"In that case, Margot said, her eyes narrowing, "I'm not leaving, and you're still not getting this camera. Oh, and one other thing: your fellow mercenaries seem to have collared some innocent bystanders along with the protesters your corporate employer hired you to rough up. But don't worry. I've already interviewed them, and I've got pictures, too. So what are you going to do? Cart me off to wherever you've brought the Fischers, or let me do my job?
Before the officer had a chance to reply, the goon swept in and grabbed her wrist. "Neither, Ms. GÃ ernsbach. You're coming with me.
She tightened her arm and looked up at him. "A personal invitation. I'm impressed. And I suppose you know who I work for as well?
He nodded towards the storefront. "My boss does. She's got him on the phone.
As they approached the glass-fronted gaming center, Margot watched Estelle Klamath's angry face. She was speaking quickly to whoever was on the phone, presumably the news site's founder and publisher. When the goon pulled the door open, and Klamath's tirade spilled out, one thing became increasingly clear: she was not getting the sort of satisfaction she was used to. Margot smiled.
Furious, the company's CEO thumbed the phone off and disgustedly tossed it to one of her aides. "I cannot abide a manager with so little control over his employees. Now then, she said as Margot was forcibly stationed in front of her, "as to you, Ms. GÃ ernsbach, I've just spoken with your boss. He claims to have no control over what you do here, but there are still ways I can get you to do what I want.
"Oh? And what is that?
"Report the news, which is the opening of our newest gaming center, not the rabble trying to demonize us.
Margot considered the request. "I see. Unfortunately, I'm not a business reporter, like the man you primped for a few minutes ago. I'm also not a captive corporate employee. So how exactly did you intend to get me to back off?
"How did you think? She chuckled. "By threatening your boss, of course. And that ludicrous website of his. It wouldn't take much to ruin him. He's already having trouble covering the cost of running the site. Or would you prefer I make it a bit more personal, and threaten your family?
"Either way, it comes down to the same thing: a company declaring war on citizens. Bully tactics. Exactly the same thing this so-called game is supposed to cultivate in the people you entice to play it. And the same tactics that they'll be hired to use against the people you laughingly call your customers. You're vile, and so is your company.
"Am I. Klamath crossed her arms and solidified her aggressive stance.
In the brief pause, a subtle grin of inspiration crossed Margot's face, followed by a grimace of faux resignation. "Look, she said suddenly, "since you're determined to find some way to keep me from reporting anything I find out anyway, how about answering a few questions? I've already seen what The Army Experience's battle sim is like, so I'm really curious about what sort of social sim your developers cooked up to weed out the most talented prospects. I'm sure it's groundbreaking tech, and your marketing folks are probably already figuring out how to license it.
"Well, Klamath said, warming to the strokes, "we are rather proud of it. And you're right, there are endless licensing possibilities.
Margot looked around the storefront, taking in the slick posters and the propaganda loop running on the fifty-inch flatscreen over the entrance to the dimly lit sim in the rear. "For instance, she said as a dynamic infographic flooded the big screen, "the army realized that they had to draw the focus away from the gore inflicted on the CG enemy by the sim's firepower in order to keep the adrenaline rush focused. I imagine there's a similar need in a business sim like this to be certain that the potential recruits don't notice the economic pain inflicted on the targets of the more subtle weaponry used by the sort of social predators you're looking for.
Klamath's botoxed face softened. "You are perceptive, she said, and looked away to cover the look of admiration that had crept into her eyes. A moment later, she nodded, and turned to face Margot. "All right. I'll play that game. As long as you realize there's no way you'll ever report a word of it.
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