2025 Chapter Prologue

Blackness. The sound of bike tires whirring, gears changing and slight huffing of physical exertion.

An underscore in phosphoresent green flashes into the black, blinking. In the evolution of late 20th century cinema, this underscore depicted the entire interface of the first cathode ray tube equipped computers. Long after computer interfaces added menus and icons, and before they colonized the optic nerve directly, the blinking green underscore was a cliche, then later an homage. Still later and in this instance, the underscore recalls a bright if callow enthusiasm from the way back, and is a reminder to keep the initiative on the side of the interface that huffs, puffs and pushes pedals.

An eastern european accented voice speaks in english, between deep breaths. The words are displayed in the same cliche green font, only slightly delayed.

"Strangely satisfying denoument on the theme of rapacious capitalism"

(beep)

The words scroll up and the words "Smart Money" are displayed after the cursor. Thumbnail renders, iterates and then vignette plays.

SMART MONEY - Trillums, etc.

The vignette ends and black returns. Afterimages fade, beat. The blinking underscore flashes back.

"Again, a little less creepy"

(beep)

the words scroll up and the words "Under Water" are displayed after the cursor

Thumbnail renders, iterates and then vignette plays.

WALL STREET UNDER WATER

Black again, pause and the underscore blinks.

"Better."

"Pause prompt, standby to integrate prompt training."

(beep)

The black dissolves into blurred pavement unrolling under a swerving bicycle tire.