Chapter Sixteen – Board Meeting

Chapter Sixteen – Board Meeting

“Not all of the new technology we have came from the Protectors. In fact, most of it is human-made. Human ingenuity counts for the majority of new creative technologies, and I won’t waste my time listening to people who think that everything we’ve worked hard to invent is merely deconstructions of alien technology.”

–Bob Manperson, defending his companies patents in a congressional hearing, 2029

***

Corporate board meetings were a lot more enjoyable when everyone else at the table was aware that you might shoot them. It was a nice discovery to make, but one I didn’t get to revel in for all that long.

We were only half an hour into the meeting when my phone app went off. “One sec,” I said as I stepped back from the table. After the first ten minutes or so, I started to regret shoving the chair away at the start. Sure, it made me more intimidating, but my feet were starting to ache from standing for so long. “Got a call, I’ll be back.”

I stepped out of the room and into the corridor just outside while answering the call. It was from Lucy.

“You shot the mayor,” she said as an introduction.

“Hi Lucy,” I replied. “Love you too.”

She sighed. “Cat, why are you on TV for shooting the mayor?”

“Because I… shot him?” I said. “I can fancy it up, if you want?”

“Fancy it up?” she asked.

I grinned. “I ensured that his chances of re-election were diminished,” I said while trying to sound as snooty as possible.

It worked, Lucy snorted on the other end of the line. “You’re such an idiot,” she said fondly. “Also, no, I don’t want the job.”

“You sure?” I asked. “You’d get a swanky office. And get to wear girlboss suits. You’d look really hot.”

“I don’t think you should generally get into politics just so that you can wear nice suits and have a nice office,” Lucy said. “Also, if you wanted to see me in a suit, you just had to ask. I’m sure something could be arranged.”

I laughed. “I might take you up on that. We haven’t done any shopping, have we? I was just thinking I needed some new streetwear. Maybe we can hit up some shops in a couple of days. Tomorrow will be busy, and today’s a bust, but the day after?”

“Sure,” Lucy said. “I wouldn’t mind that at all. What are you up to now? Hiding from the cops?”

“Nah, cops wouldn’t know what to do with me. I’m at the Family’s HQ, scaring them shitless. I think they were planning on being lazy about the whole sewer thing, even after I came here, hat in hand, asking for their help. Now they’re reconsidering. It’s nice.”

“Reputation’s important. You just reconfigured the mayor’s brainpan in front of a million people. That’ll make people think twice about messing with you. That’ll be good and bad.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “I’ll have to see how it pans out in the long run. But, uh, there’s no undoing that one. Even if Myalis went nuts and deleted all the footage, it’ll still circulate.”

“Can’t put the bullet back in the barrel?” Lucy asked.

I shook my head. “That was awful.”

“I try,” Lucy chuckled. “Think the Family will be able to handle everything now?”

“No. I’ll still need to help them so that they can help me, but at least they’re taking it seriously now. I… should probably go.”

“That’s okay,” she said. “You’ll be back soon? I’m making submarines. I’ve got chicken and bacon and turkey and tofu and six kinds of cheese.”

“Are you going to put any vegetables in the subs?” I asked.

“Where would I fit them?”

“I can’t wait to try it out. Keep some warm for me, I should be back home in… urgh, three, maybe four hours?”