Chapter
13
A Serialized Story of the
Not So Distant Future
May 5, 2005
Part Twenty Six
Sam and his mother headed out to the mall to deposit Sam's check and get new cell phones. Malls hadn't changed very much over the last ten years. They were still crowded with teenagers and still bright and noisy to the point where Sam felt a little overwhelmed as he looked around.
They started at a bank called Starpoint Savings, which Sam noted had branches in all 50 states. As they waited for a representitive, Sam glanced at the various interest rates. The Prime rate was at a whopping 11%, although savings accounts under ten thousand dollars were only getting 2% interest.
"I should have taken out more money." Sam noted. "They're going to nickel and dime me to death with their fees."
"Well, it's up to you Sam, but if you make the account joint with me then they'll wave the fees."
"Oh, sure Mom. I'm pretty sure you won't run off with my money." Sam joked.
"Next." It was a man's voice, he had tightly curled hair and a moustache. His gray suit was perfectly pressed, and his white shirt and red tie made him the perfect image of a bank employee. The name plate on his desk read Francis Kopeke.
"Hi folks, how can I help you today." Francis asked.
"I need to open an account." Sam said.
They went through the procedures and forms, and to Sam's surprise fingerprints which Francis explained was a federal regulation since 2009 and the passage of Patriot Act III. Francis also explained that should Sam be arrested, all his accounts would be frozen until cleared by the authorites. Sam briefly considered just hiding his money in his mattress, but relented and went along with the process.
By the time it was all finished, Sam felt more like a criminal than a customer. The bottom line was that money in the bank was no longer yours if you were arrested for any reason. Sam made a mental note to keep a healthy amount of cash with him at all times.
As annoying as the bank was, it was the cell phone store that really ruined Sam's day. They entered a store called Cell O Phone and were pounced on by an overly friendly girl named Lisa. "Hi folks, how may I help you today?"
"We both need to get cell phones." Martha said.
"Of course. Do you and your husband already have a plan?" Lisa asked.
"Actually, I'm her son." Sam said.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Lisa said, her cheeks flushed red with embarrasment.
"I have a plan, but my son doesn't," Martha said.
"I see. Well let me review the types of plans we have available and what will fit your budget. Our plans range from as low as 50.00 a month for our most basic service, to 200.00 a month for a high bandwith connection for video conferencing."
"I don't think I'll be needing that." Sam said. "I really just want a basic phone, voice only."
Lisa demonstrated several phones, all of which could now play any sort of sound file as a ringtone. Sam went as cheap as possible, avoiding the GPS tracking and of course the "panic button" feature. Overall, the whoe thing still cost him 300.00 to get started, plus his mother had to cosign the account because Sam no longer had any credit rating.
"Gee Mom, will you buy me some candy and take me to the pony rides now?" Sam said as they left.
"Why Sam, that's no way for my husband to talk." Martha answered.
"Oh yeah. I guess I can forgive the girl for that one, but it really stung."
"You know Sam, you should just be happy to be alive."
"I know Mom, and I am, really. It's just difficult sometimes."
"SAM! Move your MOM!" It was Gaby's voice in his head.
Sam grabbed his mother's arm and swung her around and into a nearby bench. Just as he did, a male form wearing a black leather jacket and jeans shot by.
"Sam what!" Martha said.
Sam plopped down next to her. "I'm not sure Mom, let's just rest here a second."
Security guards came running up behind, and still more came in through the front door to intercept the man. They blocked the doors and drew guns on him.
"Since when do Rent a Cops carry guns?" Sam asked.
"FREEZE!" One of the guards yelled. "Drop the knife NOW!"
Sam could see the guy now, he looked like a teenager. He dropped the knife on the ground and then did something Sam had only seen in the movies. As the knife hit the ground, the young man crouched down a little and sprang up like a rocket, kicking one of the guards, knocking his gun loose with one foot, and actually stepping on the man's shoulder with other.
The young man used the guard as a springboard and actually launched himself through one of the glass doors, creating a shower of glass. He hit the ground sprawling, and to Sam's surprise actually got up and ran off.
"What the hell was that?" Sam asked out loud.
"He's on ICE." A passing man said. "It makes them immune to pain."
"Ice? I never heard of it."
"It's genetically modified cocaine. They created it to make a better anasethetic, but it got loose and now it's the newest drug craze. It was easier in our day, " said the man who was clearly in his sixties. "All we did was pot and nobody got hurt."
"Yeah." Sam agreed smiling.
"Well, it looks like the excitement's over, you have a good day."
"You too." Sam said. "Are you ok Mom?"
"Sam, how did you know he was coming?" Martha asked.
"I heard the noise behind me." Sam lied.
"How come I didn't hear it?"
"I don't know Mom, I just did."
"Alright, but I hope you'll tell me if there's something important going on."
"Not while Big Brother might hear us." Sam said smiling.
Martha just shot him a look of caution, and they continued on their way home.
When they got home, Sam laid down for a nap. He had a headache from all the flourescent lights in the mall. He wasn't surprised to hear that incredibly loud rushing sound in his ears. In moments, he was out of his body and floating around the room.
"Hm, no Gaby?" Sam mused. He floated out the window and headed towards Manhattan. He flew over the new Freedom Towers, a perfectly ironic name since traffic wasn't allowed within a block of it, and tourists had to make appointments ahead of time in order to see the inside of the place.
Drifting a little further north, he was a little sad to see that Chinatown no longer existed. Canal street was lined with condos and chain restaurants, all of the lower East side had become a soulless corporate nightmare.
"Hey! Want some company?" It was Gaby drifting up behind him.
"Oh sure." Sam said. "Thanks for the head's up earlier, were you helping that kid."
"No, I was working with you actually." Gaby said, "you just weren't paying attention."
"Oh. But that poor kid."
"Didn't want my help or anyone elses. A lot of people are like that, especially addicts."
"Oh." Sam said.
"Believe me Sam, it's really hard knowing that you can't help everyone. Even at this level, life can be frustrating as hell."
"Sorry." Sam said. "Even though I can remember the last ten years, part of me still feels really new to all this."
"It's ok. You should head home though, you don't want your Mom to freak from you sleeping to long."
"Yeah, you're right." They hugged briefly, and Sam felt himself being pulled back to his body, it was almost like being sucked down a drain.
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