The curtains open to reveal nothing but a man wearing a white shirt, yellow tie and red tailcoat standing by a mic.
"I apologize for the lack of a, uhm, traditional performance. We were supposed to have a M-Corp backed indie band, something like Strands of Silver, playing."

"But we had to cancel that due to their lead guitarist being injured. Quite sad."
The crowd murmurs, hisses and boos at the cancellation. You can't blame them - Ashley probably really wanted to be here BUT you doubt she's too angry after what she did at the STILLE DAG base.

"But we have a replacement! A much better replacement!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, our greatest source of entertainment yet has arrived! She's been here all this time and you just haven't noticed! She's mean! She's pink!"

A spotlight suddenly shines right above you. You have to squint to avoid frying your eyes. You can feel the gazes of hundreds, no, thousands of corporate elites staring at you. Eyes shining upon you like stars.

Casey tries to say something but all she can do is pat your shoulder. "I'm sorry. This is going to hurt - Just grin and bear it."
You force yourself towards the stage. Your legs are heavier than stone now. You really don't want to go up there but you have to. You climb onto the stage and join the announcer. He makes a wide sweeping gesture towards you. The spotlight continues to shine down upon you.

"Everyone, please welcome our guest with a roaring applause! She deserves it, you know! NICOLE SMITH!!!"

A thunderous applaud fills the air. Every last square inch of the room. Shrill cries of deranged laughter piece your eardrums and mercilessly beat upon your ears. All you can feel is the cymbals of stage light crashing down upon your forehead and sweat pouring down your forehead.

Your eyes are blinded by a curtain of sweat and tears. W-what's going on?

"We've all heard the stories! Oh, yes yes yes, the amazing stories of this former nobody! Rising up through the ranks to end up HERE of all places!"

"The terrible duel between her and the Admiral himself, S-Corp's greatest blight!"
"The savior of P-Corp, denying some shadowy saboteurs from leaking decades of pent up A-Energy into the air!"
"She stumped FIVE assassination attempts on high ranking corporate family members in one day! Let's not even mention the gassing incident - The one that J-Corp tried to claim."

"H-hey-" You try to interrupt him but he promptly talks over you. Your ears begin to ring.
"And did you hear what happened when she got here? A crowd of endless, nameless agents tried to crush her down! A wave of flesh trying to crush her and her beloved allies! If it wasn't for some choice calls from Alexis Morozov and Gregory Krakatoa, guess what?"

The crowd goes silent.
"We would've lost our greatest guest!"
A roaring tidal wave of exaggerated, performative gasps washes over you.

"Good thing she's smart enough to still be here, isn't that right?"

The veins in your neck burn underneath your skin.