[ WP ] A corporation grows so large and complex that it spontaneously achieves consciousness and becomes self-aware . Integrated employees unknowingly carry out the will of the larger entity .

“ Say, Johnson. Can I ask you something? ” 
 
 Johnson slouched back in his chair. The old springs squeaking as the grey chair back gave way. The bent of the chair was crooked, from constant use in the leaned back position. Johnsons hands clasped behind his head, elbows flying out to the sides as he made eye contact with me. 
 
 “ You sure have a lot of questions Greenhorn. ” A name he lovingly called me through my whole probation. At least he didn ’ t pick Matterhorn. 
 
 “ Don ’ t you find it odd? ” 
 
 “ Find what odd? ” 
 
 The conversation at lunch yesterday obviously wasn ’ t worth remembering. 
 
 “ That none of the brass are ever here. I mean there has to be a thousand square feet of office over there ” My eyes darted across my four by four desk. My clammy palm clinging to the cube wall between our spaces. 
 
 “ This again greenhorn? What ’ s your point? ” The sentence sounded so huffy my heart picked up a few beats. 
 
 “ My point is that I ’ ve never met anyone in charge. At least not in person. Doesn ’ t that strike you as odd? ” 
 
 “ It ’ s all about efficiency greenhorn. As long as the analysis says it works better to keep the brass at the main office, fine by me. Keeps the suits from breathing down my neck. ” 
 
 My eyes lingered on the messy code draped on my terminal. The web portal chat between me and my boss hanging onto the bottom of my screen, pages of one and two word responses to my various questions. Bits and pieces trying to cobble together a more comprehensive script cleaning tool. Thousands of brilliant automation engineers with credentials better than me were helping shape the self-generating code every day. The faded frame holding my Chapmann Community College Computer Science Degree hung lopsided on my cube. The peeling golden crest shone like the dreams I had leaving college. 
 
 My interview, like every other engineer here, had been conducted via phone. A thick welcome packet had been mailed to my apartment, walking me through my first day and sharing my computer credentials. The manila folder it came in had been shrink wrapped and smelled like a microchip factory. 
 
 I blinked back to the present, my tongue rolling around before my brain was caught up. 
 
 “ Come again greenhorn? ” His head cocked to the side in a way that made it clear his ear holes were open, but his eyes were still rapidly rolling across his own terminal. 
 
 Coffee was on my mind, the squeaky ball wheels on my old chair announced my departure from my cube. My eyes transfixed on the dark window in the heavy wooden door. A door I ’ d never seen opened. 

