Load the "Elevator Breakdown" Scenario

You scroll through a list of pre-programmed scenarios for the simulation arena and Orchid's behavior. One catches your eye with its description.

"You are riding in an express elevator with only one other passenger when it becomes stuck in transit. This scenario is designed for rapid situational progression.”

You turn to Katherine and tell her that you would like to try the “Elevator Breakdown” scenario. She nods and begins loading various protocols from the control computers. Bursts of light erupt from the slate-like tiles in the simulation arena, each projection coalescing to form part of the interior and exterior of a wood-paneled express elevator. You’ve participated in simulations before, for entertainment purposes, but the level of detail afforded here is incredible. When the computers are finished loading all of the projections the simulation arena has been transformed into a perfect replica of a single fairly large elevator car.

The interior of the elevator is finished in dark wood, cherry perhaps, and has brightly polished chrome fittings. The bottom of the elevator is carpeted in a thin but clean looking dark red patterned with golden-yellow zig-zags. The elevator car’s illumination comes from three lumi-strips glowing slightly blue on the ceiling.

Technicians emerge and you watch as Orchid’s chair slowly brings him to a standing position. The technicians dispassionately begin stripping off his white bodysuit and dressing him in a neat three-piece suit.

“A few ground rules first,” says Katherine. You notice that she seems totally apathetic to the nudity on display in the chamber below. “No real ****. Light bondage and that sort of thing is well within operating parameters, but we do not want to risk damaging the chassis and more importantly you do not want to activate its self defense programming. He is incapable of killing you but he will make sure you are not a threat, and I have seen plenty of testing footage to know that this process can be excruciatingly painful.”

“That’s fine,” you chuckle with slightly **** humor, “I wasn’t planning on throwing any punches in there.”

“Remember also that once the meme is loaded he will fully believe that he IS whatever or whoever the simulation is telling him to be. To return him to his default state you would say ‘Orchid default operating’ and to completely terminate the simulation and return Orchid to a suspended ready state you say ‘Orchid terminate all operations’. Other than that, try to enjoy yourself.”

The technicians are finished dressing him and signal from their separate monitoring stations that the simulation is ready to begin. You walk down a staircase to a plain metal door with a flashing panel above it that displays the words “WARNING: SIMULATION ACTIVE”. Katherine, who has accompanied you to the door, again wishes you a pleasant experience and then you’re through the door and into the confines of the elevator.

Orchid nods politely as the elevator doors close behind you. You press a random floor button and there is an incredibly realistic sense of motion. Orchid is wearing a tan blazer and slacks with a white shirt and a red silk necktie. He is holding a briefcase in one hand and a small grocery sack in the other. When you look him up and down appraisingly you make eye contact and he smiles slightly. You are about to introduce yourself to him when the car lurches slightly and a buzzer sounds.

“The damn thing is stuck again.” Orchid says, pressing the maintenance call button. “Last week some poor woman was stuck in this damn thing for almost two hours.”

You smooth the wrinkles in your skirt and look up at him, astonished by the realism in his facial features and expressions.

“Well at least I don’t have to suffer through this all alone.” You say coyly.

You introduce yourself and shake hands. Orchid says that his name is James, obviously the identity given to him by the technicians.

“It won’t be so bad if I get to know a beautiful woman like you in the process.” James says boldly.

You blush despite yourself and consider how to proceed.