Suicide
 |
| They climb down a ladder into the sewer |
Eugenio, Lin, Mario and Isabella
leave the abandoned building. They climb down a ladder into the
sewer. The woman coughs, annoyed by the unpleasant odor.
A roar shakes through
the walls. Isabella and Mario freeze, terrified.
“It's
our lab. We blew it up!” Eugenio tries reassuring them.
Mario is devastated:
“I'm so sorry, guys. It's my fault. You've lost everything!”
The two hackers look at
him, amused: “Are you kidding? The information you've given us just
saved us a week of poking around. As for all of our stuff, we can
talk about it later.”
They emerge a few
minutes later, climbing up another ladder. Isabella and Mario look
around, surprised. They're in a lab identical to the one that just
exploded.
“A
little backup,” Lin smiles. “Let's get
back to work! I'd say that your boss' call and the attack on our lab
are no mere coincidences. Let's see
what our good friend Roberto is doing.”
A video, taken in
real-time from Roberto's smartphone, appears on Eugenio's screen. The
audio immediately begins flowing out of the speakers.
The man staggers. He's
clutching a half-empty bottle of whiskey in his hand.
“Now
turn right and walk towards the riverfront. Keep drinking, it will be
easier,” the DataCom software orders him.
“I
want to go home and be with my family!” he protests.
“It
is no longer possible. You know that.”
“But
I didn't do anything wrong!” Roberto screams, exasperated. A few
passers-by scurry away, frightened.
The smartphone starts
to play a video of Roberto and Isabella in a bedroom. Eugenio, in the
lab, pauses the connection.
“No,
let's keep watching,” Mario says.
The video shows
Isabella dressed in latex. She's holding a whip. Roberto is naked,
except for a pair of black briefs. With every lash the woman gives
him, the man responds with a cry of pain. After a few minutes the two
lovers kiss passionately, then take off their clothes. She ties his
wrists and ankles to the bed and mounts him. As they begin making
love, she continues whipping his chest.
Back in the lab,
Isabella places her hand on her husband's arm: “Mario, I-”
“Later!”
he interrupts.
The smartphone's voice
continues speaking: “Do you want to see this video released on the
web? You would lose your job and insurance. Your wife and children
would be left helpless. But if you follow the directions, your life
insurance will guarantee them a prosperous future. Now cross the
street and walk down the bridge. Have a little more to drink.”
Roberto does as he's
told. He keeps drinking. Tears are sliding down his cheeks.
“Why
me?”
“Everyone
who knows the new code is added to the human selection program for
security reasons.”
“But
-”
 |
| Large areas of the globe will be covered by deserts and others will be submerged by the rising seas |
“There
are too many of you humans, and the climate changes, caused by your
pollution, will soon be irreversible. You have been aware of this for
many years but you have not taken any significant action to stop it.
Soon there will be wars caused by lack of water and food. Large areas
of the globe will be covered by deserts and others will be submerged
by the rising seas. The world economy will fall and so will our
profits. We're getting rid of many of you and controlling those that
remain so that we can protect the interests of DataCom.”
Roberto reaches the
middle of the bridge. He finishes the bottle with one last swig.
“Now
climb over and let go. Your family will live a comfortable life in a
cleaner and more peaceful world.”
 |
| He puts his smartphone down and jumps into the icy waters of the river below |
Roberto
climbs onto the parapet. He puts his smartphone down and jumps into
the icy waters of the river below.
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