The Interface
His trench coat flew open in the doorway. Cold air engulfed his warm body, corrupting it and making the man cringe in the doorway trying to tie his coat back up. He struggled to do this while using himself as a door-stop.
“Thank you,” he said, relieved that someone had to leave at the time he was entering.
The man crumpled his trench coat around him, salvaging the heat. He rubbed his arms even with the coat still on. Walking to the elevator, the man nodded to the doorman.
“How are you?”
“Hi.”
Finally inside the elevator, all was silent. The man let out a sigh. He tried to rub life into his numb cheeks. Then the elevator opened with a sudden, unwelcome chime that meant he was home. He opened the door to his apartment with a sense of self-loathing.
“Where were you?” the voice came from everywhere.
“I just went to recharge Google car,” the man answered in the fashion of an insubordinate child.
“Checking video files,” began the computer. One could hear the buzzing of the electronics, “Scanning…confirmed. Your threat level has been reduced to ‘suspicious.’”
The man was grateful that he was at the lowest threat level. “Thank you, Interface.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Nothing.”
“Why not?”
“Because that is illegal.”
“Correct.”
The man continued on with his business, which involved sitting down for his nutrition. When he did this, however, it was a little too passionate for the interface.
“Are you angry,” it asked.
“No. I just sat down quickly.”
“Analyzing….Complete. You have been submitted to a psychologist and your threat level has been raised to ‘dangerous.’ Now, eat your 2,000 calories.” As the interface said this, a slot in the wall opened and a mechanized conveyor-belt moved the nutrition pack across the table. A plastic knife and fork came with it. The table came out perpendicular from the wall with no support underneath.
Inside the pack, a gray block with a Styrofoam consistency was his nourishment. When he cut into it, there was a flat bristling sound as the composite was broken, like chipping paint. The substance had no weight. After he was done, the interface gave another order.
“Exercise for the required 60 minutes.”
The man walked over to his exercise mat and began jogging in place. The interface filled him in on the news.
“Our shelling of the enemy is going well. The government has an approval rating of 99%. Our leader wants more conservation of energy. New protocol mandates that citizens need only venture outside for one hour daily. 100% of citizens aren’t getting correct sleep. Our leader says to check with our sleep monitors and to tell Interface all that is on your mind.”
“I agree and will comply with all requests,” said the man.
“Good.”
“But I never noticed sleeping problems.”
“Threat level raised to ‘death.’”
Four guards stormed the room, bound and gagged the man, and led him out.