Some sweet new tech

Once again Dan pulls out an array of keycards and begins to unlock the hidden panel.

“Huh, i never knew you had a secret compartment. What the hell do you use this thing for? Dude… you’re not smuggling **** on the side are you? I don’t wanna be involved in that.” In a world with loose morals and few laws, most **** had already been legalized. The only substances worth smuggling anymore were some crazy dangerous shit. Something you had first hand experiences with.

He shakes his head “nah, you know I wouldn’t do that to ya James” he continues “honestly, and don’t laugh. When I first got this gig, i was kinda thinking swiping garbage was gonna be a job with a little more… i dunno. Subterfuge?” You do have to suppress a smile threatening to creep up. “Anyways” he goes on “came in handy today at least”

Finally your building anticipation ends as the compartment opens with a click, and dan flicks a light-switch mounted on the inner wall.

Inside you see what appears to be a floor length computer tower, mostly comprised of a large black rectangle, standing maybe 4 feet high and set atop wheels for ease of transportation. Placed at a sitting height a mechanical keyboard along with three folded monitors complete the all in one terminal.

Jutting out of the right side a number of cables are neatly wrapped up on hooks, including what looks like a power chord the width of your wrist.

Sticking out from its left is what looks a bit like a robotic boom arm, bulky rectangular sections separated by bendable joints. At the end of the arm is a sort of drill tipped nozzle, no more than a quarter inch wide and flanked by a tiny Bio Suture.

Your eyes widen and your heart rate increases as you put it together in your head what this is. “Oh shit, is this?-“ Dan cuts you off “Yep, a bonafide Neural Repather.”

For an entrepreneurial man in the mod business such as yourself, there exist a couple mind modification methods. But none of them hold a candle to the sheer effectiveness and versatility of Neural Repathing.

A Neural Repather is a device that can practically mold the mind like Play-Doh, and with a skilled technician at the helm it’s more often held back by the limits of creativity rather than technical boundaries. Senses can be enhanced or erased. memories, wants, dreams and desires altered or changed completely. It can entirely change a character’s personality, raise or lower its IQ, anything.

With this bad boy the sky’d be the limit.

Understandably, this was a technology that RealDreams was fiercely protective of. Other methods of mind control such as microchips and brainwashing techniques were impossible to keep out of public hands for long, and have been popular on the secondhand and third party markets for years.

Recently however, technology has advanced to the point that newly built Repathers are noninvasive in nature. And so with hundreds of outlets replacing their old equipment, finally, some first generation machines have begun to slip through the cracks.

“So, what do you think? Worth the hype?” You sputter slightly as you turn to him and respond “Wha- hu- how… where did you get this dude? Like, listen I’m not trying to accuse you of anything here but…” he quickly interjects, putting his hands up in a mock placating gesture “i swear I didn’t steal it!” You must still look nervous as he continues “swear on my mothers grave man. I found it in a dumpster like everything else.”

This seemed to good to be true, but if it was?… this is probably the only privately owned Repather in the state. Advertised correctly this could be a game changer. As the only indie store in the city with this kind of tech surely you could recoup the upfront cost easily-

A pause.

That was the question then wasn’t it, how much?

You turn again to Dan and cautiously ask, preparing for the worst. “So how much is this gonna set me back?” He looks at you a little confused “don’t you at least wanna see if it works first?” You shake your head in response. “Even if it doesn’t, Roksanas a miracle worker with this kinda stuff. Besides It’d take ages to set up and test, and I still have to open up shop for today.”

He nods. “alright then. Well, I’ve done a little readin’ on the black market for this kinda thing.”

Fuck.

“And so i was thinking a Hundred Grand would be a fair deal.” The number hits like a punch in the gut, and a groan escapes your lips.“ouch”

The think for a moment. You have plans in the works as it is to expand into other business ventures. The money would be well missed right now, and a deal like this could easily set you back by a year.

On the other hand it could enable the boost in sales you need to expand your operations.