Chapter 27 #2
Oro1 sighs. “They used to not be so bad, but I’ve heard they’ve become a bit more aggressive since their recent price hike.”
“Shit,” he says, raking a hand through his hair.
Suddenly, those last few bites of eggs seem less appetizing, which is unfortunate since, to his surprise, they are the first actually real food he’s eaten.
Even though Jett politely explained that while they are real eggs, they’re technically clone eggs grown in a lab environment as opposed to a shell.
He was so glad for something familiar enough, he’d dug right in. But now they taste like chalk.
“I’ve been thinking about the dilemma of your identity,” Oro1 says. “There might be a way for us to solve it, depending on what you were up for.”
“I’m very interested, and I have a few ideas myself, but go on,” he says.
“I know Kate told you I dabble on BLACKOUT, but did she tell you what I actually do?” Oro1 grins like he’s about to enjoy dropping a bomb in James’s lap.
James shakes his head, eager for whatever the other man is about to say.
“My official NHOS day job, as you know, is a systems engineer, but I pay someone else to do my work. With my unofficial business, I help people solve their digital problems. Does that make sense?” Oro1 says the words slowly, as if James is a child.
“You’re a hacker,” James says. “Hence your familiarity with BLACKOUT.”
The entire time they’d been going to the boxing club, Oro1 never mentioned it.
Perhaps building trust, or perhaps he didn’t see a reason to tell James.
But it made sense considering his willingness to attempt a risky endeavor.
He was all for it when James introduced him to Sable and explained their idea.
Oro1 narrows his gaze.
“That’s what you would have been called during my time. So, what do you have in mind?” James asks. He can’t help but be intrigued.
“You’re not the only ethical dilemma someone’s facing. I’m guessing there are dozens of humans like you, waking up in the future. Maybe more. Thousands of GROW get purchased every day. And that’s just in our municipality. There must be some way to turn this into a business.”
James is nodding now. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. Businesses are born from needs.”
“Exactly,” Oro1 exclaims.
“Should I get you two a room?” asks Jett, who’s been quietly observing the conversation.
Oro1 only gives him a jovial laugh. “Nonsense. I think James and I might be onto something.”
“Go on,” James says. His skin is tingling with the familiar thrill of a new venture.
“What if we could create a business that solves your lease problem and makes us both a load of Blackmarks? It’s somewhat questionable, ethically speaking, but based on what I’ve learned about you and your needs, I think it might be right up your alley.”
It’s a strange thing to get reassurance from, but relief floods through James nonetheless. “I’m listening,” he says.
“I haven’t yet sorted out all the details, but identity can pose a significant problem, and no one has been able to solve it sufficiently. You see how they take a blood sample or do a palm or retina scan for everything from SAT rides to MediSpa appointments?”
“Yes, I have a tag on my foot. I’m quite aware.” James scoffs as his eggs notably become more appealing.
“I have some ideas for a prototype of a silicone palm pad that will redirect the scanners to a borrowed identity,” Oro1 explains.
“Like identity theft?” James isn’t necessarily opposed if it means not getting recycled or put in a holding cell for testing.
“Not exactly. It could be like an identity-for-hire program. Participants could earn money by putting their identity in the system for rent,” Oro1 explains.
James nods as his wheels turn. Identity for hire is a place to good start, but there must be a better way to solve the problem.
He can’t imagine that many people would want to take the risk, but he doesn’t want to dampen Oro1’s enthusiasm by rejecting the idea outright.
He only needs to come up with and offer a better idea.
Then it comes to him. His fingers tingle and his pulse jitters as his adrenaline surges.
James leans forward, savoring the oh-so-familiar sensations.
This is what he used to live for. What he’s good at.
“We’ll call it IdenTECH. We can have two branches.
The Identity for Hire Division for less challenging cases, then a Full Identity Replacement Division for reincarnates from the past, like me, or those needing a legal makeover, so to speak.
Not truly hardened criminals, obviously.
We’ll have to figure out a way to implant fictitious identities into the NHOS system, but you’re a systems engineer.
That falls under your area of expertise, right? ”
“So instead of altering existing identities in the system, you want to create new ones and deposit them.” Oro1’s eyes take on a faraway expression for a moment, like he’s calculating.
When he comes back to the present with a broad grin, James knows they’re onto something.
“We’ll need to hire out for the palm pad prototypes immediately so we can start testing.
I’ll have to find some time to work on the fictitious identities, but I think it can be done. ”
Jett clears his throat. “How are you going to replace someone’s entire identification without hacking into the NHOS system? Because it’s not like people haven’t tried and failed at that before,” he points out.
“The system is set to search for alterations of code or false users. But people are born and inserted into the system all the time. If we were to approach the problem as if we were a user from the Birthing Agency, we might be able to get around that, but it will take some time to figure out the details. Meanwhile, your lease will keep needing to be paid.” Oro1 inclines his head in James’s direction.
“You should come up with a Plan B in case we can’t figure it out in time and the scheme at the boxing club falls through. ”
James chuckles, thinking back to his first day in this world. “I think I have an idea, but we’ll have to bring Sable in on it.”
Oro1 nods. “There is something about that woman that frightens me.”
“Me too,” James says, chuckling. “I like her, though, and I sense she’s trustworthy.”
“Agreed,” Oro1 says. “Looping her in will be a benefit.”
Jett listens quietly as they discuss their plan over the next few hours, only chiming in occasionally as he sees an obvious flaw, and to make it clear he has no interest in being a part of their schemes.
James and Oro1, however, are thinking in tandem.
Oro1 has the resources and knows how this future world works, and James has the strategic ideas and business savvy to pull it off.
Between the two of them, they outline a rough business plan and a list of obstacles they’ll need to overcome before they launch.
“We should meet tomorrow to get started. I have a contact who runs a polymer lab. I’ll see if she’s available.”
As James leaves brunch to retrieve the borrowed manupartner for tonight’s fight from Sable, he feels a niggle of doubt despite the thrill of a new business venture.
Namely, Kate’s finances. Surely she has the first extension covered, which would give them almost three months.
The anxious flutter in the pit of his stomach, which some might refer to as intuition, makes him think he should cover his bases, just in case.
If she’s miscalculated, that would mean he has about seven weeks left.
But no, she asked him to let her help. That’s what friends are for.
Depending on someone else like that is a bit of a stretch, to the point of extreme discomfort.
But for her, he can do it. He needs to show her he can change. He needs to trust her.
Either way, every second is priceless. Not to be wasted. God, he wishes he had time to do the things he wanted to that woman waiting back in the unit. But if this new business venture is a success, he’ll have all the time in the world.
The Plan:
Launch the business.
Fill Kate’s Worldbank account, then his own.
Date her. Pursue her like the treasure she is. Like she deserves. Take it slow. Earn her affection. Show her he’s worth it.
Fuck her senseless.
Time to step up his game and secure their future.