aOS v.1.10

Alex stared at the weCube app, watching the poker match unfold on the screen. The room was filled with the elite—players who tossed million-dollar bets like they were pennies. He should've been analyzing their moves, hunting for tells, but his mind was elsewhere.

"What if I join?" he muttered, a nagging thought refusing to leave.

"There were eight players. If he joined as the ninth, everything would shift—the cards, the dynamics, the entire game changes!"

"This video's trash if I walk in there as the ninth player, and the whole thing falls apart." Alex repeated, swiping the screen away in frustration.

His gut churned. Too much was at stake to wing it. He couldn't risk walking into a game he didn't control, especially with a million-dollar buy-in hanging over his head.

One thought stood out. He didn't need to be the ninth player—he needed to take someone's place. That way, the eight players stayed intact, and his future knowledge might still hold.

Kofi's voice, always snide, broke the silence. "So what, you gonna make sure one of them doesn't show?"

Alex's gaze locked on the paused video. Billionaires, tech giants, oil magnates. Unstoppable? Maybe. But then his finger stopped on one player. A familiar face. A man he had crossed paths with before—ambitious, arrogant, and not invincible.

Victor Devereux.

"That guy?" Kofi zoomed in on the image, tone laced with amusement.

"Yeah. Him." Alex muttered, irritation simmering. "You know him?"

"Big in tech. Notorious for screwing people over. Also, wasn't he the one laughing while you paid for everyone's drinks last night?"

Alex groaned, "My question was rhetorical"

Kofi chuckled. "Alex, I know more than you think. My brain's bigger than all the boobs you saw last night."

Alex's face flushed. "Seriously?"

Kofi's voice remained serious. "Dead serious."

Alex couldn't help a grin as he waved his hand, bringing up a new digital screen. "Here's his schedule... Charity golf tournament this afternoon. Interesting."

Kofi's tone darkened. "Mess with that, and you'll have enemies."

Alex smirked. "Only the rich and powerful. I can handle it. I just need to make sure he doesn't make it to the poker game."

Suddenly, an idea clicked. He opened Zarafi and pulled up a news article from ten years in the future. His eyes widened as he skimmed the headline. "Devereux... charged with human trafficking?" He read on, disbelief sinking in.

"He funneled illegal money into his tech empire. And it all started in 2014—the year we're in now."

The information felt too explosive to ignore. He scanned the article for the journalist who broke the story. He had the name, but no contact details.

Kofi's voice broke his concentration. "What's wrong? Still need a number to reach someone? Why not just tell your fancy app to send it to Claire Kempt?"

Alex rolled his eyes, more out of habit than irritation. "Fine, let's try." He hesitated for a second, then spoke the name. To his surprise, the message went through.

"Huh. That actually worked. I need to start paying more attention to these apps."

He grinned, realizing just how much power was in his hands. Maybe it was time to explore a little deeper.

As he paced the room, an idea for a backup plan formed. "What if I gather some intel on the other players? If I can find a weak link, I can leverage that to get Devereux out of the game without anyone realizing it."

"Subtle, I like it," Kofi replied. 

"But what if the other players don't bite?"

"Then I can set up a tip-off," Alex said, determination hardening his resolve. 

"If I feed an insider rumor to a journalist or an influencer about Devereux's illegal activities, it could create enough noise to distract him. He'd be forced to deal with the fallout instead of the game."

"Now that's more like it," Kofi replied. 

"Disruption without the mess. Just be careful not to get caught up in your own trap."

"Agreed," Alex said. 

"I'll work on building those profiles while I wait for Claire. If she's not interested, I'll find another angle. There's always a way to outsmart the competition."

His aPhone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen, heart racing as he saw Claire Kempt's name flash across.

"Speak of the devil," he said, swiping to accept the call.

"Alex," her voice came through, cool and professional. 

"I'm intrigued by your message. What's this information you have?"

"Meet me at the café on Fifth. I can't discuss it over the phone."

"Y-you know my name?"

 Maybe you should have changed your aCloud settings to something less obvious."

"Touché," he admitted with a chuckle. "Let's just say I have my ways."

"Alright, but this better be worth my time," Claire replied, skepticism lacing her tone.

"It will be," Alex promised, determination fueling his confidence. 

"Trust me."

As he ended the call, a mix of excitement and dread washed over him. This was it. Everything was about to change, and he was at the center of it all.

"Time to put the pieces in motion," Alex said, a smile creeping across his face.

"Just make sure you don't blow it," Kofi warned. 

"We're in deep now, buddy. No turning back."

"Never planned on turning back," Alex said, grabbing his jacket.

 "Let's do this."

With that, he stepped out into the bustling streets, ready to seize control of his fate.

—--

As Alex stepped onto the bustling sidewalk, the city buzzed around him, filled with people hurrying to their destinations, cars honking, and the faint aroma of street food wafting through the air. He took a deep breath, adrenaline pumping as the stakes of his plan settled in.

"Hey, when are you gonna buy a new pair of headphones?" Kofi chimed in, the snark in his tone unmistakable. 

"We got sidetracked yesterday."

Alex shook his head, incredulous. "You're seriously still thinking about that? We're in debt up to our necks, and you want to talk about headphones?"

"Yeah, because I can't stand being stuck in this… this shell," Kofi replied, frustration tinging his voice. 

"I need a new body—one that doesn't come with an emotional baggage discount. Don't act like you wouldn't appreciate a little upgrade."

"Right, because nothing screams 'I'm financially responsible' like buying a new body for your imaginary alien friend," Alex shot back, rolling his eyes.

"Imaginary? Excuse me, but I am as real as it gets. And let's not forget who's helping you navigate this mess. I deserve a little appreciation—and maybe some new hardware."

Alex chuckled despite himself. "Appreciation doesn't pay the bills, Kofi. But if you want a new body, you'll have to wait until I figure out how to fix our financial situation. Maybe once we're rolling in cash from this poker game, I'll consider it."

"Yeah, because that's a solid plan. Just win a million bucks and buy me a new set of circuits. Easy-peasy," Kofi replied, sarcasm dripping from every word.

"Hey, I'm working on it. But first, I need to get through today. I'll keep your… needs in mind," Alex said, smirking.

Kofi fell silent for a moment before speaking again. 

"Just don't forget about me, alright? This 'get rich quick' scheme of yours better work, or I might have to start looking for a more reliable human."

"Not a chance. You're stuck with me, buddy. Besides, I can't let anyone else take you on."