The Solution (2nd Edition)

Chon

"Lai, failing to check in only causes me upset," Dieng said. His tone was utterly pompous. My initial reaction was frowning at him over holoscreen. "But, well done on the DNR you sent - our superiors loved it!"

    "Thanks," I murmured.

    "Now Chon, regarding the Press Conference, don't hold back because of, 'loyalty'. That would be 'pride' fucking with you!" After a pause, a careless snigger slipped from Dieng's mouth. Naturally, anger rose up inside me.

    Mikey and Sarah both sensed it and patted my arms to calm me down. It worked.

    Sadly, Dieng continued. "So, Chon, blood ties aside, go for Xen's political jugular, okay?"

    Of course, I knew his question was rhetorical, and I lifted my brow in agreement.

    "No, say it," Dieng demanded. He couldn't help but push it.

    "Dieng, I get it, I'm to, 'go for his jugular'."

    "Good, Chon, good! Because if you don't bite hard enough, we all know Albers will! More importantly, it's in both our interests to keep The Ripe Cheeses happy!" Then without any form of goodbye, Dieng cut the link.

    While I tried to compose myself, Mikey looked at Sarah quizzically, with his eyebrows bunched. "It still amazes me we've never met the big bosses; 'The Ripe Cheeses'; don't you think?"

    "It does," Sarah answered, sharing the puzzlement. "But I doubt they even exist. I reckon Dieng's secretly in control of the whole BTV set-up."

    "Well either way it doesn't matter," I said curtly. "Instead of the pointless speculation, let's just get started and give them what they want. You heard the man. Let's move." We collected our equipment, ventured outside and stood in a hover taxi queue. But while waiting in light rain, our surroundings grew gloomier. I clambered my mac shut and pulled up the impressive hood, all while Mikey and Sarah huddled under her tiny umbrella. Sadly, it didn't take long for gales to consume it, and eventually, the pair bore the brunt of the increasing wind and water. Fortunately for them, the queue was quick, and it wasn't long before we bundled into the back of an A.I.D.E hovermobile. Upon rematerializing the door, cracks of violent thunder pulsed across the underbelly of the skyline, and seconds later, the heavens delivered a torrential deluge.

    Inside, I synced my A.I.D.A with the A.I.D.E in front and gave it a destination - the Frankfurt Convention Center. Then we were all strapped in by SeatStreams, as our roof got lashed with hail stones the size of golf balls. 'Pouring snakes and rats' was a serious understatement. The Frankfurt weather was more synonymous with 'pelting komodos and monkeys'. Nonetheless, our proficient droid driver battled the harsh conditions and headed for the circular glass building atop the dark and distant horizon.