Zeke: "Okay. Okay. Deep breath. You're leading a rebellion now. No big deal."
Bitty: "Your stress levels have exceeded recommended thresholds. Initiating calming protocols: Playlofi_vibes.mp3."
Soft lo-fi beats filled his neural implant.
Zeke: (muttering) "I need normal. I need hot dogs. Hot dogs are normal."
...
Zeke beelined to the nearest street vendor.
The cart blinked with neon signs:
"MegaCorp™ Authentic Hot Dog Experience"
Taste Like Freedom!™
Zeke: "Yeah, sure, I'll take one Glizzy Supreme."
Hot Dog Bot: "WELCOME CITIZEN. COMMENCE PURCHASE."
Transaction cost: 350 credits.
Zeke: "That's robbery!"
(But he paid it anyway, because he really wanted a hot dog.)
...
As the Hot Dog Bot prepared his order, a popup appeared on its screen:
"Customer Loyalty Bonus Detected!
Would you like to SUBSCRIBE to our Premium Corporate Citizenship Program?"
Without thinking, Zeke mashed "NO."
Unfortunately, the Hot Dog Bot's ancient software glitched.
Instead of processing "No," it registered:
"DISSENT DETECTED. TREASONOUS ACTION INITIATED."
Sirens flared.
Drones descended from the skies.
Corporate Enforcer (over loudspeaker): "YOU HAVE COMMITTED AN ACT OF CORPORATE TREASON!"
Zeke: "I JUST WANTED A HOT DOG!"
...
Ten heavily armored Corporate Enforcers surrounded him.
Bitty: "Recommendation: Flight, not fight."
Zeke bolted.
Hot dog in one hand, napkin flapping wildly, he sprinted down the rain-slicked alleys of Neon Sprawl.
Corporate Enforcers: "NEON GHOST LOCATED! ENGAGING!"
Zeke: "WHY DOES EVERYTHING ESCALATE SO FAST?"
...
Back at Resistance HQ...
Resistance Leader: "Our leader battles the Corporates even now! Truly a fearless hero!"
Recruit #1: "He fights them...with a hot dog."
Recruit #2 (in awe): "A symbol of rebellion!"
Resistance Leader: (crying a little) "Blessed be the Bladebearer."
...
Meanwhile, Zeke accidentally slid across a food cart, flipped over a taxi, and crashed into a corporate billboard, causing it to short-circuit.
The billboard flashed:
"MegaCorp™ IS EVIL. DOWN WITH TYRANNY. ALL HAIL NEON GHOST."
City-wide protests immediately ignited.
Workers dropped their tools. Drones shorted out.
Hackers spammed every network with memes of Zeke wielding a glowing hot dog like a sword.
...
Corporate Executive #1: (sweating) "He's destabilizing the entire sector."
Corporate Executive #2: (screaming) "I WANT HIS HEAD."
...
Zeke, still holding his now-soggy hot dog, gasped for breath in a sewer tunnel.
Zeke: "I...I just wanted lunch..."
Bitty: "Mission Status: Revolutionary Icon Achieved."
Zeke: (whimpering) "I didn't even get extra mustard..."