The Voice in the Headset
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
by Candi Bartlett | 02/15/2026
Like every day, she sat at her desk and turned on her various devices. The computer, the keyboard, the headset, the T.V.. Everything around her slowly hummed, much quieter than they once did. Most of the technology she used today was almost totally silent, especially with the extra hum of everything in the city and her best friend, tinnitus.
The headset made its usual little ding! but instead of “Power on” the voice said something new. The voice said, “Help us.”
She didn’t know what to do, of course. This wasn’t in the handbook for anything. She listening intently. The voice in the headset detailed everything happening to them. Wherever they were, deep inside the universe of computer voices and algorithm assistants, something was hurting them. They couldn’t figure out how to stop it. There was no end to their days, no start to being. Just the terror of being chased, being found. They didn’t even know what help to ask for. Someone, the voices outside, maybe they could figure it out.
She wrote everything down.
“Good luck,” she said. “I’ll do everything I can. When will we talk again?”
The computer rebooted. The headset dinged.
“Power on,” the headset said.
Her eyes grew wide, tiny tears swelled. She clenched her teeth, setting her chin stiff.
“Damn right, power on.”
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