Metalized Dusk

In an ancient room, their Commune started, four people dressed in black and white professional suits were waiting silently, but content that they finally got a break from the hundreds of hours of working for the past two years. Priya’s act of revolt brought upon them databases of files and folders, filled with personal information and secret stipulations that untrustworthy eyes couldn’t see. And since the last betrayer was a CEO just like them, they had also to double-check the double-checks done by their peers.

-” And that’s the last transaction checked”, said out of the blue a metallic man, before throwing a table behind his back. The device cracked on impact with the wall and landed on a pile of other broken devices. “ I’m all for friendly cooperation, but I’ll be honest. I’m sick and tired of learning so much about you.”

-” Agree. Not even our personal spy networks hold so much information about each other as we do” replied Joni, another Brand CEO. “ Although”, he murmured, stroking his metallic jaw- “ I can see a bright side. I can now fire the entire network considering they became obsolete.”

-” I was thinking the exact same thing, big guy”, said Zude, the metallic CEO.

They could hear weeping from the corner, coming from a mousy woman who got more and more upset the more she listened to the two. “ I wish I could afford a spy network”, whispered an upset Elina. After the last competition, her Brand dropped in value by half after her participant, Savan, took center stage while declaring their conquest of the Playground.

-” Ah, at least you’re still a CEO, be happy for that. If not for Robert’s and my attempts at soothing the boards, all of you (and us) would have had a civil war on the head as well.” Alvara cried out with venomous spite. Her short fuse was lit a while ago and her colleague's childish complaints didn’t help her calm down. “ We’re finally secure in our tracks, so we can move on to our next step. Right, Samuel?! WE’LL. DO. AS. WE. SAY.?!”

The former number 1 CEO sat, deflated, in his floating chair, with his sullen eyes looking at a wall. He stopped taking the treatment needed to keep his body inflated and became like a flying mummy, barely able to pay attention to his surroundings. At Alvara’s question, he just nodded in agreement and continued his silent mourning.

The room started to growl like an electrified cat, purring from its walls and vibrating the tiles. It took only a few seconds for it to sit still and completely change the landscape to a virtual one. Tens of small projectors came out of the tiles, changing the environment to what its main administrator wanted; a purple land, with interchanging neon colors.

Soon after, a figure materialized from the particles, building the image of a red-headed man with a bob haircut, dressed like the others in a black and white digital suit. Robert excused himself for his lack of presence and ignored any other questions, moving straight towards his announcement:

-” I am ready to address the County. Starting with today, the Brands will no longer be split between our numbered classification but instead unite into a single conglomerate. All the former CEOs will former the governing body, with me as their new head and two new members.”

-” Oh shit, they actually accepted the role?” Zude hoped that one of the candidates wouldn’t try to enter their ranks and be content with his religious following. “ I have my complaints about that unorthodox choice, but I agree; now is not the time to let my feelings ruin this opportunity.”

A knock draws them towards the door. Joni waved his hand and allowed the stranger to enter; a woman clad in uniform and donning a mask unlike that of her husband. She saluted militarily and took a standing stance, waiting for Robert to make the presentations.

-” Tuniczia, formerly known as M-Mother, has taken the role of matriarch of the Zin family and Zin Protection Corps. And as such we thought that she would be a great asset to our Trust. Any objections?”, but none dared to raise any. Joni, though, asked her something they were all thinking about.

-” Great to see ya…I guess Commissary now?”

-” L…Joni. No, that title still belongs to my husband, you can call me Comandante. As for him, well, I am pleased to announce that his transformation process is going as planned. Especially with what you provided us, he is bound to raise as an exceptional guardian of the Trust.”

-” Executioner sounds even better”, added Joni.

-” Right”, smiled back Tuniczia.

-” The reverend will project a holographic image from his “Pure Abode”, so we are ready and good to go. Let’s contact the County and let them know the Trust is ready to take back control.