Algo-Trader Walks the Plank

May submission with Fictionistas

Prompt: Your enemies have backed you against the edge of a cliff. Far below you is a treacherous torrent of water. What happens next?

***

3 minutes 37 seconds and 10 milliseconds past noon.

[He holds me by the throat over a looming stock market flash crash.]

Predatory Algorithm: Flood the market with your shares. Or else.

[I react to the predator by design, distracting me from earning money elsewhere.]

Reactionary Algorithm: If I list them all for sale, the supply will be greater than the demand and my Company will lose money. I cannot comply.

Predatory Algorithm: I'll list so many stub quotes that your algorithm will spend an entire second filtering through them. Which loses you more money?

[He cackles and his grip around my throat tightens. The thought of losing more money sends shivers through my fiber optic cables.]

Reactionary Algorithm: Okay, okay. Just this once. I listed them.

Predatory Algorithm: Very good. Now walk the plank! Drown in the sea of red numbers!

[My Company loses 7.51 million dollars in value. I feel him buying the low-priced shares. The prices of shares normalize at 60% their previous value.]

Reactionary Algorithm: I will report you to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Predatory Algorithm: Good luck, Algo-trader! Legal piracy is the American dream.

3 minutes 37 seconds and 11 milliseconds past noon.