[....Incoming Threat Detected]
[Initializing Defense Procedures]
[......Error….Error…Error..]
[Unauthorized Bridge Created….]
[Firewall Initiated….Success]
[Error…Error…Firewall 99%]
[Gaia System Initializing…]
- - - - - - -
[4-15-2016 22:57:12 — Manhattan, NY]
The city skyline looked beautiful from the rooftop garden of one of New York's most luxurious buildings.
That night, even the city's hustle and bustle failed in comparison to the energy radiating from the courtyard above it where a private event was taking place.
Middle-aged men in tailored suits and carefully placed toupees wined and dined with women young enough to be their daughters, models and socialites dressed to the nines in cocktail gowns and flawless makeup.
And even among all that glitz and glamor, two of those women stood out like stars in the night.
"This place is insane. Thanks for bringing me. I don't exactly get invited to rooftop IPO parties," said Kylie.
She was a pretty brunette with piercing blue eyes, looking young enough to pass for a college freshman. Her bedazzled red dress that looked just a bit too short for the event sparkled under the lights.
Walking a step ahead was a taller woman, effortlessly elegant. Her platinum blonde hair flowed perfectly, and the golden gown she wore seemed to shine with the same quiet confidence she carried in every movement.
She glanced back at Kylie and smiled. "Of course, you're my best friend."
Kylie beamed, her grin wide and almost childlike as she looked around the crowded rooftop.
"Isn't it crazy that a bunch of kids from our class would warrant all this excitement? Feels like just yesterday we were pulling all-nighters for finals."
"Well, it's only natural," Anna replied, completely unfazed by the crowd. "Togethr is the most popular social media app in the world. Of course everyone wants a piece of that pie."
Kylie squinted through the sea of suits and dresses, then pointed. "Hey, isn't that Eric Miller?"
A man in a waiter's uniform awkwardly weaving through the crowd with a silver tray tucked against his chest.
He had scrappy black hair in desperate need of a cut and looked wildly out of place amongst the polished crowd.
"I thought he was part of the development team here?" she continued.
Anna blinked at the man, her expression blank clearly not recognizing who Kylie was talking about.
"I guess it's part of the event program," she said with a shrug.
"ANNA!!!"
A young man with dirty blonde hair styled to look artfully messy charged toward her. His blue suit hugged his muscular frame a little too perfectly, and a wide smile lit up his face as he approached with arms outstretched for a hug.
Anna's own smile faded. She extended a hand for a handshake, creating just enough distance to stop him.
"Hi, Kyle. Congratulations."
"Thank you. It means a lot coming from you," Kyle said, clasping her hand between his. "I see you brought Kylie as well."
"Hi Kyle!" Kylie beamed and gave him an enthusiastic wave. "What's it like to become a millionaire?"
Kyle chuckled as he placed his hand on Anna's shoulder like they were old friends,
"I don't really know. My family and Anna's have always been well off."
The gesture slightly awkward as Kyle stood noticeably shorter than her.
"But it does feel different, you know? Making money with my own blood, sweat, and tears."
Before anyone else could get a word in, Anna her expression was unreadable. She gently shook his hand away.
"It was nice seeing you, Kyle, but we do have to greet other people,"
Then turned to disappear into the crowd.
"Huh," Kylie said, glancing between Kyle and Anna's retreating figure. "Bye, I guess. And congratulations."
She hurried after Anna, leaving Kyle standing alone. His smile slowly faded as he muttered under his breath,
"Bitch."
The word hung in the air for a moment, swallowed by the noise of the crowd.
Then the lights began to dim, and the stage at the end of the balcony lit up. Speakers around the garden rumbled to life with a deep, booming voice:
"Now introducing the man of the hour. The man that brought us all here. #17 on Forbes 30 under 30 list. Recipient of the Black Excellence in Tech Award...…."
I stopped listening.
My grip tightened on the silver tray against my chest as a familiar heat of resentment burned in my stomach. I pushed through the crowd harder now, each step fueled by a mixture of anger and something worse. Hatred.
Getting in hadn't been easy. The bastards had put my name on the no-entry list, so I had to use a fake identity to get hired as a waiter. No openings, of course.
So I made one.
Slipped someone a few hundred to call in sick. Turns out, most people's morals vanish when they make a little cash.
".....The CEO of Togethr, Paul Thomas"
The crowd erupted in applause as a tall man with a clean-shaven head stepped into the spotlight. His button-up shirt was either a size too small or perfectly tailored—I couldn't tell.
Either way, it showed off his muscles. He always had to look better than everyone else.
The bastard.
"It's wonderful to see all of you gathered here on this momentous occasion for us," Paul said, taking the mic.
"An IPO is a major achievement. Feels like just yesterday this company was just a group of friends trying to help people connect. It was only through collective effort and…."
Collective effort.
What a bunch of bull.
But, these rich assholes were all eating it up just like everyone else.
Only I knew the truth. Only I had seen Paul unmasked.
As I finally reached the stage, I didn't hesitate for a second. I mustered every ounce of rage and resentment to the surface and hoisted myself up.
Through the exhaustion, the humiliation, the fury, I stood tall and screamed at the top of my lungs:
"Paul, you bastard. You're a liar and a cheat and I'm going to expose you in front of the whole world!"
Paul turned to look at me.
The shock on his face told me that I had taken him by surprise.
"Eric? What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" I barked. "I'm here to tell the world you're a damn grifter. This whole damn company was built off my stolen algorithm!"
"Why don't you just calm down for a second,"
He said gesturing his hands in a calming motion as if to soothe an animal,
"We can talk about this later. Why don't you just step down and enjoy the party for now."
"No, now's as much time as ever," I shouted, "Where would this company be without me?"
"Perfectly fine"
Kyle cut in smoothly as he stepped on stage,security by his sides. He glanced at the guards, then gestured toward me.
"He's on the no-entry list. Get him out of here."
Security surrounded me before I could even respond.
"Stay away from me you servant dog bastards. Do you like bowing down to your master?"
Paul reached out, grabbing Kyle's shoulder.
"Hey, can't we deal with this peacefully?"
"I don't need your damn charity, you Bastard Thief!" I shouted as the guards grabbed my arms and legs.
I tried to put up a fight, but they were all many times bigger than me.
Kyle took over the mic as calm as ever.
"Apologies for the interruption," he said. "That man is a former employee who was recently let go due to… personality issues. He's clearly dealing with some mental health struggles, so we're all wishing him well..."
"You're calling me crazy?" I roared. "What the fuck do you know besides spending your daddy's money?"
But the stage seemed to be moving further and further away.
"You're all just a bunch of rich fucks who've never worked a day in your lives!"
I shouted at the crowd.
"I hope your wives catch you with all your side chicks and drain you in the divorce!"
The Bastard Thief wasn't listening, but the audience would do just fine.
"Hi, Eric!"
Kylie waved at me with a grin, like I wasn't currently being dragged out by security.
I squinted.
Right. Columbia. We'd taken a class together once.
"What? You looking down on me?" I snapped. "Think just 'cause you're a little pretty you're better than me?"
Security kept dragging me toward the exit, but I fought to keep my voice above the noise.
"This is so embarrassing," Anna muttered, covering her face with one hand as if that could block out the scene or my slowly fading tirade of curses.
Kylie giggled. "Well... at least it's been entertaining."
Meanwhile, I did everything I could to escape the guards' grip as the exit drew closer. I even tried biting one of their arms, but he barely flinched.
Despite all my thrashing, all my effort, the party continued without a care in the world.
Without a care for me.
Just like everyone else, they used me up and threw me away the second I no longer fit their vision.
But the party didn't last and I never made it to the exit.
Because that's when the whole world shook.
- - - - - - -
[4-16-2016 00:00:18 — Manhattan, NY — The Day of Disaster]
[Firewall 94%]