Another Life

 Another twisted technological story, this time with a twist. As this story plays on the multiverse trope, I had two ideas for the ending of the story so decided, in true sci-fi fashion to write them both. 

Jordan lay awake staring at the large crack in his ceiling listening to the dull hum of his fridge. The hum that never seemed to stop.

It was nearly 2am and sleep had long since eluded him. It was his birthday yesterday. His gifts? A rejection email, a microwaved lasagne, and exactly zero “happy birthdays.” Even from his own mother.

He picked up his phone and started to doom-scroll through Reddit when his email pinged from an unknown address - the subject line “Ever wonder what would’ve happened if you got that big break?”

The email simply read “Download Reflekt. “Talk to the person you could’ve been,” . No stars. No reviews just a link to an app.

“Fuck it” he thought and clicked the link. The app downloaded and appeared on his home screen.

He entered his name and date of birth and clicked the “connect” button at the bottom of the screen, his username jordan248 appeared in the corner of the screen

A chat window appeared

connecting Jordan248.....

Connected. Jordan367 has joined the chat.

[Jordan367]: Hi

He looked at the message. This couldn't be real could it?

[Jordan248]: Hi

[Jordan367]: This is pretty wild right, is this really you, I mean...me? Jordan

[Jordan248]: Yes, I'm me. Are you really me?

[Jordan367]: Yes, I'm also really me. Can you prove it? Ask me something only we would know

Jordan thought for a moment. Could this be some kind of trick? A way to scam him out of personal information for a password? What could he tell the other Jordan that wouldn't be a breach of his security?

[Jordan248]: Who was the first girl we kissed?

[Jordan367]: Hayley Ritter. Year 8 behind the maths block. She had cola flavoured lip gloss.

He was right. There was no way anyone else could know that, other than himself and Hayley Ritter.

It had to be him.

This was crazy. How was it even possible?

He began to type back.

[Jordan248]: That's right!

He paused. Now he had this connection, what was he going to do?

[Jordan248]: So...tell me about myself.

Jordan367 began typing, then paused. Then the flood came.

Over the next few minutes, a wall of messages spilled in. Memories—shared childhood nightmares, a scar behind the left ear, the night of the fire—things no one else could possibly know.

Jordan367 talked about his life, at 14 he'd gotten into a tech apprenticeship programme, Jordan248 had missed out on the application because his mum had refused to pay the £200 fee, deciding to spend it on a drinking session for her and Alan, her boyfriend at the time.

After completing the apprenticeship he'd moved to a small tech start up and started working on developing the Reflekt app. Age 26 he was one of the youngest billionaires and a revered tech developer and entrepreneur, running his own company with employees and charitable funds set up around the globe.

At 26 Jordan248 had split up with his girlfriend and was living in a one bedroom flat above a sleazy sex shop in Soho working at an off brand fried chicken shop.

At 33, Jordan367 was dating a former model living in a luxury mansion with multiple swimming pools and all of life's luxuries.

Jordan248 was still in the same shitty flat working at the chicken shop.

He couldn't believe it. His whole life could have changed but for one small thing. One decision. Not even a decision he'd made.

Over the next few days, Jordan talked to himself with every moment of free time he had, finding more and more out about himself.

Then the app went quiet for a few days. Jordan shrugged it off, thinking his other self had better things to do than talk to a lesser version of himself when the message pinged through.

[Jordan367: Sorry I've been away for a while, we've been working on some pretty cool updates to the app and I wanted us to be the first to try them....

[Jordan367]: What if I said you could come and visit me?

Jordan367 explained that they'd developed a way to bring one alt (that what was what they called the different versions of a person) into the other ones world. Only for a few hours and then transport them back.

They were rolling it out as a special premium feature, but being the creator of the app, Jordan367 had access for free.

[Jordan248]: Lets do it.

Jordan updated the app and waited impatiently as the update installed.

The update finished and a new button appeared “visit”.

He pressed the button and a new loading screen appeared. Suddenly he felt the world around him shake and blur out of existence. He felt a strange sensation like the pressure changing on a plane and then suddenly it stopped. He was somewhere different. A large room with a marble floor, large glass windows and expensive looking paintings adorned the walls. He looked over and there he was, it was him alright, in a white linen suit. Thinner and more tanned than he was, but unmistakeably him.

“Hi” he said. “it's great to meet you...erm, meet me” He laughed, extending his hand.

Jordan248 reached out slightly nervously and shook it “Yeah, likewise.”

“It's an amazing place you have here. So much nicer than my shithole of a flat. I really can'tbelieve I'm here and that you really are me. He trailed off. “So, how long can I stay here?”

367 smiled “ We have a few hours. The connection between our worlds is stronger via just messages but I've been told our connection should hold for a while. Can I get you a drink, scotch right? Two ice cubes”

248 nodded. It was spooky how well he knew him, down to the last detail. He took the drink and started to walk around the room, his eyes drawn to the ornate fixtures and expensive paintings on the walls. He glanced over to the table where a laptop was hooked up to some wires and strange boxes with blinking lights and noticed a singular suitcase. “Heading on vacation?” he asked taking a sip of the whisky. This was good stuff. Clearly expensive, more expensive than he'd ever had before. “yes” replied 367 nonchalantly, we have a shareholders meeting in New York tomorrow so I'm heading out this evening after you leave. “That reminds me” 248 said, “ where's Katya?, you did mention you were dating right, it's been a long time for me”

367 took a sip of his drink “Yes I am, she's gone ahead on an earlier flight to do some shopping” he replied as if trying to shrug the question off.

“Shame, I'd have liked to meet her. Hey, if you two ever get married maybe I can come back and be your best man. Who better than yourself” 248 laughed.

 [Version A]

They sat and talked for what felt like hours, laughing over old jokes, remembering old friends and holidays they'd taken. Eventually 248 stood up “bathroom?” he asked “ down the hall to the left” 357 replied.

When he returned there was a change in the air. 357 wasn't slouched on the couch anymore but he was stood over by the laptop terminal, he had a look in his eyes that made 248 uncomfortable.

“Is it time for me to go already?” 248 said with a sigh. “Not quite,” 357 replied , setting his drink down“there's been a change of plan.” 248 walked towards him slowly “Okay, what kind of change are we talking ab-” He stopped mid sentence. 357 was pointing a gun at him. “I need you to do me a favour” 357 said calmly. “You see, Reflekt has run into some legal trouble, it turns out manipulating realities for personal gain isn't considered particularly ethical and some people have some issue with this and want to try me for crimes against humanity.

248 stared. “What does that have to do with me?”

“You’re my escape plan.” He smirked. “I searched for the version of me with nothing. No future. No relationships. No prospects. And there you were—living above a sex shop, flipping chicken, dreaming of a different life. Well, congratulations. You’re getting it.”

248 shook his head. “No. Absolutely not.”

357’s eyes narrowed. “Look, from what you've told me, twenty years in prison might actually be an upgrade. At least you’ll have structure and the satisfaction of knowing you finally mattered—for something. You'll finally have a purpose, to help a better version of yourself survive”

248 swallowed. His hands were trembling now, but his voice stayed firm. Creeping slowly forward towards 367 “You’re insane.”

“I’m desperate,” 357 said. “And you—are staying here.”

“Like hell I am” 248 lunged forward towards 367 before he had time to react. An advantage of fighting yourself is knowing your own strengths and weaknesses. He knocked 357 to the floor, They tumbled to the floor in a tangle of limbs, grunting, swearing, fists flying. 357 fired the gun, narrowly missing 248s head, hitting the glass table sending shards flying and dropping the laptop to the floor.

The screen broken, but seemingly still functioning. both Jordans reached out to hit the keyboard.

TRANSFER INITIATED.

3....2....1...

The room began to shake and blur as it had earlier and then suddenly, a bright white flash.

Jordan lay on the floor staring at the large crack in his ceiling listening to the dull hum of his fridge. Breathing heavily. He looked over and saw the suitcase next to him. He looked at his phone, clicking on the Reflekt app. SERVER ERROR. The connection was dead, there was no way the other Jordan could make it through.

[Version B]

They sat and talked for what felt like hours, laughing over old jokes, remembering old friends and holidays they'd taken. Eventually 357 stood up “bathroom, be right back.”

As soon as 357 left the room, 248 got to his feet and moved towards the table where the laptop was and the drawer underneath.

If 357 was anything like him he knew exactly he'd find in there. He opened the drawer and smiled. A gun.

When 357 returned from the bathoom he stopped in his track. 248 was stood by the laptop.

“What the hell are you do-” he started, noticing the gun.
“it's time for a change” 248 said. You've had too long in this life of luxury, it's time for me to reap the rewards I'm due. I could have been you, but for the lack of opportunity. I'm going to stay here and you're going back to my life. Back to flipping chicken. Maybe you'll be able to make something of yourself if you're as great as you claim to be.

“Like hell I am!” 357 lunged forward towards 248 before he had time to react. An advantage of fighting yourself is knowing your own strengths and weaknesses. He knocked 248 to the floor, They tumbled to the floor in a tangle of limbs, grunting, swearing, fists flying. 248 fired the gun, narrowly missing 357's head, hitting the glass table sending shards flying and dropping the laptop to the floor.

The screen broken, but seemingly still functioning, both Jordans reached out to hit the keyboard.

TRANSFER INITIATED.

3.....2....1...

The room began to shake and blur as it had earlier and then suddenly a bright white flash.

Jordan lay on the floor staring the ornate ceiling. The other Jordan was gone. He looked over at the laptop, it was sparking and the screen was dead. There was no way the other Jordan could make it back.

His phone rang, he stood up,dusted himself down and answered it.