(lxii.)

"What can I get you folks? How 'bout a coffee? Or would you like to hear about today's specials?"
"No."
"You sure? Our soup of the day is French Onion."

Chet pulled out his pistol, and placed it on the table.

"We'll have two coffees. Actually... make that decaf," he said, calmly. He turned back to Louis and asked, "So... what was it you were going to say?"

"Well, I was just curious why we were going after the Omnivion corporation in the first place."
"You were."
"Well, I mean, usually, it's like, y'know, the Hawai'ian Department of Information, or, like, the New York Knowledge Authority. But... why Omnivion? I mean, isn't that the SEC's job?"

Chet sighed, heavily. "See, that's just the problem."
"What is?"
"They don't belong to anyone. They're like an orphan."
"But--"
"Just because they're based in the United States doesn't mean they answer to the United States government. And, well, sure, they're a multinational corporation, but that doesn't mean they answer to the UN's General Assembly. Or the Security Council. I mean, shit, they never answered to the League of Nations, why answer to the UN?"
"...okay, but what about the SE--"
"--and just because they're publicly traded on the Stock Exchange, that doesn't mean they have to answer to the SEC. I mean, sure, they have to follow the rules, and not break the law, but they don't go to the Securities and Exchange Commission and say 'hi, this is what's happening in the world'."

The waitress stepped back toward the table, carefully, with two coffee cups.

"So... what does that have to do with us?"
"Well, if they don't answer to anyone else, then they should answer to us."
"But what happens when--"
"--when they don't? We shut them down."



[chapter lxiii.]