The Asshole App (Expanded Version) ✅ Wattys2023

𝟧𝟥 𝖳𝖾𝗑𝗍 𝖡𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖳𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝖣𝗈𝗐𝗇

The Tesla carrying Jamison and Darrow left CENTIEN and the downtown area. Unknown to the  two men, ODIN's kinetic payload was tracking the signal being emitted from Darrow's cell.

Jamison pointed to a glowing stream high in the atmosphere, growing larger by  the minute. "That must be the strike on CENTIEN that Casper ordered." He gave a sigh of relief. "We got out of there just in time." When they pulled onto the interstate, the glowing missile arced and curved in their direction. A supersonic rumble cracked the air as if Zeus' fabled chariot was thundering across the night sky, bringing the sun. Jamison squinted at the growing fireball. "What the hell?"

"Mother of God!" Darrow said. "That strike's headed straight for us." He was unable to take his eyes off the approaching Rods of Death.

On screen, Satoshi watched the kinetic strike deliver its first payload. She closed her eyes as the Colorado mountainside housing her father's remote headquarters crumbled in an avalanche and entombed her father in a  pyramid of rock. She bowed in respect and recited a prayer of thanks to the beloved man who had made the ultimate sacrifice for her.

A few seconds later, the second payload struck the maroon Tesla SUV and left a smoking, moon-like crater in the middle of the interstate.

"Satoshi, what's happening?" Inside CENTIEN, Raymond listened to his headset. For a full minute, there was no answer. Only silence, interspersed with static.

Evelyn brought him a phone charger. When Raymond's phone reanimated, he saw the devastation the kinetic  attacks had caused. Satoshi finally answered. "My father rerouted the Rods of Gods strike using the coordinates I texted him. They struck his facility and the Tesla carrying Darrow and Jamison."

She made a choking sound. "They had to die, Ray. It  was the only way to stop them." She cut communication before he could respond.

Raymond looked at his friends. "Satoshi's father redirected the attack away from us onto himself." His hand holding the phone dropped to his side.  "Atsu's dead." He bowed his head. "His Colorado facility and all his research has been destroyed. He sacrificed himself to save us."

Evelyn hugged him, tears in her eyes. "Oh, my God. Is this nightmare really over?" She started crying.

"Evie, you were amazing. Thank you for risking your life to help me."

He pulled her close to him and kissed her tear streaked face. "I love you."

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you too, Ray."

Lear walked over and put his hand on Ray's shoulder. Sinclair grabbed his best friend and pulled him into a group hug. "God, I never thought I'd see you again, Dennis." Tears formed at the corner of his eyes.

"I never thought I'd live to see you either. I'm my own worst enemy, Ray." Lear broke down and sobbed.

Deedee helped Vince hobble over. Together, they wrapped their long leather-clad arms around the grieving trio. "You did good, Ray," Vince said. "You saved all of our lives."

"Listen," Lori said. She raised her head and cocked it to the side. "CENTIEN'S perpetual waterfall has collapsed.

Ray, inhaled sharply. Everyone froze as the hallway lights flickered and went out. The floor was momentarily darkened until the emergency lights flicked on. Operating on a backup generator, the room was half lit to save power.

Lori shouldered her shotgun and walked over to them. The leg of her suit pantsuit was ripped and her face was red from exertion. She looked at a system terminal. "I have bad news," she said. "CENTIEN's core is dead." She shook her head. "How could that have happened? I can see from the system monitor that it's still intact."

Raymond didn't answer. He walked over to a systems monitor, entered his password and pulled up the Project Themis. Onscreen, a system failure red light flashed over a shimmering cobalt blue image on the bottom floor. "I have to get down there." He rushed from the room and ran down the hallway.