Robyn loaded up the new interface and started her functional testing script. Something about the icons had changed, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She watched the automated test execute; each button pressed, text field filled, and logic tested. Something about watching that level of automation was fascinating to her, and more so because she had designed it. Wait. She didn’t write this part of the script. Why was it running?

“Robyn, I hope you enjoy the show, dear.” the voice of her manager came softly over her shoulder. She slumped into her chair, shoulders rolling back, her eyes glazing over. The script had launched a translucent spiral in the foreground of the application and an audio recording played softly into her earbuds. The subliminals were quickly seeping into her mind as she continued to stare blankly at the test harness. No one would know how deeply controlled she was. Just like the application she was testing. Automated, controlled, filled.

“It’s all for show, pet. You’re already mine.”