“And your father has flown here more times than most people will get on a plane in their life,” his mother said fondly. Her voice trembled as she said, “It’s good to see you again.”
“Yes.” He felt the bed shift. “What’s…”
“They’re sitting you up,” she said. “Just–”
Exhaustion claimed him, and he laid his head back and drifted into unconsciousness for a while.
When he woke again, voices held a conversation nearby. With a start, he recognized Tina’s—and, in an even bigger surprise, she was speaking to his mother. It wasn’t even a fight. Justin listened, bemused, as they discussed a book they had both read. It was only a few minutes, however, before his father said,
“I believe he’s awake again.”
Warily, he opened one eye but was able to focus better this time. He stretched one set of fingers and his father squeezed his hand gently.
“Hi,” Justin said.
“Hello.” His father nodded at him. He clearly hadn’t shaved in a couple of days and wore what looked like borrowed sweats.
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too,” Tad agreed. “I look forward to having you home.”
“Until you move out and get a job, anyway,” Mary said. She was teasing, but there was a moment of worry in her eyes.
Justin understood now, though. He had seen the way she fought for him.
He was also not above teasing her in return. “Oh, don’t worry. I have it all planned. Just gimme some knives and I’ll hitchhike around and do exorcisms.”
Tina appeared behind his parents. She was smiling. “Can I come along?”
“Absolutely,” he said. “After all, I need someone to come in on a zip line and eliminate assassins.”
“I have to watch those videos,” his father muttered. He looked at the edge of the room, then back. “When you’re feeling better, you can meet the care team—those who made the game and the…pod. They’re off sorting through applications. Tons of people want their family members to have the treatment you had.”
“And you know, if you need a job,” a voice called, “we could really use a spokesperson.”
“Who wuzzat?” Justin asked muzzily.
“That was Nick, dear,” his mother said. She patted his hand. “Don’t worry, you’ll meet them all soon enough. Focus on staying awake for now.” She stood.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
His mother looked embarrassed for a moment before she shrugged. “I have an appointment. Didn’t Zaara ever mention who her new magic tutor was?” She strolled away and he stared incredulously after her while his father laughed hysterically.
Creator Notes - Michael Anderle
June 7, 2020
What happens when you get another chance to be someone you always wanted to be? That is a question I want to answer in what I personally call the PIVOT Chronicles (these sets of stories.)
Each book is three books in one. Eventually, we will probably break them apart.
I am fascinated with where we are going with technology, and what we can accomplish today and into the future. The challenge, I realize, is when technology engages with vested interests that want to maintain the status quo.
I too often see (here in the United States) where technology could grant opportunities to upset the status quo (and it often does) until you run up against well-funded competitors who can use the courts or public opinion to keep things as they are.
For example, with medical costs.
When I created this concept, I wanted to build a set of stories in which what is outside of the main protagonist is affecting the story as much as what is going on inside with the protagonist.
Here in book one, we see that PIVOT labs originally tried to create the ultimate game machine. Except, the team that wanted to make these immersive game machines ultimately are horrible with building a business.
Specifically, building a product their target market can afford.
If you don’t follow the game console industry, trust me when I say even a $100.00 purchase price difference (paid one time) can make or break the leadership role with game machines for the home.
Imagine a game machine that costs $800.00 a day to operate?
Typically, technologies that upset the status quo are “10x” better. (10x is a term that started with the Mythical man month and mutated in time to a philosophy about making changes that result in something being 10x better.)
My thinking is that $800 in a PIVOT module to keep someone alive and working with their mind than in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU) that is between 5 and 7 times more expensive than the first PIVOT effort.