Story High Stakes Poker

It was late one June evening, as I sat in my office admiring the majestic view of the sun setting on the Vail Mountains, my phone rang. To any casual observer, I was just another hard charging bespoke business suit wearing CEO working late into the night.

“Denise McDonough, White House Chief of Staff is on the secure line” my highly advanced computerized artificial intelligence Robbie chirped. Mrs. McDonough got right down to business, “The President of the United States is prepared to offer you and your associates a full pardon if you rescue his daughter Ava Anderson from San Jose.” “The President, Michael Anderson, is prepared to address you if this deal is acceptable.” I had played this negotiation close to the vest based on Robbie’s apocalypse simulations illustrating the widespread chaos, civil unrest, and destabilization of government. The traditional countermeasures of Special Operations Forces units in the area were consumed with either securing their fortifications or rescuing civilians. Once the Federal Aviation Administration grounded flights, to slow down the infection rates, I had my negotiating edge and window of opportunity. Five hours ago the premier Superhero team known as the Guardians went off line in what can only be described as a zombie infected pandemic on national television. With a new found zeal, I waited on the line for The President of the United States.

Being a Super Villain is a lot like being a serial entrepreneur, I often create new business ventures based on opportunity. I prefer to think of myself as a morally gray opportunist not some two bit crack head robbing banks. Reminiscing, I began the electrical engineering program at Stanford University when I was 15, and graduated with two masters degrees by age 19. By statistical accounts, I am one of the smartest humans on the planet. Notable scientific geniuses such as Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking would be my intellectual peers in the realm of science. I walk the less traveled path of the Dark Side.

I began my criminal exploits with a splash. The headlines read, “Thieves steal $2.5 billion from 100 Financial Institutions Worldwide – October 16, 2007.” Interpol, Europol, and authorities from different countries have combined efforts to uncover the criminal plot behind an unprecedented series of cyber robberies. Up to $ 2.5 billion American dollars was stolen from financial institutions worldwide. The article went on to report, the responsibility for the crimes rested with a “multinational gang of cybercriminals” known as HACK. Who would have ever guessed that is what I did during my summer vacation of my sophomore year of college. I’ll never forget the time I spent hacking. Powered by too much caffeine and high speed encrypted internet. A couple of years later, TIME magazine called HACK one of the “100 most influential people” in the world after I binge hacked government and corporate websites. Among the things I did, I stole from the Republican Party and donated on their behalf to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as well as making large donations to PETA on behalf of the National Rifle Association.

Denise chimed in, “The President of the United States is prepared to address you.” “MR_EVIL_OVERLORD” he began before making a brief pause. “The United States of America is prepared to offer you complete amnesty for all crimes both recorded and unrecorded.” Robbie scanned vocals patterns for duress and assured me he was telling the truth. He continued, “Your mission parameters are to rescue my daughter, stem the loss of life due to the pandemic, and return my daughter to my location at the Peterson Air Force Base near Colorado Springs,Colorado.” The Cheyenne Mountain Complex at the Peterson Air Force Base is the location of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Robbie’s calculations estimated the infection rate spread of the pandemic as near fatal. The president’s advisers must have agreed if they were sending him to NORAD. The blast doors at NORAD are built to deflect 30 megaton nuclear explosions. The **** must really be hitting the fan or perhaps the fall of the Guardians on national TV has elevated everyone’s blood pressure and shriveled up their sphincter.

He continued in the no non-sense way he debated when he was a candidate. “Transmission of landing location to follow.” Before he could continue, I added that I would need some of my associates released from Federal custody. After a contemplative sigh, he agreed to my demands. He concluded by ending the exchange with “Godspeed”.

I stared up at the ceiling as I pondered how I had just won my high-risk, high-stakes negotiation with The President of the United States.The situation must be FUBAR if the President is sending a Super Villain to rescue his daughter.

 

I'm working on my book daily now. I plan to have it wrapped up by the end of March before bike season.

More Evil-licious tales to come.....