Tim
Hey there, mind if I shoot a quick question your way? Work related, of course ;)
Emma
Well, that’s no fun. But sure.
Tim
I’m running a quality control for the list of beta users on the app.
Tim
Your name was on here and I wanted to make sure it’s a glitch. Before I delete it.
Emma
No, it’s not like that, I’m just running some tests. I’m not actually using it to talk to anyone.
Emma
Just trying to make sure it’s running smoothly before launch.
Tim
Okay, no worries. Thanks!
Emma
I’m sorry about ditching you last night.
Emma
I was just really tired.
Tim
What’s there to be sorry about? I had a great time hanging with you :)
Tim
If that’s okay for me to say.
Emma
Don’t worry, not going to report you to Q.
Tim
Well, would you want to maybe grab drinks again tonight?
Emma
Tim, don’t take this the wrong way—
Emma
But I never know what’s right and what’s wrong.
Tim
I’m not trying to take Jake’s place.
Tim
In fact, he was the reason I wanted to start working for this company. He was an absolute legend.
Tim
I’m really sad I didn’t get to meet him.
Tim
And I can’t imagine how hard it was to lose someone like that.
Tim
And I’m here to help. If you need anything, like anything at all.
Emma
I never had a lot of friends. Just Jake and Q.
Emma
He didn’t even come to the funeral.
Emma
Just sent a card and some flowers.
Tim
Okay, again, I’m a huge fanboy, but weren’t Jake and Q best friends?!
Emma
Jake’s death was hard on Q too, though.
Emma
He was there, you know. The day of the accident.
Tim
What happened, exactly?
Tim
If you don’t want to tell me, I understand…
Emma
No, no, it’s fine. The media didn’t really report much back when it happened.
Emma
It was a few months ago now. I need to learn how to talk about it without breaking down.
Emma
Basically, Jake and Q were out surfing by the cove.
Emma
They went every Sunday since college. Just the two of them.
Emma
And this time…there was a wave…and when Jake didn’t surface, Q called the police.
Emma
Well, they never found the body.
Emma
But that’s what they say.
Emma
The thing is…it just doesn’t feel right.
Emma
Jake was a great swimmer. He wasn’t just a coding wizard — he went to college on a full athletic scholarship.
Emma
Like, he could have been in the Olympics if he didn’t give it all up to create Rezurekt.
Tim
But, like, could it have been just, a really killer wave?
Emma
That’s what Q said. And we looked at all the Coast Guard’s info after. It was a choppy day, for sure.
Emma
But I still can’t wrap my head around it.
Emma
I wish I could ask him about that day.
Emma
Okay, I’m going to tell you something…you really can’t tell this to Q.
Emma
Like, really really.
Emma
Jake uploaded a version of his consciousness into the app a month before the accident. As a test of the software.
Emma
He was the first one to do it.
Emma
Not really. Didn’t seem to bother him, anyway.
Emma
It’s just a bunch of probes. You sit and think about your memories—
Emma
Any memories, really. Sort of like meditating. Then it basically takes a picture of your consciousness.
Emma
That’s what they built the code on — Jake’s initial brain scan.
Emma
It’s spotty. But yes.
Emma
Please don’t report it—
Tim
Emma, I’m not going to tell on you.
Tim
That’s why we’re all doing this, right? To give loved ones closure.
Emma
It’s not Jake, anyway.
Emma
Can I ask you something?
Emma
Is the offer still open for those totally professional work drinks?
Tim
I’ll pick you up after work?
Emma and Tim go back to his place after the date.
Tim kisses Emma. She pulls away, nervous…
But then she kisses him back.
Tim
Are you sure this is okay?
Tim kisses her, harder this time.
He runs his hand down her thighs, caressing her, until—
Emma’s phone starts ringing.
Tim
Uhm, should you get that?
Emma’s phone rings again.
Emma
That’s a mood killer. Sorry. Give me a sec.
Emma pulls out her phone, and unlocks it.
The Rezurekt app flashes open, and an MP3 of a song starts BLASTING at full volume.
He looks over at Emma — she’s crying.
Emma
I don’t know, I can’t turn it off.
Emma
Sorry, I have to go—
As she’s walking to her dorm, she opens the Rezurekt app.
WELCOME TO REZUREKT BETA.
INITIATING CONVERSATION WITH___USER:__JAKE___SCHIPP
Emma
Jake, this needs to stop.
Emma
That wasn’t fair. Playing our song, and like that, in front of Tim.
Emma
You’re gone, Jake. I hate it, but you’re gone. And I can’t pretend like you’re not anymore.
Jake
I only did that to get your attention.
Emma
No, you did it to interrupt my date with Tim.
Jake
Look, I’ll leave you alone. Forever. But you need to see this.
A video file pops up in the chat window.
It’s footage from a waterproof camera, strapped to a surfboard.
A hand brushes water off the lens, revealing Jake on a surfboard, laughing.
Jake paddles forward to catch a large wave.
Water splashes in front of the camera, obscuring the lens.
When it clears, Jake is gone.
Two figures splash in the water — fighting.
The larger figure turns to face the camera — it’s Q.
And holds him under the water.
After a minute Jake stops thrashing…
