Knowitall

This is a story I wrote last year for the same class as my Do You Feel Safe Yet paper. It was a multi-genre assignment. There's clearly room for improvement, but I put a lot of effort into it, so please enjoy :)

[Cover Page]

Knowitall

[Billboard]





[Journal Entry]

Tuesday, December 17, 2115

I don't know what all the excitement is over. A chip that makes you know everything? I mean, it doesn't sound all that good. Something about it just seems so... I can't describe it. It just gives me a bad feeling. Maybe not bad, but certainly not good. I don't know. I just can't imagine why you'd really want to get one. Right, to know everything. Maybe I don't want to know everything. Is that so wrong? Is it really so hard to believe? And now I'm defending myself to myself. I need a vacation.

Taylor Jae Miller


[phone call]

-ring ring... ring ring... ring ring... ring-
Johnny- Hello?
Taylor- Hey, Johnny, it's me. How's it going?
Johnny- Good, good. How're you?
Taylor- I'm alright. I actually just called to check up on Mom and Dad.
Johnny- Umm they're fine. Why?
Taylor- Well they got those stupid Knowitall chips, right?
Johnny- Uh, yeah, I gue--but-- What do you mean stupid? These things are miracles. I--
Taylor- Johnny, you're kidding, right? Some doctor wants to cut open your head and put a computer chip in your brain and sew you back up. You call that a miracle?
Johnny- Tay, it's not that bad. It's a tiny surgery--
Taylor- It's brain surgery! How is that tiny?
Johnny- --it's a non-invasive surgery that the doctors do all the time. It's totally common place.
Taylor- Just because everyone does it doesn't make it a good idea. It's wrong! You can't just make everyone super smart!
Johnny- Why not? What's so wrong with making everyone equal?
Taylor- Johnny, it's not natural!
Johnny- But it's not harmful, either, Tay. Why is this so hard for you to understand? Maybe you should do your research for once in your life before you form an opinion about something.
(muffled through phone)
Mom- Who's on the phone, Johnny?
Johnny- It's Tay.
Mom-Oh, did you tell her you got your Knowitall?
Taylor- (whispered) Oh no. Not you too, Johnny.
Johnny- No, not yet. I tried to, but she freaked out about it. She thinks they're bad.
Mom- Bad? That's absurd. I've never heard of that before... Hang the phone up, Johnny.
Taylor- No, what? Johnny, don't ha--

--click.

[journal entry]

Wednesday, January 1, 2116

I can't believe this! Has the world gone completely insane? They've warped my own family! Johnny hung up on me, my baby brother. And why? My own mother told him to! I've tried calling again and they just reject my calls. My family and I have always been close. Now it's all gone. And for what? These stupid Knowitall chips. Those things are bad news, so why will no one believe me?

Haven't done my research, eh, Johnny? Well fine, then. I'll do it, and I'll show the world! Knowitalls need to be set aside. Once and for all.

Taylor Jae Miller


[FAQ web page]




[email conversation]

to:feedback@kiachip.gov
from:tjmill_techmaj@uofnj.edu
date:Jan 15, 2116
subject: I won't be stopped.

I hope this goes to the top. I hope Kyle Schwan, Brittney Jones, Amber Rye, and Damian Bock can see this. However, I find that improbable, so I'll tell whoever will read this.

These Knowitall chips are ridiculous. In no way can they possibly be a good idea. Cutting open someone's brain to insert a chip? Really? Then what? Turn us all into your robotic slaves? Well I won't fall for it. I will bring down this operation. I refuse to believe I'm the only one on the Earth against these chips, and whoever else is with me, we will take you down.

I tell you this so you know I'm not afraid of you. Take whatever precautions you think will help to stop me. It won't work, I'll tell you that. It won't work. You can tell the world what I'm saying and planning, because I will bring you down anyway. Without a chip, I will take you down. That is what the world will remember of me. That's what they'll see.

Forever against you,
Taylor Miller

to:tjmill_techmaj@uofju.edu
from:rye_amber%kiabc@kiachips.gov
date:Feb 4, 2116
subject: re Your unstoppability

Taylor Miller,

I would like to apologize for the length of time it took to return your email. Although, despite the three-week delay, you should consider yourself lucky. Your wish for your email to go to the top was granted. Being the only email received in the history of KIA chips to say anything negative, those answering the emails felt it important that the creators of the chips see the potential threat.

I regret to inform you that your plan to "bring this operation down" cannot work even under the best of circumstances. And seeing as you are one of one million eligible in the world who has not yet had the KIA chip inserted (most of which live in third world countries), it would seem unlikely for you to find others willing to join your cause.

Of course, we have notified the GRJ (Global Reinforcement Jurisdicment) of your intentions, which they will respond to as they see fit. What I mean to say is, don't be surprised when they show up at your house with a warrant or chase you with canines down the street as you run. But I must say, against my attorney's advice, that I appreciate your spunk. I think it's adorable that you think you can take us on.

Best of luck,
Amber Rye.
Also on behalf of
Brittney Jones
Damian Boch and
Kyle Schwan



[journal entry]
Monday, February 10, 2116

My email actually went to the top, which surprises me a little. But no GRJ interrogations or canine chases so far. I also noticed, however, that there were no denials in Amber's email about trying to turn the world into their robotic slaves. I mean, perhaps she just looked over it, but that is just not something I can make myself believe. That would be far too coincidental for me to buy.
Johnny,
Since you won't talk to me or communicate with me in any form, I will write you a letter. I don't do my research, eh? Well how do you like this? Amber, Kyle, Brittney and Damian all have their histories. Maybe not theirs, technically, but about three generations back, a huge history starts where their entire families belonged to the District 43 Black Company.
You heard me right, Johnny. That group we learned about in history. Worse than Hitler on WWII. They had their minions everywhere, stopping at nothing to take out everyone who either tried to stop them or who refused to join them. But you know the story and the tragic ending of how we barely had enough people left in the population to fit on the South American continent.
Until the All Creatures Belong ethics group finally stopped them. And I know-- that was generations ago. You probably think they changed. Well they haven't. On their web page they have a design for the chip. A picture, anyway. An encrypted picture to get really specific. This is where I wish I could get your help, Johnny. No one can solve an encrypted key like you can, and this one is particularly tricky. But I would bet that if you decode the message, it shows the real design of the Knowitall, revealing one major glitch. If only I could get my hands on one of the chips in real life, I could solve the problem. I could figure it out and District 43 Black


[warrant, and I've never seen one before, so don't judge]

GRJ WARRANT

This warrant issues the Global Reinforcement Jurisdicment the right to search Taylor Jae Miller, her apartment, car or any other personal properties for anything leading to the evidence of treason against the Knowitall Chip or its creators. In addition, upon finding said evidence, this warrant issues the Global Reinforcement Jurisdicment the right to arrest Taylor Jae Miller on the spot on the grounds of heresy toward Amber Rye, Brittney Jones, Damian Boch and Kyle Schwan. Any reluctance will further add to her fine and punishment.

[newspaper article- there are actually pictures that go with it, but I can't find out how to make it all fit together and not look retarded]

THE WEDNESDAY POST

February 5, 2116

TREASON: BRINGING DOWN KIA

Yesterday, an attack against Knowitall was brought to light. Taylor Miller (left) wrong conspiracies against Knowitall in her journal (below) which she was prepared to bring to public view to try to get more to join her cause in taking down Knowitall and its creators. So far, none have joined her in her mission.

Miller does not yet have a KIA chip, against her parent's and family's wishes.

GRJ came to her apartment yesterday after Miller had sent a threatening email to the KIA creators. They caught her in the act of adding more conspiracies to her journal. She was in the middle of writing a letter to her brother, which she claims was never going to be sent. The GRJ has charged her for treason and heresy. Her trial will be conducted this Saturday, February 8th at the KRP Courthouse. For more updates on Miller's status, visit emperornewsoftheeast.com.

[jury sentence]

We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of the crimes heresy and treason toward the Knowitall Chip creators and the world on all accounts.

[phone call]

-ring ring... ring ring... ring-

Amber- Amber Rye Speaking.

Damian- Hey, Amber. Did you read Taylor's journal?

Amber- Yeah, I did. Did you?

Damian- Yep. Kinda terrifying to know someone came so close to figuring out what were up to, isn't it?

Amber- Oh no kidding. Who's idea was it to encrypt the online chip with how the real chip is designed, anyway?

Damian- I have no clue. Good thing most people already have their chips and don't care about the design.

Amber- Amen. Especially the jury. Do you realize that if they had found enough people without chips to serve on the jury, we'd be the ones in prison right now?

Damian- Haha. I don't think they even looked for people without the chips.

Amber- Good thing, too. That's all I have to say.

Damian- Mm. So what do we do now?
Amber- you mean now that, in effect, we've taken over the world?

Damian- Exactly. We've got all these minions whose morals we can change to be whatever we want just by reprogramming the alpha chip.

Amber- I know. It's a wonderful thing, isn't it?

Damian- It is, it. Total unity in the world. But is that all we're going to do?

Amber- For now. I think I'm just going to take a vacation and watch everyone work. See our minions doing whatever it is that they do best.

Damian- I guess. Have you found out what they sentenced Taylor to?
Amber- I heard the judge put her to death.

Damian- Wow. That's pretty impressive.

Amber- Yes, well, if you have as much power as we do, the law will go a long way to make sure you're protected.

Damian- Fantastic.

Amber- It is, isn't it?

-laughter-

Well, that's the end of it. I think if I were to change anything, I might go back to my original idea of having Taylor end up in a mental institution. Also, there's a couple of plot kinks I'd improve. Like try to make it a touch more believable, but I got a total for 77 out of 70 points, so it's good enough for a school assignment.

Although, if you're ever in my presence and remember, you should ask to see the physical copy I have of it. It's pretty sweet- I made the journal :) Plus then you can see the news article in all its glory.