Ilyana took careful notes as the man began his presentation. The first five minutes were all bland platitudes, as cheap and hollow as his avatar. He introduced himself as Alan Babbage, a pseudonym so facile it was insulting. He continued to deflect the question of who his backers were, which made it all but certain that something about the deal was illegal. And while The City had risen by being a digital haven more secure than a chain of Cayman Islands stacked on top of Dubai, there would come a tipping point. She would have her records when it did.
The City: 041: Ilyana
November 24, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Midas Corp, The City, The Smiling Man Leave a comment
The City: 040: Gene
November 21, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Gene, Midas Corp, The City, The Smiling Man Leave a comment
Gene was the last member of the board to arrive. The retired entertainer was used to making people wait for him, so he was not particularly bothered by the ten pairs of glaring eyes staring daggers at him. He was even less interested in the man in the cheap avatar up front, the mysterious bag man for whoever had bought Sizemore out. Gene had headlined The City’s first live concert, a proof of concept that elevated it from nerd hangout to International hot spot. Let them stare and fight each other for scraps. His seat on the board was assured.
The City: 039: Linda
November 20, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Linda, Midas Corp, The City, The Smiling Man, Trey Leave a comment
Linda patted Trey’s arm in what she wanted to project as a grandmotherly way. Not that she’d have ever touched him in real life, but the gesture was for the cameras each of them had secreted about their persons as if it was. Linda considered herself the Grand Dame of the twelve member board, and she had chosen to play this acquisition soft, for now.
“I’m sure dear Augustus has a good reason for his absences, and our new associates have a good reason for remaining anonymous, for now.” The Smiling Man said nothing. The rest of them filed in.
The City: 038: Trey
November 19, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Midas Corp, The City, Trey Leave a comment
Trey took his rightful seat at the head of the table. A few of the others had already arrived, mostly tech hotshots and other youngsters. Sizemore was not among them. Trey had been one of the principle investors in Midas, and he had invested billions with the company, but he never spent a second longer than he had to in The City. He hated computers, but he knew a good pitch when he heard it, and Augustus had delivered. Which made his absence now all the more galling.
“The Coward didn’t even show up to his own resignation,” he grumbled.
The City: 037: Kat
November 18, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Glenn, Kat, Midas Corp, The City Leave a comment
Kat was the first to arrive. She passed the intern going out, and gave him a friendly little smile. She had the freedom because no one else was looking. She was the youngest shareholder, but she would be damned if she was going to let anyone push her around just because she was an heiress, or because the three percent of stock she owned was barely enough to qualify for a seat at the table, rather than the bigger meeting later in the week. She was a tiger, and she could afford to be patient, and kind. For now, anyway.
The City: 036: Glenn
November 17, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Glenn, Midas Corp, The City, The Smiling Man Leave a comment
In Midas Corp’s 97th floor board room, Glenn went from chair to chair, placing the regalia of business just so. There was a folder, complete with simulated documents and a tablet detailing the sale between Sizemore and the new backers, a legal pad, and a selection of pens and pencils, even a cup of coffee. It was all strictly symbolic. The board would bring their own implements slaved to record and message. But The City’s kabuki of the physical world was of the utmost importance. And Interns had to play their part. The Smiling Man nodded, and Glenn exited discreetly.
The City: 035: Victoria
November 14, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Midas Corp, The City, Victioria Leave a comment
At the other end of the compound, Victoria watched without interest as her driver negotiated the limousine through the checkpoint. Heightened security bothered her. The first change was not a reassuring one. And for a virtual bank of all things. It would be ludicrous if the threats they faced weren’t so serious. Getting killed in the real world was risky, but getting assassinated in The City, losing her access, possibly even being hacked, that was what kept her up at night. And the changeover would be a prime opportunity for an attack. Sizemore’s replacement had better be good, she thought.
The City: 034: Ray
November 13, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Meghan, Ray, The City Leave a comment
Ray got the fortunate duty of being the guy that met City Police when they showed up en mass. Just what he fucking needed, the VR cops. As far as he was concerned they were set dressing, just like everything else in The City. They were paper tigers. Midas security, they were the real thing, with their boot guns and the writ of Midas’s board to do anything they needed to protect the real owners of The City. Public safety? What a joke. Meghan rolled down the window of her cruiser.
“You can’t come in here. There’s a board meeting.”
The City: 033: Meghan
November 12, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Maurice, Meghan, The City Leave a comment
A long line of police cars, their sirens blaring, raced out of Headquarters. They were followed by a smaller fleet of unmarked black vehicles. They traveled at all possible speed to Midas Corporation Tower, at the heart of The City. It was not so far from Police Headquarters, but traffic was backed up due to the transit shutdown. Meghan had the pleasure of listening to the Commissioner swear the entire way.
“Bells, what the fuck does that mean?” Back at headquarters, an entire squad was puzzling over the prophetic riddle. They stopped short. Midas Plaza was blocked off by Security.
The City: 032: Maurice
November 11, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Marcy, Maurice, The City Leave a comment
City Police Commissioner Maurice Jenkins was the first to press close to the body when it began to whisper.
“The hills, the bay, the valley, the tower. The Bells! The bells are sounding. The clarion call is sounding, and He is drawing the threads together. He’ll climb Jacob’s Ladder and ascend from fire as the Phoenix. The City will know its master, and He will be the god of this place. The bells are sounding…” The cops all straightened.
“Some hacker messing with us,” Marcy said. Maurice frowned.
“I’d like to speak with the hacker that made this. Let’s go.”
Hugh J. O'Donnell 