"The time is 0700 hours. Good morning, Juliana. Would you like your standard
breakfast this morning?"
I was awoken by the gradually increasing light in my bedroom and the pleasant
music playing. Once the HOME detected I was conscious it played my standard
wakeup message.
"Yes." I answered groggily. I stumbled to my bathroom. The lights
came on at 70%, just as I like it at 0700. As soon as I stepped into the shower
stall the water came on at the proper temperature.
As I began walking down the stairs to the kitchen, the HOME set my meal to be
ready when I arrived there, based on my average time from the top of the stairs
to the kitchen. Scrambled eggs, toast and apple juice, prepared to my specifications.
I walked out of my door, down the walk to the transport tube running though
my neighborhood. The system did an instant retinal scan and greeted me. "Hello,
Juliana P. Jordan, number 8301840298. Is your destination your office, located
at 93452 Mainframe Avenue?"
I answered, "Yes." and the doors slided open. As I walked through
I heard it tell me the cost of the trip and that it was being deducted from
my account. Everyone has one account where all their earnings are stored, run
by the World Monetary Authorities. Life is so much easier that way. Every action,
whether a transfer or a purchase or whatnot, it carefully recorded, providing
us with safety from dangerous people.
The ride to work was the same as always. When I reached my building I held up
the palm on my right hand to the scanner, where it read the barcode that allowed
me to enter the building. A retinal scanner allowed me to enter my section of
the building. I took the elevator to my floor and entered my office. As soon
as I touched the keyboard with my fingers the system checked my fingerprints,
then did another retinal scan to log me into the computer system.
An hour later a security tech came and took my weekly blood sample. I barely
notice and don't care. I am a loyal employee of my Company and a lawful citizen
of the North American Confederation. I have nothing to hide. The Company and
the Government know all, and it's better this way. My home, office and most
of the country are under constant video surveillance. My every move and action
are tracked by computers. It makes me feel safe. Someone is always watching
me. It is very hard to kill someone and get away with it now. Robbing me out
of my home would be pointless, because no one carries money anymore. And any
unauthorized person entering my home would be instantly detected and dealt with.
My Company knows everything about my personal life. It's their right to know
that I am a stable person and a dutiful and loyal employee. They know what books
I read, what programs I watch and who I speak with and date. They have my complete
genetic profile on record. It's spotless, of course. My parents had it approved
by several doctors before gestating me in the uterine replicator.
The only thing they can't record are my thoughts. Thankfully, they are working
on this all the time. We gladly submit to biweekly polygraph tests in which
they do detailed scans of our brains, trying to learn it's mysteries. Soon,
our lives will be completely recorded, every thought, every dream, every action.
Then, and only then, will we be completely safe. People who could be dangerous
will be taken away, disloyalty will be routed out, and all criminal elements
purged. Life will be paradise again.