to bring her back safely. Also, I can’t let them think the Outsider outsmarted my system, so we’ll use the guards as our scapegoats—they were part of the same terrorist cell.”
“I recommend a neuro-lifter be sprayed prior to your announcement. Otherwise they’ll be devastated. She is the favorite.”
“Agreed.” Morray wondered if Ava was the favorite because of her high scores, or if the residents had also been compromised by her allure.
“I suggest we use this misfortune to our advantage. Have the people pull together. A team spirit type of distraction.”
“You just moved down on the shit-list, Dickson.” Morray patted his back and prepared his speech.
Dickson fed instructions into the mainframe to release a blast of high-level neuro-lifters into the audience. Morray waited for their energy levels to elevate. The hologram dissolved into a commercial for Ret-Hav.
“Ret-Haaaaaaav… Ahhhhh… Sooooo relaxing… Where you can breathe in fresh air while you dip your toes in the warm island waters. Eat whatever you want. Sleep till noon. It’s the haven you’ve been waiting for. On Ret-Hav you are free to do whatever you please. You worked hard for it, so sit back and let us work hard for you.”
The crowd cheered and whistled. Morray left the private room and went to his production booth. He synced his index finger into the mainframe and his monumental hologram appeared in the center of the Arena.
“Citizens of the Los Angeles City Center, I address you today with grave news. Something occurred inside our walls that has never happened in the history of our great City Center.” He watched the audience from his grid of monitors. They were entranced as they waited for his next words. They reminded him of children.
“After yesterday’s terrorist attack, we were holding the Outsider in containment until his trial today at noon. As a surprise, I planned for our leading Successor Candidate to escort the savage to his trial box, but there’s been a change in plans, dear citizens.” The crowd looked toward the empty trial box high above the Arena floor. “In addition to yesterday’s terrorist attack, there has also been an act of unspeakable treason conducted by two of our guards.” The crowd gasped.
“Today my perfect plan was thwarted when the Outsider escaped with the help of these two guards. All three had been a part of the same terrorist cell.” Morray paused until the audience quieted. “We were able to track down the two traitors and they’ve been terminated for their act of treachery.” A burst of applause exploded inside the Arena
“But, my dear people, I have more devastating news. The Outsider used our own Ava Rhodes as leverage to escape.” The audience cried out and looked up at the box of Successor Candidates to Ava’s empty chair. “I have put together a team of elite Officers to begin a search. I’m confident we will retrieve Miss Rhodes and bring the Outsider to justice. For now, we must pull together. The best thing to do in this situation is to stay calm and stick together. Planner Dickson has prepared an afternoon of entertainment. Please sit back and enjoy yourselves. We’ll send out reports with updates as soon as we have more information. Thank you.”
Morray’s hologram cleared out. Another commercial boosting Ret-Hav displayed, followed by highlights from previous Graduation Day ceremonies. The audience sat back, mesmerized by the footage while arena workers doled out refreshers and snacks.
Morray returned to Dickson. “I still can’t figure out how the bastard pulled this whole thing off,” he said.
“They’ve advanced. Their technology is catching up.”
“Impossible.”
“Deny it all you want, sir, but this situation proves they’ve advanced. They pose an even bigger threat now. Though you might disagree, I think this has been helpful. Now we have more information. We know their capabilities and we can take the appropriate measures.”
“I’d
“I recommend a neuro-lifter be sprayed prior to your announcement. Otherwise they’ll be devastated. She is the favorite.”
“Agreed.” Morray wondered if Ava was the favorite because of her high scores, or if the residents had also been compromised by her allure.
“I suggest we use this misfortune to our advantage. Have the people pull together. A team spirit type of distraction.”
“You just moved down on the shit-list, Dickson.” Morray patted his back and prepared his speech.
Dickson fed instructions into the mainframe to release a blast of high-level neuro-lifters into the audience. Morray waited for their energy levels to elevate. The hologram dissolved into a commercial for Ret-Hav.
“Ret-Haaaaaaav… Ahhhhh… Sooooo relaxing… Where you can breathe in fresh air while you dip your toes in the warm island waters. Eat whatever you want. Sleep till noon. It’s the haven you’ve been waiting for. On Ret-Hav you are free to do whatever you please. You worked hard for it, so sit back and let us work hard for you.”
The crowd cheered and whistled. Morray left the private room and went to his production booth. He synced his index finger into the mainframe and his monumental hologram appeared in the center of the Arena.
“Citizens of the Los Angeles City Center, I address you today with grave news. Something occurred inside our walls that has never happened in the history of our great City Center.” He watched the audience from his grid of monitors. They were entranced as they waited for his next words. They reminded him of children.
“After yesterday’s terrorist attack, we were holding the Outsider in containment until his trial today at noon. As a surprise, I planned for our leading Successor Candidate to escort the savage to his trial box, but there’s been a change in plans, dear citizens.” The crowd looked toward the empty trial box high above the Arena floor. “In addition to yesterday’s terrorist attack, there has also been an act of unspeakable treason conducted by two of our guards.” The crowd gasped.
“Today my perfect plan was thwarted when the Outsider escaped with the help of these two guards. All three had been a part of the same terrorist cell.” Morray paused until the audience quieted. “We were able to track down the two traitors and they’ve been terminated for their act of treachery.” A burst of applause exploded inside the Arena
“But, my dear people, I have more devastating news. The Outsider used our own Ava Rhodes as leverage to escape.” The audience cried out and looked up at the box of Successor Candidates to Ava’s empty chair. “I have put together a team of elite Officers to begin a search. I’m confident we will retrieve Miss Rhodes and bring the Outsider to justice. For now, we must pull together. The best thing to do in this situation is to stay calm and stick together. Planner Dickson has prepared an afternoon of entertainment. Please sit back and enjoy yourselves. We’ll send out reports with updates as soon as we have more information. Thank you.”
Morray’s hologram cleared out. Another commercial boosting Ret-Hav displayed, followed by highlights from previous Graduation Day ceremonies. The audience sat back, mesmerized by the footage while arena workers doled out refreshers and snacks.
Morray returned to Dickson. “I still can’t figure out how the bastard pulled this whole thing off,” he said.
“They’ve advanced. Their technology is catching up.”
“Impossible.”
“Deny it all you want, sir, but this situation proves they’ve advanced. They pose an even bigger threat now. Though you might disagree, I think this has been helpful. Now we have more information. We know their capabilities and we can take the appropriate measures.”
“I’d
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