[William Robbins]

"Is it safe?"

"Oh god have you been watching 'Marathon Man' again?"

"What if I have? I think the question still applies Zak," Otis comments as he stands ominously over Zak's desk with his usual smirk of arrogance and superiority.

Otis has always impressed Zak as your usual disgusting corporate team player. Everything about the man screams suck up. He looks like a typical ambitious thirty year old in his tailored dark blue suit and having a lean, trim body that conveys his view of himself as some kind of god.

Zak on the other hand is a member of the technicians at Have More Inc. He is not on the fast track of success with the corporation, but is one of the techno-grunts that is responsible for making sure their product is successful without benefit of any glory.

And perhaps is it because he knows that he's stuck in this gadget tinkering job without a chance to go on to upper management that he doesn't worry about his appearance. In many ways even though it is also thirty Zak is a complete contradiction to his boss, Otis' approach to life. It is a fact that both reserve for eye contact without giving their thoughts the life of comment.

Zak mainly wears a white laboratory coat and sometimes he doesn't even bother to wear anything underneath if he figures no one will be stopping by to ask him stupid questions about their product. Fortunately most of the time Otis is too busy mingling and kissing butt to spend time in the "pit" to find out what works and what doesn't.

"Otis I can only answer your question the same way I always answer it. Things are safe. They have always been safe and always will be safe. We would have never bother trying this approach if it didn't prove to be safe."

"That the same rhetoric you lab boys always give me. But I still have to ask. After all Have More Inc does have a reputation to protect. It isn't every corporation that can provide the service we do."

"I would hope not Otis. Having one corporation that can offer a person the chance to control his or her dreams should be enough for any society."

"That is exactly the attitude that management has adopted. And having the sanction of the government doesn't hurt does either."

"Of course not. Why would they want to stop us? After all by subsiding our little program they do get access to people's dreams. Not a bad relationship when you think about it, is it? We provide the device that people wear to bed and they input the number code of their desired dream and we provide them their fantasies. What the citizens don't know is how the government makes its own contribution to those dreams. They think they are having a glorious trip into slumberland about whatever, totally oblivious that big brother is using our device to provide a subtle form of brainwashing."

"You make it sound so evil. Honestly Zak I wish you would remember how bad society was before we implemented this system. Can you really blame the government for wanting to in some way give the people the types of positive dreams that help to curb disturbed behavior? The consumer gets a great experience, we get the profit for providing the service and the government is able to bring more control to issues like crime and deviant behavior. With our way everyone wins. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing I suppose. I just wish we could be more honest with people."

"And that would in no way help anyone at this point. Gosh look at the time, I guess I better be going. Got a meeting to go to. I'll see you later."

Zak nods and then goes back to his computer. In his mind he hopes Otis will never come back, but he knows he can't be that lucky. Meanwhile he goes back to fine tuning their system. Nothing major, just a few minor adjustments to give the consumer a more satisfying dream experience. Besides he is planning on enjoying the service himself tonight. So it might as well be as perfect as possible.

He stops long enough to check the computer stats on customer dream requests. Scanning through the list he notices that Dream Three is as usual leading the pack. And why shouldn't it? After all it is the one they wrote to fulfill sexual fantasies. Judging from the demand it is obvious that they did a great job at making that dream as real as possible. Maybe tonight he'll have to check it out himself. Just for a test of the system. Well that is as good excuse as any for his lusts that he tries to keep from boiling over in his loins.

"Hello?" Zak says a couple of minutes later when the phone rings. The one thing he hates about his desk is that it is in the middle of a sea of desks. And too many darn people can hear his every word. He feels at times like he is constantly being watched. It is probably paranoia, but he can't help feeling annoyed every time somebody at another desk looks at him in "that" way when he is on the phone.

"Hey Zak."

"Hi Edith, what's up?"

"Not sure. I had a visit from this police detective today."

"Oh? Have you been doing something illegal?"

"No, no nothing like that. It seems they are investing what appears to be a suicide. And the guy happened to be using one of our little dream gadgets at the time. It was programmed for Dream Three. I told him I didn't think there was any connection. But I thought I would see if you had heard of any problems with anyone using Dream Three?"

"Not at all. It was probably some stupid coincidence. But I'll keep a watch on the numbers. I doubt it will be anything to worry about though."

"I hope not too. That dream is our most popular. I would hate to think what would happen if anyone thought it might lead to er, problems."

"Well we better not share this with anyone for now Edith. I'll check it out and if by chance I discover anything I'll let you know. Okay?"

"Thanks. Bye."

Zak hangs up the phone and smiles. Now he has the perfect reason to leave early. Research was always a great catch all excuse for wanting to go home early. He puts his fingers on the keyboard and begins typing his email to Otis. As a precaution he doesn't mention any problems with Dream Three, just that he needed to do some checking of data off site. It was good enough to get him out of the office.

In his apartment, Zak opens his briefcase and removes the Have More "Dream Teller." It is a small black helmet that can be adjusted to fit anyone. On the side there is a small control panel where you plug in your account code and then you also punch in the number of the dream requested from the catalogue each customer is provided when they sign up. Then after plugging in the number of the dream you have thirty seconds to put the helmet on your head and sit back to enjoy you dream.

Punching in his code, Zak orders up Dream Three and then sits back on his couch, puts the helmet on his head and closes his eyes. Soon he is fast asleep, but naturally assumes he is still awake.

"Oh Zak, when are you coming to bed?" A very sexy sounding female voice asks from his bedroom.

"Huh?" He asks himself, feeling temporarily disoriented. "Oh um, right now," he adds when his mind suddenly shifts to the reality that he is having Dream Three.

Getting up from the couch he hurries into the bedroom where the most beautiful nude blonde he has ever seen lies on his bed. Seconds later his dream takes an intense erotic detour and it nearly gives him a heart attack. Before long he passes out from the shear expenditure in his mind of energy.

"Oh Zak?"

"Oooh," Zak groans to himself. "What is it?"

His dream lover appears in the doorway. "You aren't going to stop having fun are you?"

"No, no."

The woman raises her right hand, lifts her index finger and bends it to motion for him to follow. Instinctively Zak climbs out of bed and follows her to the apartment door. Then he lets her lead him up the stairs that end at a door, which opens onto the roof. She keeps walking ahead of him as he opens the door without thinking. He is so intoxicated with passion that he doesn't even notice when he step moves off the roof. It isn't tell he is falling towards the ground that he wakes up just in time for his body to slam into the ground.

"Hello Kate and welcome to Have More Inc," Otis says a couple of days later when he greets the corporation's newest employee. He had hoped she would be cute since her app said she was single. But it turns out she is a full figured gal in her twenties. Oh well, it was yet another female he would not add to his list of office conquests.

"Thank you Otis," she replies recognizing his voice. "I have to admit I have wanted to work for Have More for quite a while. I just didn't want to get hired this way."

"I can appreciate that Kate. Zak's death was unexpected. Suicides are always so hard to understand. But I'm sure you will do a great job in his place."

"I appreciate your vote of confidence. Can you tell me if he was working on anything special when he died?"

"Not that I know off. He did send me an email about having to do some research and needing to leave early on the day he died, but he didn't mention what he was researching. I would suggest that perhaps you could start by familiarizing yourself with our complete catalogue of dreams. And naturally as an employee you do get to use our services for free. You'll find one of our Dream Teller devices in the bottom right hand drawer of your desk. Why don't you take it home and try it out. You can use the account number on your ID card to gain access."

"Thank you I will," Kate says as Otis turns and walks away. She opens the drawer and sees the device sitting there as if it was begging her for attention. Admittedly she did feel a bit embarrassed when she told the person interviewing her that she had never tried their product, but it didn't keep her from being hired.

Kate slips the Dream Teller into her big shopping bag sized purse when the clock on her desk reads five pm. She gets up feeling slightly nervous about taking the thing home and giving it a try. As far as she had heard everyone had been thrilled with the Dream Teller's success and there were no incidents of any harm coming from its use. Oh she had heard of some strange behavior on the part of people who had been customers and were found acting in a demented and then suicidal or other bizarre manner while in possession of the Dream Teller, but there has been no proof of any connection with the device that anyone had proven.

When she gets home, Kate flips through the catalogue. They have so many options. Everyone seems very interesting and appealing. Still she did have to admit that Dream Three did hold the most interest. Plugging in her code and the number three, she puts on the helmet, sit back in her easy chair and closes her eyes.

Suddenly there is knock at her front door. Who could be so rude as to interrupt her dream time? It wasn't like she was Ms. Popular. Getting off of the couch, she goes and answers the door. When she opens it, Otis is standing there.

He asks to come in. Innocently she allows him inside. Then the moment she closes the door he grabs her. She tries to struggle, but he is too powerful. Her mind had dreamed of having lovers, but not like this. In a few minutes all the notions of love and romance are washed away over having been violated.

Kate opens her eyes later, feeling full of rage. How could Otis do that to her? She vows to get even in the morning. And he had the nerve to put her back on the couch with the device back on her head like it would cover up his crime!

As she gets off the couch the flame of revenge burns intensely in her soul. Kate picks up the phone to call the cops, but then knows that means going to court and she is too embarrassed to let anyone know what happen. Instead she would wait till tomorrow and make sure Otis gets the type of justice he deserves.

The next day, Kate arrives at the office early. Her face is calm and emotionless as she sits at her desk waiting for eight o'clock to appear on her clock. The moment it does she picks up the phone and dials Otis' extension. "I need a few minutes of your time."

"Sure, come over to my office I have some time available."

Kate hangs up the phone feeling even more enraged. He acted so cool and calm like last night never happen. Then she picks up her purse and heads for his office. Knocking, she goes inside and closes the door. Otis sits at his desk looking at some reports, but not showing any reaction to match the way he had treated her the night before.

Slowly while making small talk to keep him distracted, Kate opens her purse and removes a kitchen knife. Before Otis knows what is happening she plunges it deep into his chest and then removes it and does it again and again in a fit of uncontrollable rage.

Finally, she drops the knife and collapses in the chair in front of Otis' desk her dress splattered with his blood. It is then that she notices the digital photos on his desk. And one of them has a date and time along with the image of him at a restaurant with a bunch of people. It is for last night at the moment she imagined him visiting her and - oh god, now she realizes the horrible truth, it had all be a dream, the affect of Dream Three. In wave of guilt, she picks up the knife and slices her throat, her body falling lifelessly to the floor.

"Hello Jan," Edgar Fillet, the recently promoted supervisor says to Jan Winston, Kate's replacement as he stands next to her desk. "Welcome to Have More."

"Thank you. I wish my being here had occurred under better circumstances."

"As do I. But I'm afraid none of us will probably never know what drove Kate to - well you know."

"Yes. It was so horrible and shocking. It is a good thing they were able to keep the press from finding out. However I guess we must go on and see that Have More continues to provide the public its services."

"That we must."

"Any suggestions where I should begin?"

Edgar picks up one of Have More's catalogues and hands it to Jan. "I would suggest that the best place to start is to check out our product personally. You can't truly appreciate what we do unless you understand what we offer."

"Thanks, I'll do that," she replies as Edgar turns to leave. Her eyes glance through the catalogue. But the moment she reads the description for Dream Three she decides it is the perfect place to start. And it should definitely make for a different night's entertainment.

[DarkPower]

interesting story. In the beginning I think you give too much detail about the peoples personalities and such. There isnt any need to tell us the way they dress.

[William Robbins]

Originally Posted by DarkPower

interesting story. In the beginning I think you give too much detail about the peoples personalities and such. There isnt any need to tell us the way they dress.

Thanks for the imput. Sometimes I feel a need for the sake of keeping the characters real to fill in the image. It is a choice not everyone prefers, just my style I guess.

[DarkPower]

Yes I know I do that in my stories aswell but It actually takes away from the plot of the story. If it were a longer story then it wouldnt but since this is a short story it does.

[William Robbins]

Originally Posted by DarkPower

Yes I know I do that in my stories aswell but It actually takes away from the plot of the story. If it were a longer story then it wouldnt but since this is a short story it does.

That is a good observation. Unfortunately for me I guess I'm more prone towards being a novelist than short story writer so that habit is probably so instinctive that I don't appreciate in shorter tales it isn't as necessary. That's why I keep practicing and if I had more time for rewrite I might notice it more. I'm just a slave to my pen. My problem.

In any case I do appreciate you comments. And I enjoy your contributions. Hopefully they give you some theraputic balm of inner healing to the darkness some inflicted on others in life.

[DarkPower]

Originally Posted by William Robbins

That is a good observation. Unfortunately for me I guess I'm more prone towards being a novelist than short story writer so that habit is probably so instinctive that I don't appreciate in shorter tales it isn't as necessary. That's why I keep practicing and if I had more time for rewrite I might notice it more. I'm just a slave to my pen. My problem.

well just keep working on it in your short stories and I am sure you will do fine.