This is the third Chapter of AJAX Tarnished as I serialize it on the Steemit Blockchain. I hope you continue to enjoy the story... please forward to any of your friends and family that you feel might enjoy the story.
If you didn't get a chance to read the previous sections:
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Part 1: Steel Worx
Chapter 3:
The morning was drizzly and grey, not a very good sign for the day. He breathed in deep and watched his wife dressing for work… he whistled and grinned with teeth. She wrinkled her nose and came over to give him a hug.
“Are you ready for work?”
He looked down, trying to act non-chalant and at-ease with himself. He glanced up at her. He was only wearing a pair of socks and drawers.
“Yes. I’m ready. Have a nice day hon.” He got up and pulled on his jacket.
“That will definitely get their attention… but maybe not in a good way.” She laughed and shook her head. “You know what I mean, though.”
“I know, but there’s no way I’m ready for it. I’m prepared for the worst to happen and anything less will be good, right?”
She tossed his shirt and pants across the bed as she finished buttoning her blouse. Then she attacked her face with her rouges and powders. Even ‘unmade’ she was more than beautiful, but afterwards she became something even more. Then again, she did deal with important officials, so it was well worth it.
He watched her a few moments longer. He just hoped that things didn’t go bad today, because he knew she would be disappointed, even if she said this was what he needed to do. He quickly pulled himself into his pants and shirt, leaving the ends out even after sliding into his jacket. He didn’t like having to wear the jacket because it was so heavy and binding. It was required attire, though, for the foundry work.
By the time he was all buttoned up, Morgan was dolled up and waiting for him. He thought she might have special powers like the picture stories that Gavin enjoyed reading… she had to, otherwise there was no way she could put on that much color in such a short time. Especially when it took her five times longer when it wasn’t for work.
“You look great as usual,” he complimented.
She smiled. “Thank you… so do you.” She acted like she was drooling and looked foolish doing so. He swatted her shoulder lightly and she laughed.
“Let’s get the kids and get going,” he told her.
“I’m sure they’ll be ready,” she said, laying the sarcasm on as thick as syrup in the middle of winter.
Surprisingly, Gavin and Sofie were at least closer to being ready than they had expected. The pair only had to be prodded for a little while before they were clothed, fed, and heading out the door to the corner.
The corner was nearly empty, and the kids all talked about those that were home sick. The other kids’ parents wandered in and out of short conversations with each other, one to another, while they waited for the Passenger Electro-Slider to arrive. It was only a short time before the vehicle slid up to the corner with a hiss.
The door geared open. One of the newer drivers motioned them all inside, taking precaution to mention that the steps might be slick from the rain. He was a skinny guy with a clean chin. He didn’t look more than 15 years old, by Aaron’s estimation, but obviously he was skilled enough to run the route… or, perhaps, there were just not enough drivers available to handle the work.
Aaron presented his card and slid it through the roller. The individual metal platelets made a tinkling sound as it rolled the card through and recorded the account information onto the vinyl documentation. The driver checked his documents and nodded after finding his information. Morgan and the kids followed him, showing their own matching cards in turn. He and Morgan took seats near the middle of the vehicle while Gavin and Sofie moved each to their own friends. A gabble of noise rose around the groups, but was cut off at a call from the driver… only a few drivers allowed the talk to be higher than a dull buzz.
The wheels churned, pulling the slider out into the roadway, then the electromagnets began to hum with energy. Shortly the ride was smoother and quicker as it flowed a few feet above the roadway on a pillow of polarized air.
At each stop, the vehicle filled up more and more. By the time the ride stopped for the first drop-off, there were nearly 100 people seated on the barely-padded benches. The first drop-off stop was always the busiest, leading to about 60 people less by the time the driver pulled in to the Industrial Sector.
Ralf sat down next to him like he did on occasion. He was a sweaty, overweight man with a bulbous nose. Morgan always took the seat next to the window because the man had a tendency to get really close while he talked to people. Aaron felt uncomfortable around him as well, but was willing to put up with it so that Morgan didn’t have to.
Morgan squeezed his knee and when he glanced over at her, she had an impish grin. There was a hint of laughter in it, so he returned a look that said ‘I will get back at you later’. She leaned against him and laid her head on his shoulder, giving his knee another squeeze.
“How is everything?” Ralf asked. “Everything is not good with me. The kids are sick and I’m feeling unwell.”
“Well,” Aaron began.
“Then I have work to go to, and then all the bills to pay and…” his voice droned on, in tune with the hum of the motor and the grinding of the gears, right over the top of Aaron. He motioned with his hands and arms, as if he was in a parade. Anger tinged his voice.
Aaron just stopped saying anything and ignored the man completely. He really didn’t care one whit what the man said or how he felt. He had his own worries that were far more important than this man’s stupid concerns. Morgan’s hand resting on his leg was the only thing that stopped him from going off on him. He wanted to, but he sucked in breath through his teeth and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. Now he just needed to wait the 10 minutes or so until Ralf would be leaving the vehicle.
The man’s voice just grated so much that Ajax couldn’t help it. Not with all the worry built up inside his head. He turned and hissed, coarse and angry, “Shut your mouth! Nobody wants to hear about your stupid day!” He dropped his own mouth and his eyebrows climbed up his forehead.
Ralf stopped speaking, frown lines splintering his cheeks, but his voice was soft as he said, “I’m sorry Ajax. I know I talk too much, especially when I’m worried.”
Aaron slumped, his chin hitting his chest, and he twitched his head ruefully. “No,” he began, but Ralf rode over him roughly.
“Don’t, just don’t.” He began to weep lightly and turned away.
‘Really?’ Aaron thought, ‘You already knew and you don’t expect anyone to point it out?’ He sighed and began to apologize again.
“You don’t,” the man sniffled, “need to apologize. I know I am annoying. It… surprises me… it surprises me that you would say anything. I’m sorry I talk so much, but you 2 are my closest friends.”
Morgan reached over Aaron and patted the man, but said nothing. When she pulled her arm back, she elbowed Aaron in the ribs. When he grimaced, she gave him the look. He knew that look all too well. He definitely did not like that look; but he was the one that made the mistake.
After he thought about it, he nodded and felt calmer. He understood exactly what he would do now… and why. He leaned back with an apologetic look to his wife. She shrugged and gave him a small smile. He put his arm around her shoulder and relaxed back into the seats while the vehicle buzzed along the streets. He watched as people left the Passenger Electro-Slider in small lines. Ralf had stopped crying, but he was silent the entire remainder of the trip. He didn’t even say another word before he stood and followed his co-workers to their job-site.
Morgan turned to Aaron. “Aaron, you didn’t need to say that.”
“I know, I was just so worried over what I need to do that I couldn’t stop the words from coming out. He may not forgive me easily, but will you?”
She giggled lightly. “Of course I will. Besides, I have been hoping someone would say something to him… I just didn’t think it would be you. He’s a nice man, but he talks incessantly.”
Aaron grinned. “One good thing came out of it… he makes me realize exactly why I need to step aside at work.”
“It may not have been very nice, but at least it makes you feel better about it.” Her words had a hint of a question. She nodded slightly when he acknowledged that he did indeed feel better about it.
It was only a few minutes more that they were together before Morgan’s stop. He gave her a quick hug and a kiss, then each of the kids in turn. He waved through the window when the 3 were off the vehicle and watched as they strode in different directions.
He leaned back and watched the buildings sweep across the window. He almost dozed off in the handful of minutes that it took for the Slider to reach the foundry. He could smell the sulfurous scent in the air several blocks in advance.
He filed out as quickly as he could, waving off any attempts at conversation from his coworkers. He just told them that there would be a meeting before the work-day began. They gave him questioning looks before heading inside. He stepped inside and strode for his locker.
He dropped off his lunch and non-essentials. He tugged on his heavy apron and gloves. He strode through the doorway to the cafeteria. There were already a dozen men talking together, obviously wondering what this would be about.
Aaron’s nod took in all of them. In the corner, next to the drink steamer and the mugs, a wiry cord hung down nearly to the countertop. He pulled the cord 3 times, listening to the whining keen of the whistle through each section. If it were just 2 whistles, it would have been the signal for the day off… nobody was happy when they came all the way to work only to have to return home with no pay.
Several minutes passed before other workers began to file into the cafeteria, but soon enough the large area was feeling crowded with bodies. He pushed through the crowd and placed himself at the foot of the stairway going up to the over-look area. He normally stayed off the overlook area as this was the standing area for the Safety Watchers.
Sighing, he squelched his nerves and mounted the stairs. It made him feel as though he might be on his way to the hangman’s noose. In many ways, it was not far off from that. His heart was so loud in his chest that he was surprised that nobody commented on it. Some throats cleared and there were murmurs of silent confusion. He faced the crowd and leaned forward against the stout metal railing.
The voices slowly went silent as they waited for his words. He cleared his throat and addressed his audience, “Hi everyone. You all know me, right?” Only a small handful of the workers tried to say they didn’t know who he was. “Well, for those that don’t, my name is Aaron Jaxler and…” he began, but he was forced to cut off as a flurry of voices shouted up “Ajax!” He gave his head a small shake and continued on. “Many of you also know that I was called up to the Conference Rooms yesterday. Well, I’m here right now to tell you that they want me to break the Union.” He waited a moment and there was an eruption of shouts and anger.
“They can’t do that!” one voice called in shrill notes from the corner of the squared-off crowd.
“Who do they think they are?!!” a rough voice asked from the front.
“What about our families??”
“What will we do?!”
“What are you going to do?”
“Yeah, what are you going to do?!”
“Yeah!” and “What?” called from many mouths.
Aaron raised his hand and tried to call for quiet. He had to repeat himself several times, raising his voice each time until the last time echoed over silence. He flushed slightly and coughed into the silence.
“Well,” he began, feeling a sudden sense of calm cover him like a blanket. “I thought it over and discussed all the options that I could think of last night.” He paused and thought a moment, argued silently with himself, and came to a decision. Then he contradicted what he and Morgan had decided and said, “What I decided was that I will give up my position in order to keep the rest of you safe from these changes.”
The crowd milled and people started talking atop one another. The buzz grew for long moments as several of the senior workers spoke heatedly to one another. Aaron was glad he was higher up and couldn’t make out all what was being said… if he had been in their midst, he may have second-guessed his decision. He waited and could follow the conversation’s buzz as it wound down… Hake, a short man with a long forehead and a spackling of freckles and moles on his cheeks, seemed to take the lead. The crowd slowly opened up around Hake and he turned his eyes up to meet Aaron’s own.
Hake always struggled with a fidget and stutter when he talked. “I-I… I have s-someth-thing to say!” The man breathed in and took hold of himself visibly, but it didn’t stop the echo in his words. “W-why would you do th-that?”
Aaron bent his head and replied, “I would quit because it might just be the kick to let them know that we won’t stand for it.”
Hake scratched his chin and shook his head. “I d-don’t b-believe that will w-w-work! Th-they d-don’t care. Th-they will just… just… p-put s-someone in that will d-do wh-wha… wh-what they w-want!” He breathed hard and stepped back to the edge of the crowd, waiting.
‘Maybe I should have stayed the course after all,’ he thought.
When he responded, he explained the same thing about how he had originally decided to fight against it. With that, there was another eruption.
“Fight!!”
“Don’t back down!!”
“Yes!”
He leaned over and waited while the various voices quieted. He rolled it over in his head and listened as Hake’s voice rose up to him, “I b-believe you c-can do this.” The man’s grin split his face.
Aaron gestured grandiosely so that the entire room could see his motions. The movements did not go unnoticed. Those that were still talking to others in the crowd were suddenly silent or grunting as other people jabbed them in the ribs or smacked shoulders and hissed for silence.
It took all of a few moments, but then there was quiet once more as everyone waited his next words. He spoke into that silence. “I will consider. I must be received now.”
Many voices shouted out their thanks, others called out with hopeful anticipation. He told them he would do what he could, but they would need to get to their stations and to work hard. He couldn’t help but feel like a father in this circumstance.
As the lines of men walked away in various directions, talking amongst themselves, he caught Hake’s eye and inclined his head. Hake did the same before turning away.
Aaron’s footsteps seemed loud on the steps as he descended to the floor and made his way to the stairs heading up to the Third Floor. The darkness of the narrow flight of steps seemed to envelope his mood. He knocked lightly and entered on the heels of Eila’s annoyed and impatient “Come in then.”
Eila was wearing as tight an outfit as he had ever seen her in… the brown blouse clung to every curve and bump that stood out. If she were not such a… ‘not important,’ he thought to himself, ‘she means little towards my goal. She’s so brazen though. She probably thinks that people will be so enamored by her physical appearance that she could do anything she wants.’
She stood up from behind her desk, thrusting her breasts out even further. He couldn’t help but think that it must be very cold in the offices as hard as her… ‘Focus,’ he shouted internally, ‘no distractions.’
“I am here to see the board,” he said, blinking hard and keeping his head from declining towards those perky breasts. He swallowed and pushed his head up again, “they should be expecting me.”
She rolled over-emphasized eyes, the charcoal color smoky and wide around the white orbs and dark irises. She sniffed. “Through that door,” she said, pointing.
He nodded politely, although she acted as though he were leering and drooling. She twisted her lips and sat back down hard on the metal chair… her fingers flew over the small typing machine.
The door’s handle was chill against his palm. He breathed deeply and jerked the handle harder than he had intended… the door clicked loudly and swung open on well-oiled hinges. He shook himself like a mongrel dog in the rain before slowly stepping over the threshold and into the large room beyond. It looked nearly identical to when he was in last night, down to the seating arrangements. He almost chuckled to imagine these people sleeping right where they were.
“Close the door.” Hermann Weller. After looking again, he noted that the outfit, while similar, was a slightly-bolder cut and a deeper hue. “If you are intending to come in, that is. You are moving so slowly that you might be going back in time.” The other board members laughed at the words… a sense of humor was not what Aaron had expected and considered for only a moment before his boss’s eyes glared hard again.
He pulled the door shut and took the indicated seat. It was the same one he had sat in last night. All eyes were on him.
“So??” asked a pipe-slender man in a voice that Aaron could only think of as wiry. The man’s thick spectacles, spotted with dust, dangled precariously on the bridge of his long, pointed nose. The man leaned forward, smoothing his green sleeves and adjusting the cuff. “What have you decided?”
“Yes,” another pair of voices echoed, “What?”
“Out with it man,” Mr. Weller demanded. “We are busy people and do not take kindly to having to wait for dawdling and long exposition. Just tell us straight out.”
Aaron could not help but flinch at the words and eyes, though he strained to stay calm and in charge of his emotions. Then he flashed anger and the explosion just fountained from his amazed lips. “I will tell you what I have decided! I have decided that this nonsense is base and deplorable… I won’t stand for it and I’ll do and say whatever I can to convince you that the Union is necessary.”
His face felt flushed and his neck stung… he thought he may have pinched a nerve, swiveling to answer as many questions as he could. Sweat beaded up on the back of his neck and dripped down his back as the meeting wore on him.
As he spoke, he tried to fill his mind with all the names and images of these individuals, their titles, positions, and reasons for being here. His voice seemed to roll on without his being aware of what came out.
There, at the head of the table, was Hermann Weller, primed and angry. He was, obviously, the Chief Executive Officer of Steel Worx. His motives were pure and simple, he didn’t want to pay out for the Union benefits… insuring the health of his workers already pressed on the bottom line.
On Weller’s left sat a pretty older woman with thinning hair. Her name was Charlotte Massey, Account Supervisor for the Foundry Floor. She was not angry and seemed patient and willing to hear him out as he went on. She was tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a red silky scarf without tassels. She seemed very fashionable, if it was 20 years ago.
To Charlotte’s left was Travis Manley. He was a short man with a heavy dose of grey in his thick beard. His gruff manner contrasted with the delicate clothing that was arranged ‘just so’. He worked in the financing department as an analyst… he was a yes-man to the core, though.
Next was Mitchell Hamstred. Young-ish, severe of face, and soft-spoken. He worked for the Regional Anticipatory Committee as the Chief Investment Protocol Designer. From what Aaron could discern, it was a fancy title for yet another yes-man; however, this yes-man had deep pockets linked to wealthy governmental bank accounts.
After that were Garner Stoh and Blithe Canter, both working in conjunction with the Office of the Health Inspector. He wore gold rings on several fingers and his coat was a deep beige. She was basic in a white overcoat that was covered in what seemed like hundreds of pockets. Her voice was soft, but had a hardened edge that spoke of having seen and done things that she didn’t like. They looked a pair, like old shoes that nobody wanted to get rid of… but they only had a couple questions between them and none of the other seemed to rely too heavily on them.
Next in line was Charles Norys… Under-General Charles Norys, he quickly and harshly corrected when not titled properly. ‘Why was an Under-General at a meeting about a Union?’ Aaron wondered. The man was full of odd questions about veteran statuses and military pasts. ‘I suppose it’s only natural that he asks about military work, but it’s still very odd.’
The next 3 all worked for the Municipality and all 3 were dressed in the standard blue of their positions. Sandy Clyne, Erle Var, and Samuel Chane. Each asked repeatedly about Aaron’s own financial state and showed a modicum of respect.
Aaron was suddenly cut off from his inspection… the meeting was over. He knew the outcome. He was pushed out of the room by Hermann’s voice.
End Part 1