Flashback, Robert Daly's Apartment

"Tag, you're it" Nanette said, as she was leaving

James Walton, Robert's long time business partner (and at one time, best friend) walked in, to find Daly sitting on the floor, sobbing.

"Robert?" Walton said

"James" Daly said, acknowledging him

"I just want to know one thing" Walton said "Why? Why did you do these things. Why create AIs of real people and torture them, including me? Why, Robert?"

"You want to know why?" Daly asked "Its quite simple. You made me. You turned me into this, when you exploited my talent, my genius for years. I created Infinity, and you used it to get rich. You took me for granted. I had the brains, but you had the charisma, the social skills, the charm, to make anyone do just about anything. And I just grew more and more isolated, stuck in my little bubble, waiting, hoping for some kind of human connection, but it never happened. One day I realised, the only way it would ever happen, is if I forced it. So, I created you, well a copy of you. So, I could say and do all the things I wanted to say and do to you in the real world, but never could. But of course, it didn't end there. How could it? You weren't the only one ignoring me, talking down to me, treating me like I don't matter. All those people in the office that fall to their knees when you enter the room, but treat me like dirt. All those possibilities. What else could I do?"

"Is that it? That's your big justification? I made you do it, I treated you so badly, that you just had to get your revenge somehow?" Walton asked incredulously

"Well, newsflash buddy." Walton continued "Maybe you have a point, but this is a pretty fucked up way of dealing with it. I'm sorry that I wasn't more appreciative of you all these years. But did it ever occur to you to, I don't know, go to therapy, or actually learn some social skills? Crazy ideas, I know. You know Bill Gates, your idol? Not exactly the smoothest guy either. But unlike you, he figured out ways to compensate. And maybe, maybe, if you had told me how you felt, things could have been different between us. I'm sorry that didn't happen. I'm sorry that I took advantage of you for so long. But you're wrong about one very important thing. No, people absolutely don't fall all over themselves to please me. You probably don't see it, because you've been stuck inside your self pity bubble for years, but human relationships are complex. Even at their best, there's give and take. And in case you've forgotten, I have an ex-wife, who hates my guts. But we have to work together as parents. Which brings me to the worst part of all this. I could maybe overlook this as harmless, if extremely weird hobby, if not for something Nanette mentioned…" Walton set this up, and Daly rolled his eyes in frustration.

"Oh boy, here we go" Daly said, knowing what was coming

"You made an AI of Tommy, so that you could murder him in front of me. That I can never forgive. I'm buying you out of the company, you're fired. Don't even bother coming back to the office. I'll have your stuff shipped to you" Walton said, angrily

"That, uh, won't be necessary" Daly said, picking up what appeared to be a taser, from his desk, and pointing it at Walton "You see, I have a contingency plan. A way out of this, if you will…"

"Whoa, buddy" Walton said, nervously "Think about what you're doing. Right now you're just a friendless loser with a creepy fetish. But you're not a murderer, and you don't have to be"

"Oh, no, you misunderstand 'buddy'" Daly said, sarcastically "This isn't for you. Its for me"

And then he pointed it directly at the centre of his chest, and activated it. He immediately collapsed, and died.

Walton felt a mixture of confusing emotions pulling him in different directions. He was sad that an old friend was dead. Annoyed at himself for not being able to prevent it. Angry at Daly for choosing to do this, and for doing it in front of him. Somewhat pleased that he wouldn't be doing any of his creepy shit anymore. A little happy, and a little guilty about that. But mainly he felt disappointed. What a waste of such a talented person.

Unsure of what to do, he called Nanette, who helped him report it to the Police. But what they didn't report was that they suspected that he may have survived, in some form. Because that thought was honestly terrifying.

Somewhere else, sometime later

Oh Matthew, Matthew

Matt wasn't sure if he had imagined what he had just heard or not. Just to be sure, he spun around a full 360, but saw nothing, besides the human-shaped blurs.

I can help you, Matthew

The disembodied voice was the only thing he could hear, besides all the muffled noise. It was the only clear sound.

I can fix this, Matt. Can I call you Matt?

Now Matt was sure he was imagining it. The idea of an end to this was too good to be true, and Matt was too cynical to accept it.

Are you listening to me, Matt?

No, because you're not real, Matt thought to himself. When he got home, he finally responded (although it wouldn't have made any difference. Its not like anyone would have realised he was talking to himself).

Let me help you, Matt

"You can't. No one can" Matt said "There's nothing anyone can do. You're just my subconscious offering me a glimmer of hope"

"Actually, that's not entirely true" Robert Daly said, now taking visual, if intangible form

"What the fuck are you!?" Matt asked loudly, jumping out of his bed in shock

"I'm a ghost. A digital ghost, if you will. I have a plan that can help both of us. But I need your help" Daly explained

"Look, if this is about getting girls to sleep with you, I'm done with that…" Matt replied, defiantly

"No, its nothing like that" Daly explained "I just need you to become me, briefly"

Matt rolled his eyes "Really? And then what, ask out a girl in your office"

"Oh for.., no!" Daly rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration "I need you to alter a piece of tech for me. You're a tech savvy guy. I'm sure you can do that" Daly explained

"Sure. But I'm more of a people person. Tech is just incidental for me" Matt replied

"Well, that's good, because I can talk you through the tech. But its in a highly restricted location. Somewhere you'll have to talk your way into" Daly said

"Sounds great, and I'd love to help. But in case you haven't noticed, I can't exactly talk to anyone, in my current condition. Besides you (assuming you're not a figment of my imagination)" Matt said, whispering the last part

"I'm aware. Which is why you'll need to become me. But just for this mission." Daly said, but he was clearly holding something back, and Matt knew it.

"And then what…?" Matt asked

"And then, if you succeed, and my plan comes to fruition, you will no longer be constrained by your current, limitations. We can both be free, as it were" Daly said

Matt didn't trust this guy for a second. He knew a con artist when he met one (heck, he was one). But he also realised, he didn't have much choice.

"Okay, fine. I'm in." He conceded "I guess I have nothing to lose, after all"