaching for impossible change from a hole in the wall. A new economy, one that works //for// the people, will be the culmination of these changes we've all worked so hard to achieve already. It is the //coup de grace// to the fraud committed every day in our so called "fair" markets. It is a promise that equality will win out." [[Final stretch!]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Pancakes actually sound great right now.")'s length is 1)[[1 cup of milk. 2 eggs. 2 cups of Bisquick baking mix.]]

"1 cup of milk- I mean, uh- 2 eggs..." //Seriously? I'm a dead ma-// Before Tim finishes his sentence, you hear a knock at the door and (link: "The Conglomerate cuts your connection.")[(goto-url: 'http://www.Google.com')]

Out of curiosity, I'd like everybody with us here today to give me a show of hands. How many of you are aware that the institutions that regulate our financial markets are the same institutions that profit from them the most. Never have conflicts of interest been more blatant than they are in finance today. It's no surpise that the last arrest on Wall Street happened decades ago. It's easy to work within the rule of law when you write the laws you're governed by. The punishment for Grand Larceny is upwards of ten years in prison. This is one law regarding theft that //we// abide by. One bank last year, not combined, but one bank alone made over 1.2 //trillion// dollars through fraudulent activities. Their fines for the crimes they committed totalled at 40.3 //billion// dollars. A fraction of the sum; just a cost of doing business. It's no wonder they rob us blind. But what is the point of such wealth now when opulence can be simulated? The mega-rich are not unlike the dragons of classical fantasy, sitting atop a horde of riches that multiplies itself //ad infinitum// until it is passed on to the next generation." [[We're half way there. You're doing great. (Continue reading the script).]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Pancakes actually sound great right now.")'s length is 1)[[Why'd he have to mention pancakes? Do I even have any Bisquick?]]