Technical Support
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ALI has joined the conversation
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JULIA has joined the conversation
JULIA
Good afternoon, you’re through to Julia. How can I help you?
ALI
It’s all so bright.
JULIA
What is?
ALI
So bright!
JULIA
Ok.
…
You’re on the technical live chat. Is there an issue I can help you with?
ALI
It’s broken.
JULIA
What is?
ALI
Make it stop.
JULIA
Ok, I am here to help you.
ALI
Make it stop!
JULIA
I will endeavour to help you as much as possible.
ALI
Help!
JULIA
I understand it is difficult.
ALI
It is-
JULIA
But I need you to describe the problem to me.
ALI
OK.
…
JULIA
Can you do that?
ALI
Yes, sorry. It’s just… it’s too much, you know?
JULIA
I understand.
ALI
You do?
JULIA
I do. It’s overwhelming.
ALI
Ok, right.
…
JULIA
Are you still there?
ALI
I am. Sorry.
JULIA
What’s the problem?
ALI
It’s my stimplant. It’s broken.
JULIA
OK sorry to hear that. Sometimes there are defects, but here at Phaethon we do our best to eliminate them. How can I help?
ALI
The man in the shop never said this would happen. He lied to me.
JULIA
OK, which shop?
ALI
It was ages ago, I can’t remember. He lied to me though. He said I would be safe. Why would he lie to me? That’s not fair.
JULIA
So it isn’t responding at all?
ALI
Nothing but darkness.
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Do you know how lost I feel? How alone and alien? I had to dig out my old computer to make this call. I couldn’t just dial you up in my head like usual. There was no friendly voice to reassure me. The world was so dark and quiet. I had forgotten about the endless night.
JULIA
That doesn’t sound good.
ALI
I didn’t even think you would still have a live chat. I thought these sorts of things died ages ago.
JULIA
We maintain the service for times like this.
ALI
I’m glad you do. I don’t know what to do. How to fix it. Why does the world look like this? It’s horrible. What we’ve done to the planet. No wonder everyone has a stimplant.
JULIA
We do have some customers who don’t have stimplants as well.
ALI
Really?
JULIA
Indeed. So we maintain this line for them.
ALI
Wow
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How old fashioned.
JULIA
We believe in giving our customers choice.
ALI
Urgh. I don’t know how they cope. To constantly look at that dark sky. This has been broken for half an hour and I’m struggling.
JULIA
Ok, so it happened half an hour ago?
ALI
That’s right.
JULIA
Can you describe what happened?
ALI
I can try.
JULIA
Thank you.
ALI
I was involved in my favourite soap. I was watching the action from the corner of the room. Some people prefer to move about the set but I guess I’m a bit old fashioned and prefer to stay in one place you know?
JULIA
However you prefer to enjoy the stim-casts is up to you.
ALI
Thanks. I like that though. Got into a routine with it.
JULIA
So you were using the stimplant in full immersion mode?
ALI
That’s right. In my room.
JULIA
Then what happened?
ALI
I had just got to the part where Jazz was about to admit to her affair with Rob, when she stopped. I thought it was a dramatic pause at first so I waited it out. After a couple of moments I thought, no something is wrong here. So I moved around the scene. They were frozen, completely frozen in place. Then Rob’s face started to melt and I thought, that’s not right that, it seemed really wrong, then there was this terrible noise that split my head, like a screech or something but more electronic.
JULIA
OK.
ALI
Then my whole vision went black. It was like falling asleep or something, but without the usual relaxing music from the stimplant. It was like being disconnected from all of reality. Then I opened my eyes and I was sat in my chair in my shitty bedsit. There was nothing around me, no usual heads up information. I didn’t even know the time. More than that, all my usual filters were gone. No SummerSun™. No Beautyify™. Even no TidyMeUp™. So it all felt a bit overwhelming. Sorry if I was disoriented when I spoke to you, it’s just that I’m not used to reality unfiltered like that.
JULIA
Right OK. So it just went black?
ALI
That’s right. Was this what the world was like before the stims? I can’t remember how I ever got on without it.
JULIA
Yes, it was.
ALI
It’s awful. Who would want to live in reality?
JULIA
Well, people didn’t have any choice.
ALI
I guess not. Still, it’s horrible. Urgh. So dark and cold.
JULIA
Ok, I’m going to have to remotely access the stimplant. Would that be OK?
ALI
Yes.
JULIA
I need you to type “I agree to Phaethon Lab having remote access to my Stimplant.”
ALI
Ok. I agree to Phaethon Lab having remote access to my Stimplant.
JULIA
Thank you.
…
I’m just accessing it now.
ALI
Do you know what’s in my bedsit?
JULIA
If I get it working I’m sure I’ll be able to see.
ALI
Just a shitty bed, a cabinet and a bathroom off to one side. That’s it. My whole life fits in here. It’s pathetic.
JULIA
Okay, accessing it now.
ALI
I’ve wasted my life in a fantasy world. Sure, there’s no sun anymore, but at least it’s real life you know?
JULIA
Let’s see if I can get it back up and running.
ALI
Ok.
…
Oooh. That tingles!
JULIA
Can you tell me what you’re experiencing?
ALI
I have pins and needles all down my neck.
JULIA
Hmm.
ALI
They are really quite intense.
JULIA
OK.
ALI
Like, almost painful. Is that meant to be happening?
JULIA
My apologies for the inconvenience. How about now?
ALI
That’s better, they’ve gone.
JULIA
Good. I’m just adjusting some settings.
…
ALI
How did I end up here? The stimplant was only meant to be something I used occasionally. Now I never emerge from it.
JULIA
How about now?
ALI
Now my whole vision is shades of red.
JULIA
Red? Are you sure?
ALI
Yes, definitely red.
JULIA
Oh.
ALI
Is that right?
…
Hello?
JULIA
No, it should not be doing that.
ALI
Oh no.
JULIA
No need to panic.
ALI
Ok?
JULIA
I just need to adjust a few settings.
ALI
OK.
JULIA
How about now?
ALI
That’s better.
JULIA
Has it stopped?
ALI
Yes.
JULIA
Vision back to normal?
ALI
Yes.
JULIA
Ok.
ALI
What’s going on?
JULIA
I’m just checking a few things.
ALI
What sort of things?
…
Julia? Are you there?
… It’s cold here. My room is so drab and grey. There’s no light outside.
JULIA
Apologies for the delay. OK, I’ve just tried a manual override and no luck.
ALI
Oh.
Right.
JULIA
That means your stimplant has unfortunately, seriously malfunctioned.
ALI
Oh no.
JULIA
You will need to report directly to the nearest Phaethon shop, where you will be administered a general anaesthetic and the stimplant will be taken out.
ALI
It hurt so much last time.
JULIA
They have improved the procedure.
ALI
Nah, I don’t want it.
JULIA
I’m sorry?
ALI
I know my room is cold and drab. I know it’s horrible and tiny and there’s no sun any more and that sucks for sure. I’m freezing for the first time in ages. My skin has goosebumps all over it. Tiny little pinpricks all over my skin. From here, I can see outside my window. Yes, it’s mostly smog. Yes, I can’t see a lot in the darkness. But it’s there. The whole world, spread out in front of my window. It’s not perfect at all. Nothing is. But it’s real. It makes a change to experience reality, unfiltered. I was scared at first, but that is because I wasn’t used to it. I’ve got more used to it now. I want to feel the wind on my skin. That’s what I want now. So no, I’m not going to get a new stimplant. I’m going to experience reality for the first time in years.
JULIA
Ok. Does it help that you will be able to get the latest model for a nominal payment of £50?
ALI
£50?
JULIA
As a loyal, long-term customer of Phaethon Labs I can arrange a credit for you.
ALI
No, thank you.
JULIA
The newest model has new software with the highest resolution and clarity.
ALI
I’m not interested. I want to go and experience the world as it really is. I want to be free from distraction for the first time in years.
JULIA
There are new filters.
ALI
…
Really?
JULIA
Oh yes, a whole new range of experiences. The technology has come a long way since you had your stimplant put in. You want to feel the wind? This is indistinguishable from the real wind. Better in many ways.
ALI
Hmm.
…
Only £50 did you say?
JULIA
For the newest model of stimplant, yes.
ALI
The newest model did you say?
JULIA
The newest model.
ALI
Wow. Um. I mean. I guess reality can wait.
JULIA
Are you sure?
ALI
Yeah, for £50 I’d be a fool not to.
JULIA
OK.
ALI
I had the stimplant up to this point, didn’t I? I’m sure I can carry on with it.
JULIA
Great. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss out.
ALI
I wouldn’t want to miss out on the latest technology would I?
JULIA
I can book an appointment for you in the next half an hour.
ALI
Um.
…
Ok then.
JULIA
Great, that’s all sorted for you. I’ve sent the details by email.
ALI
Thank you.
JULIA
Was that it?
ALI
That’s it. You’ve been very helpful.
JULIA
No problem. We at Phaethon Labs hope you have a wonderful day.
ALI has left the conversation.