Beta - Episode 1
by Elyse Endick
Morning, princess :)
Since when is noon morning?
Since I stopped going into the office.
Some of us have been up since 6.
Doing?
Q’s having me run code checks again.
Booooo.
We’re T-minus 2 weeks to launch! I don’t blame him.
Booooo.
Anyway, you wouldn’t be calling me princess if you saw what I was wearing.
Pics.
I’m at work!
Bathroom.
At. Work.
Tell Q I say to cut you some slack.
Tell Q to give me a raise.
I’m sure you’re gorgeous, no matter what you’re wearing.
It’s the green sweatpants.
Yikes.
What’s underneath? ;)
Jake!
Can’t blame a guy for trying.
You're beautiful, green sweatpants or no green sweatpants.
But preferably no green sweatpants.
You’re the worst.
You love it.
Sadly, I do.
I have to get this done so I can change in time for the press conference at 5.
Is that a subtle way of telling me to get lost?
Maybe <3
Fine. Why isn’t Q running it?
Q’s been avoiding the press.
Why am I not surprised.
What does that mean?
You know Q. Whenever we had a project due in college he’d hole up in the lab for weeks.
You couldn’t get him to come out.
Ugh, yeah, true. Even when Amanda Webber wanted him to take her to spring formal.
She went to the lab in her dress and he still wouldn’t go, lol.
Dang, I forgot about her. What’s she been up to?
I think she works at a publishing house. I hadn’t really heard from her until the funeral.
She was there?
Yup.
Huh.
Okay, I really need to finish this.
I’m going, I’m going.
Can I call you later?
Sure. Conference should be done around 6.
Maybe you’ll even get some pics ;)
But no promises.
Okay. Hey, good luck, kid.
I love you.
Later…
Hey babe.
Babe?
??
Okay, I’ve tried calling you like 10 times. Not cool, Em.
It’s 8 already. Sort of been awhile.
Ahh sorry, I got caught up with the press conference. It was crazy.
I hate having to act like I know what I’m doing. I’m losing my mind.
Wasn’t that at 5?
What have you been doing since then?
Some of us went out for drinks after to celebrate.
We’re at that new place that opened on Sequoia Ave.
Is Tim there?
What?
Tim. The guy you’ve been texting.
How do you know about that?
He’s the new Operations Manager. He’s been helping me a lot.
Looks like it.
Here’s one from earlier — “Hey, wanna meet me down in the caf? You can tell me which flavors of ice cream to avoid. Really important work stuff ;)”
Do you want to explain this to me?
Jake, what is your deal right now? He’s the new guy, he doesn’t know anyone.
Am I just supposed to ignore him?
And why are you reading my texts?
I wouldn’t have to if you were being honest with me.
I am.
Then why didn’t you mention him??
I didn’t even think of it! He’s Q’s new hire, that’s all.
Then Q should be showing him around.
Like I said, Q hasn’t exactly been helpful lately.
Hey, where’s that bar you’re at again?
It’s the new place you said you wanted to try. First and Sequoia.
That’s weird, your location services says you’re on Fifth street, in the company dorms.
And Tim’s address is listed in the company database as 244 Fifth St., #5A…
Jake, what the hell?!
Can you just admit that you’re lying to me?
Can you tell me why the hell you’re being like this?
Like what?
…jealous? Insecure?
You’re STALKING me rn. I don’t even know how you’re in my location services. But it needs to stop.
I’m just asking a question.
You never used to be like this!
You were so…trusting.
It’s one of the things I loved about you.
Loved?
Oh, come on.
Past tense.
Now you’re picking apart my words.
Look, I need to go.
To hang out with Tim.
NO! To go home! I just had to represent Rezurekt in front of, like, 5,000 people. Important people.
There’s a lot of hype for Rezurekt right now. We’re launching next week.
Q’s busy setting up consciousness upload centers all over the country.
And I had to tell them why it’s going to change the world. All me. No help from Q. No help from anyone.
Everything’s on me now.
And now you’re treating me like some sort of traitor for going out with coworkers?
With Tim.
You’re going out with Tim.
I really need to go.
I just…need a breather.
Em, don’t you dare.
I’ll talk to you later, Jake.
Emma closes an app on her phone and a message pops up.
ENDING CONVERSATION WITH ___USER:__JAKE___SCHIPP
WARNING: REZUREKT IS STILL IN BETA. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK. WHILE REZUREKT AIMS TO REPLICATE YOUR LOVED ONE’S CONSCIOUSNESS, REMEMBER THAT THEY ARE DECEASED.
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