V
From the second Aiden stepped off the elevator and into the twelfth floor Career Center Receiving Area, he regretted everything. Okay, maybe not everything, but a lot. What he regretted most of all was that he had used up all of his free passes. The next step was getting shipped off to Rehab. How had he reached the end so quickly?
“Next citizen, please.” The Holly that haunted the MediCenter pointed to a line of low-tech lighted arrows built into the floor. They flashed green, leading him to a wall of private booths. The accordion doors opened automatically, and Aiden stepped through the Violet Shield’s stream of purple light, before plopping down on the metal stool protruding from the floor like a tooth.
The computer screen in front of him flashed white and gray and then white again before the Key Corp’s red logo faded into view and uncoiled before him, staining the small booth with its tendrils of red light. “Welcome,” the computer’s robotic voice croaked. It was different from Holly’s, not as alive or real, though hearing Holly always brought goosebumps to his arms and a heaviness against his back as if he was being haunted. “Please scan your citizen identification cuff and state the reason for your visit. I understand complete sentences.”
Aiden tapped the toes of his boots against the floor. “You don’t, actually. But it’s good to see you again. I’ve been reassigned to janitorial duty. At least, that’s what the message said this time.” He scanned his cuff and left the computer to sift through the extra words he’d provided. Each time he’d visited the career center, he’d said something a little different to test the computer’s abilities. It said it understood complete sentences, when what it meant was that it understood certain words spoken in a certain order. But that was probably too much explanation and actualization for such a low-tech device to comprehend.
“Citizen 1782445, your reassignment has been updated.” The computer whirred and an arrow appeared on screen, pointing to a narrow strip of paper poking out from under the monitor. “Please take your printed reassignment update. Have a pleasant day.”
Aiden pulled the paper free and read aloud. “Reassigned. Report to basement level room forty-four at 0930.” He glanced up at the screen. “Reassigned to what? There’s nothing even halfway decent down in the basement.”
The arrow flashed in response.
“Great. Thanks a lot.” Aiden nearly ripped the flimsy door off its ancient sliders as he shouldered his way through the tight opening. He clomped toward the elevator, his boots still leaving a trail of dirt behind him.
This morning was turning to shit.
But at least he hadn’t walked into a door.