The days I cherished most were the ones where I completely immersed myself in the creative process. When I entered "the zone," as they say. Time felt slower, almost standing still, and during that time I was consumed by the art and science of designing, programming, and painting Ultra-High realities. These worlds were so realistic to their inhabitants that they could never distinguish them from the real world. The only noticeable difference was that our mundane reality would pale in comparison if we ever let them out to make the comparison.
My purpose in life was to create realities better than reality itself. Ones specifically crafted for their occupants to never want to leave but instead remain willingly captive (although most were unaware of this fact). Here, their existence had meaning by serving the needs of the 1%, and they were content - even if ignorant - to do so.
The alternative to living in these ultra-realities was inhaling toxic air, being surrounded by constant smog, and experiencing headaches, nausea, vomiting, potential rectal bleeding, and starvation. And that's for the lucky ones. If I ever ran out of credit chips or fell out of favour with the network, this would be my fate.
These worlds all had a purpose - fulfilling the needs of upper management to satisfy shareholders. However, these needs and decisions often seemed baffling and irrational. Ever since the new world order emerged and conspiracy theorists were silenced (one way or another), survival meant keeping shareholders happy. No one knew who these mysterious figures were or where they resided, but it was common knowledge that trying to thrive outside of the Corporatocracy meant certain death - either from the harsh elements or justice bots or being "silenced" by an overdose injected between your toes.
The shareholders held an almost mystical power over the company, and even management feared to disappoint or betray them in any way. The consequences for such actions were severe, serving as a constant reminder for us "day walkers" living in our filtered bubbles. These punishments were reminiscent of medieval times, instilling fear into anyone who dared to defy the shareholders.
Gone were the days of public executions, but in their place were much harsher punishments. If one failed to carry out a "reasonable management request," which was often orders rather than requests, they would be thrown into Ultra-High reality jail. In this place, their worst nightmares would play on a never-ending loop, driving them to insanity or worse. Going insane in regular reality was bad enough; but in Ultra-High reality, it was equivalent to living in Hell.
Management's main duty was to ensure everything ran smoothly, and they were handsomely rewarded for it. Some chose to operate within regular reality, while others preferred the riskier option of working between realities. However, this came with its dangers as Ultra-High reality could easily be manipulated and turned upside down without notice or means of escape. This made office politics a treacherous game; although safeguards were put in place, skilled coders like me could find ways around them if instructed to do so.
I had developed a habit of sneaking secret codes into my work, even when it was not necessary. It was a risky move, but the truth was that very few coders and architects could catch onto my tricks, even when they were staring them right in the face. I considered myself a master of deception, able to hide my intentions so well within my code that even the most skilled professionals would struggle to detect anything suspicious. In the field of coding, I saw myself as an artist, and my work often gained recognition and praise from others. But what they didn't know was that I had left little hints and messages scattered throughout my code. These Easter Eggs could be used as weapons or tools for hacking into systems, taking down managers or reaching shareholders.
At first, I did this out of boredom and artistic expression. I enjoyed pushing the boundaries and manipulating not only Ultra-High-Reality but also the minds of those living within it. The alternative of not doing so was simply too dull for me. However, I had no intention of using these hidden codes for revolution or rebellion against the oppressive nature of Ultra-High-Reality. Furthermore, if I were to do so, what awaited us outside of this reality would be far worse. So, when approached by those who sought to use my skills for their causes, I was hesitant and uninterested at first. But eventually, out of boredom and curiosity, I became intrigued by their proposition.
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words by me
images directed by me, created by wonder ai
