The Onion Wars - 2

Ben drove to the industrial part of the town and stopped in front of a huge building with a large Infowars logo on it. The building looked like a long tin can, half-dug into the ground. Jones recognized it as one of his warehouses just by its design, but he’d never been there before. He didn’t even know there was one in Austin.

They got out of the car and went to the warehouse entrance. Ben got the keys out and opened several locks and a security pad. “They’ve fucking gotten access to everything, so quickly!” Jones thought to himself.

They entered the warehouse and Jones looked around. A wave of pride and regret washed over him. On one hand, he was proud and impressed to see the warehouse shelves with this many products he was selling through his Infowars empire. On the other hand, he realized that all these unrealized profits would be now not his. “The Onion Wars!” That thought made him physically shiver.

Ben showed him to follow, and they went to the farthest end of the building. There was a door there that Ben also had to unlock with a sophisticated security pad. They went through the door and Jones saw a minimalist modern studio apartment. It had a fully equipped mini kitchen with a small table and two chairs, and a large pull-out sofa bed in the middle of the room, facing a huge TV screen.

Ben went to a computer desk standing to the right of the sofa and powered up a PC unit on it, equipped with what looked like a virtual reality headset. “Does my new job involve researching and playing games?” Jones thought.

While the computer was whirring itself to full power, the jumbo TV screen came to life, with the text “The Onion Wars AI” running in the middle. Ben said to Jones, “This is your workstation. As you can see, you have everything you need here in this space. Our AI will give you all the instructions. You cannot leave this room until your job here is done.”

“What???” Jones asked, shocked. “What do you mean, I cannot leave here?”

“Exactly what I said, you cannot leave until you are done.”

“So, what is this research and repair thing you were talking about?”

“Our AI will explain everything to you, I need to go now and run my business.”

“Wait, at least show me where the bathroom is,” Jones pleaded.

At the word “bathroom,” an invisible door in the left corner of the studio opened, revealing a bathroom equipped with a toilet and a jacuzzi bathtub. Jones couldn’t hide his shock.

“We thought it would be cruel to take away all the things you got used to,” Ben explained. “So that toilet has a bidet seat and the jacuzzi is fully functional. You can use the products from the warehouse, but the costs will come out of your salary, and all food and utilities as well.”

“Wait a second, this sounds like a big job! How long are you planning to keep me here?” Jones barked, wrapping his head around what Ben just said.

“I don’t know. As I said, you will not leave here until you are done. Research might take awhile, and repair – even longer. Could be days, could be months or even years. It all depends on how efficient you are. All other questions to the AI, please, I really need to leave now,” Ben said and headed out the door.

“Months or years???” Jones repeated, after he finally collecting himself. “They cannot do that, it’s like an unlawful imprisonment.”

“Wrong, it’s a court-mandated employment,” Jones heard Ben’s voice coming from the TV screen at him.

“Oh, c’mon, did he have to make his AI speak in his voice!!?” Jones was on edge. He plopped himself on the couch to face the TV.

“Annoying, isn’t it?” the voice said, and Jones thought he heard the notes of empathy there. “But we can’t do anything about it. You can call me Ben, for simplicity.”

“Alright, Ben, what am I supposed to do?” Jones asked wearily.

“First, put on the headset,” AI Ben said. “It will be easier to explain.”

“Let’s play!” Jones barked excitedly, putting on the VR headset.

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