Chapter 225

8.s.

“So what now?” Business Woman asked.

“Now?  Nothing,” said John Q Public.  “You’re free to go if you wish.”

“I feel dirty and useless,” she said.  “And a little sick.”

“That’s business,” said General Apathy.

“Did we seriously just watch him die?” asked Franklin Buck.

“Yeah.  And we didn’t do anything.  We let it happen,” said Senior Executive.

“That’s usually how these things go,” said John Q Public.

No one said anything for a long while.

 “Well now,” said General Apathy, breaking the silence.  “This is getting morose.  And boring.  Let’s all remember, nothing personal in business.”

“Shut up asshole,” said Business Woman.  She looked at John Q Public and said, “So how do we get out of here?”

“Oh.  Well… I was sort of hoping you’d stay.  I mean…  Do you like this building?  This office?  Cause I’m giving it to you,” said John Q Public.

“What?”

“Yeah.  This black diamond room is actually an elevator that will take you anywhere in the building.  And, up to now, I’ve pushed all the buttons.  Except one.  This one,” he said, striding over to a large, blinking, white button.  “Go on.  You push it.”

Business Woman looked at Senior Executive and Franklin Buck.  Each of their faces a mirror of similar confusion.

“Up and out,” said John Q Public.

“Are you… What?  Really?”

“No.  Of course not,” John Q Public said, pressing the white button.  All the walls on the black diamond office went clear.  “Fantasy.  You see?  All that goody good be good crap will never get you a chocolate factory.  Only in books and musicals.”

“You know,” Business Woman said.  “People may not give a crap about helping others, but stunts like that will piss them off and then you’ll get a reaction.”

“A reaction?  What?  Like a revolution?” John Q Public asked.  “This is a generation of sugar fattened pussies who we’ve retarded with mass media.  No, I’m afraid it will take decades of living like paupers to affect any kid of change.”

John Q Public stroked his luscious moustache with his gloved hand.  Then the Big Bossman turned and strode through a side door, out of the conference room.

“Wait.  What about him?” Business Woman asked.

“You mean his body?  My minions will attend to it,” said John Q Public.  He stood in the doorway for a moment and then said, “Listen.  You’re all free to work for me.  I have high level positions that would benefit from your particular skills.”

“I accept.  I don’t care what the job is,” Roger said.

“Not you, you’re due back at the help desk in the morning.  Business Woman, Senior Executive, Franklin Buck the One Hundred Dollar Man.  Regardless of your decision, you are free to go and my building will remain open to you.  If you choose to decline my offer and start a competing enterprise, you have my blessings.  I’ll even invest if you wish.  There’s no need to decide yet.  Confer amongst yourselves and get back to me.”

John Q Public nodded and left them to their decision.

Chapter 220

8.n.

“Is anyone thirsty?” asked John Q Public.  Without waiting for an answer he gestured and an apparatus dropped from the ceiling.  It set out crystal flutes and filled them with a sparkling, faintly bluish water.  John Q Public lifted one of the flutes to his nose, inhaled deeply, and then drank the contents in a single swallow.

“Water.  Trapped inside veins of sapphire.  I could build three Jacob Center Towers with what it costs for just one glass of this stuff.”

Reluctantly, everyone drank.

Everyone except Corporate Man.

John Q Public’s grin widened and then he gestured toward a blank wall.  A holographic image appeared in front of it displaying a graph featuring a thick, up thrusting arrow.

“Note the chart,” said John Q Public.  “In the past ten years the increase of wealth for the rich in this country has made a steady climb.”

He gestured again and another arrow appeared next to the first.  This one sagged downward, sad and emasculated.

“This graph depicts the financial standing of the middle class during the same length of time.  What do you notice?”

“Two dicks,” said Business Woman.

“High returns are erect and obviously virile.  Diminishing yields are flaccid and underdeveloped,” John Q Public said.  “And yes, this is intentional.  Not just for the inherent humor, but subconsciously it preys upon the fears of male board members and executives.  Particularly those related to inadequacy and impotence.  In other words, if you don’t show large returns you have a small penis.”

John Q Public paused and stared directly at Franklin Buck.

“What?” Franklin Buck said.  “I don’t have… diminishing yields.”

“And there you have it,” John Q Public continued.  “This is the basic primal level of thinking that the Union has been up against all these years.  That initial drive for alpha male status.”

“What about all the women coming into high level positions?” asked Business Woman.

John Q Public laughed.  “Yes.  It’s a big problem.  Now, I suppose most of you are aware of a popular cry that is being voiced these days, calling for the deregulation of business.  It’s being pushed by us, of course, but middle class Americans are really eating up this line of thinking, saying crap like, ‘Oh, those big, greedy corporations will do right by us.  Let ‘em run fast and loose.  They’ll fix things up for us little guys.’  Sure.  How quickly they forget the prime mortgage disaster and other wonderful gifts from the deregulated sect.  They buy in deeply to the propaganda that regulated businesses are automatically stunted whereas deregulated ones will grow and prosper.  Why yes, they do grow and prosper.  At the expense of the little guy.  Pushing beyond the limits of sustainable greed at the detriment of economic health.  Worried only about the big dick on the graph.”

“But that’s you,” said Corporate Man.  “You’re doing these economically unhealthy things.”

“True.”

“So what is this?  What are you doing?  Bragging about how you put one over on the rubes?  What?”

“Illustrating a point,” John Q Public said.

“I see no point,” said Corporate Man.  “I see a lot of excuses for bad behavior.”

“Exactly.”

Corporate Man’s face pinched, “What?  Make sense!”

“Let’s look at it this way.  Deregulation of business is like a man not wanting to wear a condom.  Sure, the business is better without the hindrance of protective regulation.  But then what happens?  Oh no!  And STD or an unexpected pregnancy.  That diseased and potent business splits leaving behind an infected wreck of an economy with a huge poop machine to take care of.”

“And that poor economy used to be a sought after, hot piece of ass, too,” said Business Woman.

“Right, and Big Business is just a dirty-dick man with a dishonest tongue, hiding behind a pleasant face, maybe a sixer in the abs department, and nice twinkly eyes.”

 “And now has his eyes on some perkier, Asian fair,” said Business Woman.

“Exactly.”

“Hey!  Don’t start agreeing with him,” Corporate Man shouted.  “He’s the dirty-dick man in this situation.”

“I’m not denying it,” said John Q Public.

“Then what are you doing?”  Why are we here?” asked Corporate Man.

“Well, it seems to me that you’re wasting your time trying to stop dirty-dicked men,” said John Q Public.  “But then, what can you really do?”

“When you can’t change the pig-animals you have to protect and educate those they prey on,” said Corporate Man.

“You mean, the dumb Americans we’ve been discussing?”

“Your term, not mine,” said Corporate Man.

“And by the time you educate them, they are old and invalid.  Indoctrinated with the message that old is weak and dumb and youth is to be forever worshipped.  An entire crop of eager-beavered bimbo children conveniently awaits our harvesting.  The cycle repeats.  Maintains.”

“No!  People will only take so much,” said Corporate Man.

“Not if they’re too stupid to notice,” said Senior Executive.

“Don’t you start, too,” said Corporate Man.

“What?  It’s true.  People don’t even question anything anymore,” said Senior Executive. “Genetically modified foods.  Vaccines for anything and everything, needed or not.  Pills to counter the negative effect of other pills.  They think its good because it medical science when it’s actually shady business.  The populace at large doesn’t know how the foods we’re being served have been modified and what the resulting product might do to a person’s body.  Science magic did it.  And it’s cheap so that’s good too.”

“You know who you sound like?” asked Corporate Man.

“Who?  John?”

“No. Him,” Corporate Man said, pointing at General Apathy.  “You were under his sway once before.”

“That was different.”

“And you,” Corporate Man said, turning toward the General, “You’ve been suspiciously quiet during all of this.”

“I’m just here for ambience,” said General Apathy.

“And to distort the mental state of everyone gathered around this table,” said Corporate Man.

“I’m a part of every corporate transaction.  The phrase, ‘it’s just business,’ is rooted in apathy.  Capitalism and I are indistinguishable.”

“I want his out of here,” said Corporate Man.

“Do you think that will help?” asked John Q Public.

“He’s infecting everyone.”

“With what?  Himself?”

“Yes.”

John Q Public cocked his head slightly and said, “Two things.  One.  As he said, all business is infected with him.  Two.  This is my meeting and he stays.”

“Then I’m leaving,” said Corporate Man.  He stood up and marched toward the door.

“You’re as free to go as you were free to come,” said John Q Public.  Corporate Man halted, mid step, and then turned back toward the table.  John Q Public continued, “Yes.  I see the dilemma.  What would all of the effort have been for then?  What of the sacrifices?  The colleagues lost?”

“I should kick your ass,” said Corporate Man.

“Ah yes.  Might make right, does it?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“I am.  Isn’t that what we were already discussing?  Except financial might as opposed to the physical,” John Q Public said.  He smiled without sneering.

Corporate Man sat down.

Chapter 219

8.m.

“I assume, from your statement,” said Corporate Man, glaring at the man in the white suit and black tie, “that you’re the one who put me in that hospital and kept me an invalid for a decade.”

“Guilty,” said John Q Public.  “It’s too bad we don’t have time to go over the particulars of the Florida campaign.  I think you’d appreciate the genius of it.  But we have an agenda and I’d like to remain focused on that.”

“The future of the economy,” said Corporate Man.  “So you said.”

“Yes.  Well it’s a bit about that, but mostly it’s about your future.  Your immediate future.  And the limitations thereof.”

“Are you threatening us, John?” Corporate Man said and stood up.  His lapel seams casting a harsh glow on his face.  “I knew this was going to turn into a fight. What?  Is this office some sort of death trap?”

John Q Public held up a gloved hand and said, “Please.  Sit down.  You misunderstand me.  I am not threatening you.  When an economic forecaster predicts a price drop in a certain commodity is he or she threatening that commodity?  No.  Merely reading the signs.  And I’m not referring to the whole Union.  I’m confident that these three,” he gestured to Business Woman, Senior Executive, and Franklin Buck, “will survive this meeting and make it into that future in one capacity or another.  It’s just you, Corporate Man.  I fear for you.”

“I’m sorry.  That still sounds like a threat to me,” said Business Woman.

“The sands in the hourglass are almost spent,” said John Q Public.  “Am I at fault for noticing the impending fall of the final grain?”

“Get on with it then,” said Corporate Man.  “Say what you have to say.”

John Q Public too a deep breath and said, “You’re a fairytale, Corporate Man.  A figment of a naïve imagination.  There is no place in the world economy where you fit.  By the end of this meeting you will concede that point.  And you will cease to be.”

“That’s bullshit,” said Senior Executive.  “It’s bad out there, but the Union is back and we’re changing things.”

“No.  You aren’t.  You’re simply a colorful distraction.  Nothing more.  At most you’re something to give a small amount of hope to an ignorant populace so they’ll take comfort knowing that someone else is fixing their problems and will turn a blind eye and let us resume our financial pillaging.”

“You don’t believe that, John,” said Corporate Man.

“Don’t I?”

“No.  I know you.  This isn’t you.  It’s that asshole.  He’s influencing you,” Corporate Man said, pointing at General Apathy.  “Throw his ass out of here and lets all work together to fix this mess.”

“Fix it?  It is what it is.  You can no more fix the ocean from being wet than you can make our financial system into anything that benefits anyone except a select few.”

“I don’t buy that,” said Senior Executive.

“Really?  Everyone else seems to,” said John Q Public.

“I doubt it,” said Business Woman.

“Let me illustrate.  Everyone has deep seeded dreams of becoming one of the elite.  It’s not only inborn, but we foster this through various media channels.  Deep down, subconsciously, they are aware that if they fight to create or support a system which equalizes everyone then they effectively kill any chance for that dream of possible future success to ever materialize.  They cannot become rich and powerful if everyone is the same.”

“That’s irrational,” said Franklin Buck.

“It sure is,” John Q Public said.  “Let’s review a recent political conflict over a proposal to raise income tax for those earning over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.  How many people in this country exist at an income level well below that mark?  How many of those people’s yearly income would have to more than quadruple to gain that plateau?  If your response was ‘the bulk of the work force’ then you’d be correct.  Now, in a logical world, those people would realize that if their income somehow quadrupled, taking home the higher taxed, quadruple amount would leave them far better off than hanging on to that lower taxed, meager pittance of what they currently earn.  But, oh no, in their minds, they will be rich some day and no way is the government going to take a bigger chunk of their money.  The public only considers themselves, and its not even themselves as they currently exist, but an idealized fantasy version of what they hope to become.”

For a long while, no one said anything.

“We’ve been dumbing down the populace for years,” said John Q Public.  “In an age of information you’d expect an increase in intelligence, but we flood the culture with mindless entertainments, blind them with shiny celebrities and easy to follow programming.  Children are trained to be consumers, practically from infancy.  Aggressive advertisements bombard them between television shows and those shows feature spoiled, self entitled kids whose only function is outsmart dumb adults.  The messages are clear.  Buy stuff.  The world revolves around you.  Adults are stupid and have nothing to teach you.  And, most importantly, you will be stupid when you grow up.”

“That’s ridiculous,” said Franklin Buck.

“I agree,” said John Q Public.  “But that’s what we peddle and that’s what Americans buy.  We can sell them anything.  Just recently we convinced them that the word ‘retarded’ is a bad word.  And do you know why they bought it?  Not because of any serious offense that the word incites.  Any word that separates out one group of people from another will inevitably be seen as offensive simply because of its implications of difference and the unavoidable debasement involved at labeling one group normal while forcing the other to accept the inference of abnormality.  Retarded is offensive because Americans are sensing how stupid they have become and they subconsciously fear that they, in fact, are retarded.  Instead of exerting energy toward increasing their mental faculties they choose to erase a word that they perceive as a disparaging to their ignorance when it has no relation whatsoever.”

“People are not so blind,” said Senior Executive.

“Some.  I’ll give you that.  But on a whole they are willing to accept the state of cultivated ignorance,” said John Q Public.  When his statement was met with a round of head shakes he continued.  “If you’d like further proof, let’s talk immigration.”

“What is this?” said Corporate Man.  “Is this economics or politics?”

“Isn’t it all one in the same?”

“Let’s talk about us.  Let’s get to the part where we hold you accountable for the things you’ve done.”

“Oh, yes.  Let us,” said John Q Public.

“You don’t think we can?” said Corporate Man.

“Old friend.  Please.  Until we clearly define the canvas upon which I have been painting, the brushes and pigments at my disposal, I don’t think that we can judge method or technique.”

“I think we can judge effect of action.  Death of colleagues.”

“If you think you must,” said John Q Public.  “But who is to be the judge? Who is to sit on my jury if I am on trial?  I merely wish to define the pool from which we would draw.  The public.  I cite immigration as an example of the ineptitude of that public.  It’s an argument continually cropping up amongst our fellow Americans and we generally see two camps form about the issue.  Those who wish to accept border jumpers with open arms and those who fear that foreigners, Mexicans in particular, are scaling a big fence and coming up here to steal jobs from us hard working Americans.”

“That’s not exactly the–” Senior Executive started.

“Yes it is.  Because that’s the line of thinking that we’ve sold them.  The reactionaries want all the illegal Mexicans deported to protect good honest Americans yet they fail to realize the irony of the situation.  America was founded by foreign immigrants who invaded the country and stole land from the populace already living here.”

“Yeah…  I guess if you really think about it, the most American people today are the Mexicans,” said Franklin Buck.

“Precisely,” John Q Public said, “Now, if Americans are so intelligent and not the manufactured retards I claim them to be, then how come the outcry in regards to the immigration issue isn’t about the shady businesses hiring, or more accurately, actively recruiting illegal workers?  Jobs aren’t being stolen by illegals.  The good ole American entrepreneur is offering them up willingly and the dumb American public is blaming the guy who’s just grateful to have the opportunity for a decent wage.  Comparatively anyway.  We don’t stop to think or ask ‘why are all these people coming here?’  We’ve already been sold the ‘stealing our jobs’ line.  And some of the most anti-immigrant morons out there are the same dirt-bag business owners that hire illegals to pad their bottom line.”

Chapter 218

8.l.

For a long while no one said anything.

Then a bored sigh slipped from General Apathy and he said, “A most riveting dialogue.  I can’t seem to tear myself away.”

He glanced around at everyone for a brief second, shrugged, and then walked into the black pyramid office.

John Q Public stroked his luscious mustache with his black gloved hand and said, “Join me in the conference room and we’ll get under way.”

“Wait a second,” said Corporate Man.  “”You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”

John Q Public grinned and said, “Actually, I don’t.  There’s no one on this planet that I need to explain anything to.  But, if we considered your assertion in hypothetical terms, wouldn’t a conference room be an ideal location in which to do the explaining?”

With reluctance, they walked into the black pyramid.  The corner doors sealed behind them.  It was dim except for a faint red glow emanating from several scattered console buttons.

“Set lighting.  Conference,” said John Q Public.

The office flared a brilliant, clean white though no discernable light source could be identified. 

“Through here,” said John Q Public.  He gestured to a set of heavy looking, glossy black doors with white ivory handles.

The doors opened automatically.

The room inside was black with white framed photos of blackness.  The table gleamed its own white light and black chairs huddled around it, perched on bleach white carpeting.

“Hmm.  Blatant color scheme?” said Business Woman.

John Q Public nodded and said, “Yes.  Now, please sit down and let’s discuss your future.”

“No.  How about we discuss what you did to Supply and Demand.  To Fair Wage,” said Corporate Man.

“To you,” said John Q Public.

“That’s… That’s right.  What you did to me, too.”

“Join me at the conference table and we’ll address whatever we wish.”

The Union eventually sat down.  Business Woman and Corporate Man on one side, Senior Executive and Franklin Buck on the other.  John Q Public took a seat at the head of the table.  General Apathy remained standing, towards the back wall, on John Q Public’s right.

“The future of the economy,” said John Q Public, “is fairly dismal.”

“Thanks largely to you,” said Business Woman.

“Agreed.  But now is not the time to point fingers or credit or praise.”

“Praise?  Are you nuts?” said Senior Executive.

“I assure you, I am in control of all my faculties,” said John Q Public.  “In fact, I could simply end that sentence at control.  Wait, I’m forgetting something.”

“Added nostalgia and visual drama,” said General Apathy.

“Oh yes,” John Q Public said, eyebrows lifting in allusion to some impending greatness.

An electronic strum sounded as light flared from everyone’s suits.  The flash diminished, but the seams lines on all of their clothes remained white and glowing.

“Are… Are these our old power suits?” asked Corporate Man.

“Reasonable facsimiles,” said John Q Public.

“These would have come in handy against Bear Market and The Crash,” said Business Woman.

“They aren’t functional.  Merely aesthetic for the final meeting,” John Q Public said and tossed out a wink.  “One of the reasons your clothes were stolen on the 26^th floor was so these could be made.”

“That must have cost a pretty penny,” said Franklin Buck.

John Q Public shrugged and said, “Like I said, I am in complete control.  I’m the head of this global business empire.  The U.S. division of Incorporate Business Corporate Incorporated owns a majority of everything on this planet.”

“Not for long, pal,” said Corporate Man.

“Good.  Then we’re on the same page,” said John Q Public.

The Union members threw each other confused glances.

“You see,” continued John Q Public, “I’ve grown bored.  I claimed lordship over not just this company, and not simply this country, but over the world economy at the turn of the century and it’s been far too easy ever since.  I miss the old days.  The financial crime fighting.  The excitement.  That’s why I cancelled funding for the medications that kept you comatose, Corporate Man.  That’s why I woke you up.”

Chapter 217

8.k.

The next staircase took up the entire side of the last tier of the pyramid structure.  General Apathy stood on the third step and gestured upward.

“Right this way,” he said.  “And congratulations on making it all the way to the top.”

“What’s up there?” asked Franklin Buck, his hair oddly misshapen from his recent encounter with the business end.

“Were you not paying attention?” said General Apathy.  He pointed upward, flared his eyes in a manner that could be mistaken for nothing other than outright mocking, and said, “Up there is the top.  The Big Bossman awaits.  You should probably keep him from waiting any further.  This has all gone on long enough, don’t you think?”

They walked up the stairs.

Their feet made hollow clacking noises on each step.  The sound echoed back to them sounding of crystal, soft metal, and freshly minted paper currency.  A chill air swept down as they approached the top of the rise.  Each shivered as their flesh goosed.

When the last of the Union stopped atop the platform, all sound went out of the room.  In front of them the diamond shaped pit gaped, sidewalls dropping into the floor, meeting at a center point far below.

“Okay, so now–” Business Woman started, but General Apathy held up a finger in front of his face to silence her.  His hand moved with such speed and forceful command that it actually worked.

A low bass hum shook the room.

They could feel the vibration in the cloth of their pant legs and the short hairs on the backs of their necks.  A futuristic, pneumatic, clunking hiss erupted from the great black diamond shape at the apex of the ceiling as it drifted downward at a slow, steady pace.  Eventually, it seated in the diamond shaped pit in the top of the platform.  A pleasurable sigh exhaled from the strange shape.

Nothing happened for a painfully long time.

Corporate Man glanced at Business Woman and then at Senior Executive.  Franklin Buck glanced at no one and continued to stare at the black pyramid.

A noise shattered the pregnant silence.  It sounded like a robotic samurai sword with a crystal blade being unsheathed from a dry ice.  Lines of white light split the bottom corner of the pyramid.

Then it opened.

Two doors swung away from the corner like arms opening outward, readying for an embrace.

A man stood inside the pyramid, silhouetted by the intense light behind him.  General Apathy rolled his eyes and glanced at his watch as the man walked forward.

“Welcome,” he said as the light of the room caught his features.  “I’m glad you could make it.”

“John?” said Corporate Man.

The man did not reply, but his grin widened.

“John?  Who’s John?” said Franklin Buck.

“John Q Public,” said Business Woman.  “He’s one of us.”

Corporate Man shook his head, “I… I thought you were dead.”

John Q Public, the Big Bossman, shrugged and said, “Well you never can tell.  Can you?”

Chapter 216

8.j.

“This set of stairs will place us amongst the Shareholders.  Trust me when I say, though I doubt you will heed my warning, you do not want to have anything to do with these creatures,” said General Apathy.  “Move along at a quick, even pace.  Avoid getting too close to them and never make eye contact or verbalize any sort of acknowledgment of their existence or your own.”

He turned and ascended the flight of stairs.

The floor was made of gold, hand wrought and hammered flat with jeweler’s mallets.  The path was narrow, bejeweled with diamonds and sapphires, and hugged the exterior edge of the platform.  There was no guard rail.  A rusty chain-link fence separated the path from the space in which the Shareholders dwelt. 

Large canopies obscured the Shareholder enclosure, billowing with silk and breathing out exotic incense smoke with a undercurrent of tangy body odor.

As they walked along the narrow path the Union caught glimpses of movement in the flowing silks.  Shadowed forms that stalked the periphery.

When they neared the first corner of the pyramid structure General Apathy paused and then whispered, “On this side there is a gap in the protective fence.  This is where the Shareholders entertain the occasional, albeit very rare, visitor.  Again, eye contact is to be avoided, and stay as close to the edge of the path as you can manage.”

He turned.

And they continued their walk.

The rusty chain-link fence ended after a handful of steps and the silken canopy retreated into Shareholder territory revealing a satin-pillowed landscape.  Clusters of low, lustrous tables pocked the terrain.  Tawdry financial magazines spread themselves like dirty fans across their surfaces.

There were creatures gathered around the tables.

The faces of these things were nondescript and vacant.  Their mouths hung agape; constantly salivating.  They wore expensive, tailored suits which were pressed and immaculate.  Except for the chest.  Here the suits were pulled open, revealing bare flesh.  I looked as if a cavernous wound had punctured the center of their naked torso and, left untreated, the cavity had healed into something dented and grotesque.  Thick lines of scar tissue radiated from each wound which left their chests looking like giant, puckered assholes.

One of the Shareholder creatures stood at a table near the path, mouth breathing and swaying like a praying mantis.  As the Union approached he swiveled toward them in a slow, fluid movement.  The pucker scar in the center of his chest twitched in quivering spasms, like the ass of a dog about to shit.

The path widened into an oval at the center of the fence gap.  The Union instinctively hugged the exterior edge of the platform.

Franklin Buck glanced at the Shareholder. 

The thing jerked into a crouch and flashed his teeth with a succession of quick, shuddering tugs of its upper lip.  Franklin Buck flinched away, nearly topping from the platform edge.  He overcorrected and veered toward the low set tables in a spastic stumble.  When he caught his balance, he was less than five feet from the Shareholder, stuck in a crouching position.

There was a sound, like the inhalation of breath, almost like a lizard hiss.

The Shareholder sprang forward.  Franklin Buck tried to run but was quickly overtaken.  The Shareholder’s grappling arms wrestled Franklin back down to his knees.  Then it moved in, pulling Franklin Buck toward its chest.  The puckered scar opened and the One Hundred Dollar Man’s head disappeared into the pulsing chest-butthole.

“Back!  Back!” General Apathy shouted.  He smacked at the Shareholder’s face with a rolled up financial magazine and tugged at Franklin Buck’s suit collar.  The Shareholder fought to maintain its grip and received another battery of disciplinary smacks.

There was a wet sucking sound, like the one that accompanies the loss of an expensive shoe in an unexpected patch of mud, and Franklin Buck’s head came free of the life draining orifice.  General Apathy gave the Shareholder another solid whack and then dragged the One Hundred Dollar Man back to the path.

The Shareholder strode to one of the low lying tables and sulked on satin pillows.

Chapter 215

8.i.

The second level of the pyramid structure was significantly narrower than the first.  The path hugged the inner wall and a rich velvet rope separated the walkway from the remaining space.  In that remaining space, standing like androids, were rows and rows of men and women in expensive business attire.  Next to each man and woman was a small wheeled cart.  It held various electronic equipment and was laden with dials and blinking lights.  Wires sprouted from these portable diagnostic machines and connected with the men and women somewhere around back.

“These are the most advanced, state of the art, high level CEOs in existence,” said General Apathy.  “The rope is for your protection.  Do not cross it, please.”

“Why?” asked Franklin Buck.  “What happens?”

General Apathy sighed and said, “Yes.  It’d be too much to ask you to just take my word on the subject.  If you cross over, the CEOs will take that as an invitation to approach and sell you something.  They will sell you until your ears bleed.  Literally.”

Franklin grimaced.  An echo of his facial expression appeared upon the faces of his economically powered companions as well.

There was a strange hum that resonated from the CEOs.  Sort of like a beehive, a dentist drill, and a live microphone all luxuriating in a post coital spoon.

When they rounded the corner of the pyramid they were startled by a freestanding CEO.  He was milling around by the velvet rope, almost halfway down the length of the path.

“Apparently we have a malfunctioning unit,” said General Apathy.  “It would be best if you avoided eye contact and simply ignored him.”

As they approached, the CEO unit looked up and appeared pleasantly surprised.  He said, “Hey.  Any of you guys from the Mind Hive?”

Senior Executive’s jaw flexed.  He stopped walking, but remained just out of the CEO’s reach.

“Oh, well don’t listen to me or anything, Junior,” said General Apathy, not turning back.  “I wouldn’t know anything.  Better to dismiss what I say.”

“Don’t sweat it.  I’ve got this one,” said Business Woman.  She slapped the CEO across the face.

“Care about the company and the company will take care of you,” the CEO said, his face flinching from a nervous eye tick.

“Try it.  You’ll feel better,” said Business Woman.

Senior Executive slapped the CEO.

“Listen.  I’ve got an idea that’s basically a license to print money,” the CEO said, leaning forward, whispering in a rushed hush.  “Do you own a clinic?”

Senior Executive’s brow furrowed.  “What?”

“A clinic, man.  A place to treat sick people.”

“No.”

“Well… get one.  Then here’s what you do.  Start running prostitutes as a side business.  Encourage unprotected sex to boost business for the clinic.  You with me so far?” the CEO said.

“You’re sick,” said Senior Executive.  He turned to walk away and the CEO grabbed his arm.

“Don’t!  You’ll be walking away from a fortune,” said the CEO. 

Senior Executive yanked his arm free and said, “What?  Treating STDs.  The people frequenting your prostitutes won’t be from the same area so your clinic wouldn’t see the benefit.”

“You’re missing the point,” said the CEO. “You develop a strain of herpes which has as its primary side effect, nymphomania.  Inject this super-herpes into your prostitutes.  This has a two fold effect.  It increases the frequency of the visits from your customers and spreads the disease much quicker.  Then, having synthesized a treatment for your super-herpes, your clinic will be the only one armed with the necessary medications for the affliction.  You patent the new herpes gene and start charging fees to all those people whose body it infects.  If they don’t pay, you sue them for patent infringement, especially if they transmit it to someone else.”

A look of further disgust came over Senior Executive.

“Interesting,” said General Apathy.  He tilted his head towards the militaryesque decorations on his chest.  “Cancel tech squad order for CEO 5318008.  Unit operations appear stable, possibly at peak.  Prepare a field kit and place according to need.  Recommendations include medical field and/or sex trade.”

He turned, glanced at the Union, nodded, and they continued their journey.

Chapter 214

8.h.

They moved across the carpeted runner, almost reverently, making their way along the perimeter.  At the end of the walkway was a staircase that would take them up to the second level.

The featured of the executives gradually took on a more porcine appearance.  Upturned noses and sweaty, slappy skin.  The frequency of obesity and abundance of refuse collecting in office-sized wastebaskets was on the rise as well.

As they neared the stairs a group of portly men hovering around a snack filled table caught Corporate Man’s attention.

“So I drafted a report for all the major banks urging them to charge heavy service fees for cashing checks, even their own checks, from anyone who didn’t maintain an account with their establishment,” said a very generously proportioned man with quivering jowls, extra chins, and a piggish nose.

“Wait.  Aren’t banks the place you’re supposed to go to cash your checks?” asked a smaller, but still body-mass-endowed man, his brow glistening with triglycerides.

“What?  For Free?” asked the bejowled man.  “Next you’ll be telling me that the banks should make change for people without getting some kind of cut.”

“Well of course,” said the small but body-mass-endowed man.  “They’re banks.  Isn’t that where the expression comes from?”

“What expression?”

“You know.  What do you think I am?  A bank?”

The bejowled man shook his head, scowled fiercely, and said, “They’ve got to pay those tellers that are making all that change and cashing all those checks.  Where do you think that money comes from?”

“Doesn’t all that interest they collect on loans pay for all that?”

“Look asshole, that money goes to the executives and the shareholders.  What makes you think–  Wait… Wait… You’re fucking with me, right?”

The small but body-mass endowed man grinned.

“Oh man.  Good one!” said the bejowled man.

The rest of the gathered portly all broke into fits of raucous laughter.

“You know what?” said Corporate Man.  “You greedy bastards need a good ass kicking.”

He left the carpet and marched over to the table of grease-sweating tycoons.  He poked one in the chest, his finger sinking deeper into the swollen flesh than he thought it would.

“Where do you want it?” Corporate Man said.

The bejowled man rubbed at his chest, his face a swollen mix of offense and utter confusion. 

“Where do I want what?” he said.

General Apathy set his hand on Corporate Man’s shoulder and said, “The bottles of champagne and the whale blubber hors d'oeuvres.  My friend here has been inspired by your… accumulation and wishes to send along his compliments.”

“Oh,” said the bejowled man.  “Thanks for the recognition.  Just have it brought to the table.”

General Apathy nodded and gently escorted Corporate Man back to the carpet and to the next set of stairs where the rest of the Union awaited him.

“How gallant,” said General Apathy.  “How pointless and futile.  I do recommend that you curb your antics and remember where you are.  Violent confrontation is nearly non existent on the fifty-second floor and I doubt those on the upper levels will tolerate such an attack.  Especially the shareholders on level three.  Do we understand one another?”

He looked at Corporate Man.  Corporate Man looked away, hissed out a breath, and then inhaled, deep and slow.

“Great,” said General Apathy.  “Please follow me.”

They ascended the next flight of steps.

Chapter 213

8.g.

The first level of the pyramid structure was wide and flat.  A stubby guard rail ran along its edges, the chief function of which was to keep the furniture, various desks and tables, from toppling over the side.  The floor was highly polished wood and a carpet runner divided the space unequally leaving twice the width toward the center as the area nearer the edge.

General Apathy led them down the carpeted path.  He gestured half heartedly at the executives who sat comfortably behind their desks or gathered around tables, and said, “The aforementioned financial advisors and corporate strategists.  Please do not pet or feed the animals.”

As they walked along the path, snatches of conversations drifted in the Union’s direction.  Corporate Man paused.

“Look,” a man at a desk said into a chrome plated phone, “it’s a surefire way to increase sales.  Yeah.  Change your label.  Go with something simple.  Lose the serifs on your font and do away with anything ornate.  Customers are having a rough go out there and an expensive looking label with just make them think you’re flaunting your wealth in their face.  No it’s true.  Focus groups have proven it.  I understand that you’ve had the same label for decades and that it’s considered iconic, but that’s going to work against you now.  Customers will see the new label and know that you gave someone a job.  You sacrificed your iconic branding to do this.  Yes.  Yes, exactly.  No, you’re the first I’m sharing this with.  Exactly.  Alright.”

He hung up the phone, consulted a list on a chrome clipboard, and crossed off an entry on the fourth page with a chrome pen.  He dialed a number from the next line down and after a moment he said, “Dick!  How’s it hanging?  Yeah, I’ll bet. Listen, I’ve got a line on something big.  It’ll boost sales through the roof.  Yep.  No, it’s simple.  Change your label.”

“Corporate Man,” General Apathy said.  “Please.  Let’s not delay too much, shall we.  No need to steal industry secrets or anything.  All will be available soon.”

They continued along the path.

More conversations wafted past them like rancid gas.

“…thinking?  I told you–  No.  No!  That whole ‘I can help you’ line is tired.  Everyone is using it now. Same with the ‘is there anything else I can help you with?’ closing.  From here forward…”

 “…the next level.  It’s time to add a big screen television on the sales floor to broadcast the game.  Everyone’s wearing paraphernalia of the local team, the TV deepens your commitment in the customer’s eyes and they will shop longer because they’ll want to…”

“…solely black and white.  No color unless it’s on a tie.  Clean and clinical, that’s what we’re going for.  Yes.  Yes.  I understand there’s an element of fashion to your industry, but try to think of your employees as displays upon which the fashionable eyewear is to…”

They turned the corner and walked down the next side of the pyramid.  There was more milling around in this area.  More tables, less desks.  Executives grouped around each other like gossiping teenagers.

Near the guard rail, each indulging in fantastically small cups of Turkish coffee, were two executives.  One said, “I told him, listen, outsourcing is good for America.  We save a ton of money by sending jobs to foreign countries.  This helps build up those country’s economies, right?  Then, down the line, when those countries have amassed a measure of wealth, they’ll want to cut some corners, save some cash, and they’ll outsource a bunch of crappy jobs that no one living there wants anymore.  And who do you think they’ll try first?  Us, I say.  So really, outsourcing is a way of creating jobs for Americans.  It’s an investment in our future.”

Corporate Man stopped again. 

The callous, shortsighted greediness.  He was about to step off the carpet and approach the two executives with his slapping hand when he felt a light touch on his wrist.

It was General Apathy.

“And what good would that do?  What would you accomplish?” the General asked.

Corporate Man opened his mouth, ready to fire off a string of benefits that his actions might bring about. 

Be he could think of nothing.

So they moved on.

Chapter 212

8.f.

The Union decided to accept the offer of new clothes.  General Apathy spoke a command toward the decorations on his uniform and a few moments later a small staff appeared with a rack of clothes and privacy screens.  The suits on the rack were crisp clean replicas of the overworked clothing each member of the Union currently employed.

When the rack was wheeled away, three suits, two of purple and mauve, one of brown, still hung from it, swaying slow and melancholy.

They stood, facing the General.  An awkward silence hovering about them.

“Shall we?” said General Apathy after a painfully long time.

“What?  Go to the meeting?” said Corporate Man.

“Exactly.  I’m sure the Big Bossman is eager to get things started.”

“Who’s this Big Bossman?” asked Business Woman.

General Apathy gestured toward the black diamond shape at the apex of the building and said, “Why the head of the company, of course.  The man in charge of it all.  Let’s not keep him waiting.”

The General turned abruptly and strolled toward the center of the fifty-second floor and the odd tiered pyramid that stood there.  The Union followed, though with noticeable reluctance.  When they were halfway across the floor, the General tossed a look over his shoulder.

“Junior.  You’ve been quiet this whole time,” he said.

“It’s Senior Executive now.  And eat shit.”

“Hmm.  What a remarkable financial recovery.  Congratulations.  As to you latter comment, I think I will politely decline,” said General Apathy.  A moment later her cast another look back and added, “Do you think I could still call you Junior, just for old time’s sake?”

The resulting glare from Senior Executive bought a wry grin from the General.  They continued the trek across the floor in silence and when they reached the base of the pyramid structure they halted at the bottom of a set of stairs.

The pyramid stood four stories high.

“Those steps will take us up to the first level,” said General Apathy.  “A mix of top level financial advisors and corporate strategists are seated there.  Please do not interrupt their work or encourage them in any way.  It will only delay us.”

He turned, without much conviction, and walked up the steps.

Corporate Man and the rest of the Union began to follow.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” said General Apathy, turning back.  “Commander Credit.  You’re dismissed.  Have some diagnostics–”

“Wait a second.  What are you–” Senior Executive started.

General Apathy held up his hand and silenced him.  “Did you think the Commander was your ally?”

“He doesn’t work for you,” Senior Executive shouted.

“Not exclusively, no,” General Apathy said.  “Technically he’s a freelance agent, but who do you think pays the majority of his salary?  Which agency was responsible for all of his repairs and upgrades?”

Senior Executive shot a look at Commander Credit.  The Commander shrugged.  Senior Executive reddened and started to shake.

“Why was he helping us then?” asked Corporate Man.  “The Crash is your operative.  He’d never–”

“What?  Work for those who employ The Crash?”  General Apathy asked.  “Think of it as a squabble between employees.  Something that’s been escalating for a decade or two.”

“I took the job to get another crack at the bastard who took my arm.”

“Yeah.  You did a bang up job getting your revenge,” said Franklin Buck.

“Beaten into unconsciousness.  That’s quite the comeback,” Business Woman said.

“Doesn’t matter,” said Commander Credit.  “My contract with Senior Executive ended on the twenty-sixth floor.  Check the paperwork.  I stuck with you because I knew what lay in wait on floor thirty-nine.  Now…  Now I’m done.”

Commander Credit walked off, strolling leisurely across the open floor.  A team of tech boys appeared with diagnostic machines on wheeled carts and began attending him.

“Ah… Such a tricky, dangerous thing to manage that Commander Credit,” said General Apathy.  “Oh well.  Shall we?”

He turned and strode up the stairs.

Chapter 211

8.e.

The inner tube beneath Corporate Man shifted and his feet failed to find adequate purchase for the attacking leap he had intended.  Instead, his arms flailed and his torso twisted in a manner that was far from heroic.  His attempt to engage his necktie came a moment too late and he sputtered against the wall, pathetic, clumsy, and eventually submerged.

“I told you,” said the man in black.  “I said, ‘Just wait and it would be a less awkward exit.’  For those of you still on your tubes I would urge you to look to Corporate Man as an example of the forewarned awkwardness.”

Corporate Man climbed back onto his inner tube and they waited for the water to finish filling the elevator shaft.

After forty seconds, or so, Franklin Buck asked, “Apathy?  As in Captain Apathy?  My father mentioned him.”

“Yes.  But as some of you may recall.  I was promoted.  I’m a General,” said General Apathy.  “How is your father these days, Franklin?”

Franklin Buck’s face darkened and his jaw flexed.  “You know exactly what happened to my father,” he said.

General Apathy shrugged.  “Quite true.  More than you’d want to know I’d wager.  But you exacted your revenge.  Hopefully that takes some of the sting out of it.”

“What do you mean?  What revenge?”

“Your performance on the thirteenth floor.  The way you man-handled Professor Inflation.  Quite poetic.  Fit for a Hollywood movie,” said General Apathy.  When Franklin Buck looked away without responding, General Apathy continued, “You mean you didn’t know?  That’s rich.  And here I get to be the bearer of such wonderful news.  Consider your father avenged, One Hundred Dollar Man.”

The water level finally reached a point where the Union could climb out of the pool without much effort.

“And I see you’ve reclaimed his gold standard,” General Apathy said as Franklin Buck pulled himself from the water.  “It would seem as though all wrongs done you have been righted.  As for the rest of you, would you like to continue on in wet clothes or would you prefer a quick dry off?  We can even have new suits here within the quarter hour.”

The Union stood staring at General Apathy, filtered, geothermally-heated glacier water dripping from their torn suits.

“So…” said Corporate Man.  “Are we gonna do this?”

General Apathy’s face took on a confused but bemused expression.

“Do what?” he said.  “Choose from the options I mentioned?”

“No.”

“Then please explain.”

“Well, fight, I guess,” said Corporate Man.  “You know… Attack each other.  Battle to the death.  That stuff.”

“Why?” asked General Apathy.

“Why what?” Corporate Man said.

“Why battle to the death?” said General Apathy.

“Well, isn’t that… I mean, I…” Corporate Man said.  “It’s kind of how this whole place has worked so far.”

“Nonsense,” General Apathy said, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.  “Who have you killed?  Who’s dead?”

“How about Fair Wage?  Supply and Demand?” said Business Woman.

“Unfortunate things occur during conflict, but the point of each exercise was not death,” said General Apathy.

Corporate Man cocked his head, narrowed his eyes, and said, “Are you saying that, after everything we’ve been through, all we’ve overcome, we’re not going to fight?”

“Precisely,” said General Apathy.  “This floor is the executive suite for the entire company.  You’ve made it to the top.  And here at International Business Corporation Incorporated we don’t fight.  We aren’t savages.”

“Then what do we do?” asked Business Woman.

“We have a meeting, of course.”

“That’s it?  We have meeting?” said Corporate Man.

“I believe my prior statement should have confirmed that,” said General Apathy.

“After all you put us through?” said Senior Executive.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but I don’t recall inviting you up to the office.  You came of your own accord and if you encountered difficulties during your trespass I do apologize.”

“So there’s no else waiting to attack us?  Mr. Unemployment isn’t going to crawl out from a floor panel when we least expect it?” said Corporate Man.

“I should think not,” said General Apathy.  “I wish I could accommodate your request but, like I said, we don’t operate in that manner on the top floor.  And besides, Mr. Unemployment is a little busy right now don’t you think?  I doubt we could get him here if we wanted to.”

Chapter 209

8.c.

“No you wouldn’t believe the things that exist in the bowels of this building,” Franklin Buck said as they slowly drifted up the elevator shaft on glacial blue water.  “There’s a weightless room, big as football field, teaming with schools of Middle Men.  I only survived cause this weird Siamese twin named Profit/Loss was in a positive mood and–”

“Was this after you escaped the boudoir of the provocative Pink Slip?” asked Commander Credit.  A wry smile curling on his swollen lips.

“Hey, shut up about her.  She had some sort of… power.”

“I’ll bet she did?” said Senior Executive.

“That’s called business acumen,” said Corporate Man.

“Quit!  Anyway, it doesn’t matter.  She fired me.  After that I found myself in a colony of mindless children.  They’re forced to watch television ads all day long.  Poor things walk around with this glazed look in their eyes and their mouths hanging open.  The whole place is run by Baron Advertisement and The Duke of Marketing.  Well, these bastards sent a whole legion of these kids after me, controlling them like drones using simple visual cues and jingling tones.  They had me surrounded.”

“How’d you get out of that one?” Senior Executive asked.

“I just started punching them.  They’re kids, you know, and kids hate getting punched.”

Business Woman shook her head and glared.

“What?  What would you’ve done?” said Franklin Buck.

“Well, for starters, I wouldn’t–”

 A hissing noise, followed by a metallic clunk, silenced the conversation.

They remained adrift on their float tubes.  Each scanning the walls for a set of doors, but finding none.  Then a seam opened in the ceiling and bright beam of light cut across the water.  Two panels slid open above them, whisper quiet.

“This could get nasty,” Corporate Man hissed.  “Be ready.”

They continued to float up to the edge of the shaft.  The bright light stung their eyes and prevented them from seeing much of anything.  A soft clicking, faint at first, grew steadily as they rose.  Then, through the haze of the blinding light, a black form emerged.  A man.  He had pale skin and dark rings under his eyes.  His hair was jet black, cropped short, and had a round shape. 

As he approached they saw more of him.  He dressed entirely in black.  His attire looked like that of a military officer by way of goth obsessed designers.  The stripes, insignias, and pinned on pendants were all black as well.

The man yawned and then polished his trim, black fingernails against his chest.  He continued to stand there as they floated up toward him.  Finally he said, in a low, disinterested voice, “That’s the problem with this pool elevator.  It saps all the drama out of an otherwise intimidating entrance.”

Corporate Man shifted on his inner tube.  There was no effective defensive position, bobbing in a small pool as they were.

“Please,” said the man in black.  “Just wait for the water to rise.  It’ll be much easier and less awkward in the end.”

“Wait.  I know you,” said Senior Executive.

“Indeed,” said the man in black.  “And I welcome you back into the fold.  Junior.”

“Apathy!” Corporate Man shouted and leapt from his inner tube.

Chapter 207

The Tragic Death of Corporate Man

a hero for capitalism;

champion of the working class

by Tom Landaluce

Section 8:

Office of the Pyramid.

8.a.

“What the hell is this?” said Franklin Buck gesturing to a pool of water where the elevator should have been.  Nothing about the elevator shaft seemed quite right now that he looked at it closely.  It was too well lit and gleaming white.  Small circular lights squatted against the sidewalls and dashed an intermittent line all the way up the shaft and down below the water’s surface.  The water was a questionable glowing blue and smelled like lemons with only the faintest trace of chlorine.

“Looks like water,” said Business Woman.

“I can see that,” said Franklin Buck.

“There’s a cabinet full of inflatable inner tubes out here in the hall,” said Senior Executive as he joined them in the peculiar shaft.

“So… what?  We’re supposed to relax?  Take a cigarette break?  Go for a dip?” Franklin Buck said, his hand gestures becoming a little more pronounced.

“Don’t know about you, but I could use a soak,” said Business Woman.

“Are you serious?”

She said nothing and walked out into the hall to fetch an inner tube.  When she returned she pressed a button on the side of the device, and it self inflated.  She tossed it into the water, jumped in, and then pulled herself up onto it and floated.  A large grin spread across her face and a dark red stain spread across the water.

“This is crazy,” said Franklin Buck.

“Ah.  See now that there is what I missed you Franklin.  You were the voice of… well not reason, but whatever.  I don’t care why this pool is here, but here it is and I got blood, and who knows what else, all over me and I’d just as soon have it washed off since a good deal of it belonged to a colleague of mine.”

Franklin Buck bit his lip and looked down.  Then he walked out of the elevator room, retrieved an inner tube from the conveniently placed cabinet, and joined Business Woman in the pool.

Corporate Man, Senior Executive, and a wobbly Commander Credit did the same.

They floated in the blood darkened pool, each pretending not to notice the fabric scraps and fleshy bits that sank slowly and disappeared into the depths.  A gentle tone sounded and a pleasant robotic voice said, “Contaminants detected.  Please pardon the audio inconvenience as the water is refreshed.”

A low whir, apparently the extent of the audio inconvenience, preceded a slight agitation in the pool.  After a minute or so the water was a sparkling blue once more.

“So, Franklin,” said Business Woman.  “Where the hell did you go anyway?”

Franklin Buck rolled his eyes and said, “Down.”

“Down?  Would you care to elaborate?”

Franklin outlined his strange journey and had just recounted his bungled negotiations with the genetically altered Fat Cat when he noticed a button on the wall nearby.  He paddled over to it and, after a moment, he said, “There’s an arrow on this button that points up.  Do you think, maybe…”

“Maybe this is an elevator after all.  Push it,” said Corporate Man.

Franklin Buck pressed the button. There was a hissing thunk as the elevator doors closed and a stampede of bubbles floated up from the depths.  Then the water level began to rise.

Chapter 205

7.c.xiv.

Bear Market’s body swelled like an overstuffed tick.  Supply’s head, and most of her upper arms, jutted above the trench wall.  Her body, still in the shaft below, was squeezed unnaturally in the narrow corridor.

“Demand!  You’ve got to help her!  You have to increase.  You have to grow!” Business Woman shouted.  Her hands gripped and gouged at Bear Market’s lips.  She yanked, trying to unclench his teeth and jaws.

“Do it Demand!  Now or else–”

Bear Market exploded.

A burst of blood geysered from Supply’s neck.  The initial crimson shock wave hit The Crash, spilling it into the trench.  The Crash dropped Franklin Buck as it tried to grasp the trench wall, but its hands slipped, unable to grip for all the blood.

Pieces of Bear Market rained down onto the maze and into the labyrinth; fluttering flaps of skin and chunks of matted hair-fur.  His jaw, still lodged in Supply’s neck, the source of a scarlet fountain.  Supply writhed and twisted and slowly shrank into the depths of the trench.

Business Woman lay strewn across a wall, gasping for breath, clinging to the unexpected perch.

“Help Franklin Buck,” Corporate Man shouted as he dropped down from above, necktie-cape fluttering behind him, landing near Business Woman.  He was coated with a fine spray of red mist and a shrapneling of bear meat.

“I’ve got you,” Corporate Man said, clutching her wrist.  “Can you stand?”

Business Woman nodded and, with his help, she regained her feet.  Across the maze Senior Executive helped Franklin Buck find his footing.  Then both men lifted Commander Credit, supporting him on their shoulders.

“We’re making for the exit,” Senior Executive called out.  “Where are Supply and Demand?”

Corporate Man looked into the trench.  Supply lay there, deflated and still.  Face down in her own blood.  He shook his head.

“What about Demand?  He could still be alive,” said Business Woman.

“I doubt it.  You can’t have one without the other.  I could head down there and take a–”

A roar shook the arena and then everything started to quake.  The Crash rumbled through the trenches, swinging its huge arms, breaking walls, toppling whole sections of the maze into the dark spaces of the labyrinth.

“Run!” Corporate Man yelled.

They dashed across the maze, turning haphazardly at intersections, choosing a course that took them away from The Crash’s rampage, but in the general direction of the stage. 

The labyrinth was fast becoming a pile of rubble.

The pathway veered twice and put them on an intersecting path with the destroyer below.

“We have to turn back,” Corporate Man said.

“No.  I think this well lead us out,” said Business Woman.

“It’s gonna lead us out of this life.”

“Trust me.  This is the way.”

The maze banked again putting The Crash on their right instead of directly ahead.

“See.  We’ll be alright,” said Business Woman. 

The Crash swerved toward them.  Debris, papers, shattered wall, and mangled body parts rose about the giant like a dust devil.  It exploded through the maze wall that Corporate Man and Business Woman were running along leaving an expansive gap in their path.

“Hang on!” Corporate Man called out as they reached the edge. He grabbed Business Woman around the waist and jumped.  His necktie unfurled behind him and they dropped down onto the ledge on the far side of the Crash created chasm.  They raced down the walkway, huge television monitors fell from the ceiling and shattered all around them.  Amidst a shower of broken glass and ruined diodes they made it to the stage area.

Senior Executive, Franklin Buck, and a very groggy Commander Credit awaited them.

“The elevator’s this way,” said Senior Executive.

They ran to the exit door and out into a hallway.  Behind them The Crash continued its ruinous assault on the stock market floor.