Black File — Interlude: “Mai’s Protocol IV — Load Distribution”
The table was full again.
That was expected.
What wasn’t—
was how little it mattered.
Shammy didn’t even slow down this time.
“…no.”
Mai:
“Yes.”
Ace was already seated.
Grouse took position across from her.
Badger looked at the table.
Then at Mai.
Then at everyone else.
“…I don’t like this one.”
HeavenlyFather:
“…you won’t.”
Mai placed the food.
Not equal.
Not assigned.
A shared pool.
Shammy blinked.
“…what are we looking at.”
Mai:
“Distributed load.”
Badger:
“…that sounds illegal.”
Mai placed the device.
No timer this time.
That was worse.
⚖️
“Rule,” Mai said.
Silence.
“The total must be consumed.”
A beat.
“You decide who eats next.”
Silence.
Badger:
“…no.”
Mai:
“Yes.”
Shammy:
“Absolutely not.”
Mai:
“Required.”
Ace:
“Eat.”
⚖️
First move.
No one moved.
Badger pointed.
“YOU go.”
At Grouse.
Grouse:
“Accepted.”
He ate.
⚖️
Second move.
Grouse looked at Ace.
“…you.”
Ace:
“Confirmed.”
She ate.
⚖️
Third move.
Ace looked at Badger.
“…you.”
Badger froze.
“…betrayal.”
He ate.
Regret immediate.
“…why did I agree to this.”
⚖️
Fourth move.
Badger pointed at Shammy.
“YOU’RE UP.”
Shammy:
“NO.”
Mai:
“Non-compliance invalidates participation.”
Shammy stared.
“…fine.”
She ate.
“…this is manipulation.”
Mai:
“Yes.”
⚖️
Fifth move.
Shammy pointed at Mai.
“…you.”
Mai:
“Accepted.”
She ate.
No reaction.
⚖️
Sixth move.
Mai pointed at Badger.
Badger:
“NO—NO—ABSOLUTELY NOT—”
Mai:
“Assigned.”
Badger ate.
“…this is targeted.”
⚖️
Seventh move.
The pattern broke.
Everyone started choosing—
strategically.
Badger pointed at Ace.
Ace:
“Confirmed.”
She ate.
No hesitation.
⚖️
Eighth move.
Ace pointed at Shammy.
Shammy:
“…I hate you.”
She ate.
⚖️
Ninth move.
Shammy pointed at Badger.
Badger:
“STOP PICKING ME”
He ate.
“…this is bullying.”
HeavenlyFather:
“…this is consequence.”
⚖️
Tenth move.
Grouse observed.
Calculated.
He pointed at Mai.
“…optimal.”
Mai ate.
⚖️
Midpoint.
The food remained.
But now—
everyone was watching each other.
Not the table.
⚖️
Badger snapped.
“OKAY—NEW RULE—I PICK MYSELF”
Mai:
“Invalid.”
Badger:
“THIS SYSTEM IS BROKEN”
Mai:
“No.”
⚖️
Shammy slowed.
“…I’m not doing another one.”
Mai:
“You will.”
Shammy:
“…I won’t.”
Ace looked at her.
“…you will.”
Shammy sighed.
“…I hate all of you.”
She ate.
⚖️
Late phase.
The choices got sharper.
Badger stopped picking randomly.
Started targeting.
Grouse.
“…you.”
Grouse:
“Accepted.”
He ate.
No hesitation.
⚖️
Ace waited.
Watched.
Then pointed—
Badger.
“…you.”
Badger:
“OF COURSE IT’S ME”
He ate.
“…this is personal now.”
⚖️
Final phase.
Only a few portions left.
Everyone slowed.
No one wanted the next pick.
⚖️
Mai spoke.
“Completion required.”
Silence.
⚖️
Grouse moved first.
He pointed at himself.
“…accepted.”
He ate.
Badger:
“…that was illegal.”
Mai:
“Within rules.”
⚖️
Last portion.
Silence.
Everyone looked—
not at the food—
but at each other.
⚖️
Ace pointed.
“…Grouse.”
Silence.
Grouse looked at the portion.
Then at Ace.
A beat.
“…accepted.”
He ate.
Finished.
🧾 Outcome
Mai:
“Load completed.”
Badger:
“THIS WAS WAR”
Shammy leaned back.
“…this was worse than all of them.”
HeavenlyFather:
“…yes.”
Grouse nodded once.
“…optimal distribution.”
Ace:
“Effective.”
🧠 Epilogue
Later.
Empty table.
No leftovers.
Shammy:
“…I feel manipulated.”
Badger:
“I WAS TARGETED”
Mai:
“System functioned.”
Ace walked past.
Paused.
“…inefficient.”
Mai:
“Yes.”
A beat.
“Effective.”
Grouse stood still.
“…balanced.”
Ace nodded once.
“…noted.”
And moved on.
Because sometimes—
it isn’t the food—
It’s who decides
who carries it.
End.
—
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