Hosein Kouros-Mehr - Extinction 6

“They know what they’re doing,” Camila says. “The moves were approved by our shareholders and we’re legally bound to execute them.”

Beth shakes her head. “Manos is behind all of this. Why are you so afraid of him? GoldRock is just an investment company?”

Thomas shrugs. “They have an army of lawyers and government officials backing them. We don’t stand a chance.”

Beth points at the camera. “Bullshit! You will listen to me. As Google’s CEO, I have the final say on our policies, and I refuse to institute these new rules. Camila, I want you to take legal action and delay them from going into effect. Do you understand?”

Camila sighs. “We can try, but it’s an uphill battle.”

“Do any of you see the stakes here?”

The team is silent.

Beth fumes. “You want people to pay for web search? You want to tax information like it’s a commodity? Imagine the consequences. Our culture and legacy are on the line. Google’s core principles will be wiped away the second these tariffs go online…”

Her executive staff disappears, and the screen goes blank as Cooper’s voice fills the cockpit. “Beth, there is an incoming call from unknown. You are required to accept this call.”

What the hell?

A bearded man in a navy suit appears on the tablet screen. “Bethany Andrews?”

Beth blocks the camera with her hand. “Who are you? How did you get my phone number?”

“This is Gareth Allen from the CIA. I’m calling to notify you that we are issuing a warrant for your arrest.”

Her face grows pale. “What is this about?”

“You are charged with leaking sensitive state information, a felony under federal law.”

“I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

“You can ask your employee, Austin Sanders. We gave him classified information about an encrypted radio signal and he appears to have released it to the press. This is a serious offense, Dr. Andrews. We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Radio signal? I haven’t heard of this before.”

“A court order will be sent to you. We will see you soon.” He ends the call.

Beth rubs her face in frustration.

Everything is falling apart.

“Cooper, call Austin Sanders.”

After a brief lag, Austin’s face appears on the tablet. “Good morning, boss.”

Beth seethes. “Hey, I received a troubling call from the CIA. What is this about classified information?”

“It’s nothing, Beth.”

“Apparently, you’ve committed a federal crime and I’m being held responsible!”

“What? There’s no crime here.”

“Did the CIA contact you about a radio signal?”

Austin falters. “…well, yes. They thought it was secret communications from China but it turns out to be from space. It’s some sort of countdown from a star.”

Beth throws her hands in the air. “The countdown from Barnard’s Star? It’s all over the news! You’re the one behind this?”

He stutters. “…yes. My team cracked the code. I’m not sure how the story leaked to the press. Somehow it’s gone viral and now there’s a circus here on campus.”

She shakes her head. “This is too much, Austin. Come to my office in ten minutes. I’m arriving at work now.”

She ends the call as her helicopter approaches Mountain View and descends onto the employee parking lot. She glances below at the executive helipads and spots hundreds of protestors with placards.

What is going on?

The helicopter stops its descent and a red light flashes in the cockpit. “Beth, your parking space appears to be occupied. We cannot land here.”

She looks closer and sees people with signs—“Jesus is coming” and “What does Google know?”

“Cooper, what are these agitators doing here?”

“I don’t know.”

“Park the chopper on the executive level.”

The helicopter turns and heads for the tallest building on campus, landing on its rooftop helipad. Beth rushes from the vehicle and runs down a flight of stairs to her top-floor office. Her massive, oak-walled suite commands a sweeping view of Silicon Valley.

She turns on YouTube TV and flips to the news. “…with less than an hour remaining in the countdown from space, people around the world are frantically stocking up on food and emergency supplies…” Numbers flash on the bottom of the screen. “ 45:32, 45:31, 45:30…”

This is madness.

Beth places her Vision smartglasses on her face. “Cooper, send a message to my senior employees.”

“What would you like to say?”

She takes a deep breath. “Colleagues, I order you to delay the implementation of the Information Tariffs. We are at a critical crossroads. External forces are attempting to change Google’s culture. Their fear-mongering and strong-arm tactics must not sway us from our mission.”

On the television, a protestor sets fire to a Google banner and screams into the camera. “The end times are here!”

Beth lowers the volume. “Friends, we must stand up to GoldRock and the government. They are trying to change our core values of innovation and freedom of information. These ideals are under attack by a merciless force that will take us to a dark age.”

“Would you like me to send the message?” Cooper asks.

“With highest priority.”

There is a knock at the door and her assistant Sara walks in. “Beth, there’s something urgent.”

“What is it?”

“I just received a subpoena from the government. They want you to appear before a federal judge.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that. Leave it on my desk.”

“I’m worried. Are you in trouble?”

“No. Don’t worry, our lawyers will take care of it.”

“My heart dropped when I saw it.”

“Listen, I will stand up to Washington. There’s nothing to fear. This is part of my job.”

Sara’s frown turns to a smile. “Okay, Beth, we know you’ll be fine.” She looks up. “Also, Austin Sanders is here to see you.”

“Bring him in.”

Austin nervously paces into the room. “You wanted to see me, boss?”

She grimaces and points to the television. “What the hell did you get us into?”

On the TV screen, a reporter stands in front of a throng of protestors, one of them shouting, “Google is the Devil!” It cuts away to a montage of large gatherings across the world. The countdown continues on the bottom of the screen.

32:01, 32:00, 31:59…

Austin laughs nervously. “This is all a big misunderstanding.”

Beth fumes in anger. “How about I fire you right now?”

“Let me explain—”

“The CIA is taking me to court for leaking sensitive data, and now people around the world think we’re hiding information about some catastrophic event. Can you explain what on Earth is going on?”

Austin motions. “Hear me out. A week ago, the CIA asked me to hack some Chinese communications from Mars. It turns out the CIA was wrong; the signal is actually from a nearby star.”

“I need a cocktail.” She rubs her face in her hands. “This is the strangest story I’ve heard. What is this mysterious code? Who sent it to us?”

“We’re not sure, but we think it’s a message from an intelligent species near Barnard’s Star. We don’t know what they’re trying to tell us.”

“Then why did you leak this story to the press?”

“I did not leak anything to anyone.”

“Why is everyone calling it the end times?”

He blushes. “I have no idea.”

She scowls. “Your story doesn’t add up. Why didn’t you call the CIA back and report your findings?”

He looks away. “We were busy on other projects. We’re certainly not hiding anything and I’m happy to prove that to you.”