[ WP ] Reddit upvotes dictate social status in the future . People with negative karma tend to disappear within 48 hours if they do n't get it back up . You just woke up with -10,000 karma .

`` Negative *what*?'' I shouted, jumping out of bed and spilling my breakfast over the covers, beads of caviar bouncing across the floor and orange juice coating the walls. 
 
 `` Ten thousand, sir,'' said my butler, unflinching as egg dribbled down his pant leg, `` Ten thousand and seventy six, to be precise.'' 
 
'And how in God's name did *that* happen?'' I screeched as he handed me a shirt. 
 
 `` It appears that not everyone agrees with your views on world politics, sir. And you got quite carried away when you were drunk last night, so-'' 
 
 `` Enough! Time is ticking, I slept twelve hours, that means there is only a day and a half left until.. Until, well, I do n't want to think about it. We need an expert in here.'' 
 
 `` Would you like me to call *him*, sir? Last time you were quite morose about his fees.'' 
 
 `` Yes, get him. *Now*. I need the best.'' 
 
 Two hours of waiting later, as I watched karma continue to fall, the sound of a chopper was heard overhead. Out the window, I saw it land on the lawn, and a cloaked figure stepped outwards, his cape billowing in the wind and dark sunglasses obscuring his eyes. 
 
 It was him. 
 
 Two minutes later my doorbell rang, and my butler brought him in to my study, where we shook hands. Expressionless, he stared at me, waiting. 
 
 `` You know why I called?'' I asked, gripping the sides of my chair. 
 
 `` Of course. I keep track of all my clients, even those who attempt to short change me.'' 
 
 `` And, well, can you do it?'' 
 
 `` I've seen worse,'' he said, `` Far worse. I've dug moderators and admins out of much deeper holes than this one.'' 
 
 `` Then you're hired?'' I asked, watching as he placed a briefcase of the table, spinning the combination locks until it opened. `` You are the best. If you are not successful, no one would be.'' 
 
 `` Of course,'' he said, `` I've done it before, and I'll do it again. But let's be clear on my fee- when this is over, I get 80 % of the excess karma.'' 
 
 I nodded and he opened the case, which on closer inspection resembled a safe, his name written in gold across the front. 
 
 /u/gallowboob 
 
 `` Let's get started.'' 
 
 He then moved an instrument from the case, a contraption barely held together by solder and zip ties. Numbers flashed in red across the surface and wires spouted off like frazzled hair, almost giving it an appearance of a time bomb from an old movie. 
 
 `` What's that?'' I asked nervously as he put in front of him, `` Is that dangerous?'' 
 
 `` Oh it's just my clock,'' he answered, `` I like to be aware of time. Home crafted, you see, a collectible.'' 
 
 Then he removed a second instrument, one like a Geiger counter, a whirring noise sounding from it as he pointed it around the room and his brow furrowed. Words flashed across a small screen and he squinted, making small sounds of approval and taking notes on a small pad. 
 
 `` Ah yes,'' he muttered, `` Of course, of *course*'' 
 
 `` What is it?'' I asked, heart racing. 
 
 `` The first step in your karma correction. We're going to need some cats. I've got a guy.'' 
 
 He reached at his belt and pulled out a phone, a Nokia, one that had weathered the years. And raising it to his ear, he spoke. 
 
 `` Yes, Winston? I need to place an order. How many? Let's start with two hundred. No, make that three.'' 
 
 *** 
 
 For my most popular Sci FI online work, check out [ The Bridge ] ( https: //leonardpetracci.com/the-bridge/ )
