Nanobots, Murder, and Other Family Problems

The Ethics of Water Rights Customs in Eastern Africa

Each letter still takes thought, but at least I don’t have to look up the motions for each one anymore. Just getting the title of my paper out takes longer than it should. I thought when Father said I would get some slack from my teachers, it meant no homework. No such luck. It just means a ten page paper is due tomorrow instead of a twenty-pager. Part of me just wants to peel the stupid rig off so I can type this out like a normal person, but I grit my teeth and make my fingers soldier on, painstakingly pushing out each sentence letter by letter.

“Hey brother, what you up to?” Evan’s voice says from behind me as the door clicks open.

I tweak the opacity on the display so I can see through my paper, then turn as he takes a seat at the foot of my bed.

“Writing about the ethics of who owns which wells in Kenya,” I answer. “It’s so fun that you probably want to write this paper for me.”

He laughs. “I actually wrote that same one last year, but I have a strict rule of not letting slacker brothers reuse papers.”

“Slacker? I’m busting my butt here. Any tips for making this stupid one-handed keyboard glove any easier?”

He shakes his head. “Just use it a lot. It’s second nature to me now. I’m writing all the time, you know? Implant live journal for the win.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask.

“The point of the implant, brother,” he replies. “For Chad, it’s all about saving the world, using the tech to carry out Father’s big plan. For Jeff, it’s all about using the bots to control everything, bending the world to his will without ever using his body. Louise sees it as the key to understanding the human brain, and Andrea thinks it’s the ultimate means of artistic expression. Marc, well, Marc just struggles to use his at all. But me, I’m using it to know myself. Keeping track of every observation, every thought. I wasn’t born with it, but I’m one of the few people on earth with a perfect memory.”

“What, you just write down everything that happens to you as it happens?”

“Everything that happens, everything I say, everything I hear, everything I think.”

“Are you for real?” I ask. “What was the first thing I ever said to you? Word for word.”

He pauses for a second as his eyes dart around.

“‘Noah, Yeah, I’m Noah,’” he replies. “Then I told you I was glad you could talk, then you said ‘Yeah. I talk. Sorry. It’s been a lot to take in this morning. Who is that girl?’ and then I realized you didn’t know we were all siblings and you had the hots for Andrea.”

“You knew and you didn’t tell me? Dick move, brother.” I grab a pen off my desk to throw at him. He deflects it with a glance and laughs at me again.

“I just wanted to see where it would go with you and her. Too bad you figured it out so fast. Don’t worry, I would have stopped you before you embarrassed yourself too much.”

“Are you writing what I’m saying right now?”

“Now and all the time. I told you, I get everything down. I figure one day after we’ve saved the world, someone will want the inside story of what went on here.”

I shake my headgear-covered head. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that. Plus, it sounds like a crazy amount of effort.”

“Hey, you asked, I answered. Don’t worry. Just because it’s written down in my console, doesn’t mean I’m sharing it with anyone. And it’s really not any effort at this point. It’s not even like typing for me anymore, it’s just automatic.”

“And it works like this simulator rig? Floating text in front of you all the time?”

He nods. “Like that, but better. More customizable. Your brain just learns to use it like it’s a part of you. It’s kind of like when you put on sunglasses—you know, where at first you see the frames, but after a minute you only notice them if you think about them.”

“So is it worth putting in the effort now to get good with the glove? Or is it going to be all different once I get the implant?”

“Definitely worth it. The thing uses the same nerves, just on the other end of the connection. Up in the brain, instead of down in the muscles, you know?” I nod. “Anyway, I was going to put on a movie, you want in? I’ll even let you pick it.”

“I wish I could, but I don’t think I can split my attention and still get this paper done tonight. Maybe tomorrow.”

“You work too hard, brother. You know if you don’t get stuff done, they just slow up the pace, right? There’s no failing at this school.”

“There is for me. I have a lot more to prove than you do.”

He shakes his head. “All right. I’ll leave you to it.”

I get back to writing my paper, redoubling my effort. I’ve never thought about the other uses of the implant beyond controlling the nanobots. I’m not worried about knowing myself, but I’ll take a perfect memory if I can get it. It would certainly help with all of this schoolwork, proving I’m good enough for Father’s program so I can continue to insinuate myself into his inner circle. It might even help in dealing with Father later. You never know when some detail might make a difference. If Evan can get writing everything down to feel automatic, there’s no reason I can’t do the same.