Chapter 174: Another Regular day in the Federation
*Yawn* "Morning "A man named James open his mouth to release his tiredness to the world as he clean his station and greeted his co-workers.
He is a cashier of a department store known as DMZ or the owner called it Demilitarized Zone. He thought the owner played a prank of using that and he build it next to a Military base. What started as a convenience store next to Mars headquarters now become a major franchise chain across all humanity controlled space. And he worked on one of the branches in the fringe planets
He looked at his station as he waited for the opening customers from the base to flood in.
Change check, Card reader check, and cash register is not tampered with bubble gum check.
Another day, another customer.
"Alright, here they come!" Cried one of the personnel that open the shutters revealing several soldiers that had off duty and civilian flooding into the store...
Everyday he get used to seeing different faces.
Some of them, he had a small chat with as he scanned their products was informative... Others were more of a gruffy kind of characters that didn't want to socialize with...
Some from a planets known as Cadia or Mordia... Or even Valhalla... But customer is still customer...
"Pavlo, the usual right?" He smiled at the cadian.
"You know me right. Now ring me up." The man smiled as he handed him a black debit card.
The cashier know that that card is prevalent in the M.a.rs as they have a weekly spending credits to allow soldiers to purchase stuff... That is not within the Quartermaster rations.
The first customer is a cadian and he brought several packs of canned goods and cigarettes. He was a friendly chap. Thought the cashier. Although his purple eyes kinda unnerved him. After he waved goodby to his customer he known for 5 years... It was a lucky day for him to say the least...
Many customers come and go.
A Catachan wearing a Tank top pass by with a set of Bowie knifes and a Magazine about Australia Animals...
Vahallan bringing in several crates of Vodka as the staff helped carried it to his company vehicle...
And several Commissars with their intimidating aura purchasing several baked goods... And imported wine...
Chem Dogs came in with a bag of tools of lock picking and repair kits. And hockey mask... Wonder why?
The cashier smiled in courtesy. As he met many of the people... It broaden his experience.
And a group of well dressed soldiers in blue march in tandem, causing some of the customers to make way from their path. Was it a military parade? Some wondered... But the regulars told them it was the Mordian Guards and they were not to be trifled with, they came back with shoe polish and the cashiers knew that they had to scanned them in tandem as if they know what like to lose the rhythm..and nerve-wracking as the men and women in Napoleon styled uniforms stared at them silently until their turn was done...
(Lunch break)
Meal break was simple, a light meal consisted of Sandwich, salad and pudding and your choice of drinks and a complementary pack of cigarettes...
The Cashier sigh as the volume of customers increased over the years, but he was thankful that his pay is enough to have savings as the company had a Company Apartments for him to live nearby. But he only have to pay the Electric and water bills.
"Let me tell you girl those people Krieg are the worst!" A woman voice spoke that interested the cashier.
"Tell me about it." Her coworker was interested in her misery.
"Alright, I find those Gasmask people infront of the Tools section and they were staring for two hours, three hours I tell ya! And one of them ask me the biggest shovel we had in stock, what material is imbedded in it And which country make it. I am confused why he ask that until Bryan helped me showing them the perfect tools. Sometimes I want to quit at some point..." The salesperson sigh as she smoked her second cigarette.
"However the pay here is good Betty... I highly doubt that there is a company out there would be willing to hire us, especially the economy is in a recession... I remember that you said that you wanted to provide to your family."
Many people remained silent about it... Due to the intensity of the war effort against the bugs, the Economy was slowly started to deteriorating as more and more factories was converted to the war effort and people are being sent to war. And there are surplus of people that graduated but didn't want to join the Mobile infantry that wanted to work but companies are having budget cuts and laying people off... It was Wondertainment and its umbrella companies and those that associate with the company remained strong and took over the industries that was dying making it more like a monopoly in the Government eyes but they pay taxes to make them look the other way around... Even the DMZ they worked for have connections to the CEO of Wondertainment. And some were grateful for the Company and their luck of being hired. And one of the comforting thing that the Wondertainment is that if they finish a certain amount of years in a affiliated company, they could open a store or be a manager... And there is training of having that position paid for allows them to climb up the corporate ladder if they wanted or be a Store owner that is protected by the Wondertainment from the economic recession that occurs every 20 years due to the Federal government mess up. Both path is viable as there were no rules of them being a competitor and a associates.
Another swig of a Orange juice the cashier watched as many continue their chat until the clock ended their lunch break.
Another day of work ended and he was task to assist the clean up crews as his station have a smell of meat and vegetables lingering in the counter. Towel drenched in bleach was used to sanitize it... As his co-workers finished wrapping up some shifty fellows purchase dressed as a Inquisitor from a Bygone era... Mopping duties was tomorrow... He couldn't care less...
A P.A rang out. Making the people ears perked.
"Anyone that is leaving can have a $1700 worth of goods. The last counters will process the goods."
It brought him a bit a smile.
Since there been a excess of materials to sell. The company allowed them to have a weekly purchase for their goods as they refused to tossed it away... And their pay was not deducted from what they buy... Thank God for Groceries allowance... He stare wryly at his female companion as they wasted it mostly on beauty and healthcare products...
A soap, rubber chicken, and several canned and frozen goods and basic necessities for the next week to work. He smiled as he returned home.
The distance to the company apartment is not far... Just a mere 15 minutes walk or a 30 minutes drive to the nearest town. He look across the skies seeing flying cars and planes rushing by...
"Payday is on Tuesday, just a few more I could be my own manager...God I hate Mondays " he muttered as he walked along with his peers heading in the same direction. His life is much easier compare to before... But somehow across the congested skies... He wanted to make it big, like a big shot. And somehow he got the feeling he could be that top dog.
He arrived at the apartment... It had room that is spacious enough for a family of five, practicality and modular designs were the common sight in the planet.
And the elevators was quick as possible sending him to his floor in seconds... He passed by a poster
Embroidered in a caution signs saying.
"This building have been constructed by the Iron Warriors on the date of XXXX."
Unlocking the door he met with his family, his Wife greeted him with a scent of pot pie and beef casserole.
"Just a few more months , Dear we can have a house and a Store of our own in mars." He smiled as he had dinner with his wife spoke. She worked in the Wondertainment company as a clerk and right now she had maternity leave as she is taking care of her child that is born.
Their savings is more than enough in this planet that they could be well off. But they refused to squandered it. They hoped to immigrate in Mars where the Marvel and technology is possible... And have a decent life there... For them and their little one.
As the night slowly crawl into morning the day arrives on the distant planet away from the sol system.
Many like James worked silently with hopes and dreams to be the top, There was a interview from with the CEO of the Wondertainment playing on the TV.
"Tell me, Alexander Solair about your desire of making the people lives better and why you introduce the Scholar Progenium to the current education system?" The interviewee asked the famous man of the Federation.
"I read history in ages past, I had admiration of a forgotten dream of nation that faded in history that is the American Dream... I want my Employees to have a Dream of their own, where they could own a house without renting, have children to see the future we built... And the foundation we made for them without shittin on them for our mistakes. And for heaven sake no bloody school loans that make them a modern slaves, I want people who think for the future about their comfort and not worried about the debt to pay. And I intend to keep it that way till perpetuity."
"A saint? Some of the religious part of the community asked if you are a god Alexander due to your pious acts and miracles. In both the Battlefield and the medical community."
"I tell you this and hopefully the last... I am not a god... I bleed blood, I felt pain, I understand what human truly are... And I cannot be omniscience and omnipotent, And the technology that I wield is no different from magic so people make assumptions that I am a god..." Alexander looks exasperated of the countless time...
"Another question for you, why you advocate to abolish the planned obsolescence laws and push the right to repair?"
"Tell me miss Claire, Did you have memories of your family belongings?"
"I remember my father car when I was a kid..and the Refrigerator made by your company.."
"I want the planned obsolescence destroyed as it prevent to let the younger generation before me to see the glory we made today and less garbage being put out, my company make items that last for generations. So that least we have less landfills to eradicate.*chuckle* I already bought patents of companies that no longer make the parts to be widely available. So you can buy car parts and electronics for cheap in my company."
"Thank you for your effort , I sure my father would be grateful for your help."
"I sure you want to ride with your father again. And that sort of dream is something to cherish."
"Here is the final segment where I get questions from various citizen of the Federation, from James from Puos-7 in the fringe world, Can we make it to the top?"
"Yes you can, as long as you have ambition to rise up, I shall welcome you at the top. As both as a friend and a competitor."
"Another question from Monica in Planet da78 mid rim colony, is the Healthcare you said in your company is true, that you included our family in the medical plan?"
"I assure that my company will include your medical bill is quite cheap and no life is cheaper than being one with your family. In this current economy a family that is united is better off than being fractured one after all you heard of the Medpod debacle a few years ago?"
"That's right I heard of it, the one that able to cure all illness and diseases what about it? Didn't the last ruling spoken that you are unable to fully implement it."
"My employees and the companies that affiliated with my own have that benefits, even the children in the scholar Progenium have free usage of it."
"That would explain why numerous application have swarm into your company every month do you allow everyone to join?"
"If one work hard then I welcome those who want to go further, those that want to push ideological crap and make my company like a caretaker instead of a profitable enterprise. Then leave. Words of empty promise means nothing."
"Here is a lucky question from Jackson from Terra itself... Are you running for sky marshal? Because you can fix some of the problems in the Federation as a company and you can do more if you are a sky marshal, if so, I would vote for you."
"Not in the foreseeable future Jackson, I do understand your plight... But when the Federation is truly in danger then I will."
"And here is the last question of the day from Sarai from Planet 710,Are you married? The Federation is curious of who's the lucky winner."
"*Smile softly* that is a secret."
"Thank you for the interview Mr. Alexander."
"Thank you for your time Miss Claire. And I thank you, the hardworking people of the Federation. It is you that will help the war end in the near future."
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