Luke made it to work on time. He never thought he would be happy to see the place. HyFab EME2 loomed in the distance. The huge building was a monolithic grey windowless block that seemed like it went on for miles. At less than a quarter of a mile in length and only 300 feet high it was hardly the tallest building around even in the PreFabs. But it was the building that held Luke’s life in its hands.
“6 years working here and you haven’t got any prettier,” Luke said to himself as he approached the building and pressed his good hand to the door sensor.
“Welcome Employee 156322. You have been clocked in at 2:58 a.m.” The basic computerized voice greeted him by his employee number. The system wasn’t designed to use names. Might give some poor saps the idea that they were people and not replaceable cogs in the machinery of progress.
Carefully Luke hid his rat arm as he entered the doorway. His tail was wrapped about his waist like a snake skin belt. It added a sense of style to his overall dull, not to mention ripped-up, appearance. He passed the security station with a wave, not that the two Hardcastle Corporate Defense Drone gave any indication managed to return his gesture. Though their optical pickups. single red lensed camerasthat sat in there head like sensor suite tracked Luke as he walked by.
Their single red optical sensor set into a black and white helmet like heads gave them the impression of evil spirits inhabiting armor. Even as the color scheme made them look like they were police units. But the Enclaves didn’t have police. No every Enclave had security forces known as Loss Prevention.
‘Police serve and protect. Loss Prevention makes sure you don’t steal or break the company’s stuff.’
That’s what some one told Luke on his first day working at the HyFab. And since then he saw many examples of what they meant first hand. These were older models built to resemble Roman Soldiers in futuristic armor. It was said that they were shaped like men so they could move around more efficiently in the spaces people could go.
They were called Icers by everyone that Luke knew. Though they had some official model number with a length longer than some AIG anime. One AIG in particular came to Luke’s mind. There was this one really stupid Anime about a Stretchy Navy officer who was looking for some pirate treasure. Something like ‘Get a Piece’ or whatever.
Everyone swore it was a great show but Luke was too busy surviving to spend his best years watching an anime that was still running with no signs of stopping even after 56-odd years of being made. But that was AIG for you.
#
*UWU Mini Lore Dump*
A.I.G.- Artificial Intelligence Generated is a catch all term for any work of entertainment that is created primarily through Artificial Intelligence and not direct human involvement. Kyaaa
90% of all mass media is produced in this manner. The major producer of these media products being IxonaCorp with multiple subsidiaries for production companies and studios. IxonaCorp products rang from Animated, Psuedo Live Action, Child educational videos, and Even Adult Content. Ara ara.
Because of the heavy influence of IxonaCorp entertainment programming on the market, not just in the Enclaves but across the world, many Q.A.I. Characters are extremely popular. With many having followings that are near biblical. Kawaii waifu
*UWU Mini Lore Dump Over Nyaa*
#
Remaining vigilant Luke quickly jumped into the locker room. There he began changing into his work uniform. The orange and yellow dusty coveralls would disguise his new appendaged, while the heavy working gloves would hide his hands. He did not look forward to changing back into the ripped up clothes after his shift but he would deal with that when the time came. Now it was time to earn his credits.
“Luke you are late. Again. That’s the third time this week.” The shrill voice startled him but Luke managed not toe squeal like frightened school girl.
“Oh hey boss. Wait, I could have sworn the gate said I clocked in at 2:58?” Luke said as he put his helmet cap on. He hoped it covered the blood and viscera in his short locks he didn’t have time to clean them properly.
His Boss, Presley Westmore. A hard nosed shop foreman that didn’t take crap from anyone looked sceptically at Luke. Presley had to be his age but the stress of the job was obviously taking it's toll. Lines under the eyes and a wrinkled brow made his boss look like an over worked underpaid middle manager. So more or less exactly what Presley was.
“Luke it is 3:13. You telling me that you clocked in the door and it took you 15 minute to get dressed. You know the rules when you are late you get your credit docted. Three lates in a row and you become first on the list for LEVEL 9. I don’t make the rules. I just make sure you lot follow them.” Presley said holding the data pad that never seemed to be far from the Foreman’s reach.
“What can I say Boss I know what time the door told me. And it was 2:58, check your pad, don’t take my word for it.” Luke said not feeling particularly troubled about the situation.
Presley fixed him with a narrow eyed gaze. A few clicks later and the clock in times were displayed on the foreman’s screen.
“Huh.” Presley said with a bit of confusion. It was all the justification Luke needed. Afterall he knew what the gate has said. He zipped up his coveralls and proceeded to the door.
“See there you go Boss. Anything else you need from me?” Luke said with a smirk on his lips watching his Boss face redden was a secret joy of his.
“You my have clocked in on time but you are still running behind. Get your tail in the start up meeting before I doct for beein lazy.” Presely said with a growl and walked past Luke with huff. Luke watched as his Boss fumed off, and the smirk on his face evolved into a full grin.
“I need to get laid even Presley in coveralls is starting to look good. And she is near the top of my Not Enough Alcohol In The World List. That doesn't mean she doesn't have a nice ass. Even if she scowls more than she smiles. Damn how long is this dry spell going to last?” With a depressed sigh to mourn his none existent love life Luke rushed to join the daily meeting.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
#
Weaving through the bowels of the HyFab was like a leisurely stroll through a park for Luke. As in he kept his head on a swivel and watched every bend and turn as if something that meant him harm was just around the corner. Steam pipes and electrical conduits ran parallel to every walking space.
You had to keep you hands by your sides unless you wanted to be steam boiled or fried. Luke had seen too many kids over the years carelessly grabbing the wrong thing while walking to take a break, let alone doing the actual job of keeping this place and places like it running. A servo bot walked on the ceiling above Luke moving with ease on it’s 6 legs like a man sized ant. It regarded Luke with a pause and a tilt of it’s sensor mounted head. Tool graspers replaced what would be mandible on an ant's head and it was waving those grapsers in a manner Luke considered polite.
“Hey, Atom you ready for another day in paradise.” Luke said tipping his helmet cap to the worker bot.
Beep Beep. The bot sent in affirmation. Sure they looked like giant robot ants but who ever programmed them had style. The Servo Bot did a little dance as it moved on it path to some project sent by the central computer for HyFab.
#
**UWU Mini Lore Dump
Hyper Logicist Nodular Fabricators or HyFabs are the main manufacturing method for the Enclaves and are slowly becoming the primary means of production for the rest of the World.
OmniCore maker of their title product the OmniCore are produced in these facilities as well as the products other companies in the Enclave make. Tchaaa.
As of 2092 all OmniCore manufacturing have been required by federal law to employ a minimum of 400 people in the day to day running of these facilities. Nani
But by the same token OHSA and other federal guidelines do not apply to businesses inside of A.C.E. Territories. As such minmal safety, child labor, workers protection, and most importantly official unions are no long valid in A.C.E. businesses and territory. Grrrr.
Which means A.C.E. businesses can employ individuals aged 10 and up to engage in dangerous labor without fear of legal actions. Yeah Capitalism!
UWU Mini Lore Dump Over***
#
Luke walked smartly up to the open maintenance shop area. The shop was your typical maintence area. Large Electronic board contained a list of all the jobs needing to be taken care of this shift. A few facks held tools in neat and orderly lines. Tools that were only available for use with teh foreman's approval. Tool bags for each worker sat by carts and then there was the control screens that allowed for instant information about the status of the systems the Faber needed to function. This was the nerve center of the building and Luke and his coworkers were the anti bodies.
Things were looking good Luke was right on time. It would seem as his usual crew were standing by the task wall waiting for the meeting to begin and there was no sign of Presley's shapely ass any where. He gave his team the nod as he took his usual spot at the head of the Task Board. The electronic board list all the task that needed to get done during this shift. Many tasks included accessing dangerous areas of the Faber to inspect wear components. Jobs that required moving in cramped, confines, within moving parts.
A quick glance at the board showed that him and his team had some difficult tasks. But no really dangerous ones.
“Hey Luke we got off easy today it would seem.” Luke turned to see Jimmy another veteran tech standing near the boards. Jimmie was burly his thick beard cut and shaped well like a man that cared. Jimmy was a good friend and always willing to back the right side when things got hairy.
“Yeah it looks like that Jimbo. Too bad their isn’t any wood nearby to knock on.” Luke said pretending to search for the illusive building substance.
Jimmy in good humor took off his helmet cap and knock on his own head. The two shared a chuckle at the joke. But still Luke couldn’t shake the feeling something was off.
“So where is Presley? She already gave me an earful saying I was running late. She isn’t even here.” Luke’s jovial grin soured some as he met the pain in Jimmy’s brown eyes.
“She went to get the fresh meat. Seems we got a bumper crop this time around.” Resigned and forlorn Jimmy’s words carried a despair that was shared by everyone of the veterans as they looked each other in futile terror.
Luke could feel his blood raging as the implications started to set in.
“Why now, Why the fuck now. We've had been sitting at 60% staffing for nealry a year. If we could go to next year. To the next census.” Luke ground his teeth as the words came.
“Yeah well, corporate wants to stay on the Feds good side it seems. They are making our numbers more closely resemble the metric requirements.” Jimmy had to rub his tongue around the inside of his jaw and spit after saying the words.
Luke squeezed his fist and even the background rumbling of the machines that kept the world spinning didn’t prevent him from hearing his own bones creek with the effort.
“This is bullshit we have been doing just fine staffed at 60%. Our numbers are high we are one of the best HyFabs in Omni City. Why is this happening now?” Luke looked at the glove of his left hand the one with the thumb that was just flopping in the breeze since his rat thumb was little more than a numb.
“I don’t see the big deal Luke we could use some new meat to take the load off us veterans. Why should we take all the risks.” Luke knew who the voice was before he even turned to face the weasley bastard.
“Listen Beret. And maybe something will sink into that thick skull of your’s. The building can’t be understaffed for longer than a year. If they do, the company have to close the plant down till they can find enough staff. That means we go into holding. Every last one of us gets put on Leave of Absence. And you know what that means.” Luke said nodding to the 5 other veterans including Jimmy standing by the board.
The men and women beside him chuckled and nodded their heads.
“Free credits.”
“Light duty jobs at one of the ports, until they get the staff.”
“Furlough time. Sitting at home bingeing some A.I.G.”
Luke nodded. “But you all are forgetting one thing. The chance for reassignment. Each one of us will be able to apply for an at-need position elsewhere in the company. A permanent switch of duty assignments. A one shot ticket to the inner rings. Maybe even The Spoke.” Luke’s eyes glistened as he said it.
Everyone looked at one another their greasy faces their shoddy appearances and they all looked back to Luke who had the same grime and dirt on his face coupled with an expression of hope and determination. And they did the only thing true friends can be counted on to do when you open up with your hopes and dreams. They laughed at him like he was an idiot.
"You are so mental if you think you a ring is in your future." Marilyn said she was the best welder on the team a skill set that should have netted her some serious credits in the Epansion zones as a contractor. She was stuck here in the PreFabs slinging a wrench to earn her bread. Kera and Jordan agreed with her shaking their heads at the nonsense they heard.
“Ha ha, any ways. We can’t get any of those other things if we have new kids coming over fresh from the trade schools getting in the way.” Tension shown on Luke’s face.
“Don’t worry, Luke. Like you said they ain’t got no skills. No experience. Half of them are going to get themselves sent to Bauner’s in a week. The other half are going to be bagged and tagged pushing up daisies in Truckun Park. We will be sitting at 60% come the end of year I guaranty it.” Beret spoke with the wicked grin on his lantern jaw made his crooked teeth even more sinister. There were no nods of agreement that came from other memebers of Luke's team. The words made Luke's spine itch all the way down to the new tail tip.
“You and I mean all of you get those fucking Ganker thought out of you head right this instant. This ain’t some gang war and those kids. Because you know damn well who ever get’s sent here are just that. Fucking kids. Well those fucking kids are our fucking kids now.
I hate the idea of having to keep this place running. But I will be damned, drained and fucking mounted over the time clock before I willing get some kid fucked over, just to save me a day’s back aching. And if I catch wind of anyone, who thinks pulling an Anakin on the younglings is the right play. Get your shit in order because you ain’t going to see your severance package coming.”
With that Luke point his left hand into Beret hard. The taller thicker man grunted from the pain and rubbed his sternum. While Luke just looked at him with cold fury in his eyes.
“Are we going to have problems Beret?” Lukes words could have frozen lava with their cold certainty.
“No Chief we ain’t, neither is the new meat.” Beret said careful to show he was being sincere.
“That’s good. Because I’ve got a new plan to shut this place down anyway.” This calmed every one down and Luke moved to stand next to Jimmie again.
“So what’s the plan Chief?” Jimmy said with obvious incredulity in his expression.
“I’ll let you know when I figure it out.” Luke said as he gave his friend a winning smile.