Chapter 90: The Glass Stage

 

New York City. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met Gala. 8:00 PM.

Flashbulbs popped like stroboscopic lightning. The red carpet stretched up the iconic steps, a river of crimson velvet. The world's elite—movie stars, tech moguls, politicians—posed for the hungry cameras.

A black limousine pulled up. The door opened. Arthur and Sophie Knight stepped out.

Sebastian wore a midnight-blue tuxedo with a velvet lapel. He walked with a slight, elegant stiffness (a remnant of his injuries) that only added to his mystery. Harper wore the silver "liquid starlight" gown. The Gold & Steel Ring hung openly on her neck, a provocative clue hidden in plain sight.

"Who are they?" whispers rippled through the press line. "Oil money?" "European royalty?" "Tech investors?"

They didn't stop for interviews. They walked past the reporters with an air of untouchable arrogance. Security scanned their invitations (forged by the Shadow Drive). BEEP. [ VIP ACCESS GRANTED ]

Inside, the Temple of Dendur was transformed. Golden tables, massive screens, and a stage set up in front of the ancient Egyptian sandstone. The theme of the night: "Rebirth". Irony, indeed.

---

[The Lion in the Den]

They moved through the crowd. Jack was there too, disguised as a waiter, balancing a tray of champagne. He looked miserable. "If one more person asks for a vegan option," Jack grumbled into his earpiece, "I'm going to start shooting."

"Hold your fire, waiter," Sebastian whispered, taking a glass. "Where is Hale?"

"Center table. Holding court."

Alexander Hale. The CEO of Hale Media. He was a man in his fifties, tanned, polished, with teeth that cost more than most houses. He was laughing loudly, his hand on the shoulder of a Senator.

"He looks comfortable," Harper said, her eyes cold behind her masquerade mask (part of the gala's theme).

"He thinks he won," Sebastian adjusted his cuffs. "He thinks Sterling Corp is his. He's about to announce the acquisition tonight."

"Is the payload ready?"

"Dr. Braun is in the van outside," Harper tapped her diamond clutch. "The transmitter is live. I just need to get within 10 feet of the main AV console to override the signal."

"Go," Sebastian kissed her hand. "I'll keep him busy."

---

[The Speech]

Currents of conversation died down as Alexander Hale took the stage. The massive screens behind him displayed the Hale Media logo merging with the Sterling Lion.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Hale’s voice was smooth as silk. "Tonight is a night of tragedy and triumph. We all mourn the loss of a visionary, Sebastian Sterling. A troubled genius who... lost his way."

The crowd nodded solemnly. They bought the lie. "But his legacy must not die. That is why I am proud to announce that Hale Media will be stepping in to save Sterling Corp from bankruptcy." "We are buying the future."

Sebastian stood at the back of the room. He swirled his champagne. He waited for the pause.

"Is that so?" Sebastian’s voice cut through the silence. He didn't shout. He projected.

He walked toward the stage. The crowd parted. "Who is that?" Hale squinted against the spotlights.

"I am an investor," Sebastian stopped at the foot of the stage. "Arthur Knight. And I have a question, Mr. Hale." "If Sebastian Sterling 'lost his way', why did your company sell his stock three days before his alleged death?"

Hale froze. That was insider information. Classified. "I... we had market analysts..." Hale stammered.

"And," Sebastian continued, stepping closer. "Why did your news network report the explosion at Deepwater 9 as a 'gas leak' before the rig actually exploded?"

The room went deadly silent. Reporters raised their phones. This was unscripted drama.

"Security!" Hale pointed a shaking finger. "Remove this man!"

---

[The Override]

"Now, Harper!" Sebastian whispered.

Harper was standing next to the sound booth, flirting with the technician. She dropped her clutch purse. It hit the floor. Click. The hidden EMP spike inside triggered. The technician’s console went black.

"What the—" the tech smashed his keyboard.

[ SYSTEM OVERRIDE ] [ SOURCE: SHADOW DRIVE ]

The massive screens behind Hale flickered. The logo of his company disappeared. Replaced by a video file. Date: Two Weeks Ago. Location: Hale’s Private Office.

It was a recording from Hale’s own security camera (which Sebastian had hacked via the Shadow Drive years ago as a fail-safe).

On screen, Alexander Hale was talking on an encrypted phone. "Yes, Director. The narrative is set. We will paint Sterling as a terrorist. The Deepwater rig will be the nail in the coffin. I want the stock price at zero so I can buy it for pennies." He laughed. "The public? The public believes what I tell them to believe. They are sheep."

---

[The Fall]

The ballroom erupted. "Oh my god," a frantic whisper swept through the room. Live streams broadcast the video to millions of viewers instantly. #HaleExposed began trending worldwide in seconds.

Hale turned around. He saw his own face on the giant screen, confessing to corporate sabotage and media manipulation. "Turn it off!" Hale screamed, his face purple. "It's a deepfake! It's AI! Turn it off!"

But the video looped. "They are sheep." "They are sheep."

Hale looked at the crowd. The "sheep" were now wolves. Investors were on their phones, dumping Hale Media stock. The Senator he was laughing with moments ago was backing away.

Sebastian walked up the stairs to the stage. He stood next to the panicked tycoon. He leaned in close. He didn't need a microphone.

"Hello, Alexander," Sebastian whispered.

Hale looked at him. He saw the eyes. Not Arthur Knight. Sebastian Sterling.

"You..." Hale gasped, clutching his chest. "You're dead."

"I'm vintage," Sebastian smiled coldly. He placed a hand on Hale’s shoulder. "And you are cancelled."

Sebastian turned and walked away. He didn't run. He walked. Security was too busy dealing with the mob of reporters surrounding Hale.

Hale collapsed on stage, hyperventilating, as his empire crumbled in real-time on the screens behind him.

---

[The Exit]

Fifth Avenue. Outside the Museum.

Sebastian and Harper walked out the side exit. Jack pulled up in the getaway car (a stolen Uber).

"Did you see his face?" Jack laughed, tossing his waiter jacket out the window. "Priceless."

"Stock is down 40% in ten minutes," Braun reported from the back seat, typing furiously. "The SEC just announced an investigation. Hale is finished."

Sebastian loosened his tie. He looked at the Met, glowing in the night. One head of the Hydra cut off. Five to go.

"Who's next?" Harper asked, adrenaline still flushing her cheeks.

Sebastian checked the list on his phone. General Ryker. The man who provided the military hardware for the Syndicate. The muscle. "He's at the Pentagon," Sebastian said. "Hard target."

"We can't walk into the Pentagon in tuxedos," Harper noted.

"No," Sebastian looked at the Gold & Steel Ring. "But we can walk in if we have a prisoner." "A high-value prisoner."

"Who?"

Sebastian looked at her. "Me."

(End of Chapter 90)