Chapter 135 On the Eve of Going Live
Tension crackled in the air of Cassius's office. Benjamin, Cassius, the programmer, and the tech director huddled around a computer, their breaths held captive in the silence. The tech director, normally a picture of stoic confidence, trembled as he held a USB drive between his fingers.
"This is it? The core code for Gemini app?" Cassius asked, his voice a hushed rasp.
"Yes," the programmer chirped, nodding vigorously. "Copied it myself. Piece of cake!"
"This is going to be beautiful," the tech director muttered, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "A true work of art."
"Just get on with it!" Cassius snapped, his patience wearing thin. He could practically taste victory, envisioning Gemini app crashing and burning, Paul Three and Alvin groveling at his feet.
The USB drive slid into the port, and a black dialogue box materialized on the screen, lines of code scrolling at a dizzying pace.
"Yes! This is it!" the tech director exclaimed, a tear welling up in his eye.
Then, the code froze. The screen went black, replaced by a single, ominous input field: Password Required.
Silence. Everyone stared at the programmer, their expressions a mixture of confusion and accusation.
"I... I don't understand," he stammered, his face paling. "It worked when I copied it!"
Cassius felt a chill run down his spine. "Are we walking into another one of their traps?"
The tech director, however, just chuckled. "Don't panic, gentlemen. This is standard procedure. They've encrypted the program, but they clearly don't know who they're dealing with."
A glimmer of hope flickered in Cassius's eyes. "What are you saying?"
The tech director's grin was almost predatory. "This is the real deal, the core code. And this," he tapped the password field, "is just a minor security measure. One that I can bypass."
Cassius's jaw dropped. "You can crack it?"
"Child's play," the tech director scoffed, puffing out his chest. "Gemini app might be clever, but this encryption is top-tier. Only a handful of people in Veridiania could break it. And I," he declared, jabbing a thumb at his chest, "am one of them."
"Brilliant!" Cassius roared, nearly delirious with relief. This was it, the turning point. He would crush Gemini app, savor their defeat, and make them rue the day they ever crossed him.
The tech director cleared his throat, a smug look on his face. "Now, about that 'useless' comment you made earlier, Mr. Greene…"
Cassius didn't hesitate. "You're right, I was wrong. You're a genius! Just name your price, anything! Just get started!"
"Very well," the tech director said, cracking his knuckles. "This is going to take a while. Eighteen hours, give or take."
Eighteen hours. It was cutting it close, but as long as they had the code before Gemini app Music launched, they could sabotage it from the inside out.
"Make it happen," Cassius commanded, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Get me some coffee first," the tech director said, already typing furiously. "Strong."
Seventeen hours later, a wave of weary satisfaction washed over Walter as he surveyed the scene at Creator Company. The team had been working around the clock, fueled by energy drinks and sheer willpower, but they had done it. Gemini app Music was ready.
The interface was sleek and intuitive, and the algorithm was designed to anticipate the user's every whim. Thanks to Alvin and his "Music Master," their library boasted over 80,000 premium tracks spanning every genre imaginable.
Elbert, ever the stoic leader, gave a rare nod of approval. "Excellent work, everyone. We're about to make history."
As the final hour approached, the entire Creator team gathered in the meeting room, a palpable buzz of anticipation filling the air. This was it, the culmination of their blood, sweat, and tears. But this time, the stakes were higher than ever. This time, they were asking users to pay.
Alvin, his usual swagger replaced by a flicker of doubt, approached Elbert. "Meta Platforms is going all out. Free music, celebrity appearances, cash giveaways… are you sure we can compete?"
His words, though whispered, hung heavy in the silent room. All eyes turned to Elbert, searching for reassurance.
Elbert raised an eyebrow. "Worried? Of course, I'm worried."
Panic rippled through the room. Did Paul Three, their unflappable leader, have no plan?
A slow smile spread across Elbert's face. "They're offering free, and we're offering quality. That's difference number one. They have established stars; we have undiscovered talent hungry for an audience. Difference number two. They're relying on gimmicks, and we're relying on a product we believe in. Difference number three."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Will we have the same initial numbers? Probably not. But," he turned, his gaze sweeping over the exhausted but determined faces before him, "We have something they don't. We have passion. We have integrity. And we have the best damn music app on the market."
He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Besides, I have a feeling Meta Platforms is about to have a very bad day."
At that very moment, the Meta Platforms headquarters was a hive of activity. Programmers hunched over their monitors, fingers flying across keyboards, preparing for the onslaught of users as soon as the free music initiative went live. In two separate studios, Veridiania's biggest musical acts were primped and prepped, ready to serenade the masses.
Cassius, watching it all unfold, felt a surge of confidence. Gemini app was nothing to worry about. They were out of their league, playing a game they didn't understand. And now, with their precious code in his grasp, he would dismantle them from the inside out.
"Mr. Greene! Mr. Greene!" Benjamin came barreling into the office, his face flushed with excitement.
"The password," Cassius breathed, already knowing the answer. "It's cracked?"
"Come see for yourself!"
The tech director, hunched over the computer, was practically vibrating with excitement. After seventeen hours of relentless work, he was mere keystrokes away from breaching Gemini app's defenses.
Cassius and Benjamin leaned in, their hearts pounding in unison. This was it. The moment of truth.
"Just a little longer…" the tech director muttered, his fingers dancing across the keyboard. He typed the final line of code, hit enter, and—
"Congratulations! Password accepted!"
A collective gasp filled the room. It was done. Gemini app was theirs.
From outside the door, a voice rang out: "One-minute warning! We go live in one minute!"
But the occupants of the office were oblivious to the world outside. They had eyes only for the screen, for the secrets it held.
Then, the screen went black.
Slowly, a single line of text appeared, accompanied by a voice, soft and hypnotic yet strangely familiar.
"Hello," the voice purred. "I imagine you're quite exhausted. That's perfectly normal."
Cassius and Benjamin exchanged uneasy glances. What was this?
"Just relax," the voice continued, its tone soothing and almost hypnotic. "Follow my instructions, and everything will be alright."
"If you…" the voice paused. "Clench your fist, raise your arm above your head… that's it… and then spread your fingers as wide as you can…"
The tech director, his eyes glazed over, a vacant smile on his face, obeyed. "I'm going to make a firework," he mumbled, his hand rising into the air.
"Congratulations," the voice whispered. "You've just made a very special firework."
The tech director's fingers spread wide, and he let out a soft "Bang."
And then, all hell broke loose.
A blinding flash of light erupted from the computer screen, followed by a deafening roar. The ground shook, the lights flickered violently, and then, with a final, gut-wrenching groan, the entire Meta Platforms building plunged into darkness.
Cassius and Benjamin, thrown to the floor, lay in stunned silence.
"What the hell just happened?" Cassius croaked, his voice hoarse with shock.
Benjamin, picking himself up, stared at the smoldering wreckage of the computer. "I think," he said slowly, "the tech director just set off a firework. And blew up the building."
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