Episode 5

The Architects of Control

“It’s a system where we decide who rises to the top and who falls through the cracks. And the best part? They’ll think they chose it…”

The boardroom of Keurocorp Tower exuded wealth and power. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the sprawling city below, its neon glow reflecting off the polished mahogany table. John Cashizt stood at the head of the table, his tailored suit impeccable, his tie knotted with precision. His eyes, however, betrayed the calm demeanor he tried to project. They burned with a hunger that no position of power had yet quenched.

“We’re weeks away from the launch,” John said, his voice smooth but commanding. “Keurocity will not just be a symbol of the future—it will be the future. And I’ll be damned if anyone stands in the way of that.”

Across the table, Veronica Steele sat with perfect posture, a faint smirk playing on her lips. Her steel-blue eyes, sharp and calculating, locked on John. She was the picture of ruthless efficiency in her tailored blazer, her every move deliberate, every word wielded like a weapon. “And the K3 Biometric Grid?” she asked, her tone detached but insistent. “If the infrastructure isn’t complete, this whole operation falls apart.”

John’s jaw tightened. “The grid will be ready. Your job, Veronica, is ensuring no one questions it. We can’t have some wide-eyed journalist or rogue programmer digging into what makes this city tick.”

Veronica chuckled softly, her smile never reaching her eyes. “Leave that to me. The district attorney’s office has a keen interest in protecting public safety. Any disruptions will be… handled.”

The conversation shifted as John moved to the center of the room, a holographic display springing to life above the table. Lines of code and blueprints for the Keuron technology powered up, casting an eerie glow across the faces in the room. “Keurocity isn’t just a city,” John said, his voice growing more fervent. “It’s a proving ground. The K3 grid will be the backbone of a new society—one where efficiency trumps chaos, where optimization isn’t just a goal, but a way of life.”

“Let me translate,” Veronica cut in, leaning back in her chair. “It’s a system where we decide who rises to the top and who falls through the cracks. And the best part? They’ll think they chose it.”

The pair locked eyes, their shared ambition palpable. John couldn’t help but grin. He loved working with Veronica—her sharp wit, her unflinching resolve. And she loved the power he promised her. Together, they were unstoppable.

But behind the bravado, cracks were beginning to form. Veronica’s obsession with the K3 Biometric Grid had led her to conduct unauthorized experiments—testing the limits of the technology in ways even John didn’t fully comprehend. She didn’t just want to build the system; she wanted to master it, bending it to her will.

And John? His desperation to secure his mayoral campaign had forced him to make deals with powerful backers—people who didn’t care about his vision or his city. People who only cared about control. The deeper he sank into their pockets, the less he slept at night.

“Remember, Veronica,” John said, his tone darkening, “we’re building a legacy here. But a misstep? A leak? It all comes crashing down.”

Veronica’s smirk widened. “Then we won’t misstep.”

Unbeknownst to the pair, in a dimly lit warehouse miles away, Maria, Kano, Laurence, and Kevin were poring over files and data pulled from the Digital Wellbeing+ algorithm. And among the profiles and biometric markers, two names stood out.

John Cashizt. Veronica Steele.

“They’re not just building a city,” Kevin murmured, his voice trembling. “They’re building a system of control. And they don’t care who gets hurt.”

Maria’s fists clenched. “Then it’s time someone stopped them.”

Coming Next…

Read the Next Story: The Social Credit Paradox.