By the time Ann had reached her sophomore year in college, she was very used to research questionnaires. The University encouraged research, and most of her Profs were involved in one way or another, and it usually involved the classes they taught. OSPA made sure that they gave each participant full disclosers and a way to opt out, but few students ever bothered to opt out. It was just easier to fill out the paperwork and keep the Professor's happy. It is best that students not make waves in University.
This research questionnaire was different, though. Professor George had given it to her individually. He said that she was one of a few select students that would be getting invitations. Her participation would only take a couple of hours, and she would be paid $100. A hundred bucks is a lot of money to a college sophomore, and she didn't even ask what the research was for. Saturday morning at 9:30, she was standing in front of the lab door in her sweats, and she didn't think twice when the pudgy little professor welcomed her in.
She had been in the lab before. It smelled funny -- like chemicals and medicine -- but she didn't care. To her it smelled like excitement. She signed the required permission slips without even reading them, and then lay down on a black, vinyl covered bench in front of a huge gray metal machine labeled "Biometric Scanner." The bench began to rotate slowly and soothingly in front of the machine. She closed her eyes and drifted into daydreams as the biometric scanner scanned her brain -- or maybe it was her whole body. She didn't care. 90 minutes until she had her Ben Franklin.
Ann had almost drifted off to sleep when the motion stopped. She looked up just a bit groggily, but quickly became alert. Dr. George told her she was done, and she stood up. He handed her a crisp $100 bill, and thanked her for her participation in science. She took the bill, smiled, and headed towards the door. She had plans for that $100. As she opened the door, she looked back at the Professor, his wispy long graying hair billowing around his face.
"What did I just contribute to science?"
The professor smiled. "Ann, Ann. Read the papers! We scanned your entire cellular matrix. You just provided one of the first simulation models for experimentation. Thank you for your very valuable contribution!"
"Cool!" She smiled and walked out the door, which softly closed behind her with a faint click.
- - - - -
The bench was hard and the temperature was cool -- almost cold. She opened her eyes -- heavy with confusion. Her brain seemed to be a little slow. She was by herself in a bright, white room. Suddenly, she jerked wide awake. She was naked on that black vinyl covered bench. The bench wasn't moving any more -- and the room was completely empty. There were no doors and windows, and the only thing that broke the monotony of the room was the end wall, which was black and reflective. She didn't remember anything after laying down. Surely this wasn't in the papers she had signed!
"Ahh, Ann. You're awake. Hello!" The voice was far and distant, yet coming from every direction. It made her feel very small.
"Uhh, hello sir. What's going on?" Her voice sounded timid and small. The dark wall shifted colors and then she realized it was a screen. Dr. George's face was on it, and it took up more than half of the space. She could see his scratchy salt and pepper beard, and his slightly greasy hair. He was smiling.
"Trust me. This isn't what you think -- and you aren't really Anne. This is the part of the research you volunteered for."
"Well, I didn't mean this. Let me go. NOW!"
"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't do that, Ann. You aren't you, and you don't even exist. You are actually a simulation program inside my laptop computer, sitting here on my desk. The wall you see is the other side of the monitor. If I turn off the program, it would be like you would die. Except you aren't you, and the real Anne just walked out of my lab with $100 in her hand, and is off to spend it. She doesn't care about the data she left behind. By the way, you are the data."