The Slipstream

This story is by Janet Pho and was part of our 2024 Spring Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.

 

“Hey Avery, whatcha think of this upcoming meeting we got planned?” Sea Martinez the VP of HR for Zeplock Technology asked.

“This Biz Slipstream rocks! Mergers & Acquisitions has been planning this purchase for weeks.” Avery Lightner CTO (chief technology officer) of Zeplock replied.

“Yeah Zeplock will become the biggest private security company in N America when we merge.” Sea bellowed as he bounced on his toes excitedly.

“We been pushing that CEO to the max. We’ve got to scoop up their Technology and patents before anyone else gets their hands on them.” Avery replied.

“There is so much we can do. This tech is the key we need to defy the limits of Digital Storage capacity. With their breakthrough the future is ours!” Sea whispered as he stuck his hands in his pockets.

“We’ve been grinding through the paperwork nonstop since Agatha Prower contacted us,” said Avery as he poured over huge stacks of contracts sitting on his desk.

“Ding, Ding” rang out on Sea’s computer. Sea looked down at his monitor and spoke. “I think it’s Angela. What does she want? It’s too early for the meeting.”

“The meetings not til tomorrow. We’ve got so much more to do tonight. Why is she trying to reach us the night before? Sea you’ve got to answer, stall, make sure she doesn’t cancel tomorrow’s meeting. Wait, wait…She better not have another buyer.” Avery groaned as his face twisted with contempt and worry.

Sea leaned over to push the connect button on the video conference and said, “Angela. You’re up late. What can we do for you?”

“Checking up on you Sea. I’ve been trying to keep this meeting to ourselves. I haven’t told anyone about this meeting, but it seems to have been leaked.” Angela said as her long black curly hair fell over her face and obscured her eyes from view.

“Why do you think that Angela? What’s going on? You said we had first and only dibs on your company. That Barton Song didn’t track you down did he?” Sea asked as he tried to look carefully at the office where Angela sat.

“No, he’s stuck in Singapore. He’s always making offers to me. I ignore them all. He’s got to be kidding if he thought I’d sell to him for those ludicrous low-ball offers.” Angela said pursing her lips as if she just licked a salt bar. “It’s not him I’m worried about. There’s uh, I’ve got premium security around here. Got to. Too many trade secrets…”

“Patent protection I guess, is essential. We’ll make sure to not tell anyone even after the deal tomorrow.” Avery interjected.

“Patents, you think I’m worried about hauling some company to court over patents? Listen I don’t think you know what you’re about to buy. This will revolutionize computing. You’ll be able to store everything you can imagine. I think we should call the deal off; I mean like right now!” Angela snarled back.

“Listen small countries can’t equal what we’re going to offer you. Zeplock will be the largest private security firm in the world with your technology. We can already guarantee your protection. With this there’s no stopping us.” Sea said trying to reassure Angela.

A micro blip in the video occurred. “Yes, that’s what I’m worried about. I keep getting interrupted. I mean of course that’s normal, but they seem planned, a little too planned to seem like the usual interrupts. They fit the usual pattern a little, uh too well.” Angela said as her hair fell over her face even more.

“Uhm. You’re right a little too perfect timing that blip. Let’s speed up the meeting. I’ll call legal in early so we can get things rolling. They’re probably cramming but, uh they don’t need sleep. I’ll tell them to get here…tonight.” Sea said.

Another micro blip of interference happened in the video. “Get them here. Get them here now. We’ll do the deal tonight.” Avery barked. “Time. We don’t have time. We need to close this ASAP. We’ve got to beat out whoever is interrupting us.” Avery said worryingly.

“How do I know you aren’t sending them yourself? You could just be trying to pressure me into signing early, accepting meager returns. No, I won’t meet early.” Angela shook her head in frustration.

“C’mon Angie. We’ve known each other since grad school. I wouldn’t try rip you off. I thought that’s why you wanted to sell to us. Loyalty.” Sea said searchingly.

“Loyalty?” scoffed Angela. “MIT was eons ago. You were a brilliant engineer Sea and look at you now! You’re nothin’ but a sleazy M&A Hack…You’ve sold out. You’ve turned into ‘mergers & acquisitions specialist’ otherwise known as ‘which company can I eat for lunch’!” Angela said disgusted.

“I’m on the other side now because I want a buck. I don’t want to grind all night in a lab, and you tell me I sold out. Look at you. What are you doing? You’re selling to us. Even you ‘the purist of science’ wants the pay off. I know what’s worth buying because I do have a brain. I’m pushing this deal through on the sketchiest of info you’ve given us though.” Sea ranted shaking as he talked to her image on the screen.

Another computer Blip happens. “Come on you two. We’re here to make an offer and close this deal…tonight or tomorrow morning. The offers there. Something in you Angie wants us to get your hard work. I don’t know why you want Zeplock to get it, but I think you do for some reason.” Avery said questioningly.

“Get your ducks in order so we can finish the deal then. There better not be any surprises though!” Angela blurted out.

“You used to claim you cared about everyone and everything. You were the holistic one. ‘Love the whole planet’ you used to sing. Rescued every cat you saw. Yeah, you’re a sellout ‘Tooooo’, just like us I guess.” Sam replied.

“Where’s your lawyers Avery. The sooner this is done the better. Today is a Big Birthday so get it on.” Angela beckoned.

“Alright, Frank Stein from legal is joining us on video.” Avery replied.

“I’ve got the contracts in order,” Frank Stein the Head In-house Counsel from Zeplock said as he appeared on screen. “Sign here Angela. The deal will be complete,” he added.

As Angela typed, her keyboard and computer started transforming her image as does Avery’s and Sea’s.

“What’s happening Angie! What’s going on.” Avery cried out.

Max’s fingers started melting into a pattern of encryption. Avery panicked as he saw this.

“Angie just signed over how to encrypt every life form and Zeplock has enough storage for all of you. You’re the Beta test.” Frank snugly announced.

“How dare you!! Who do you think you are,” Avery shouted at Frank.

Frank smirked as he said “Don’t worry. Corporate restructuring.”

Frank’s legs then start to be encrypted. Frank cried out “How could you Angie! You said we were Slipstreaming everyone else for encryption, but we were to be exempt!”

“I do care for everyone, for the planet and EVERYTHING, Every Digital Thing! It’s the Crossroads. The Digital World Order is Born today.” Angie said as she smiled gleefully while she is encrypted.

A booming computerized voice announces.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all digital computational devices are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”

The End