Sarah led Tellie, Julio and Kataro into a cluttered office room.
She asked them politely to take a seat, she then leaned over towards a portable generator and pulled the cord. The generator roared to life. She sat down on a chair behind a desk, which had a dusty laptop. The generator was loud. All the dust was spreading around the room from the shaking generator.
Julio noticed it powered the computer and fan stand. Enough light was seeping through the window to give sufficient lighting in the room.
Sarah had to raise her voice to speak over the sound of the generator. “Sorry about the mess, and the noise. This should hopefully only temporary. There is a lot of construction and renovations going on right now. Soon, we'll have solar panels set up to generate enough power to run things more efficiently. This place keeps growing and growing I tell ya. Did you know this place only had 20 people three years ago? Now, thanks to Sherrif Claire's efforts, we now house over 200 people." Sarah was typing and taping on the laptops touch pad while so spoke, "Anyway, I'll be asking a few questions to learn about each of your skills and knowledge. From there, I'll see what open job positions would be a good fit to assign you. First, I'll being set each of you a company profile. This way, we can monitor your progress. I assure you, it matters. When I do a performance review later, you may be eligible for more benefits, such as your own living space instead of a shared quarters. Plus many more possible benefits, such as department transfer and vacation time. It all depends on your work ethic"
Julio and Kataro leaned forward with interested. Tellie on the other hand, looked anxious, like she wanted to leave. Her left foot started to tap.
Sarah looked in Tellie's direction, "Tellie, we’ll start with you. What would you-”
Tellie cut her off. “What positions are available where I don’t need to talk to people all day and what skills are required to get that gig?”
Sarah frowned but she to her computer. She was typing notes to place onto Tellies profile later. Tellie tried to peek but Sarah quickly minimized the note. “Now Tellie, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t interrupt me going forward. What are your notable skills and we’ll go from there?”
Tellie took a moment. “My skills include leadership, hardworking and um...good with tech...oh plus I’m really good at handling individual tasks without supervision and handling responsibilities”
Kataro closed his helmet visor to hide a smirk.
Julio was deep in thought, preparing on how to respond for when it was his turn to answer that same question.
Sarah was typing while Tellie spoke, “Thank you Tellie, I'll do some processing and research on my end and will back to you soon on what position will hopefully match those...skills and requests. Okay, Julio. You're next, same question”
Julio took off his beanie, scarf, and gloves. When Julio spoke, his voice was more like an rasphy echo. “I’m a skeleton, most of my skin and organs have fallen away. I cannot be harmed, I don't feel pain or hunger, and I can’t be killed...as far as I can tell, so I'd more than likely be ideal to protect the facility from anything. I don’t mind working late or early morning hours. Sleep isn’t necessary for me. I’m experienced with an assortment of weaponry”
Sarah nodded while she typed away on her computer, “Kataro, what are some of your skills that you bring to the community?”
Kataro raised his visor, “I’m a skilled motor vehicle mechanic and I’m somewhat experienced in welding”. Sarah smiled while she finished typing up her final notes.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Tellie turned to look at Kataro, "I didn't know that"
Kataro shrugged, "You never asked"
Sarah typed for a few moments before she shut down her computer and got up to turn off the generator. “Thank you everyone-", she cleared her voice, " I was about to lose my voice speaking so loud. OKay, now for your job assignments. Julio, You’ll be assigned to late-night entry gate watch. This area is the most eventful. You’ll have to prepare for wild animals and strange creatures, gangs, degenerates, and whatever other troubles that may walk up to the gate. I know that sounds unappealing but remember, most days you’ll just be staring off into the distance until an occasional nomad requests to join our community. You'll being handling paperwork for traders and visitors who pay to rest on site for the night. This is a hazardous position, but it pays well. If you do it right, you will go far.”
Julio nodded, “I don’t have any complaints or concerns”
Sarah smiled in his direction. Julio returned a grin, or at least, everyone thought he was grinning, it’s hard to tell with a skeleton.
Sarah continued, “If you fail at your task, for whatever reason, you will have to answer to Sheriff Claire”.
If Julio was grinning, he was certainly not grinning now. Julio nodded, “I understand”. He put his beanie and mask back on.
Sarah nodded, “Good, Good, I have a good feeling you’ll be perfect for your assigned job. Now Kataro, we have a repair bay that is understaffed. Our scout and transport vehicles often need maintenance and repair. We are in dire need of someone with mechanic expertise”. Kataro took off his helmet and took out his right hand to shake Sarah's hand excitedly, “Thank you, I won’t let you down”
Sarah tried not to laugh at Kataros wild helmet hair, “I’m glad to hear it. Now Tellie-"
Tellie turned to look at Sarah directly, she tried to look nonchalant, but Tellie was visibly eager to hear her assignment.
Sarah continued, "I’m short on options for self-starters like yourself. Until we find out your true potential, we will need you elsewhere in other areas. We have a custodial position, It’s-”
“Nope, I don’t need this. I’m out” Tellie stood up, opened the door and stormed out, “I’m NOT cleaning up after other people, thanks for the offer. No thanks." She yelled loud enough for them to hear as she walked down the hall. Julio and Kataro looked at each other, embarrassed by Tellie's actions.
Julio broke the silence, “Please don’t be too harsh on her, She's just a young teenager who hasn't had any parental guidance since the world went to shit. Please tell the Sheriff to go easy on her and to give her a second chance”. Susan sighed and sat back down in her chair. She crossed her hands and placed them on her lap. “I can’t promise anything. Even if I gave her a second chance, I can't say the Sherrfif will” She looked towards the door. “If she pushes the right buttons, he may……” Susan stopped talking and looked down at her lap, “I’m sorry, but when he’s in a mood, he’s not the type of guy that thinks before he speaks”.
Tellie strode down the hall and turned the corner. Sheriff Brody Claire was standing there, blocking her path with a power stance. He glared down at her with a visibly annoyed expression, gone was his usual smile. “You get back there and listen to Sarah, and do what she says. I can hear you down the call, I don’t have time for this”
Tellie stopped moving. “Yes sir,” she said angrily. She was already turning her back against her will. She felt the command taking control of her. She was shaking, fighting the command. The more she fought against the order, the more pain that shot through her. she put a hand on the wall, trying to stop herself. She was determined to fight against the order. The more she fought it, the more pain shot through her mind and body. The pain spread to every corner of her body, she cried in pain.
Sheriff Claire smiled, "It's no use fighting it"
Tellie, with her free hand, flipped him the bird.
Sheriff Claire's voice deepened, “I said, get back and listen to Sarah and do the job she tells you to do”. Tellie didn’t want to give up the fight, but the mental force telling her to head back was too overwhelming for her to deny. The residual pain while walking back, brought tears streaming down her eyes. While she walked back, she stood tall. She was determined to find a way to get around the pain when disobeying. Once she figured out a way to get past the pain, she will then plan Sherrif Clarie's painful demise.