The Last Network - Chapter 41
Friendo
Rabbit walked into the Astro Burger on Santa Monica Blvd. His eyes went straight to the menu. He knew Frank Meyers was sitting in the corner booth on the right. He wanted to get his order in before acknowledging him.
Rabbit ordered a double bacon avocado cheeseburger, fried zucchini sticks, and a large chocolate milkshake. Frank had high cholesterol and had switched to veggie burgers years ago. He was also constantly fighting his weight. Rabbit on the other hand, could use the protein. Food had become a secondary thought and he needed to pack it back on.
He waited until after he finished his order before looking over. There was Frank, alright. That stupid fucking goatee of his. Rabbit started to walk towards him and then his phone rang. Another stunt. In the car, Rabbit had programmed his phone to call himself in five minutes. He pretended it was a very important call and stepped outside to talk to no one. All the while he kept an eye on the Now Serving board. His “call” would end moments after his number came up and his food was ready.
Ten minutes later, Rabbit sat down in the booth. He made sure to open the burger wrapper up, letting the sauce run over his fingers. The air stank of onions and bacon. He lifted the titanic burger up and took a massive bite. Bits of shredded lettuce fell onto his red plastic tray. Still chewing, he looked over at Frank.
“So?”
“I’ll wait until you’re done.”
“Sorry Frank, that was the office. I’m going to need to cut this short. Afraid we’re going to have to eat and talk, friendo.”
Rabbit opened his milk shake up and dunked a zucchini stick into the cup. He scooped iced chocolate out and bit the stick in half. He dipped the rest of it in ranch dressing.
“Rabbit, we know you are up to something.”
“Uh huh. I’m always up to something. Like this burger. Man, I missed this place. Remember how we used to come here for lunch? You used to love the chili fries. How’s the veggie burger?”
“It’s fine. Rabbit quit fucking around before you cross a line.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Elliott doesn’t know what a snake you are, but I do. You are fucking with us. I’m telling you to back off before we strike back.”
“I’m fucking with you? Me?” Rabbit laughed and sucked on his straw. “Aren’t you the guys that cloned my product and took your name from my tagline? I’m fucking with you. That’s rich.”
“You’ve been live for what—eighteen months now?”
“Something like that.”
“And in all that time, you ever have user sessions go viral?”
“A few here and there. Our users respect what takes place between an Eye and a Hand. A Pair is a special bond, Frank. Why?”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought too. Once you form a—what is it, consciousness? You have an obligation to keep that private unless both parties agree. Right?”
Rabbit took the last bite of his burger. He started to lick the pink sauce off his fingers.
“That’s how it works for us, but that’s a problem for you guys, huh? I’ve had quite a few funny ones forwarded to me. Those poor Hands, getting played for fools. If that happened to me, I’d hang up and never try you again.”
“I think you’re our problem.”
“Well, Together is definitely mine. It’s like someone went to my property and copied everything. The lawn, the garage, the garden, the house, the furniture. Only then they fill it with a bunch of assholes who pretend they designed the joint. I can’t imagine why I’m the bad guy here, but you spin whatever bullshit you want, Frank. Tell everyone what a horrible boogieman I am. Meanwhile you just keep on copying my every move. I’m sure people who take a closer look will see exactly what’s going on.”
“Rabbit, you’re not bulletproof. Back off or there will be trouble for you.”
“That’s quite a threat Frank. Good thing I’m recording this.” Rabbit tapped his breast pocket. “You know, in case I catch a bullet. That way the cops will know exactly where to look.”
“It’s a figure of speech, asshole.”
“I know friendo.” He pointed a zucchini stick at Frank. “Keep on threatening me. You are so good at it.”
“Nothing about you is clean, Rabbit. Don’t think I can’t bring you down again.”
“Time’s up Frank. Here’s a piece of advice for you. Copying the outside doesn’t mean the machinery inside works the same. Stop pointing fingers and take a look within. If you can’t manage your community, maybe you shouldn’t be in this business. There’s a lot of power in Pairs. Not everyone is good enough to wield it. Your masters at Thorn should have spent some of that $80 million on brains. Instead they got you and your empty threats.”
Rabbit got up, milk shake in hand, and left the booth. His tray remained behind, covered in greasy wrappers, bread crumbs, and stained napkins.