LifeShield

Fallout

"I'll say what everyone's probably thinking," Charles starts the webcast. "LifeShield is sunk as a product. From a PR perspective, it's an unmitigated disaster. Day two, and someone uses it to assassinate the Russian president, however much he might deserve it."

"But," Harry says, unable to resist the chance to needle him., "You admit now that the product works as demoed?"

"I'd say. Tactical and surveillance footage, and that video by the French aide." Charles splices in a short segment. "Direct hit by what net rumors are claiming is a T-5000 Tochnost. That's a beast of a sniper rifle. Shrugged off assault rifle and pistol fire like nothing. But what a way to prove it."

Candace interjects, "The LifeShield press release condemned—"

"Of course they did! While washing their hands of any responsibility for the use of their product."

"Who could have predicted something like this?"

"Someone should have, that's for sure."

"That may be," Harry says. "But I don't think LifeShield is going down 'cause of it."

"After—"

Harry stops him with a raised hand, "Hear me out. It's the whole 'No such thing as bad publicity' thing. The original demo had 56 thousand views the first day. Candace stomped us soundly on release day, viewers up in the several million mark. These videos are in the billions and climbing. Every person on Earth knows about LifeShield now. Nothing faked with these videos, it's proven the thing works. I bet a lot of people are shitting themselves trying to get one."

"Have any proof?"

"The last line of the press release, 'Accommodating customer demand.'"

"Hardly conclusive."

"Nope." Harry turns to Candace. "What's your perspective. It's been badly abused. The company's unrealistically naive in its whole 'protect everyone' stance. Can they still make this work?"

Candace taps on her data pad while she thinks. "Maybe they are naive. But their goal is still a good one. I'm for cutting them some slack while they figure this out."

"Tell that to the Senate," Charles drawls. "Already a congressional inquiry underway. Some heads need to roll for this one."