Chapter 6
[In the Real World - 10,000 ft over the Pacific Ocean]
Alan Bradley's eyes were fixed on his laptop screen as he typed the closing remarks of his report to the Board. He knew that the detailed technical description of some of the new products he had seen would be outside the understanding of many of the Board members, but he knew they all had young assistants who could help them with the big words. Once finished he sent the document and leaned back in his seat, stretching his neck and back muscles.
Alan looked out the window of the jet and noticed that the ocean seemed a little nearer than before. He pressed a button beside his seat and asked the pilot how long until they landed. The pilot responded and Alan knew he had about five minutes until he would need to prepare for landing.
Alan leaned forward and opened his email application. He read the notification of the virus attack earlier in the day, as well as the follow up email regarding it's containment. He read the "Employee Termination Notification" email for some guy in Accounting.
He noticed an email from Sam and quickly opened it. Sam's message related how he and Quorra had arrived in Costa Rica yesterday and were planning on going zip-lining either today or tomorrow. He said that the press had already found them and he had attached a picture from an online tabloid website.
Alan opened the attachment and examined the picture. The article headline stated, "Exclusive - Encom CEO's Beach Honeymoon." Beneath the brief article was a photo of Sam and Quorra playing with a frisbee on a sandy beach while the sun was setting over the Pacific ocean behind them. The caption read, "Sam Flynn and new bride Quorra Simms at secluded Costa Rican retreat." Alan laughed at the picture and suppressed another worrying thought about Quorra's past.
Alan next opened the email from Dillinger's assistant reporting that Jim Byron's account had be setup and that he had already picked up his badge. He read the report and murmured approvingly as the account details had been setup per his instructions. That is, until he read the phrase "Granted Group 7 System Access."
Alan blurted out, "Group 7 Access!" Alan tried to stand up but was restrained by his still-buckled seatbelt. Alan unbuckled himself and after standing began pacing back and forth across the cabin. "What is Dillinger thinking? Only 5 people in the company have Group 7 access! Jim is a bright kid but nobody starts out with that much power!" He calmed himself, sat down again, and began searching for the "Account Request Form" he had emailed to Dillinger.
Once found he opened it and scanned his instructions. "Aha! I specifically asked for Group 2 Access!" Satisfied that the error was not on his end, Alan began to compose a very concise and tactful reply email to Dillinger and his assistant.
[In the Real World - Encom Laser Bay Elevator]
Anthony hummed along to the electronica music coming from speakers hidden somewhere above the elevator's ceiling, watching the floor indicator slowly decrease in number. Anthony hadn't had any trouble getting through the security doors that led to the basement laser bay access. The paper map was pretty easy to follow and the doors had all opened up for him once they had detected his badge.
Once the elevator reached Level B-1 the descent stopped and the doors opened. Anthony left the catchy music behind him and stepped into a small room with another security door. This door, however, refused to open despite Anthony waving his badge repeatedly in front of it. Anthony thought for a moment and then reread the email containing his instructions. Eventually he came to the part that mentioned a door panel code. Looking up he saw for the first time a small grey keypad mounted beside the door next to a large red sign that said, "Enter Door Panel Code." Anthony found the code and pressed the appropriate buttons. After a few seconds the door swished open.
Anthony was about to enter the Laser Bay when he was startled to see a blonde, middle-aged woman in a white lab jacket wearing glasses approaching from the other side. She was talking on her cell-phone as she walked quickly past Anthony and entered the elevator. Anthony overheard the word "Airport" and the name "Alan" but couldn't make sense out of the half-conversation. The elevator doors closed, leaving Anthony alone with the security door and the bright hallway beyond.
Anthony stepped through the door before it closed behind him. He checked the paper map and decided that he needed to find some stairs. He followed the hallway, passing a few offices and a small break room before he reached a door marked "Laser Bay Access - Lower Level." There was a helpful symbol depicting a human stick-figure above a flight of steps next to the door. Anthony, humming the same tune as before, opened the door and began descending the metal steps. What he saw was impressive. Big blinking computers and strange-looking equipment were everywhere. Anthony watched as a technician wearing a white coat and eye protection stepped off of a scissors lift and exited via a nearby doorway. He had no idea what the guy had been doing up there but he put it out of his mind and kept walking down the steps.
Anthony was halfway down when a security guard began climbing toward him. Anthony tried to remain calm as the man approached him to ask, "Working late?"
Anthony muttered, "Uh, Yeah," and kept on walking. The guard didn't give him another look as he finished his climb and was gone. Finally, Anthony reached the floor of the Laser Bay. He looked up and was surprised how big the place really was. He consulted his trusty map again and began looking for terminal X-21. After several moments he found it in on a desk with a name plate that read "Laura Bradley."
Anthony sat at the desk and placed his folder in his lap. The computer screen displayed a login prompt so Anthony entered the password he had been provided. The screen cleared to a deep blue color and the same sultry voice as before said, "Well done, Jim Byron. Please remain seated."
Anthony smiled. He didn't hear "Well done" from anyone very often. It didn't matter if it was a computer that was programmed to say it. He liked being praised for something. He thought about the way the Admins had treated him and other End-Users and a fresh surge of anger swept over him. "Look, Computer, uh, what am I waiting for, exactly?"
The voice patiently explained, "This procedure will allow you to complete your request to 'Just tell a Program what I want it to do.'"
Anthony replied, "Oh, yeah. Maybe I'd better just..."
The screen began scrolling with lines of words and symbols that had no meaning to Anthony. The computer voice announced, "Transfer request complete. Begin transfer in 3...2...1..."
Anthony didn't know why but he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He was glad that he did because a very bright light shone behind him and somehow he fell backwards out of his seat. After a few moments the computer voice announced, "Transfer complete." When he opened his eyes he was lying on the floor looking up. The laser bay looked just as big as before, but somehow it was even brighter. He sat up and collected the papers that had fallen from his folder during his fall from his seat. He stood up and looked around a bit before noticing that there was no seat, no computer, no fancy equipment, nor anything else around him - only distant walls of pure white!
"Where am I?" Anthony yelled at the nothingness.
"You are exactly where you requested to be," replied the computer voice from behind him.
Anthony spun around and saw a beautiful dark-haired woman wearing very tight-fitting white clothing walking slowly toward him.
"Wh… Who are you?" Anthony stammered.
"I am KayBee. I am here to help you find your way, User Jim Byron."
As she finished speaking and held out her hand, the floor beneath him changed to a deep blue color. The blue began to spread out in front of him, forming a blue pathway that extended into the distance.
Anthony reached and took Kaybee's hand before she turned and began leading him down the path. "This is too cool! I had no idea that Encom had a Holodeck!"