Catch up on chapter 4 before reading on…

Rick’s days blurred into a bleak rhythm as his financial reality closed in on him. He’d maxed out every credit card and drained every last dollar, and still, the inescapable weight of ThinkTech’s debt loomed over him. The essentials-only plan was all he could afford, but it was a mere shadow of what he’d experienced. The prompts came rarely, and even when they did, they were blunt and basic. He longed for the smooth, intuitive guidance of ThinkTech Premium, but after depleting his cash and credit reserves, it was out of the question. 

Without ThinkTech’s steady influence, Rick felt stripped down, raw, and exposed. Experiences that had once flared with confidence and charm now felt distant and dulled, as if he were experiencing the world inside a fishbowl. His thoughts were muddled and sluggish, like static buzzing in his head, making it nearly impossible to respond naturally in conversation. When he struggled to think fast enough, his mind would short circuit, and he’d fall back on repeating the last thing the other person had said—a cheap trick that only occasionally worked and left him feeling hollow and robotic every time. 

Hiding behind the flimsy excuse of a busy work schedule, Rick kept his interactions with Zach strictly to text exchanges. Each reply took hours of muddled thinking and false starts, but it was better than floundering through a spontaneous conversation with the love of his life. However, avoidance couldn’t last forever, and on his next date with Zach, Rick felt the full impact of the downgrade. Sitting across from him, Zach talked with his usual warmth and charm, recounting a story Rick could barely follow. 

“So then, this guy leans over the bar and says,” Zach said through fits of laughter, “‘This service is appalling. If I were an alcoholic, I’d come here to quit drinking!’” He grinned, expecting Rick to join him. 

Rick blinked, his mind blank, scrambling for something clever or even just polite to say. He could feel the seconds stretching, the silence becoming uncomfortable. Desperately, he heard himself saying, “I’d come here to… quit drinking.”  

The words came out flat, almost robotic, his face blank as he echoed Zach’s last line. A flicker of confusion crossed Zach’s face, his laughter fading. 

“You okay, babe?” Zach asked, leaning forward, his brows furrowing with concern. 

Rick forced a smile, though he could feel the slackness in his expression, the way his cheeks felt heavy, uncooperative. “I’m like, fine,” he replied, his voice monotone, devoid of the warmth that used to feel so effortless. 

Zach’s frown deepened, his eyes searching Rick’s face. “You seem… off. You’re here, but it’s like you’re miles away.” 

Rick wanted to respond, to reassure Zach that everything was fine, that he was still the man he’d been when they first met. But the words wouldn’t come. ThinkTech hadn’t prompted him, and his thoughts felt sluggish, bogged down by exhaustion and debt. 

A faint buzz clicked on in his mind, and he felt the now-familiar tingle of ThinkTech taking over, nudging him forward. But this wasn’t an upgrade or a solution; this was the new arrangement he’d made with ThinkTech to repay his debt. He’d agreed to let the app use him as a spokesperson every few hours, allowing it to take control randomly and steer the conversation into an ad pitch. 

The software kicked in, and Rick’s face brightened artificially. His tone shifted to something that sounded cheery but hollow. 

“Actually, I’ve been using ThinkTech,” he said, his voice suddenly peppy, eyes wide as he recited the lines ThinkTech had preprogrammed for him. “It’s a revolutionary service that’s completely transformed my confidence. For just a small subscription fee, anyone can feel like their best self—charming, sharp, the life of the party.” 

Zach’s brows shot up, his expression turning wary, then confused, as Rick’s spiel continued without pause. “With ThinkTech’s patented personality enhancements, even the most introverted user can access premium social skills that’ll make a lasting impression on anyone. It’s life changing.” 

When the ad finished, Rick felt his face go slack again, the familiar fog settling over his thoughts as ThinkTech’s grip loosened. He looked back at Zach, feeling embarrassment creeping up his cheeks as the silence stretched between them. He wished he could take back the words and erase the entire moment, but it was too late. 

“Uh… okay,” Zach said, his voice tentative, his gaze flicking over Rick with something between concern and discomfort. “I didn’t know you were into stuff like that.” 

Rick forced a laugh, though it sounded strained and hollow even to him. “Oh, you know,” he stammered, “just… keeping up with the times.” 

Zach looked away, his smile fading, and Rick felt desperate. This wasn’t what he wanted. 

Well done, Rick, ThinkTech intoned. You’ll win him over eventually. 

Rick tried to banish the thought, but ThinkTech refused to be ignored. If Zach subscribed to ThinkTech, Rick’s debt could be forgiven. One simple referral could erase it all, freeing him from the burden he’d shackled himself to. 

As they left the bar, Rick glanced at Zach, the weight of the unspoken thought pressing down on him. Could he do it? Could he really pull Zach into this web, convincing him to subscribe just so he could free himself? 

It felt wrong, even cruel, but each time he checked his bank balance and saw the deepening red, the idea felt a little less unthinkable, a little more like his only way out. 

That night, as he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, ThinkTech’s soft and persuasive voice filled his mind.  

One small referral, Rick. You’d be free. Zach would understand—he’d even thank you. You’ve already seen what it can do for you. Imagine what it could do for him. 

Rick closed his eyes, the thought lingering as he drifted into a restless sleep. The prospect of freedom from his debt felt more and more like something he could reach… if he were willing to pay the price. 

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