Chapter 2
One block turned into two, three, then five. By the tenth Electa slowed to a walk, breaths heavy. I should really exercise more, nah to much work. I should really wake up on time.
The Neon Sector, in which she lived, had transitioned to the Business District. That wasn't their actual names, but only the corp employees used the real names.
Neon Sector was a winding maze of potholed roads. The buildings were squat affairs, neon lights that gave the sector its name adorned every building. Balconies hung on the walls, many connecting one building to its neighbor, and if the business was particularly affluent it would have all its shingles and shutters intact. Bars covered many first story windows, more of a deterrent to vandals and burglars than actual security. Scarred and heavily muscled men and women leaned against doors or sat on broken chairs and boxes while they scanned the people passing, they were the actual security, Enforcers. Were you to risk looking closely you could see the glow of cybernetic eyes at work on many, and most if not all would be augmented with strength enhancements.
The Business District she was passing through now was a different world. Every building rose dozens of floors, they would have been called skyscrapers but when every building touched the sky, the name didn't really feel right. They were monstrous affairs of glass and metal, the windows and supports polished to a mirror shine. The streets were paved with a white material that felt like the asphalt used in the Neon Sector but never seemed to crack or pit. The streets were lit by bright lights on the corners that reflected off the buildings, illuminating everything. Where the Neon Sector had shifty thieves, jumped up enforcers and blitzed drug addicts lining the streets, here in the Business District, men and women in suits with briefcases were the norm. A few were like Electa wearing clean but less professional clothes, but everyone was moving briskly and nobody loitered in doorways.
What did that box do? I don’t feel any different, but bugger all it hurt.
Turning a corner she could see the building she was headed for, with a grunt Electa sped back up to a jog. As she approached, the door slid open automatically. Bright light and a sparkling entryway greeted her, the welcome desk staffed by a skinny young man. He was wearing a grey suit and tie with rimless glasses. Paired with his perpetually messy hair he had a sort of frazzled professor look.
“Electa, you’re late! I’m buzzing the elevator for you now, what happened?” The man hit a button on his desk before adjusting his glasses and the screen above the elevator changed from three to two with a down arrow.
“Thanks Kirk!” I was knocked out by a box some random corp sent me. “Guess I overslept!” The screen changed to one and with a ding the elevator opened.
“Jenny invited us to come see her dance tonight.” It was code that their information broker, and Kirk’s long time crush, had a job for them.
“I’ll be there. Bye Kirk.” With a wave Electa stepped into the elevator, hitting the B3 button. A thumbprint scanner lit up and she scanned her thumb. With a beep the elevator moved down before opening into a short hallway with one door at the end. A keypad and a sign stating “Elysium Cleaning'' were all that adorned the hallway. A quick pin entry and the door unlocked for Electa to enter. Lockers and another desk, the man sitting behind this one was not nearly as friendly looking as Kirk was above.
“No punching in until you're ready for work.” With a nod Electa rushed over to her locker, swapping her sweater for a tunic reminiscent of a nurse's scrubs and a bandana to tie off her hair. She shut the locker and hurried up to the desk.
“Schedule please.” Electa asked, the man handed her a print out of her tasks for the day. A timeclock sat on the desk and she punched in for work.
“Thirteen minutes and forty five seconds late. Pay deduction or penalty time?”
Grimacing she replied, “Penalty time”
“That's forty one minutes and fifteen seconds of penalty, amended scheduled clock out is no earlier than sixteen forty two. Understood?”
“Yes sir” Triple the work for every minute late, gah this is bogus. At least I can still make it to meet Jenny tonight.
“Get to work then.”
Grabbing a cart of cleaning supplies from the wall opposite the lockers, Electa turned back to the door and elevator beyond.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
UI 1 [https://preview.redd.it/ui-chapter-2-v0-e2wy8sqeq2wc1.png?width=563&format=png&auto=webp&s=82dd4b8a783527fb90d9d7125d0884f4a6428d1f]
Electa staggered, a hologram hovered before her and as soon as she finished reading, it disappeared. She stood there, about to open the door back to the elevator. What in the…
“You're on the clock, no dawdling. Get to work.” Years working under the fear of retaliation snapping her out of her stupor, Electa started walking.
UI 2 [https://preview.redd.it/ui-chapter-2-v0-ry72prqeq2wc1.png?width=563&format=png&auto=webp&s=03365603556ea30769c6d43b2b30a969eed49b42]
“Obedient!” Electa stopped again, her cart of cleaning supplies having just started pushing open the door.
“Do your job cleaner. I’m adding ten minutes of penalty for talking back. Now get moving!” The man behind the desk yelled.
Fists clenching on the cart handle, Electa left the room. The door swinging shut behind her.
UI 3 [https://preview.redd.it/ui-chapter-2-v0-rwaxasqeq2wc1.png?width=563&format=png&auto=webp&s=12ae631f9c38b9585d56431662a5c34d6ad34db2]
I’m not some dog! Electa turned, hand grabbing the door handle, ready to storm back to her supervisor's desk. Gods damn it. Keep your cool Electa. All that will get you is more penalty time and you can’t be late to meet Jenny tonight. Slowly Electa released the door handle, with a steadying breath she returned to her cart and headed for the elevator. A glance at the schedule and she was off to the seventeenth floor, and her first assignment for the day. What is going on? This has to be because of the box. What did that thing do to me, and what's up with this trait? Obedient? Yeah I did what I was told but really? Follow orders one time and I'm obedient. And it's assigning values to me? Like stats in a game. Willpower…
UI 4 [https://preview.redd.it/ui-chapter-2-v0-amf66sqeq2wc1.png?width=563&format=png&auto=webp&s=a8e9d17bf5ca421c891b9eb7faff3641110df7c5]
That's not very helpful. At least I can interact with this system. System?
UI 5 [https://preview.redd.it/ui-chapter-2-v0-pu4b5sqeq2wc1.png?width=563&format=png&auto=webp&s=904ad065732a12f40429a84c08cc0ad4a8c5d5c2]
That doesn't sound good. Okay. This doesn't tell me anything about what's going on but I can figure it out. A ding rang out and the door slid open. So what is the rest of this about, the trait message had a variable. Variable Attribute.
UI 6 [https://preview.redd.it/ui-chapter-2-v0-zvgrlsqeq2wc1.png?width=563&format=png&auto=webp&s=95d068262dcc229c365258f06f9683a18daa6ac9]
Electa started out of the elevator. Now that, that is actually helpful. Wait, that could actually be a good trait. If someone told me to run, could I run faster than normal?
Bump
"Fucking servant!"
Electa froze, slowly she looked up from her cart. Standing before her was Frank. He worked on this floor, was one of the most sadistic people she had ever met, and she had just pushed her cart into him. He grabbed her cart, yanked violently and flipped it away from them.
"Just like I said, that cleaning company never should have hired sub species filth." His hand flashed forward, the smack of hand on cheek rang through the hallway.
Electa's body stilled, her breaths deepened and came slightly faster, her body instantly ready for a fight. This should be fun. No, don't fight back, you need this job. Even as she war'd with herself, her hands clenched into fists.
UI 7 [https://preview.redd.it/ui-chapter-2-v0-827djsqeq2wc1.png?width=563&format=png&auto=webp&s=3c9ab88b9d1317e7e006d5f162604efe9ec7b5c9]
Electa smirked. Now that is a good trait.
Frank sputtered, "A smile, you're smiling now! How do you like this" Frank pulled his arm back, grossly telegraphing an uppercut punch.
Amateur. Electa had been in enough back alley fights to know how to take a punch, and the idea of another fight excited her. You can't fight back, you need this job. Fighters' instincts took over. Flexing her stomach muscles and with a slight turn as his fist landed most of the force was diverted. Weak, I'll still have a bruise but..
UI 8 [https://preview.redd.it/ui-chapter-2-v0-l1t0orqeq2wc1.png?width=563&format=png&auto=webp&s=c56da3046c43a681015642ca3c02cacba1b46532]
I knew it! A full grin bloomed on Electa's face. "I'm so sorry sir." Her voice was silky as sick pleasure coursed through her. The thrill of a fight and the thought that this new system would give her perks for it warmed her blood. A small corner of her mind shrieked, Stop! You need this job still, yet a far stronger side had already won out, Time to put this weakling in his place.
UI 9 [https://preview.redd.it/ui-chapter-2-v0-de422sqeq2wc1.png?width=563&format=png&auto=webp&s=6df01ee6aceacd247eb42ef1f52eb77e17567cac]
Frank paled, spooked by the glint in her eyes, he took a half step back. "I'll be having a word with your boss about this" His voice shook, then he circled around her. Cowering like a mouse before a cat, he slowly circled her before sprinting to the elevator and smashing the button repeatedly. Once inside, as the door began to close, his courage returned, "I'll have you fired for this, filth!"
A full minute passed as Electa stared at the elevator. Her breaths slowed and her racing heart calmed. With a sigh she relaxed her hands. Damn, I almost lost it there. Good thing he ran. I can't afford to get fired for punching someone. Although, I got a Skill this time. Turning her cart upright, Electa started picking up various cleaning supplies and organizing them into it. I'll have to see what other skills I can get the system to recognize after work. Wait, what does that even do? Do these traits and skills actually mean anything or is this just how I am and gaining a skill doesn't actually do anything? Heading off down the hallway Electa entered an office and started cleaning.
By the end of her shift Electa was feeling really good about her day. Not only had she not punched Frank, her boss had already left when she made it back to his desk to punch out. The system had been mostly quiet, but she had worked out a few more commands that would give her information and had obtained another skill, Cleaning. While it wasn't as exciting as Hand to Hand Combat, if her guess was right and after the forty eight hour period the skills would actually make her better than she currently was, this was a good one. Cleaning would make her job far easier, plus she just felt good after a deep cleaning session. Kirk was gone as she passed the lobby and Electa started down the street for home. I wonder if I can get a running skill? That would have been helpful this morning. Electa jogged along the sidewalk, after a minute she got another notification telling her the running skill had been recognized. With a smile she finished her trip home at a run.