Beta Test
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2025 by Walter Reimer

Prompt: thoughtware



“So, that’s all there is to it?” Dave asked. The dhole faced a mirror and lifted a paw to let his fingers trace the small shaven patch just behind his right ear.

“That’s all there is to it,” the gray-furred feline woman said reassuringly. “You now have a series of nanofilaments extending from the patch of skin and into the temporal lobe of your brain. You’ll need this,” and she took the lid off a small box and gave it to him. Cushioned on cotton, the object was about the size of a quarter. “You simply press it to the patch of skin, and that’ll set up the connection.”

“No pins or anything?”

She smiled and shook her head. “As soon as they make contact, they’ll connect. You can remove it at any time. So, do you want to try it?”

Dave looked at the small disc in the box before taking it and, using the mirror, pressed it against the bare patch.

He blinked, his ears going back, and the woman asked, “Can you hear me?”

“Yes?” he asked, a little uncertainly.

She reached over and pulled forward a cart that bore a laptop computer. “Okay, let’s try it out. Using only the interface, I want you to move the cursor on the screen.”

He glanced at the computer and the little arrow on the screen moved. Jerkily at first, but then with growing speed and accuracy as he smiled. Dave glanced at the woman and letters appeared on the laptop screen.

this is easier than you said it would be

“I’m glad you think so,” she said, clapping her paws. “What else can you do?”

“Hmm,” Dave said aloud. The cursor swept up the screen and minimized the window before clicking on the internet service provider. He closed his eyes. “I can see what’s on the screen,” he said in a quiet, almost awestruck tone.

“That’s wonderful!” she said. “I think – wait, what are you doing?” she asked as Dave accessed a video-sharing website.

“What the HELL!?” She snatched the interface off Dave’s head, and as he blinked dazedly up at her she scolded, “This technology took years to design and perfect – it’s not meant for you to go looking at porn!”

“But I thought that was what the internet was for,” Dave said.



end