"Hey, Rocket! Get over here!" the grumpy boss yelled across the noisy warehouse floor. A lanky worker with greased-stained overalls and a baseball cap turned backward and glasses like Aaron's hustled over. Grumpy boss grumbled, "Why do you always look like an overgrown toddler... I know you own a washing machine..."
He wiped his hands on a rag and grinned casually. "What's up, boss?" I was sure he heard grumpy bosses grumbling but ignored it.
"Rocket, this is Eli," he said, nodding towards me. "We're testing him out. He's strong as an ox but green as grass. Show him the ropes, will ya?"
Rocket sized me up with an intrigued look before offering a firm handshake. "Sure thing, boss. C'mon, Eli. Stick with me, and you'll be fine. First rule: keep your eyes and ears open. This place is chaos. I don't want you to lose a hand."
"Got it," I replied, trying to sound confident despite my nerves. As we walked away, the boss shouted after us, "And Rocket, don't scare him off on his first day on purpose!"
Rocket guided me through the maze of the warehouse, explaining the layout and pointing out where different items and categories were stored. He showed me the designated areas for loading and unloading, explaining that they prepared the loads for local deliveries and two other warehouses handled deliveries to the villages. I noticed the grumpy boss lurking within earshot, keeping an eye on us.
"Simple, right?" Rocket asked as we reached the back of the warehouse. I nodded, though my mind was racing. There was so much to learn, and I could practically feel the weight of the grumpy boss's gaze on me. "Are you certified in forklift, metal muscle, or anything?" Rocket asked.
"No, nothing like that," I admitted. Rocket shot a dirty look at the grumpy boss and muttered, "Well, shit, this is gonna be fun!"
Rocket did a sign with his hands I recognized from Aaron activating something on the AR glasses and led me towards the front of the warehouse again, stopping in front of a rack.
Rocket sighed and shook his head, pointing to a heavy-looking crate perched on a shelf at my eye level. "Anyways, we need to get that down and over to the loading bay. Let's grab the lift—" Before he could even finish, I stepped forward, reached up, and effortlessly lifted the item off the shelf. The weight felt familiar, like hoisting a bale of hay back on the farm.
"Holy smokes, Eli!" Rocket's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at me. "I didn't think you'd just hoist it like that! Are you a cyborg?"
"No," I replied with a shrug, carrying the item with ease. "All biological. I guess farm work builds more than just character."
"No shit," Rocket said, shaking his head. "Well, don't do that too often. Don't want to break your back. Let's go there." He gestured towards the loading dock, and we began to walk.
As we moved through the warehouse, the grumpy boss suddenly appeared, running up to us with a forklift and a pallet. "Put it down, numbnuts!" he barked at me.
I obeyed, gently lowering the crate onto the pallet. I looked up at him, confused. "What's up?"
Grump's boss stepped back, glaring at Rocket. "What are you thinking, hazing him like this?!" he yelled.
Rocket lifted his hands defensively, but before he could say anything, I grabbed the handles of the forklift and pushed them towards the loading dock. Rocket and Grumpy Boss went silent, staring at me with wide eyes.
"You said you didn't know how to use a forklift!?" Grumpy boss exclaimed, looking both impressed and annoyed.
I smiled over my shoulder as I continued pushing the forklift. "No, I said I'm not licensed." I bluffed that I knew how to use it and was hoping that intuition would carry me the rest of the way. Rocket caught up with me, smirking, and led me to where I needed to go.
"Alright then," he whispered as we walked, "Yeah, I think you'll fit in here just fine."
Working side by side with Rocket, we tackled the first load of the afternoon like a well-oiled machine. The warehouse was buzzing with activity, but somehow, we managed to find our rhythm amidst the chaos. Rocket expertly maneuvered one forklift while I did my best to handle the other.
"Remember, slow and steady," Rocket reminded me as I struggled to control the heavy machinery. My height proved to be an advantage, allowing me to reach high shelves with ease and reducing our need for extra equipment.
"Thanks," I said, genuinely grateful for his guidance. Operating this forklift wasn't quite as simple as driving a tractor back on the farm, but with Rocket's help, I was getting the hang of it.
Together, we swiftly moved items around the warehouse floor, preparing them for shipment. As we finished up with the forklifts, the grumpy boss approached us, a determined look on his face.
"Eli, no more heavy equipment for now," he said firmly, crossing his arms. "You've proven yourself more than capable. I'm going to schedule you for the licensing course this afternoon, right after lunch."
To my surprise, his stern expression softened into a smile. "And, kid, you're hired. Permanently. You've got the job. I'd be stupid to not hire you at standard rates. You don't even seem like you got tired."
"Thank you, sir." Relief and pride swelled within me, and I couldn't help but grin. This was my chance to make something of myself and not count on Aaron for every part of my survival.
"Keep up the good work, and you'll go far here," the boss said, nodding at me before walking away.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Rocket leaned in, chuckling. "Damn, I don't think I've seen him smile ten times total in all the years I've worked here. It's gonna snow now!"
I laughed along with him.
Glancing up at the warehouse clock, Rocket furrowed his brow. "Looks like we won't get everything sorted before lunch," he said with a casual shrug. "And since you can't use the heavy machines anymore, let's break early."
"Alright," I agreed, curious to see what lunch would be.
We exited the warehouse and walked down the street to a small plaza bustling with activity. A variety of food trucks lined the area, the tantalizing aromas of spices and grilling filling the air. My stomach growled, reminding me that it had been hours since I last ate.
"You up for Mexican or skewers?" Rocket asked, scanning the options.
"Um, well..." I hesitated, blushing, noticing the prices listed on displays next to the trucks. "I actually don't have any money on me."
Rocket waved off my concern. "No sweat, it's on me today. Think of it as a celebration of your hiring." He approached the trucks and ordered a generous helping of both, handing me an overflowing platter of food I didn't recognize and savory skewers that reminded me of festival market food.
"Thanks, Rocket," I said, trying to sound confident despite my embarrassment.
"Hey, no problem," he replied with a grin. "Now, let's find a place to sit."
We found a free bench nearby, the sounds of workers from ours and neighboring warehouses providing a lively backdrop. As I took my first bite of the "Mexican food", the flavors exploded in my mouth - a far cry from the simple meals of my village. The skewers were equally delicious, better then i imagined possible, the meat tender and perfectly seasoned.
"Wow, this is amazing," I said between bites, unable to contain my enthusiasm.
"Right?" Rocket chuckled. "It's one of the perks of working here. Good food just around the corner."
The chorus of workers' chatter from the other businesses in the area and the hum of machinery from our warehouse and the neighboring ones filled the air. The plaza slowly got more busy with people as
As we ate, Rocket talked about work, gesturing toward his colleagues as they passed by. "That's Marcy over there," he said, pointing at a woman with short, spiky hair. "She's been working here for years – knows this place like the back of her hand."
"Really?" I asked between bites, intrigued. "What does she do?"
"Inventory control," he replied. "And that guy" – he pointed at a tall, lanky man with glasses – "is Jack. He's the resident tech whiz. If something breaks down or needs fixing, he's your man."
I nodded, trying to commit their names and faces to memory. This new world was overwhelming, but Rocket's casual introductions helped me feel more at ease. There was a warmth in his demeanor that made the strangeness of it all slightly less daunting.
"Thanks for showing me around," I said, feeling grateful. "And for lunch, too."
"Hey, no problem," he replied with a grin.
By the time we finished eating, I felt full and satisfied. Rocket glanced at his watch, frowning. "Okay, Boss said you need to go to the warehouse; the training was scheduled. You need to meet with the training bot."
"How do you know?" I asked, confused.
Rocket laughed "Oh right, I got a notification on my AR glasses. These are super helpful. Let's go?"
I nodded. "Yes, what do I do with the platter?"
Rocket pointed to a stack by a trashcan. "Put it there. The cleaners will take care of it."
As we walked back to the warehouse, Rocket asked, "Are you ready for the test?"
"Yeah. I think. I mean, how hard could it be?" I said. "I'm assuming I need to pass with 75% or higher?"
"That's right," he confirmed, his expression serious. "But if you get 90% or higher, you'll be in an even better position and better pay. But I wasn't supposed to tell you that." He winked.
"Thanks for the heads-up," I said, feeling determined. "I'll do my best."
We walked back to the warehouse together, Rocket leading me through the maze of aisles and towering shelves to a room in the back. Inside, there were several heavy machines and a giant screen. He pushed a few buttons, and the screen lit up with the message: "Eli Miller, please provide your identification."
"Good luck," Rocket said as I pulled out my ID.
The moment Rocket left the room and I showed my ID to the camera, the training bot's screen flickered, and a 3D model of a forklift appeared. "The forklift is vital for material handling," the bot explained in a smooth, synthesized voice. I focused on the model, noting how it demonstrated proper posture and techniques. The emphasis on smooth movements and being aware of my surroundings caught my attention.
"Please demonstrate proper use with the provided forklift," the robot instructed. I walked over to the machine, my heart pounding with anxiety. I checked the forklift thoroughly and secured the materials before carefully moving them across the room. The bot seemed satisfied. "Good job on noticing and checking security. Do you want to move on or take a break?"
"I'm ready to continue, sir," I replied, eager to learn more. This was going easy.
"Very well," the bot said as it moved on to the next lesson. A power suit appeared on the screen, and I couldn't help but be fascinated. "The Metal Muscle is a strength-enhancing piece of machinery. This suit boosts your strength for moving heavy items safely," the bot continued, walking me through the suit's controls and safety features. The importance of calibrated movements to avoid accidents was heavily stressed. A montage of failures of each safety feature failing scared me enough to ask the training bot to repeat the lesson. I didn't want to make any of those mistakes...or get any of those consequences.
On the second play through the training bot added to "Remember, safety is paramount. Incorrect operation can lead to serious injury." It quizzed me periodically to test my grasp of the procedures, and I felt a surge of pride with each correct answer. The blend of visual aids and interactive learning kept me engaged.
Then the robot instructed me to do the practical the same way I did with the forklift. I checked all the safeties and strapped into the suit. It felt a bit tight, so I asked, "Am I doing alright?"
"You are doing well; please focus," the robot replied, its tone neutral. It didn't offer any further insight into my progress, so I decided to concentrate on the practical demonstration.
The Metal Muscle was heavier than I expected, but as soon as I activated it, the suit's strength enhancements kicked in, making the weight vanish. My first task was to move a series of heavy boxes to the other side of the room. I approached the first box, aligning my stance as the training bot instructed. The suit's interface indicated the right lifting technique. I gripped the box firmly and lifted it smoothly, surprised at how the suit augmented my strength.
These would be great on the farm.
With precise movements, I walked across the room, keeping my pace steady. The suit responded well to my movement. I carefully set down the box in the designated area, ensuring it was stable before letting go. I then returned to the next box, repeating the process. Each lift and step was methodical, mirroring the training bot's earlier instructions.
I kept a close eye on the suit's feedback system, which provided real-time data on my posture and the weight distribution. There was no room for error; a single misstep could lead to an accident and, more importantly, a lower score. By the time I finished moving the last box, I had gotten the hang of the suit's controls. It was a straightforward task, executed with precision and care. I stepped out of the suit, ready for the bot's assessment, confident in my performance.
The training bot said in a dispassionate voice, "That concludes your assigned training. Please proceed to leave the training room."
I blinked. I wasn't going to be told the results?
I burst through the warehouse doors, my heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. I looked around and saw the Grumpy Boss standing near a workstation, looking over some paperwork.
"Did I get the certification?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly as I walked up quickly.
He looked up, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. It felt like he could see right through me, and for a moment, I thought I saw a hint of fear in his eyes. Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"Yeah, kid. Just got the notification. You hit 95% on all the tests and demonstrations," he said gruffly. "Not hiring you at the standard rate would be stupid. Let's start you in the warehouses till you get your driver's license. Have Aaron help you set up a private bank account as soon as possible; it will be cheaper for you to run than the government bank account. When you get your license, and you finish your probation, I'll bump your pay up."
"Thank you, sir," I replied, relief and gratitude washing over me.
The grumpy boss looked at me with a tiny smile and nodded, turning back to his paperwork with a grumpy demeanor.
"Um, can you help me find where Aaron is?" I asked, scanning the bustling warehouse.
The Grumpy Boss pulled out a device from his pocket with a sigh and checked it. "Looks like he's going to pull into the garage in about 10 minutes." He put his device in his pocket and walked away.
"Can you show me where that is?" I asked, falling into step behind him.
"Sure, follow," he replied simply.
We crossed the street to the other building. Inside, I recognized Aaron's car immediately, thanked Grumpy Boss, and walked up to it, leaning against its cool metal. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me of the energy I'd burned throughout the day. This work wasn't as hard as a day on the farm, but the physical demands were different – and so was the food.
As I waited for Aaron, I pulled out my notebook and flipped through the pages.