“You have arrived at your destination,” John's phone said with its robotic lady voice.
John wasn’t so sure the robotic voice was right. He stopped in the middle of a quiet well-maintained road and looked around confused. The area was not welcoming. Endless towering metal fences, topped with looped barbed wires, lined the streets. Luckily, there were no other vehicles behind him, but John pulled off to the side of the road just in case. He parked his car to get a better understanding of his current location.
Rolling down the windows, John then unplugged his phone from the USB charger connected to his car. He turned his head left and right and spotted a sign. Looking up and down, he did a double take on the address on the GPS and the sign a bit further ahead to make sure he was at the right spot.
“55555 Landing Lane… the address number looks right. But what the heck is this place? A military base?” John mumbled to himself as he glanced at the large numbers on a sign that led to a guarded entry post.
John was not completely wrong, but the place he was heading towards was not an actual military establishment. He glanced to the side and across the stretch of river that isolated the real military base and saw tiny figures of military personnel running and training in the distance.
I can’t be in the actual base since I never came across a checkpoint. Not that I would be even allowed in. But there’s a checkpoint over there. Is that the entry to the other half of the base? Does that mean I am about to enter the base now? Maybe they’ll let me in for the job application?
John tilted his head with a confused look.
But the job posting never mentioned being military-related.
John could only find out. His car whirred to life as he turned on the engine and drove back onto the road. Turning into the driveway, he continued into the checkpoint and pulled up to a window booth guarded by armed men in uniform.
“Halt. State your business,” the clean-cut blonde military man coldly said as his dull blue eyes narrowed. John slightly stuck his head out of the car and replied.
“Oh. Um. I’m here for a job posting. My GPS led me here. First World Trading? Is this the right place? I don’t think it mentioned anything about a military base.”
“This is not a military installation,” he said back with a curt response.
John looked around at the other servicemen in the other booths and the manned blockades. He glanced back at the man’s camouflage uniform, certain he was military personnel. One of John’s eyebrows arched up as he gave the serviceman a dubious questioning look. The man grunted back in annoyance, but he did not want to be misunderstood.
“We are only guarding First World on behalf of military interests. We do not work for them.”
“Oh. Ok.”
The heck? Isn’t that the same thing as working with them if you’re guarding their place? And military interests? What kind of place am I going to interview for?
“So that means I’m at the right spot?”
“No offense, but you do not look ex-military. So you obviously must not be here for the job as a Field Guard. You here for the Field Worker position?”
“Ah! Yeah. That’s the job posting I was looking at. So this is the place then?”
“Yeah. Here. Read and sign the NDA. Make sure you understand all the clauses before signing. It is not a typical civilian legal document. By signing, you will be agreeing to abide by all terms, which will be partially subject to following certain military laws and procedures.”
“Oh…” John stopped reaching his hand for the papers with the disclosure agreement. There was a slight hesitation in his voice. He had no idea what the man meant by ‘subject to military law.’ It was not in the job description.
The serviceman glanced at John with belittling eyes. He thought if John was scared off by mere papers, then he was unsuited for the more dangerous job to come.
“Uh. Question. What’s the difference between military law and, um, I guess, the normal law?”
The military man sighed, having to once again explain the difference. “First World is making this harder than it needs to be. You can find this information online. They should just plainly state all their requirements somewhere. I do not know how they even got this deal being so outdated. Who takes in-person job applications these days anyway? Everything is online now.”
Seemingly finished ranting out his frustrations, he continued his explanation to John with a gruff and pointed tone.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Listen up. I will only explain this once. The military runs on an additional set of laws and proceedings.
However, you do not need to know everything since the NDA you will be signing is only partially impacted. All you need to be aware of is that the punishments for breaking the NDA will be held to the military’s discretion. If you dare leak this information with the intent of treason then you will be executed. Plain and simple, right?”
John looked at the man with a deadpan expression.
Plain and simple he says. How the hell is that simple or plain!? He just said I could be killed for leaking the info! What is going on here?
John did not say a word. He knew the man wouldn’t respond even if he asked from the serviceman’s smirk and eyes that belittled him. However, John started to second guess if he actually wanted to continue applying for the job given its potentially deadly consequences. The serviceman scoffed, knowing he was right about John. His first impression already told him that John wouldn’t cut it for this job.
“Those are the rules. If you looking to be all kumbaya here then leave. The job is not easy or pretty. Strict discipline is needed or injury and death are certain to happen. You will not get past us and these gates if you cannot follow basic orders. You can still turn back. This place is not meant for everyone.”
To John, all he heard was rejection. It reminded him of his failed attempt for a potential job yesterday night, and that alone ignited his fighting senses.
“No!” John shouted, blasting a loud defiant yell at the military man. John suddenly turned meek and quieted his voice, noticing the deep lines forming a frightening frown on the serviceman’s face.
“I’ll do it,” John said, snatching the stack of paper like it was the last piece of food on Earth. “I just thought the disclosure thing would come later.”
The man smirked. “Ok, do not say I did not warn you. Everyone has the right to choose how they want to suffer. Pull through and park in the open lots over there. But do not dare do anything else, especially driving through those blockades. You will be shot on sight. Return back to me with your paperwork when you are done. Got it?”
John nodded his head and drove off.
Jeez, what the heck? Is that military dude trying to scare me off? Ha. Fat chance, dude. I need this job more than some spewing from that rando.
His car parked, John turned off the engine and proceeded to read the NDA. John’s eyes glanced through the agreement word by word and line by line. At first, he made no reactions, but then his head slowly tilted. The more John read the more his face twisted and his eyes widened.
“Boot camp? Why would I need boot camp? I thought this was a normal job? And worse yet, is this even possible? Does military law allow for such things? I really can be killed for treason if I let anyone know about this? But I’m not even in the military! Even if I get the job, I would only be considered a military contractor. They can’t do this can they?”
Should I stop now? Shit. This leaves a really bad taste in my mouth. Fine! I just have to keep my mouth shut right? Easy. As long as they pay me, I can do anything! Even if that means scrubbing their crapping bowls!
John gripped the pen attached to the clipboard holding the disclosure agreements. He filled out some basic personal information before moving on to the NDA. He signed them, putting extra pressure in a display of his commitment. Turning on his car, he reversed and drove out and back around to the serviceman in the booth.
“Ok, here. I signed them.” John said, extending the paperwork to the serviceman.
The corner of the military man’s mouth arched up in a smirk. “Thought you turned tail and ran. Guess there is some man in you after all.”
John furrowed his eyebrows as wrinkles formed along his forehead. “What? You want me to back up all the way here instead? Because I can.”
The military man chuckled. “Hold your pantyhose. Though you did drive out, you turned around and came back. Means you did not run, right?”
John huffed back, “I never ran away. I’m going to do this. You can’t stop me.”
The military man momentarily ignored John’s comments and slipped the paperwork into a feeder that scanned in and verified all the documents. A quick background search through the database showed nothing of concern, giving the green light.
The service man refocused back on John and feigned innocence while shrugging his shoulders.
“Who said I was trying to stop you? Look.”
John followed the man’s pointing figure to the gates that pulled open for John to enter.
“See? Nothing is stopping you now. Welcome to your new hell hole, new recruit. Go to the left. That is where all the workers in the field will be. See ya on the other side, bro. I have a feeling we will meet again.”
“Yeah. Thanks.” But no thanks, bro. I’d rather not see you again, asshole.
The military man leaned against the glass and waved at John as he disappeared past the closing gates. His partner inside the booth that worked the other empty lane turned to him and shook his head.
“Get that creepy look off yer face, Jay.”
“Dunno whatever you talking about, Sam.”
“Poor kid. Seemed like he been struggling. You saw his car packed with all that stuff? He’s got no luck, and he now also gets targeted by the cruel boot camp trainer for new grunts. Remember, Jay. They be civilians, even if they gonna be military contractors. Especially, them Field Workers. They not gonna be guards. Go easy on them, they ain’t one of us.”
“Yeah, yeah. Appreciate the advice, but I know how to do my job, Sam. It is my role to get them into shape and keep them alive. I will not harm them… Much, that is.”
The dark shadows under a pair of scheming eyes and a devious smile on Jay’s face made Sam shudder.
“Poor souls. They all gonna vomit for the first few days. I still hate you for that, ya twisted bastard. First World is gonna give us hell if you keep scarin’ away all their new workers. You want the higher-ups involved again?”
The sly face froze, and Jay puffed out a breath of reluctance. “Got it. I will remember that.”
“You better. We got no more excuses.”
John did not know of his impending hellish training with the boot camp instructor. He brushed off his encounter with Jay, saying good riddance to the misfortune of meeting him.
The road was looking better for John. Clear blue skies and a gentle warm breeze invited him down the path past many enormous warehouse buildings. A large sign reading, “Field Worker and Field Guard Applicants,” with a large black arrow directed John to his destination.
John pulled into a full parking lot and parked his car. He took out a folder with his resume before locking his vehicle. Patting down his dress shirt and pants, John took a deep breath and followed the signs to a large multistory building.
He curiously looked around at the area that could potentially become his new workplace. Service members patrolled the place, walking beside the black asphalt roads on the gray cement.
Everything was dark gray cement.
There was no greenery or a plant in sight. Even the main building John was heading towards was a minimalist multistory cement structure with simple boxed-out windows that let in the sunlight.
Every detail and aspect was practical and efficient with straight lines and sharp edges. Even the cement path John walked on was a straight line that took a jagged turn to the entrance of the building. Heavy-looking bolted metal double doors stopped John from entering the building. That, and a pair of armed servicemen blocked the entryway.
“Field Worker applicant?” The serviceman assumed, eyeing John’s boney figure.
“Yes.”
“Enter and proceed to the lobby. Wait there for further instructions.”
John nodded as the thick metal door creaked open. He quietly entered and the doors slammed shut behind him, locking him in with no way back. Be it now or anytime in the future.