AP53 didn't know what
to do. Everyone was infected. It just took the slightest touch and he
would be infected too; doomed to lose all function every so often to
sprout out 15 to 30 seconds of viral advert phrases like “50%
off all stock.” “Act now!” “Gimble sausages are the tastiest
you will ever eat.” “You are nothing if you don't own a Capone
hat.” “Are you a loser? Then became a winner today with 72 easy
monthly payments of $12.99.” It was enough to drive anyone mad.
Bizarrely no accidents had been caused by it yet, with the virus program seeming to recognize the user would be in a life threatening situation if it activated at the wrong moment, but people couldn't be busy all the time. Taking public transport was a nightmare with random slogans being thrown around continuously.
Everything had been
tried from root installs to total wipeouts. It was because the
systems installing the restore points were infected too and just
reloaded the virus. There were numerous “cures” out there, but
all of them had been proved to be bogus conmen trying to make a quick
buck.
But if AP53 didn't
connect to the NETWORK soon he would lose his job and apartment. His
supposed permanent connection AM69 had left him last week, saying he
was against change and should just accept it. But why should he let
large corporations hijack his body and turn him into walking
billboard.
Most ignored it, they
were so bombarded with adverts that they just didn't care anymore. A
few had taken their lives because it was just too much. His friend
ART78 had thrown himself into a garbage compactor just that morning.
The police were at the door.
“Please sign this
release form,” said the android officer. ART78 had left him his
entire digital collection of movies and literature.
Shocked and operating
on autopilot AP53 pressed his thumb to the electronic clipboard.
The door closed behind
AP53 and ten seconds later he stopped dead still. “Are you a lonely
bachelor and looking to settle down? Then look no further than 'Date
an Officer.' Your number one source for meeting potential dates in
uniform.”
