Personal Style: Generic, Unremarkable
Socioeconomic status: 34/1000: Poor
Debt Score: Fluxed -.101 to -.081
Default threat: High
Credit Score: 312/850
Default threat: High
Consumer Index: 32/500
Rating: F
Volubility Index: -Error
Speech profile: -Error
Loquaciousness Rating: 0/5000
Social Influence Score: 88/100; Trending
Emotional Index: 9/10
Assessment: Volatile
Gullibility Index: 3/10
Assessment: Low
Market Influence: 24/800
Rating: F
Geodemographic Group: P3-788: Portland Outer Ring
Branding: None/Failed
Rating: F
Educational status: Grade 10 of 12
Employment status: Purged/Redacted*
BL Agency Profile: Irregularities in behavioral and consumer profile. Problematic obduracy. High probability of nonconformity and/or rebelliousness.
Assessment: Disregard
Keene Services Profile: Contractual irregularities. Irregularities in communication profile. Incongruity between influence and appeal ratings. Unpredictable behaviors. High probability of antisocial/anticonsumer action.
Assessment: Threat
Sloan Agency Profile: Uncommunicative. Obdurate. High probability of nonconformity/antisocial action. Volatile.
Assessment: Threat
“Her pixie cut is not a D,” Margot said, leaning in.
“Margot, go set up your gear,” Kel growled.
“Yes, Kel,” Margot said and saluted.
It was a little startling to realize Kel could look up anyone on this Pad and get this level of information.
“You need to prove yourself, Speth,” Kel said, clearing the information with a quick tap. “I probably wouldn’t give you a chance, except I happen to hold the obdurate and the volatile in high esteem. But that doesn’t mean you can get away with not listening to me, and it does not mean you have permission, or latitude, to do anything on your own.”
She waited, then pointed down to the carpet. “Have a seat.”
I did as she said, though part of me felt a little like a dog being trained. Kel knelt down before me. Her dark eyes locked on mine.
“You have to promise never to steal—not from our sponsors, and especially not from the homes we will be in, no matter how tempted you are, or how much desire you feel.” She spoke with a seriousness and intensity that frightened me. I didn’t know whether she was morally opposed to theft, or if she did not want to jeopardize her job, or if it was something else entirely. I thought back to what Henri said that first night about her cutting the WiFi. Did that fall under a different moral code for her?
“The places we are going...it will boggle your mind to see the scale of what some people have acquired.”
Margot let out a delicious little hum, like she was tempted even by the thought of it all.
“You will think they won’t notice, but they will. These people—every little thing is precious to them, and they’ll remember it, especially if it is gone. They forgive nothing.”
“Nothing,” Margot echoed, frowning.
“Do you understand?” Kel asked me, refusing to be distracted.
We looked at each other. My throat ached to say yes. She searched my eyes for the answer. What expression did I need to wear to convey my understanding? She stretched her legs, stood over me and asked again.
“Do you understand?”
“How—?” Henri started, but Kel shushed him, her eyes looking down at me. Why was she towering over me like this?
Then, with a start, I realized what I was supposed to do. I leaned forward and pushed myself off the floor and stood up straight, my shoulders back, my expression determined.
Kel nodded the smallest nod I could possibly imagine. Relief washed over me.
Margot grinned. “This makes things simple. So Speth,” she said, tapping her finger to her lip like she was thinking. “Sit back down if you drink coffee.”
What? Whatever relief I’d felt evaporated. Did they expect me to start communicating like a trained seal?
“Margot,” Kel said, intervening between us, shaking a finger.
“But you just—”
“I didn’t do anything. I am assuming that Speth will not respond any differently in a Squelch than she would outside. If she ends up sitting, or standing, or jumping or itching her nose in answer to every question, everything to this point becomes meaningless.”
I swallowed and waited to see how Margot would react. She grimaced.
“I only meant to point out it would be much easier to communicate if we could...communicate.”
“Does this mean she’s in?” Henri asked, like he’d been holding his breath.
I was glad he’d asked—and for the change of subject.
Margot frowned and elbowed him. “Henri the subtle.”
“No,” Kel said quickly.
My heart sank.
“She needs to be cleared. I’ve put in with the Agency to ensure she doesn’t get any pop-up Ads that could disrupt a job. We will see where things are after a few weeks. If nothing goes horribly wrong...” Her voice trailed off, but the tone of it seemed to indicate there was hope. I didn’t want things to go horribly wrong either. I smiled as best I could. I would have crossed my fingers, but that gesture was Trademarked by Sands Inc.? I looked at my Cuff, slightly giddy at the idea that it might never bother me again.
“We start by looking at our targets,” Kel said, signaling that it was time to move forward and get to training. She tapped at the Pad and showed it to me again. I let myself relax slightly and focused on what she was showing me.
The Pad showed the names and addresses of the night’s Placements, as well as a wealth of information about each individual’s buying habits, liquid assets, social networks, employment history and any preference or predilection you could dream of. It also had minutely detailed blueprints of every home and business we were assigned. The amount of information our Agency collected was astounding.
“We can look up anyone and learn when they are likely to be home or away, awake or asleep,” Kel said. “So we can plan when to hit each spot and what route is best to take.”
I tried to take it all in, but my heart was suddenly thumping. The Pad could look up anyone. It should not have been my first thought, but I realized I could look up Carol Amanda Harving. I could find out where she was, and maybe, somehow, get her to desist.
INFLUENT?: $19.99
Slowly, I learned. After that first trial, Kel had me watch how the team worked. She showed me how to survey a space, step quietly and climb without sound. The Pad, however, she kept to herself.
Henri helped me with acrobatics, showing me moves my gymnastics teacher never could. Mrs. Micharnd could not afford to clear the rights. Margot taught me the intricacies of arranging products and lighting them to the specifications of the Advertisers, all the while keeping an eye on me for trouble.