‘I don’t get it, Johnny, what’s going on?’
Everyone was freaking out. Some people hallucinating, others acting out skits from the past. Some didn’t recognize each other or their loved ones.
‘What’re your eyes tellin’ you, Sal?’
‘That I’m sitting at home, talking to you through the HoloSphere.’
‘Okay, that’s good. That’s real. I had to hack in to the GRID, Sal. Upload some data. It took over a few minds, but as it renders their brains - it’ll let US know.’
‘Know-?’ she paused, waiting for him to fill in the blanks.
‘Know who’s a friendly and who’s not, know their background history, know what they’re capable of. Jimmy and I - back on the base, we got to talking. Would anyone even enlist anymore if they knew how they’d end up? So I got to thinking. It’s okay, Sal, just stay home, indoors, keep the blinds closed.’
‘And you?’
‘I’m safe here, because you’re safe there.’
Sally got up from her chair and walked around the house, closing the blinds like he told her.
‘It’s gonna render some data, Sal. And then it’s progress some of US, to see what our futures will look like if some survive, if some don’t, if some get hurt - then it’s gonna figure out who best to approach next, and how to protect US in the meantime.’
Sally sat back in her chair at her desk. ‘Okay, Johnny, love you.’