An old PDA

Arnold sighed, signing the form for the shipment. He’d placed the package on his desk and closed the door. After a second, he placed his head in his hands and slumped over.

What the hell was he doing with his life, he’d graduated with an engineering degree and hoped that if he got in early a new startup he’d be climbing his way up the ranks easily and able to get a better salary and position. It was a promising first step of his career out of college.

The reality was, the company he joined was corrupt and he suspected was dealing in some rather shady transactions. It might be a front, or it might have just been a company that developed software for mass scamming schemes, it might be both. Either way he was stuck here until he could find a way out, and until then he was the unwilling gofer for the boss’s stuck up entitled son. Of course the boss would put his son in charge, why not a bit of the old classic nepotism as well.

Arnold was tossed from his misery by the very person he was thinking about. Ethan, The boss's son, and his superior in charge of his daily activities. Basically, Arnold was paid to be Ethan’s bitch. Ethan was short, lanky, and not attractive. But he was young, and he had money. His fathers money to be exact, but money nonetheless. He looked like he was born to be in a criminal lineup, or on a sexual predator's most wanted poster.

“Did the copier come in? Have you set it up yet?” Ethan demanded, not even looking up from his phone. No donut texting some hookers, or escorts. Arnold looked at the package on his desk? Was that what this was supposed to be? He normally signed off on deliveries for Ethan. Never really questioning or wanting to know what was in them.

“Uh, nah…just whatever this is?” Arnold pointed. Ethan snarled, and ripped into the box with his bare hands. Having not had much patience it seemed. Ethan looked visibly confused as he held up what looked like a rather ancient looking PDA device. It even had a faded out yellow LCD screen and an antenna. Ethan tossed it on the desk to look through the rest of the box and scowled.

“Is this a fucking joke? This is junk! Throw this piece of shit away while I go talk to the boys in inventory” Ethan yelled, tossing the PDA at Arnold, barely able to catch it with his chest while Ethan stormed out.

“What a fucking asshole” Arnold seethed. Looking at the PDA with disinterest. He hadn’t seen one of these things since he was a kid and even then they were considered obsolete. He wondered if it still worked. He found the power button, and turned it on. A strange logo appeared, and it said “welcome to the copy machine x3736. Please select target”

“Huh?” Arnold wondered. He saw it had a currently selected desk, which was weird, but when he turned the antenna toward something the current subject changed to whatever he was pointing at. He selected his office plant, a cheap succulent that he picked up on the side of the road and looked through the options. A drop down menu appeared with what seemed like an endless list of options to choose from, including Traits, Material, Role, Occupation, Lives, Mobility, Production, Rate, Multiplier, Fluid, Body, etc and so on and so on. The list went on and on. Whatever this thing could do, it had a lot to choose from. He decided on traits, and then selected his desk, randomly pushing “CONFIRM” and then he smelled ozone for a moment as his eyes went out of focus. When he blinked away the fogginess. He was surprised to see that his desk had changed drastically. Gone was the cheap faux wood desk made out of recycled plywood. In its place was now a luscious green desk made out of thick leaves. Tentatively he touched its surface and marveled at how it felt like a living plant shaped like a desk. He opened one of the drawers. Having to peel it open like opening some petal leaves and then revealing a compartment that was lined with seed pods along with some of his office supplies. Arnold was awestruck. This shitty little PDA did this?

Before he could even think about his changed desk any further, Ethan showed up again. “The morons in inventory said they’re going to contact the company for a replacement. Meanwhile throw that piece fo shit away, and get me and the boys upstairs coffee and donuts. We got a meeting at twelve” He ordered, Arnold just looked down at his desk and backed up at Ethan as if silently pleading for an answer.

“What? Stop looking at me like that? What do you want me to water your desk? That’s your job idiot…now get cracking. And remember I like mines with five shots of caramel and foam…got it!?” He yelled before slamming his door. Arnold was stunned, he didn't even notice…this thing could change reality itself…

Arnold gripped the PDA tighter…and grinned sadistically.