Belly Literary Universe (part 2)

Cozca's Devils part 13: Bang

Kelri wasn't sure if her new walking and exercise regime was helping all that much. It might have been that she still needed to work more at it, or maybe her continued rapid weight gain was outpacing her fitness gains. Regardless, she was winded from just getting to the first security gate. She made small talk with the security attendant and hardly noticed the metal detector wand being waved around her. It didn't matter anyway. Myre was already past the first checkpoint. She could see her rolling her cart.

***

Meanwhile at the center of the atrium, Veera took a deep breath. Like they had planned she stepped up on the edge of a planter holding a tall thin tree. She took a quick look over the surroundings, taking note of where her support team was sitting. Valerie was nearby in a stony booth, and Camilla a little farther back, at the edge of a fountain.

She smiled and tossed off her hat, then threw off her overcoat into the dirt behind her. With her being as short as she was, her head was still only barely above that of people walking by. Still, that never bothered her. Only a few people noticed as she started to sing, softly, elegantly, and unaided by her equipment. At first it was only the people who had noticed her climb onto the planter who paid attention. But as their heads turned to the perched woman in the blue dress, others saw as well.

She finished her slow a capella intro, and then activated the sound setup. Mechanical arms wooshed upward, applying torque to her back. A grid of small square speakers sewn into fabric unfolded, dangling and forming the wings. People noticed.

Audio artifacts buzzed as the speakers kicked on. The backing track kicked in, followed by the beat, and then her voice. The wide open atrium was filled by aggressively beautiful vocals. Everyone stopped to gawk and listen. Employees left their shops to see what the commotion was about. The show was underway.

***

A steady stream of people left their secure space as apparently word spread of the superstar flashmob underway. Myre smiled as passing people took the opportunity to grab an ice cream cone to celebrate the sudden break in the work day. As she scooped from each tub, she was careful to avoid taking too much chocolate from the smuggling container. She couldn't help but think how well the plan was going.

***

Can't turn back now... Kelri thought to herself, hearing the music, and waddling upstream against the current of curious workers leaving their offices.

***

With a crescendo and long held note, Veera finished the first song in her set to raucous applause. She lived for it, bowing again and again, making the speaker wings clatter. She gasped with surprise as she looked into the crowd. "Uncle!" She shouted with arms spread wide.

A man with long blonde hair, tied into a ponytail, stood in front of the crowd. His well tailored white suit stood out. "Veera what are you doing here?" he beamed at her.

At his sight Valerie furiously texted the group. "Problem. Hugo is here."

Kelri replied. "What do you mean 'Hugo'???"

Jackie chimed in. "Hugo? Who is that? Why is that bad?"

Veera hugged her Uncle Hugo. "I'm singing silly. Viral marketing! What are you doing here!"

Hugo smirked. "I'm glad you're doing well. I'm just here for a tour of some of the more advanced computational facilities. Trying to work on establishing a partnership," He said over the dying cheers and applause.

Veera realized something was up. The mention of the facility had her making connections. It didn't matter though, it wasn't like she could just take a break to text the group. She kept a smile, and Hugo didn't notice the change.

Hugo took a step back. "Well then, I'll leave you to it. You're doing wonderful."

Veera nodded and started the intro of the next song in the set.

Valerie kept typing. "She called him uncle. She knew him the whole time? Worse. He said he's here for a tour of the 'advanced computational facilities'. We have to assume that he means the same one Kelri is on. Fuck!"

Jackie chirped in again. "Okay so you have bad blood. Why is this so bad?"

Maia typed on her phone hidden behind her book. "Because he suspected Kelri of being involved with another data breach. If he sees her and then there is another one then he'll blow the whole thing up."

"Fuck." Jackie texted in agreement.

"Stop it." Kelri texted. "Keep an eye on him. Don't let him out of your sight. If I can get in and out quick, things will be fine. And there isn't much to do beyond that. There isn't a do-over here. Stick to the plan. Everything will be fine."