Work was hard in the fields as the sun beat down harshly making #586 sweat. Her long baggy clothes lying about as she crouched among the plants. Hours passed by tediously as the day dragged on, but eventually, the sun began to set. As the evening started to settle in, the other workers started to head toward the commons for dinner. #586 got up and brushed herself off, Taking a few slow steps forward #586 lifted the hood from her head, a light breeze ruffled her short golden blond hair. The breeze was cool and #586 felt refreshed as the breeze cooled her face.. As she walked a commotion caught her attention, glancing over in the direction of the noise #586 quickly threw her hood back over her head and hurried away. Not wanting to get involved, not if it would risk her clean record.
Entering the commons, #586 quickly grabbed a tray and sat in a far corner, away from all the others. As she sat down with her tray, #586 groaned and poked at the odd-looking stew she had received. The stew had some lumps floating on top, but the long day of work made her hungry, so in spite of her dislike for the stew, she quickly forced it down, contemplating for a few seconds #586 took the food tray and dumped it while slipping the bread into the folds of her clothes as she left the commons. She walked outside and went into her dorm room where she turned in for the night.
The next morning #586 woke early and dressed. After a breakfast consisting of lumpy porridge, she jogged over to the small cement assignment station. As she approached #586 pushed her left sleeve away from her wrist revealing a metal band with a glassy finish
“These are complete and I'm here for more.” #586 said as she held out her wrist
“#586 you cannot take any more extra assignments this week,” a man said as he had her scan in her OT points and handed over an official-looking envelope “Here’s your OT, and this.”
#586 glanced at her band the OT points had gone up. Satisfied she walked to a corner of the room to open the envelope, inside #586 found a little fob and a note.
Head to the offices in zone 2. Show the fob to the guards there, they will tell you where to go. -administration
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The letter was odd to #586... None of the workers were ever permitted inside the office buildings, they were considered unclean, and some workers would mess with things that didn't belong to them. #586 was no one to disobey orders though and so she made her way to the offices. Zone two was a long way from Zone 6 where #586 was based, so she decided to get a jog in. A quick run would get her to her destination quickest and it burned off some steam. Taking all those OT hours was very exhausting.
30 minutes passed and #586 arrived at the front of the office buildings. Looking around they noticed two stone-faced guards off to their right, walking towards them #586 held out the Fob
“I was told to show you this,” she said
The guards didn’t speak a word as they scanned the fob and pointed #586 to a building
“What office?” she asked, they hadn't told her exactly where to go.
“The one on the right as you go inside” one responded
#586 waited a second, half expecting the fob back, but after a second she went where she was told, taking a right when she entered the almost cold building. The flooring was icy to her bare feet. As she turned right into an office she saw a broad-shouldered man leaning back in an expensive office chair. When she saw the man she stopped just inside the door and waited.
“You won’t be able to hear me if you stand that far away.” the man said
#586 took a couple steps forward stopping just before the plush carpet under the man's desk
“That'll do I guess. As the head of transportation here I'm in charge of the scheduled shipments. One of them has vanished. I'm down staff and you have the responsibility of going to find it.” The man paused to take a sip from his cup. “The shipment vanished somewhere north of here so, walk out there, locate the cargo and return. Don't leave the road and don't leave the vicinity of the other compounds.. Be back before dinner, Now off you go.” the man waved his hand at #586 shooing her away
Workers were not given the access to leave and she was wondering how to execute her task without leaving the compound, her worries were soon solved when the same guards that assisted her earlier walked up to her and returned the fob gesturing to the gates. She took the fob back and walked up to the compound's gates, thinking #586 pressed the fob to a panel and the gate clicked. Pausing briefly they stepped through.