Spiritual Privacy

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Dr. Jarlath Huxley stood and stared menacingly into the bathroom mirror in front of him. He could feel his bionic eye vibrating, his wrinkles deepening, and his sleeves dampening, as his arms clasped on to the sides of the sink, shaking as the man looking back at him let out an excruciatingly drawn out snarl. He stood uneasily in that grimy bathroom, as purple and green flashes of light assaulted his senses. He could feel the two realities warring; one augmented, one real as his head began to spin.

Jarlath heard a thunderous stomp followed by a small buzzing noise in his head from the outside of the bathroom, abruptly interrupting him from his haze. The bathroom door was flung open by a gigantic metal arm before a gigantic man in a suit stared. “Oh. The assistant.” thought Jarlath. The robot-man spoke, “Dr. Huxley, Mr. Alexon would like to see you.” Jarlath huffed before rolling his non-bionic eye before walking down the corridor with him.

Dr. Huxley had spent over a decade studying neuroscience at the most prestigious institutions across multiple galaxies within the multiverse, but due to reasons he didn’t particularly enjoy explaining, he failed to achieve his doctorates. Now living a life without intention, he had spent the past couple of years on Neptune, making microwaves out of the diamonds which rained down over him down there.

He had been sent a letter by an old friend named Alexon, who had been great company during his college years. Apparently, he was working on new start-up, and needed some specific help from an old friend. Alexon was an odd character, he had majored in Biotechnology and was always yapping on about biofeedback and biohacking and other things that started in “Bio” that Jarlath wasn’t particularly interested in, yet Alexon made it sound so intriguing during the pairs nightly heart-to-hearts in their dorm rooms. He was also famous for only having a first name.

He dropped out in his second year (leaving Jarlath quite lonely.) and apparently, he made a grand amount of money during Web 4. Web 4 was the movement during the early 22nd century which amplified humanity with the greatest luxury yet: escapism. A company under the name of “Virgil Enterprises” situated in South Korea had invented a new line of technology that could simulate another reality where people could live by connecting their consciousness to a computer. The machine would take assets that existed in the “real world” and translate them into a fantasy one.

Humans no longer had to deal with fires that burnt their woodland forests, oceans that flood their tiny islands, or musty smoke which polluted the skies. They climb every mountain, fly with dragons, and eat all food they needed in a world of their own thoughts. It was originally designed for people to live in both the real and fantasy worlds, yet humanity immediately found the “real world” to be too undesirable.

Yet there was one big ominous catch to Web 4. With all of humanities consciousness connected to a computer, people could easily read other people’s thoughts. It actually got incredibly hard to not read other people’s thoughts, ipso facto, privacy had become a thing of the past. It had definitely become harder for con-men, CIA agents, and politicians alike to do their dirty business, but for the average person it had become excruciating to even live. All sorts of wars and conflicts both big and small had started because of this.

Scientists and Spiritualists alike had tried to create new technology and techniques on how to eliminate this horrible phenomenon, like meditation and fancy helmets, yet nothing seemed to work out in the long run. Either way factory owners loved the extra revenue they were getting by constructing virtual ammunition. Certain uncreative politicians had theorized that Korean scientists had deliberately made the code bad in certain places, but the public could read that those politicians just hated Koreans period.

Jarlath completely despised Web 4. It was one the reasons he decided to move to Neptune. And he was going to be incredibly unimpressed if Alexon, after all these years of radio silence was going to recruit him in his cult. Before Alexon had dropped out, Jarlath and him had dreamed of moving to Silicon Valley together to work on various projects, yet Silicon Valley was no longer the pearly gates to technological innovation that had been described during Webs one-two-three, nowadays it was more of a slum. Another catch of Web 4 was that in certain places the code that infiltrated both realities would malfunction, creating flashing lights, unholy noises, and disgusting smells that would terrify any living organism.

The assistant escorting Jarlath could read his discontent. “I am sure you will be in awe of Mr. Alexon’s work, Dr. Huxley.” The assistant stated. Jarlath scrunched up his nose. They stopped suddenly Infront of two massive doors labeled “boardroom”.

The assistant slowly creaked open the framed glass doors to the boardroom. A group of suited men sitting in triangular shaped swivel chairs in sat front of a large fold-out table, twisted there necks sinisterly to peer at Jarlath as he stumbled in. A singular light bulb hung from the ceiling, failing to illuminate there many faces.

At the far end of the boardroom table, a man with slicked back hair turned his chair to face Jarlath. “Dr. Huxley!” he drawled. “I’m so glad you finally came.” The man stood out of his seat and strolled over to Jarlath to shake his hand. “I’ve missed you so much, dear friend.” He whispered. A potted plant spawned in the corner of the room before quickly flickering away. “My apologies for that, Dr. Huxley. You must well aware of our situation due to the current circumstances.” Alexon marched back to his seat, while Dr. Huxley sat down at the closest chair, the two men now eyeing each other straight on.

One of the assistants brought out a flip chart showing impressive designs and calculations to what looking like a pill. Alexon cleared his throat. “Here at Spiritual Privacy Incorporation, have created a product that could change lives.” He placed a plastic pill jar on top of the table. “Humankind no longer has to know every thought and feeling that other feel. Spir-Priv is a new medicinal service where people can finally get a bit of calmness during everyday life by taking this wonder-pill”. Alexon began to explain what him and his team had done to create such a magnificent invention, Jarlath was sucked in as he remembered the long conversations the two men had in their youth.

After he finished, Dr. Huxley sat thoughtless for a few seconds. He was amazed, yet he was still skeptical. “What’s the catch?” he asked. “Excuse me?” Mr. Alexon replied. “I said,” Jarlath paused. “What’s the catch? People have been looking for this exact type of product for decades so, what’s. The. Catch?” Alexon and assistants’ icy stares froze into Jarlath’s skull. “There is no catch, Jarlath. People get to think clearly, and I get there ten dollars monthly.” Alexon stated.

“Your making people pay for this life-changing product? Like a subscription service? This product that could end wars, a product that could make people forgive?” snapped Jarlath. “Does this man think he can exploit my life’s research for this?!” thought Jarlath.

“You’re right Jarly. I am making people pay. And yes, that is why I called you, I knew with your brains and my brawn we could make something so world-changing together. It’s what we planned during undergrad, remember.” Jarlath tilted his head in wonder. He hadn’t been called that nickname in years. It is the 22nd Century after all, Jarly. Thought crimes are crimes.” Jarlath pursed his lips and held a tense expression. “My name is Dr. Jarlath Huxley, Mr. Alexon.” Jarlath replied sternly.

Alexon frowned before he plastered a smug little smirk across his cracked lips. “Jarly, I think we both know why I really called you.” Jarlath tilted his head in his head in confusion before Alexon continued, “I remember your graduation ceremony for that little-old doctorate back then. You worked so hard for that little piece of paper. But you just got so neurotic at Mr. Ambrose all of a sudden.” Mr. Alexon cooed, “But c’mon Jarlath, do you really think you’re a doctor?” he scoffed.

Jarlath’s cheeks fumed red before he slammed his hands on to the table, nearly tipping it over. “I AM A DOCTORATE. I SPENT TEN YEARS STUDYING FOR THAT DEGREE. MY INTELLECT IS JUST ABOVE THOSE PHILLISTINES WORKING AT SCHOOLS!” he yelled.

“Men, you may exit the boardroom. These are private matters.” Said Alexon, sternly. The assistants all stood up to leave. When they we’re all gone, Alexon scoffed once again “You hated everyone, and everyone hated you back! You made sure that every single thought you had was a violent and disgusting, as possible! And when you we’re about to get your bloody Doctorates you fucking blew it!” Jarlath was bright red. “I stayed by your fucking side as you bawled and what do you to repay me? You move to Neptune and cut me off entirely!”

“Don’t you fucking dare!” yelled Jarlath. He grabbed onto Alexon’s shoulders, pinning him to the wall before swinging an upper cut punch to his nose. Alexon attempted to kick back, yet he was completely powerless against his old friend. Blood from Alexon’s nose began to spill down his perfectly tailored suit. The two men stared into each other’s eyes for five long seconds. “Alex…” gasped Jarly. He ran to get a tissue box as Alexon sunk to the ground.

The two men crawled into corner together, wiping the blood away. Jarlath gazed into his old friend’s eyes. He sighed then smiled back at him, his eyes watering. “I just want all those young academics to not make the mistakes I did. I want them to have the chance to succeed. I want them to have access to freedom from the thoughts and feelings of others, just once in their pitiful lives. But everyone needs this Alex. Every man, woman, in-between, and neither. You have a great mind Alex, but humanity can’t wait a second longer for something this extraordinary.”

Alexon smiled, his eyes also watering, as they both stood up. He linked arms with Jarlath, the two beginning to walk down the dirty hallway, which had managed to stay perfectly still in a singular reality for once. Both men knew that only their unspoken thoughts could articulate the magnificent discovery that had been made that day.