Inktober #13: Ash

"Howard Graves, multi-trillionaire President of Proof, the company that has recently taken the world by storm with its latest history app that lets users reconstruct and view various time periods from the world around them in real-time. Using high-tech analytical software that interfaces with historical records, photography, and your own Lens, anyone can now peer back into the past. And tonight, we talk to the man himself. Thank you for joining me Mr. Graves."
"My pleasure, Janet."
"Well, first question's first..."
"Now, now, Janet. You know I like you, but no, I will not be talking about the necklace."
"Can't blame me for trying, right? A vial of ashes around your neck that obviously carries tremendous personal significance for you? After all your company's slogan-"
"-'History From the Ashes' yes, I know it's tempting, but it's a secret I'll carry with me until the time is right."
"Not 'until you're dead'?"
"No. There will be a time. But for now I'm just here to talk about Proof."
"Of course. So, we all know the story by now. While working for Primal you discovered a way to manipulate the available technology to do something truly incredible. Reconstruct the past. For the 30% of people out there who aren't currently using Proof, can you give a brief description of how it works?"
"Yes. So, as we're all aware, capturing the world through photography and video has been around for hundreds of years now. The tech advanced, became commonplace, and digital traces of daily activity were left around the world. Even in the earliest days there were enough photographs taken for us to take the data in the image and extrapolate to the surrounding areas. So using the latest in Lens tech we are able to both capture and reflect imagery from the past in real-time and expand that into a viable representation."
"But the amazing thing about Proof isn't just the reflection of the past. It's getting to actually follow people and stories around. How in the world were you able to make that happen?"
"I could bore you all day with the technical details, Janet. Even then some of the trickier elements confound even me, which is why I hire the best people in the world. Post-quantum engineers, theoretical physicists-"
"But you hire beyond just the pure tech people as well."
"Yes, the artists. So much great tech has only succeeded because of the artists. Having both allows me to merge the best of the out-there possibilities of the tech with the real-world and artistic explorations. I think they are why Proof has not just become a niche interest. It's something that everyone can explore, use, and even create with."
"Even so, there are those out there who say that spending all of our time in the past is starting to hurt our views of the future. Not to mention the repeated injuries and deaths that have occurred from distraction."
"And those are concerns we take very seriously. We've been working with the various world governments to impose proper limitations on where the tech can be used, and we've been improving the tech to try and properly distinguish between current-world hazards and past-world imagery."
"But again, what about those who say that we're focused too much on the lives of the past rather than thinking about the future?"
"That is definitely a valid concern. But what about the lessons we can learn from the past as well? It used to be a constant concern of historians, that without learning the past we are doomed to repeat it. Well now we have the past literally in front of us. A constant part of our daily lives. We used to repeat history ignorantly, now instead we can continue into the future without having to learn the same lessons every fifty years."
"And how does immortality figure into that?"
"...What?"
"Pharma company ForEterne is in it's final round of human trials with a 99% success rate. Not to mention the various robotics companies, memory upload centers, etc."
"Well the nice thing about the past is that even if we all live forever, there will always be more of it."
"But if everyone lives forever and can remember it all at will, do you think Proof will be able to survive?"
"Well, let's think about that. In reality your question is, once everyone knows everything and isn't afraid to die, will there still be curiosity? Will people still want to explore? And I'd like to think that yes, based on all the various pieces of the past we have seen and how we continue to expand into the future, yes. Humanity is curiosity. And if we ever progress beyond that point, well...Well I suppose I'll have to rethink the business model."
"Howard Graves, thank you so much for joining me tonight."
"My pleasure, Ms. Porter."
"For those watching, if you'd like to try out Proof, well it's more than likely you already have. But if not, pop it on your Lens today. I'm Janet Porter with CRX Inc. Good night."

Howard Graves absent-mindedly fingered the small vial of ash around his neck, pondering those final questions.
"You alright Mr. Graves?" Janet asked.
"Yeah, fine. Fine," he replied.
"Any chance you want to tell me about that necklace off-Lens?" she poked.
Howard sighed.
"Not a chance, Janet."
"Crew's getting drinks later, at that 20s-Proofed bar down the way. Care to join us?"
"Much appreciated, but the business beckons," he twisted his wrist to display the time.
"Of course. Thanks again, Mr. Graves." She stretched her hand out to him.
"You're welcome." He received her hand in his, along with a string of digits on his Lens.
"Just in case you rethink that drink," she said, strutting away.

It was hard to find an un-Proofed view of the city these days. Thankfully he had enough to buy up an overlook and make sure no developments would occur there. No houses, no Lens stations, no Proof projectors. Just a view of the skyscrapers, the houses, the water. The pockets of that certain color of glow that only Proof produced.

He stood there now, looking at the moon above and city below, palming the vial around his neck.

Hours passed, and the Lens pings grew and grew, skyrocketing when the interview published.

Eventually the sun rose, and Howard Graves removed his hand from the vial.

"Not yet. Not quite yet," he said quietly to himself, turning from the view, and heading back to his daily business.

He didn't notice, and couldn't see, the crowd gathered around him, watching intently, surrounded by that curious glow. They watched him leave, then turned back to the view. Some took photos. Others took off their shoes and walked on the grass. And when they were ready, they disappeared with the glow.