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As X sat at her smooth, ergonomic desk, her computer blinked
into life.
“Good morning X”, smiled an androgynous-looking woman from behind
the screen.
“Morning Minerva ”, replied X.
A tiny machine whirred up towards X, holding a breathalyser, and
she breathed hard into it.
“You drank alcohol last night.”
“Yes”.
“Third time over the recommended limit – I have scheduled a counsellor’s
appointment for 11.00am. Next X pressed her finger into the slot beside
the screen. “Your temperature is a little high – but your period is
scheduled...are you on your period?”
“Yes”
X stretched and yawned, glancing round the office. Row
upon row of white desks gleamed out before her. Most desks were occupied
by workers, some by robots.
“Desk number 55, please begin work now” A disembodied
voice came through the speakers. Minerva smiled and was gone, to be
replaced by a spreadsheet. Overhead, the Eye kept watch.
A female voice sounded out over the PA system, “Alert at desk
55, medic to desk 55”
Damn. X had accidentally pulled out the heart monitor
lead. With a sigh she plugged it back in.
“Desk 55 vital signs normal” A small robot whizzed up and, upon
hearing this, sped away.
Sombre music beamed through the PA system. X stood up – a
mark of respect.
“Desk 18 – L. L has served the Company for3 years, during
which time, he has made several new contacts of great importance, and brought
in 5 new clients. L would like to say goodbye now.
A husky voice cracked over the PA... “I’m leaving this fucking
nightmare...I...”
Thank you L, that will be all. L has now reached an
age where he must be terminated. Thank you L, for your commitment toward
the Company, we appreciate it.”
X craned her neck, but desk 18 was too far away. She
imagined the scene. Would L be crying, or just resigned? She vaguely knew
L, had spoken with him a couple of times. The music became more serene, and she
knew then that the high intensity laser beam would have evaporated L
completely, leaving a vacancy the Company would fill in less than an hour.
The age at which you would be terminated varied, and depended solely upon your
health. Minerva, the company interactive robot, kept detailed records,
and was relied upon to state the time of termination. It didn’t always
happen at work of course, but it was the preferred method.
X sat down again, and continued working. Another computer
whizzed by, and she pressed a buzzer. Instantly, the Robo-cafe changed
direction, and hovered by her side.
“Coffee please”
“the usual?”
“yes”
“you sound tired today. Here, have a green tea instead, looks
like you need the anti-oxidents after last night!”
X knew it was useless to argue. She took the tea.
“Hey” She looked up. The guy standing next to her
looked new – he had the faintly happy aura of one not yet adjusted to working
in this place and the enormity of knowing the walls served as a prison.
People never left the Company.
“My name is Robert.”
“Shhh.”
X glanced around; she was
pretty sure everything got logged. The really was no escape. People
learned to talk in codes, or or whisper, or pass notes scribbled out of view of
any known cameras if they had anything important to discuss or impart. Paranoia
became a way of life very quickly.
“We go by initial only here,” she said, awkwardly. “Have
you not had the induction?”
“I have. I keep forgetting it’s forbidden inside the Company.
Look, do you want to go for a drink sometime?”
X had to laugh. They always started like this. A
confident air that belied the induction, which would have told them their every
move would be monitored, both in and out of work. Some pleasures were
allowed, some encouraged (those that deadened any ideas of
rebellion.) Fraternising with work colleagues outside of work
wasn’t one of them.
X rolled her eyes impatiently.
“Maybe,”she replied, already kicking herself for replying like
that. She had witnessed too many terminations to want to allow herself to
get close to anyone.
“Desks 54 and 55, please resume your work, your expected output
for this hour is crucial to the Company. Thank you”
Suddenly, a screaming could be heard. X’sblood turned cold.
"I hate this, I hate you all, you bastards..."
The screams turned into sobs, great wracking sobs and explosive
noises. Both Robert and X watched in horror, as the man fell to his knees
on the carpet near to them.
“Medic to desk 48”, stated the pleasant voice over the PA
system.
“Noooooo, noooo, pleeeease,” More sobbing.
A small robot instantly whizzed over and fired a laser beam at
the sobbing man, and he gradually became calmer.
“What the fuck is going on?” hissed Robert.
“Oh,they’re probably erasing some of his memory to calm
him down. Either that, or restructuring his neural networks, if he is
prone to depression.”
Robert looked aghast. His eyes spoke feelings he could
never givevoice to.
“Welcome to the Company”, said X.
Copyright - Sarah Horne 2013 ©
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