"We never kept track of who the prophets were, or what their purpose was, nobody did. The only rewards came from using the system, and so that's what we did... God help us, that's what we did." Howard Stokes - January 2029
Waking up to the world I feel three things every day. The curve of my wife's body pressed up against me, the worry today is the day I fail her and a growling hunger inside me I can't ever get ahead of. Like every day, I am immediately awake and heading to my terminal. I have to hurry, any real work doesn't last long after renewal, I need to get there before all that's left is the entertainment sector.
Sitting down I stare at the clock, 90 seconds..... okay, I am okay..... I will be okay. Sitting down I quickly log in, not even feeling the needle take it's verification through the scarring of the thousands before, after a brief wait I work the keyboard to get ready, a hand glides across my chest and I smile as my Alyssa nuzzles her face against my neck. Silently I begin to panic, I hate when she sees this part. I turn my head and kiss her, our lips locked for a second before I break. "Can you get me some water hun?"She smiles for a second scanning my eyes, then leaves our little room towards the common area.
My eyes fly back to the screen in time to see it fill. My fingers begin working as fast as they can selecting and submitting. It doesn't matter if I read it, because it doesn't matter what it says, all that matters is the sector it's issued from. Nothing happens for awhile and I begin to work faster, there isn't much time before my wife returns and if I need to work entert..... and there it is. My wallet chimes with the contract and I breath deeply in, relaxing as I hear Allysa return.
Turning the monitor off I dress quickly and get ready when the door opens. This time there is no panic, nothing but the love I feel for her as I kiss her. As we separate she smiles at me, misreading my affection, I know that smile. I have worked in the entertainment sector the last three days, I haven't eaten in three days... but I can't tell her that.
As I brush my lips against her earlobes I explain that I need to go immediately, and make promises regarding my return and her virtue. Her little giggle is all the cue I need as I throw on my jacket and head for the door looking back as it closes to see happiness in her eyes, a happiness that only my lies can put there.
It's not until I am out of the building and around the corner that I stop to check my wallet. I tap on the screen to see what it was I have gotten.
Sewage Refinement
The designated sewer line segments will be cleaned using combination high-velocity jet with vacuum removal. The normal cleaning operation shall be to jet from the downstream manhole towards the upstream manhole thereby pulling any debris back to the downstream manhole. If no debris is present then a single pass shall be sufficient. If debris is encountered the entire run shall be made repeatedly until debris is no longer present. Cleaning 100% of all debris is minimum acceptable standard. Anything less to include reduced contract pay and future contract deprioritization.
Report to Post 12 Sector 35 for equipment
Pay: 35 LABR
Cracking a smile I tuck it away. I've been up to my neck in shit all my life, up to my waist I can handle. More importantly, and what truly causes me to smile.... we can both eat tonight.