From Jon “Malcolm King”:
The Textron, Inc. offices were lavish. Whatever twit whose job it was to find tasteful recycled objets d’art was well payed. He looked to the right and saw a piece of ancient, distressed driftwood languishing gracefully on an antique silver platter, lighted just right so they were warm with a rich amber glow. Tech and art in balance, such as a fine piece of precious metal used to display a piece of nautical refuse. It was probably from one of those Industry City artist enclaves that the big national chains were using these days.
Sea refuse for everyone. He shook his head.
Dr. Derrick Larsson was nervous. He always made pretentious observations when he was nervous. He shouldn’t be nervous, he told himself. He was prepared, he told himself. He had documents, photographs, charts and even a prototype arm but it could all fall apart if Mr. Johansson asked one simple question…he took a deep breath.
He barely noticed the receptionist-drone as he answered her insipid questions, “I have an appointment with Mr. Johansson in the next ten minutes,” he declared, fixing his tie for the twentieth time or so. He’d heard the Boss Man was super hot. Almost as hot as Tex had been…was. Whatever.
His mind was racing. He squared his shoulders as he sat on the buttery leather sofa in the immaculate, modern waiting area outside the Man’s office. He wanted this. Worker drones buzzing at their menial tasks, sleekly decorated offices, unlimited resources.
OH, THE WONDERS HE AND HIS COMPANY WOULD CREATE…!
Of course at just that moment, the receptionist called out, “Dr. Larsson, Mr. Johansson will see you now.”
The nervous young man stood and straightened his designer suit, clicking on the camera in his glasses and adjusting the settings with steady gazes and blinks. He then activated the psi scramblers in his Blacktooth ear-piece and ran a quick encryption on his phone, encompassing the network of devices. That network also included a wristwatch. He opened an app and a Wheel of Fortune unfolded on the small screen. He let out a breath…and spun the Wheel as he walked into the office.