Note: these are ideas going into a short story on which I’m working . . .

Gibraltar Pilot is a middle to upper level manager at a huge, sprawling, international firm that develops and manufactures surgical and medical supplies of many kinds. He happily works in a division of that company that develops and manufactures “wetware”, software, and medical hardware for the indentured servants of the future. These are unfortunate folks in debt who can no longer declare bankruptcy as in the past and so lease themselves out for a given number of years. What is the difference between this indentured servitude and that of the past? In 2091 the “leasers” have their personality and many other human desires of dignity and comfort put in a stage of a (for the most part) reversible disinstallation of their identity. Thus these servants, while highly functional for many tasks, although virtually none requiring any significant intellect, do not remember their families, friends, lovers, children, or their actual past lives for a specified period. Once their debt is paid, they are reverted to their former mental selves and and familial and social relationships. Problems do occur, however, and so do abuses, which are formally forbidden by law. Metabolic and physical care and maintenance is strictly enforced nonetheless.

These technologically created indentured servants do not “have a life” during their period of servitude. For example, they basically work, eat, and sleep during their lease period, or whatever I end up calling it. Of course they only have vague feelings about who they actually are in the world and their suspended life. They are given a new name and identity during their servitude.

Some who enter this servitude might not be drowning hopelessly in debt. They may want to pay for college, a new child, a home, or even a wedding. Shorter terms are available.

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