Previously on Corporate Shadows
In Neo-Echelon, Zara Blackwater, known by her code name “Nyx,” completed a routine neural signature copy from an Aegis Corporation exec with the help of some advanced black-market tech, namely a LIFT (Latent Identity Firmware Thief), and the GHOST (Gradient Harmonic Optical Stealth Technology). While completing the task, she overheard a disturbing conversation about missing files on “Subject 7” and the suspicious death of “Subject 52”.
Later, while enjoying her favourite street food, she spotted a person who mysteriously changed their appearance before disappearing in the crowd, and then there was the vibration of a distance explosion on a higher level.
Finally when she made it back to her apartment, she was confronted by her handler, Adrien who forbade her from investigating what she overheard before a new job came in.
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Lucian's back was turned when Victor stepped into his father's office, located one level above his own, as though to rub in the difference in their stations. The older man was looking out of the floor to ceiling windows over the city-scape of Neo-Echelon. It was evening and the sun was beginning to set. Vehicles whizzed past the window with the night-time rush hour and the sunlight glinted off the metal structures of the building opposite them, the one belonging to Lynx Security. A large holographic paw print slashed over with claw marks advertised the building, in the same way Aegis's blue shield with an eye in the centre advertised their own. The ever-watchful eye of the people.
It made Victor sick.
Victor strode forward, his dress shoes clapping on the plastasteel floor that was designed to look like polished marble. He liked to think it was a confident footstep and not that of the nervous child he felt like.
"You're late," his father stated, half turning his head to glance in Victor's direction. A statement of fact and not a question.
"The meeting with Finance ran overtime," Victor answered anyway, only just managing not to fidget under his father's sharp gaze as the man turned around more fully to view him.
"Aegis's CEO is on time, Victor. Running late is unprofessional, no matter the circumstances," Lucian said, his piercing grey eyes sweeping over his son.
Victor did his best not to squirm under the man's sharp eyes. He had no reason to be nervous; he was immaculately presented, his suit clean and wrinkle free, his hair perfectly styled, face freshly shaved. There should be nothing his father could criticise. He had even had Aiko run through the list of things that had to be just so before he approached the office, and yet he was still on edge.
His father apparently had nothing to say, however, as he took several steps towards the large desk that stood between them. He picked up a datapad and held it out. "The board has prepared and approved the speech you are to give at the quarterly review tonight," he said.
Victor stepped forward and took the datapad, glancing over it. Most of what it had to say was expected. Quarterly growth was up, investor confidence, yadda yadda yadda. But there were other points as well that, quite frankly, rubbed him the wrong way.
The first was an announcement of a new augment that was thanks to "breakthrough research" from brave "volunteers", a tech that would especially help companies with "difficult employees". When Victor had been informed of this tech, it had almost been as an afterthought, that they really should inform the CEO of the company, despite the fact that The Board had already signed off on it. That was, perhaps, the most infuriating thing; nevermind that the tech was irreversible and trying to remove it left the person a vegetable, nevermind that the test subjects weren't volunteers at all, the fact was, Victor had no real control over the situation. This familiar pattern of being undermined had been apparent since he received the promotion and his father had stepped aside. He had thought this was his chance to actually change the way Aegis operated and wasted no time shutting down everything he found that went against what he had planned for the company, but the programs were like cockroaches—every time he eradicated one cell, a new one would to pop up. He may be CEO in name, but it was The Board, and his father, who called all the shots.
As if the augment wasn't bad enough, the second issue made Victor's stomach churn. The speech announced that Aegis Corp would be "revitalising the lowest levels of Neo-Echelon". When the PR team had first pitched the idea to Victor, for once actually consulting him first, he had been interested; he was always on the lookout for new ways to improve the company's image and doing some good for the city would definitely help with that. But as he learned more about what those plans entailed, he became increasingly disgusted. They had wanted to remove the neural signatures and forcibly evict those on levels 11-30 who could not pay off Aegis hired enforces. Those affected would be forced to live on the lowest levels of Neo-Echelon among the Effaced while those who could afford it would see their property values rise.
Victor had vetoed the plan.
[--Looks like they've gone over your head.--]
So it seems, Victor mentally replied to Aiko.
Looking up from the datapad, Victor saw his father watching him, waiting for his acknowledgement. Taking a breath and straightening his shoulders, Victor said firmly, "No."
Lucian stared at his son, blinked, then said, "What did you say?" His voice was low and dangerous.
Victor felt his stomach run cold, but he held firm. "I said no. I can't announce these plans because I did not sign off on them. To the contrary, in fact, I-"
"You do not need to sign off on them. The board signed off on them. You may be the CEO but it is the board of directors who run this company, I run this company! If you cannot toe the company line, then I will be forced to put forth a vote of no confidence in your leadership. You know the entire board will follow my lead. I don't want to do that, Aegis Corporation belongs to the Ruthfords, but I will if I have to. I will not see you drive this company into the sea! Do you understand me?"
Victor grit his teeth and looked off to the side. He didn't doubt his father's words; if he didn't like Victor's actions, he would do just that. And Victor couldn't allow that. He needed to remain CEO so he could continue to work changes from within. It was the only way he could live with his father's legacy. He couldn't risk it.
[--We have no choice.--]
I know.
"I understand," Victor said aloud, biting the words out.
[--Don't worry. I have a few ideas on how to avoid those announcements without upsetting him.--]
Dare I ask?
[--Not if you will try to stop me.--]
"Good," his father said, turning his back to Victor once more to look outside, dismissing him.
Victor turned sharply on his heel and strode from the office. He had a press conference to prepare for.
Victor took a sip of his champaign as he looked around the Aegis Corporation's reception hall, taking in the gathered guests and shareholders all dressed in their best, a monochromatic sea of people. Around the room were projections of the Aegis Corporation logo, the blue shield and eye painting a blue wash over anyone who came near them. The hum of voices bubbled around the room, but so far Victor had managed to avoid being drawn into any one conversation. He used to like these little gatherings. When he was first hired as a Senior Manager of the bio-engineering department, it had been fun. He got the chance to talk with other managers outside of his department, to learn what Aegis was doing. He knew even back then that he wanted to change things, that he didn't like how the company was run, but he knew he had to be patient. So instead, he had cultivated relationships. That part of the job he had enjoyed. He liked getting to know the people he worked with, and they seemed to like talking to him. Aiko, cynic that they were, was convinced that they were just trying to get in with the young Ruthford, but Victor chose to believe that he had made some genuine connections back then.
It was different now. Now people were afraid of him and his power. Those he had thought were friends withdrew as soon as he was promoted, first to Senior Vice President, and then to CEO. Now they only told him what they thought he wanted to hear. Sycophants, the lot of them.
Are you sure you have something planned? Victor thought to Aiko.
[--Don't I always?--]
Victor didn't bother answering that. He took a steadying breath, then made his way through the crowds, nodding pleasantly to those who caught his eye but not stopping until he got to the end of the room near the huge windows, strategically placing himself between two holographic logo displays so the light was on and slightly behind him, drawing the eye to him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed board members and valued colleagues," Victor started, raising his voice to carry over the din of conversation. He waited a few moments until quiet descended and the majority of people were looking his way. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a recorder hovering nearby, its camera trained on him. Great. There was sure to be some interesting news tonight.
"It is with great pride that I stand here before you tonight to share what a fantastic quarter we have had so far. Despite the storms our competitors have levelled against us, we stood strong, and our numbers back this up. Our quarterly figures have revenue growth exceeding projections by 16%."
A polite applause sounded. Victor kept the smile plastered on his face. That truly was good, far better than he expected it to be, especially with his much more conservative approach to business than his father's. Despite everything, he really did want Aegis Corporation to succeed. He just wanted it to succeed in the right way and, even with many things still to change, these numbers were a testament to the company's success.
"These numbers," Victor continued once the applause died down, "only tell part of the story. Behind the figures are those working tirelessly to make Aegis Corporation the most profitable company in bio-engineering, and the second most profitable company in cyber-security, in the whole of Neo-Echelon. Overall, we saw an unprecedented 34% year-on-year growth due to our collective commitment to excellence."
Another pause and another, slightly more enthusiastic, applause.
You ready? Victor mentally asked.
[--Always.--]
"Speaking of our commitment to excellence, it is with great pleasure that I announce-"
Victor broke off when first all the lights in the hall and all holographic logos were plunged into darkness. The murmur of voices began to spread as people looked around, trying to work out what had happened. Even the air ventilation had switched off, and the air in the room quickly became stuffy and oppressive. There was that absence of noise that only occurs with a power outage, the lack of the usual hum of electronics and machinery that was tuned out but obvious when it was gone. In that stillness, that almost perfect quiet—
Heat. Pressure. Thunder. Glass shattered. The floor heaved beneath them as an explosion tore through a side room. Victor flinched, ears ringing, as screams erupted all around him.
An explosion is a bit over the top, don't you think?
[--That wasn't me. I just- --]
Victor suddenly felt his skin go cold, like plunging into an ice bath, and his body dropped to the ground of its own accord, just in time to narrowly avoid gunshots. The bullets ricocheted off the pillar near where he was standing, right where his head was moments before. More screams. The crash of shattering glass as another window was blown out.
Victor's body moved without any input from himself, running low towards the open chasm where once were windows, his shoes crunching over broken glass. Reaching the edge, he sat down, legs dangling into open space.
Really, Aiko? Victor thought, affecting as much dryness into his mental thought as he could.
"Victor! What are you doing?"
Victor's head turned, and he saw his father striding towards him. Victor's mouth pulled into a grin and a hand rose in a wave.
You know I'm going to be the one to pay for this little stunt.
[--You were thinking the same thing, I just carried out your subconscious wishes.--]
Ha ha.
Then he slipped over the edge.
"Wait-" his father started, but if he kept speaking after that, Victor could no longer hear him past the whoosh of air.
His stomach leapt up into his throat as he plummeted down, landing on a balcony five floors lower in a crouch position, a grunt escaping him as his body absorbed the shock. He had been a teenager when was fitted with force absorption technology. Always thought it was overkill, but tonight he was glad for it.
Warmth suffused his skin as Aiko released control of his body back to Victor, and he straightened, dusting off his knees and tidying his suit.
[--I am sorry for that, Victor.--]
You saved my life. I think that warrants giving up a little control. But don't you think you went a little overboard there?
[--The attack wasn't me.--]
"Victor! There you are!"
Victor pulled his attention from the mental conversation with Aiko to see a kid of about ten running towards him. He was wearing a grotty t-shirt, torn at one shoulder, and his knees were skinned. As he grinned up at him, Victor saw he was missing a front tooth. Definitely someone from a lower level, since he obviously couldn't afford repairs or upgrades. Well, that and the clothes that were a dead giveaway.
"I heard the explosion and came running," the kid said.
Catching on, Victor grinned. "I'm fine, don't worry. I just didn't want to give that little speech my father had planned."
The kid took his hand and started leading him through the building. The floor he had landed on was normally an eatery for Aegis workers but, with the planned conference meeting tonight, Lynx Security had closed it down. A good thing; he really didn't want to deal with people staring at his rather dramatic entrance. It's not every day a CEO quite literally falls from the sky. Hopefully that recording drone hadn't seen his dramatic exit.
Remind me to look into the security for tonight, Victor thought, and Aiko immediately added that to his personal calendar for tomorrow. Aegis Corp had a lot of resources, but when it came to security personal, they usually hired out. There was a long-standing agreement between his company and that of Lynx Security across the way; they were the ones responsible for security tonight. Which meant they had failed spectacularly tonight or, worse, they were behind it. Regardless, it would mean many long meetings tomorrow. Victor almost groaned at the thought.
"You didn't want to give a speech, so you planted a bomb?" the kid asked, arching a blonde eyebrow.
"The explosion wasn't me."
"Uh huh."
"Honest!"
Actually, what exactly was your plan?
[--To kill the lights and have you slip out the back in the confusion.--]
Classy.
[--I thought so.--]
It wouldn't have postponed it for long.
[--No, but it would give us time to respond to the most recent undermining.--]
Aloud, he said, "I was responsible for killing the lights. I guess whoever planted the bomb used that as a signal."
"I'm just glad you weren't caught in it," the kid said as they stepped into the elevator. Victor punched a number 15 levels higher than they were.
Make sure no one stops this elevator as we pass the reception hall.
[--Already on it.--]
Any news publicised yet?
[--The attackers have been subdued. No news on who is behind it or any mention of the shooters. Two Aegis employees are dead, fourteen injured. Your father has put out a bulletin confirming that you were whisked away to safety by Aegis security.--]
Victor scoffed aloud, then, to cover it, asked, "What were you doing here, anyway? And in this getup?"
"What, don't you think I'm cute?" the kid asked, flicking his hair and holding his hand out with his two fingers in a V.
Victor laughed and ruffled the kid's hair. "Sure. But you were still supposed to be on a job away from headquarters."
"I got a hint that something was going to happen here and I was right."
[--You're not going to tell him about the shooters?--]
No need. They didn't hit me, and I don't want to concern him needlessly. You know how he hovers when he worries.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. "I'll give you the deets tomorrow. Gotta get back now before I'm missed."
"I look forward to it. Stay safe, okay?" Victor said as he stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby of his apartment.
"I should be the one saying that to you. Ciao!" the kid rose a hand in farewell as the elevator doors closed again to bring him back down.
In the next episode, Zara learns what her newest job entails and she spends the rest of the evening and next morning preparing for her new, unusual task.
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