Chapter 202 - Deepfakes - Again! (1/2)
”A what now?” Matthew chimed.
”A deepfake.” I replied.
”I heard you the first time but what is it?” he said.
”An example of that is what you're seeing now.” I said with a serious look.
Ken, Kris, and Tatiana have the same look as me and the people with us are still confused and looking for answers.
”Enough of that cryptic talk kid. What is really happening? Isn't that Rod speaking in that broadcast? Does the word 'fake' in deepfake means that it's a fake person in that podium right now?” Oscar asked.
”Somewhat. Deepfakes are synthetic media in which a person's image from a video or something similar is replaced with someone else's. Remember the ones I showed you before with the US President? Where they placed his face on someone else's to slander him?” I said.
”Oh! I f.u.c.k.i.n.g remember now! It's the one I showed you before and you said that it was a fake video. Wait, I thought you said that making those takes a lot of time. What the f.u.c.k are we seeing now?!” he exclaimed as he looked back at the TV.
”Yeah, here's where the problem is...” I trailed.
”Hmm?” he looked back at me.
”Ana, did your people do this?” I said out loud.
I'm staring at the screen while I wait for her to answer.
”That's impossible. How could she do that? She's-” Ken said but I cut him off.
”She's what? A partner? A colleague? One of us? Ana, I'm just asking a simple question. I just want you to answer me honestly.” I said calmly while Ken stops.
”Too bad I, Kaley, or Marisha couldn't see her in person. We would've known immediately if she or her group has bad intentions.” I thought to myself.
[No. That is not from my group. We'd never do something like this. Please trust me.]
”I'm gonna take your word for now. Just remember that I don't like people lying to me.” I said.
[My word is all that I could offer you besides the files that you needed.]
”Besides, I already know where she is. She's fairly close too.” I thought to myself.
”I know besides that, that deepfake appearing could mean many things but the most obvious one is that somehow, something happened to the president. They could be either covering it up and made that thing as a backup in case anything happened to not let people descend into chaos or it could be something I could bet on...” I trailed as I took a deep exhale.
”And that is?” Johnny asked.
”Those people that made that just had the power to control this country, whatever is left of it.” I replied with a serious look.
When I said those words, the whole room got suddenly quiet. You could hear my wall clock's ticking sound. I bet Zeus even understood what I said as he started to crawl under my legs while hugging his tail.
”Imagine, another video like that and the 'president' says, 'Sky Ishiyama's compound is located at this address go and plunder everything from that place!' What would happen then? Or what if he says that the cure is to drink bleach or even thoughts and prayers work?” I started saying the things popping up in my head.
”Wait! Wait! Wait! But what if you're wrong? What if he's just sick or something and he needed to rest for a while? They just broadcasted that video so the people wouldn't worry?” Rin chimed.
”Then it's the best-case scenario. I always assume the worst when it comes to things like that. Especially at the times were at now. Anyway, enough talk about this. We have one sure-fire way to know if I'm right.” I said as I looked at Oscar.
”Hmm? What? Oh! F.U.C.K! F.U.C.K! F.U.C.K! I HAVE HIS F.U.C.K.I.N.G NUMBER! WAIT A BIT HERE YOU F.U.C.KTARDS! I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT IT!” he immediately jumped up from the sofa he's sitting at and he ran as fast as the wind outside towards his house.
”Bro...” Jared said as he faced the phone's screen at my face again.
[YOU HAVE THE PRESIDENT'S NUMBER?!?!?!]
”Yeah.” I replied.
[WHAT THE F.U.C.K?!?!?! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!?!?!]
”Hmm? That's rich. Why don't you tell me where you are? Is Ana even your real name? You've been interacting with almost everyone here for a while and I think you could already see what we have here. Is your place such a utopia that you can't leave it? We could even make a small convoy just to fetch you. You'd be a valuable addition to my team.” I said as I looked at the phone's camera.
No answer.
”Still don't trust us huh? Let me tell you again, unless you're the MC of a story gifted with supernatural abilities or some shit that's giving you plot armor, you'll have the hardest time out there. That's why we need people, people like you. However, if you're the type that can't even recognize words of sincerity then we'll just have this deal by deal basis we've been doing until you change your mind. You're really stubborn you know that?” I said even if she didn't answer me earlier.
[I'm sorry. But I still think that it's not the time yet. Like I said before, I trusted people before and I've been burned many times than I could count. It's hard to find the right people now that you could trust. I mostly operate on a deal by deal basis now like you said. You're just the people that stayed this long with me.]
”Who would be the other people that she interacted with before? Are they still alive?” I thought to myself.