FB: Chapter 136 – A Small Vacation

I was sitting on my coach with four plain clothes guards with me. I also had eight more covering the hotel, two counter sniper teams, five cars, a helicopter, and twenty more men on standby. I was taking a small mini-vacation. Thankfully my appearance as Foxy was the one I was associated with, not my appearance as April. While there were similarities of course, without the iconic hair and outfit, I was just another pretty woman shopping in New York City. While some people knew who I was, thankfully I wasn’t swarmed by fans on my little trip.

I was in a penthouse of some famous hotel, I didn’t care which one and sales people were coming to me as I looked over the options they presented.

“As you can see, this is our most recent signature collection. We have several Foxy themed accessories for your viewing pleasure,” the jewelry salesman carefully presented the selection on a cloth covered tray. Some of them were quite nice.

“The necklace,” I said and a maid that was part of the security team went over and picked it up. After inspecting it, she carefully placed it around my neck. The salesman held up a mirror.

“It compliments you quite well,” he said clearly trying to make a sale. “Pure gold, platinum, and emeralds.” Now he was trying too hard.

“How much?” I asked while tilting my head to get a different angle in the mirror.

“Half a million,” he replied.

“Three hundred and I will buy it right now,” I replied.

“Three fifty,” he quickly said.

“Done. I am finished looking at jewelry. I want to see some outfits,” I said. The salesperson went over Henry to confirm the purchase while the next saleswoman stepped forward to present their newest Foxy line of clothing.

While they tailored it off of my color scheme, they weren’t paying me a royalty. Not like I was going to wear most of this anyways. It was just nice to shop and take a break from Exponential. I also needed to be in New York City for the next phase of my plan.

Making a show of shopping would distract everyone from what was really going on behind the scenes. Henry was carefully arranging everything with my contact. I needed this information, unfortunately the price wasn’t cheap. While I considered sending a proxy, not even Henry knew what I wanted to accomplish. I just made some vague comments about working out a deal with the US Government.

It was hard to get out of my bunker. A shame that I couldn’t go shopping through the stores, but my security detail would have made it too big of a headache, and they wouldn’t have been able to secure me properly.

Most stores were struggling quite a bit as people lived out their lives in capsules. Some people swore they would never get in the things, but it was hard to resist when there were medical nanites and a person could play while sleeping. Sales continued to rise for Exponential capsules across the world. In time, every person would have one.

Now that I knew QAI was behind everything, it was clear that it was manipulating everything behind the scenes. It basically had infinite money and was using that to leverage news reports, advertising, talk shows, and even comedy shows to get everyone to buy into Exponential. All to increase its computing power and leverage.

It was quite scary when I thought about it, but there was absolutely nothing I could do. Even if I told everyone how QAI was taking over the world, I would be silenced, or have an accident. Everything was connected to the internet. And even if I was careful, some helicopter could accidentally come flying down on my head.

No, it was better to let QAI play its big game with the world while I watched on as a spectator. Ultimately I knew my position, as a mascot of Exponential. The fact that my popularity remained insanely high was all the proof I needed that QAI was supportive of my decision and we weren’t at cross purposes.

As for super guilds and nations, they could do what they wanted without my input. Many countries were introducing child bearing requirements. Even here in the US. Thankfully they had a monetary opt out policy if you were rich enough, like a lot of other things in the country. Money made everything so much easier. But I wasn’t overly concerned with politics unless it impacted me. Other people could get excited about such things, but I wasn’t concerned unless it had a direct impact on me.

People might call me ignorant or stupid, but it was about managing my mental focus. I had enough problems to deal with, without having to worry about other people’s problems. Too many people got excited about things that didn’t concern them.

I picked out several outfits and lots of shoes to go with them. My wardrobe had needed a big update, which made this trip perfect to get new pieces of clothing. A photographer that had been hired snapped a couple of photos. Henry would sell the photos to various magazines and news organizations. A nice slice of life story about Foxy doing some shopping and my choices for my new outfits. While my name was April, all the news organizations referred to me as Foxy.

Just as I knew it polled much higher with audience numbers rather than my real name. That was why I picked something iconic and marketable right at the start. Planning ahead for the important things, that was what I was good at. Even if I had underestimated the pressure the super guilds would level at me, I was content with the mess I was making of things.

Models began to walk out with various dresses after the initial presentation to gauge what I favored the most. Free movement, stylish, and practical, was something I had Henry pass along to the designers who were presenting various options for me to look at.

“Here we have your iconic outfit, but streamlined into a gown. Slits on both sides for ease of movement and acrobatics, while still being stylish,” the fashion designer said. I nodded along while casually looking at the models as they walked by.

I was rich, but I felt more detached from life than ever before. It was still worth it to become this rich and famous, but I had also lost something along the way. A sense of normality.

“Now we can take a look at this more militaristic outfit, complete with battle cap,” the fashion designer said. I hadn’t been keeping up with the fashion trends lately, but it appeared I was the fashion trend as more photographs were taken.

All the models were brought back out. “I will take the entire collection,” I said.

“What? Yes, of course,” the fashion designer said with a smile.

“That is three million,” Henry whispered to me.

“That is fine. I could use a new wardrobe,” I replied, and he nodded. “I am done shopping for the day. I want to rest.”

“Miss White is tired, everyone clear out,” Henry said, and all the people began clearing out of the hotel suite. Once everyone had left I got up and made my way to my room. It was time for an outfit change. I downgraded heavily, removing all jewelry, and putting on a different colored wig. I had dark hair now. Makeup altered the contours of my face slightly.

“What do you think?” I asked Henry after leaving the bathroom.

“Discrete. You don’t look anything like yourself. But are you sure this is a good idea?” he asked.

“I need the information. And the person wanted it handled in person. It could be a trap, but if I am going to beat the super guilds, I need to take some risks. Are you with me?” I asked him and he nodded.

“I am armed,” he opened up his suit to show a gun holster. Hopefully it wouldn’t be necessary. But things could easily go sideways.

“The briefcase?” I asked and he went over to a nearby table and opened a non-descript black briefcase. Inside it was packed with 500 dollar bills.

“Twelve million, non-sequential,” he replied, and I nodded at this letting out a small sigh. My nerves were getting to me. It was tempting to send a proxy, but this matter was too delicate. I didn’t even want to bring Henry, but there was no other option. I wasn’t about to go alone.

There was too much risk. If I got any hint of it being trap, I would be backing out right away. While not illegal, the US Government would be quite upset if they became aware of my plan. In a similar way China was screaming about the Holey Incident.

We made our way out of our room. “Please sign out,” a security guard said. Henry nodded at this. He had already arranged a fake name that I had signed into my own hotel suite. I was listed as a fashion consultant and signed on the line matching the fake signature already there. The security glanced at the lines and then at Henry.

“Miss White is remaining?” he asked.

“She plans to rest for the afternoon. We will be back. Miss White wants some personal items and Matilda here will be accompanying me to get them,” Henry said and the security guard nodded.

“Good, that is dog and pony show is done for the day,” he said, and Henry nodded at that. We then made our way to the elevator watched by at least three separate security guards. I didn’t act nervous in the slightest and gave the nods and smiles. Not something I would do as April. At most I got a nod back, but that was it.

We made our way to the parking garage and got into an armored car that Henry had rented ahead of time and arranged just for this meeting. We set off in silence. “What exactly are you trading all this money for?” Henry asked me.

“Information. About when a specific player is joining in game and there planned starting location,” I replied. “Beyond that, it is best not to ask questions. This is going to be a huge incident.”

“Are we going to have to flee the country?” Henry asked me.

“Ah, no. We shouldn’t have to. But the pressure will be immense, the political and social pressure. Far more than what I did with HeroTen,” I explained.

“You never do anything small Miss White. And the contact?” he asked.

“You might know them. There is a reason this shopping visit coincided with the conference on redesigning cities for capsule use,” I explained. Henry didn’t say anything else. Either this would go really well or it would go terribly.