Chapter Text
Eve Kim thanks the announcer at the podium over thunderous applause as she ascends the stairs to shake his hand. Taking his space, she adjusts the microphone a bit lower to address the crowd. Behind her, towering over the congregation is a massive glossy white building stretching off into the distance. No windows adorn the structure. It is void of nearly any decor other than a massive LED sign. ENCOM, it reads, flooding the already daylit area in radiant blue light.
"Fairfax, Virginia! Thank you all for joining us at this moment in history. ENCOM has been working tirelessly to deliver the limitless potential of the grid directly to all of you. Thanks to the Permanence code uncovered from the late, great Kevin Flynn we have been able to bring forth solutions to world hunger, advanced medicines, and instantaneous production capabilities. After merging with Dillinger Systems we've teamed up with President Grayson's Administration to fund the largest server farm in the United States. We will expand this technology to a larger scale to maximize our impact on the future of humanity and keep up with its booming demand. Once again, Thank you all for coming out and don't forget to redeem your ticket for an ENCOM goodie bag at the front."
Cutting off another wave of applause from the crowd, in the back, signs rise up in various protestations. Chants of "Our home, our water!" echo through megaphones with various piercing whistles accompanying them. Security swiftly swoops in. After a fair amount of resistance they are ushered out.
Kim turns to exit the stage and positions herself in front of a thick blue ribbon supported between two small polished silver posts. "Scissors please, Seth." Kim requests. Seth Flores stutters over an apology and presents a pair of equally polished silver scissors. "Stuff like this makes me remember why I wanted to quit. PR blows." she mutters to him quietly. He grins and ensures her that she's doing well. She takes the scissors and plasters another expertly crafted empty smile across her face and allows for a moment to pose for the journalists at the front.