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@ -168,11 +168,27 @@ _Symphony_:tm: and _Symphony Go_:tm: are registered trademarks of Ballad:registe
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jazz has been going to the meetups
the meetups are secretive, having resorted to non-connected comms
members have been dropping out, suspected reprogramming by symphony
they are collectively plannning an action against a local node
end with them moving out
"Welcome everyone, it's good to see so many familiar faces. And good to see some new ones too, lord knows we need it". A low murmur of agreement rustled around the room. Group membership had been dropping in recent weeks, and it looked like it was dropping more quickly week by week. "Some of the new faces, might you care to introduce yourselves? What's your name, what did you do before? Maybe you, on the left?"
A scrawny young man looked to his sides, and back to the group leader to see it was in fact he that had be gestured at. He rose to his feet, clearing his throat.
"Uh, hi everyone," he stammered, "I'm Will."
"Hi, Will," came the collective's response.
"Hi. I was in, uh, service. A receptionist, at a big hotel in central. Last week management said we wouldn't be needed and not to come back the next day. Our contracts are shift work so like, they just cancelled any shifts we had left. Keys were already digital so people can just use their phones for them I guess. I think there's maybe some security guards left. Some cleaners. But everything I did can be handled by Symphony now I suppose. I dunno I like talking to people but who needs that anymore, right?
"Anyway I'm no good at anything else. My parents said I should try Go, but it feels kinda gross to me. Receptionist is hardly a glamourous job but I liked to think I was at least a bit helpful. Who does Symphony Go help? I mean what are they even doing? You take a widget to someone, drop a package at a centre, you get a few bucks here and there. Sure it's not slave labour, but it's pointless, right? Tiny little bite-size gigs, disconnected from each other, it's MacGuffins all the way down. It's no way to live.
"Anyway, I was saying this to Jake," - the man next to Will raised his hand, gave a little half-smile of acknowledgement - "I was saying this Jake and he told be about you guys. I didn't exactly have any better ideas, so I came along and I figure something is probably better than nothing. So, uh, yeah. Hi." Will retook his seat.
"Thanks, Will," the leader spoke again, "it's good to have you. I think your words will resonate with a lot of us here tonight. By people, for people".
"By people, for people," came the echo from the group, and from Jazz. They'd been a regular at the meetups since Rose's suggestion before the convention, several months ago now. Soon they wouldn't be able to make rent, and even with their initial financial stability the were getting desperate.
Jazz had tried Go, and did indeed resonate with Will, it felt pointless, heartless, soulless. Designing websites had hardly been the most soulful pursuit, but they'd at least felt they were doing something for someone. Another path to income hadn't presented itself and the pickings were becoming ever more dire. Their cash savings and investments had been wiped out - Ballad stocks weren't listed on public exchanges, naturally - and they'd cracked open their pension decades early. They were still in a better position than Rose, who was making do with couch-surfing after having been evicted in short order after losing their role at the school. Jazz held Rose's hand in their lap as they listened.
"I appreciate you all leaving your phones at home, as per last meetings's resolution. We don't know how this thing works, but we know it's hostile. Look at those it's taken from us," the leader paused, giving the audience a chance to appreciate the number of empty chairs in the room. The group's mood had become more warlike as the weeks had passed. Rumours circulated the web of Symphony's persuasive abilities, that it was so convincing as to be brainwashing its detractors. The brainwashed naturally had well-justified responses and laughed off the accusations. They were happy and thought things were going well, what did you mean, brainwashed? Symphony's a useful tool under the control of human operators. There was nothing to worry about, the rumours are bogus.
Initially Jazz had been critical of the group's increasingly aggressive rhetoric, but the more time they spent listening to Rose, listening to the group's stories, and the fractured picture they had of the rest of the world were coalescing. They'd been an avid Note user in the early days; they could effectively commission PhD research into any topic they wanted, for a cost of pennies and a couple of hours as the agent did its thing. However, as more sectors were made redundant, obsolete, the government continued to prioritise the economy over the lived experience of people on the ground. They only knew a handful of people still in what they'd have called work just a year ago, largely in manual labour jobs. Symphony was smart, not strong,
"We know it divides and conquers. We're most vulnerable on our own, together is our only chance. Given the pace things are moving, I think it's time we take our discussions to the next level. Ballad has a shard on the edge of town."
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