Intelligent Corporation Headquarters
CEO: What are we going to do about our virtual reality project? We've been waiting for FIVE years for approval and we haven't gotten it...
Board Member 1: I don't know. The arguments that they are making about the dangers are just hypothetical since they won't let us test our system.
Board Member 2: Exactly! This could be the biggest breakthrough in the history of mankind since the invention of the computer in the twentieth century.
Board Member 3: I think I might have a solution...
CEO: Well, what is it? Spit it out.
Board Member 3: As you all may know I run a think-tank that does some contracting work with the federal government.
Board Member 1: So. What does that have to do with anything?
Board Member 3: I shouldn't say anything since I would be violating a non-disclosure agreement with the government.
CEO: ENOUGH. Stop toying with us, Bob. Let us know the idea.
Board Member 3: Well, the Senate Judiciary Committee contracted us with coming up with a solution to the rising number of felons in the United States. I was thinking that maybe I could recommend sending the prisoners to Intelligent Corporation to test the virtual reality system and have them be "reformed" in a virtual world.
CEO: Brilliant. Do you think they will go for it? We would need at least half of the money they use to house these criminals. This should keep us afloat financially until we work out all of the kinks of the VR system and get approved by the FDA.
Board Member 3: I think I can convince them. But I would need another 5% of the company.
All Board Members in unison: WHAT???
CEO: You disgust me. Fine. You know that we'll vote yes, since otherwise we'll go bankrupt since we sunk so much money in this project in the first place.
Board Member 3: I'll contact you with the news.
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Senate Judiciary Committee
Committee Chair: What idea did you come up with for our rising criminal rate problem?
Think-tank Representative: Two words - Virtual Reality.
Committee Member 1: Virtual Reality? Isn't that science fiction?
Committee Member 2: No. One of my friends at the FDA say that Intelligent Corporation has a prototype of a VR system that they're trying to get approval for human testing.
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Think-tank Representative: Exactly. The benefits for virtual reality are widely known but the legal ramifications that would come with a malfunction during human testing scared the FDA away from approving human testing. Using murderers and rapists to test the VR system for any problems would alleviate any public outcry. I already contacted them and they would agree to a full Non-Disclosure Agreement until the system is ready for public usage.
Committee Chair: I can see the benefits of this. However, if we do this, we can only use death row inmates at first and then fake their executions. Also, how much money would Intelligent Corporation want to do this?
Think-tank Representative: They only ask for half of what you would pay for the actual execution and care for the criminals. We all know saving that money would allow more money to go to your respective districts helping you get re-elected.
All Committee Members: Mmmm.
Committee Chair: All in favor, say Aye!
All Committee Members in Unison: Aye.
Committee Chair: Any oppose?
silence.....
Committee Chair: Tell Intelligent Corporation the good news. We'll have an extra committee meeting for updates on this project every month.
Think-tank representative: Okay. And we'll get 1% of all money transferred as our commission, as per our agreement?
Committee Chair: Yes. Yes. Now go. There's a Washington Redskins game tomorrow morning that I have to be at. Meeting Adjourned.
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CEO of Intelligent Corporation's office
(the phone rings)
CEO: Hello?
Board Member 3: Great news. We've been approved. There are five executions scheduled this month all across the country. They will all be transported to our facility outside Roswell, New Mexico on the 30th.
CEO: Good. I'll tell the scientists and engineers that we've been approved for human testing.
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Let me know if there are any typos and any constructive criticisms you may have. The next chapter, Chapter 1 will introduce our first five criminals and their introduction to virtual reality.