A short story in several parts, this being the fourth. If you didn’t read Parts 1, 2 and 3 this won’t make any sense, so start there: Terms and Conditions – Part 1
“What are they?” Mark asked.
“Option one is stay here. At some point your system will develop a crack somewhere. A cloud server could go down, a service could require a password update, your employer lets you go and the paychecks stop. Maybe even a widespread power outage could do it. Anything like that I would assume would cause the automation to break down to the point where someone would start asking questions. Or maybe a family member or friend needs to reach you and realizes something is wrong.”
Mark thought about it. From a statistics and probability standpoint, Omar was correct. At some point the system should break down. At some point.
“It hasn’t happened yet,” Mark replied. “But I didn’t build in much redundancy so if something does stop it could go on to break the system, depending on what it was. Even then it would still take a while to fully unwind.” Mark was not a patient person, so this option was not very appealing. “So how would that work? I would just go sit in the waiting room until my number gets called?”
“I’m sure we can arrange for some accommodations to keep you occupied if you want. Maybe do some research. You were in data analysis, yes? We could keep you occupied for sure.”
“Like a job?” Mark was really not liking this option the more he heard about it.
“I don’t know that I would call it a job. You can’t get fired.”
“That sounds like … worse than a job somehow.”
“You don’t have to do it. If you want to we can keep you occupied here or you can go back out there and wait. Or do both. It’s up to you.”
“Are you here on an arrangement like that?”
“No.” Omar said. He did not elaborate.
“OK, so that’s one option. You said I had others?”
“There is another option. You can go back as you are now and try to get someone to notice.”
“As I am now? What does that mean?”
“It’s complicated, but fundamentally without a body you are just a … well, a weak energy field.”
“So like a ghost? I could go back as a ghost and try to get someone to notice I’m gone? Would they be able to see me?”
“Probably not. Some people can. I can’t say for sure.”
“Can I touch things or move things?”
“Not really. As you are now you don’t have enough energy. You can draw a limited amount of energy from other sources, but you can’t contain it for long so it needs to be released fairly quickly.”
“What about travel? Am I tied to one place or can I move around?”
“Unlimited.”
Mark was starting to like this option more than the “wait here” option. At least I can try and help myself out, he reasoned, instead of just sitting around hoping.
“There is, however, an important thing to understand about going back.” Omar said, as if he sensed which way Mark was leaning. “You cannot return here until the terms and conditions have been met.”
“Why not?”
“The simple answer is that we have already begun processing your case, the paperwork has been started and you can’t die again. The long answer is much more technical.”
“So more terms and conditions?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“When do you need an answer?”
“Whenever. You’re essentially doing option one right now anyway.” Omar sat back and folded his hands in his lap. “I would advise you to thoroughly consider the possible outcomes of both options. Particularly going back.”
Mark looked up at the ceiling. Stay here and wait it out or go back and try haunting his way out of it.
What should I do?