The Industrialist

Flanegan looked tougher and bigger than Lance. But they had the same height. However, the high-classers had not been exposed to discomfort and danger while Lance experienced them every day. The closer his steps to the unjustly TOR, his rage subsided. Pity overcame him. However, something told him that he should be feared rather than loved by the people.

He disregarded the people around him. He heard only the noise that came from the equipment had ceased and silence filled the air, and only his boots against the marble floor were perceptible.

Flanegan was a bully. He initiated fear toward Lance ever since they met but now, Lance wore the face of a killer. Flanegan could not hurt him, Lance had been facing monsters outside the wall. What more than a spoiled brat, glass, and soft-skinned dude would do?

"Why are you treating them as slaves?!" Lance shouted, his eyebrows furrowed.

Flanegan chose to retreat his steps, recoiling from the unceasing attacker. Lance persisted in his aggressive demeanor.

As he got closer, he extended his arm and clasped Flanegan by his shirt, squeezing it hard, semi-lifting the latter to his heels. The employees remained silent but he knew they were praising a spectacle. They wanted Lance to punch him in the face, without regard for the consequences.

"This is a violation of the code, Lance!" Flanegan screamed, trying to unclasp Lance's fists.

"You are a menace, Flanegan. You don't do things right. You are lucky that you have powerful parents who still give you positions in the factories. Without them, you are an insolent fool!"

Surprisingly, the flow of words seemed to match his anger. It was not scripted but his fearsome gesture somehow had a mind on its own, controlling his being.

"What are you going to do? Are you going to hurt me? You can't do anything, or else you'll regret it," Flanegan squirmed.

With immense force, Lance swung a fist to Flanegan's cheek. His knuckles ached against the latter's jaw. Flanegan fell coldly, his eyes closed and lay on the floor motionless.

And the hurt in Lance's wrist loomed after a few moments, his knuckles seemed fractured. The cheers from the crowd grew. He was on a winning streak, he received gratitude from the rebels this early morning, and another round of applause from the employees.

Regret flooded his thoughts upon looking at a knocked-down brat. Others helped him while Flanegan laid flat. Despite his motionless body, Flanegan released soft groans.

"Mister Berkley, what's the commotion!" It was Chang, his voice raised, storming towards them.

"Mister Chang, I can't stand him unjustly bossing and shouting at people around here," Lance explained. "He is degrading the essence of workplace professionalism."

His pre-hiring orientations paid off.

Chang hovered over the unconscious TOR on the floor. He bent down and inspected the victim's chest slowly going down and up. Luckily, he was breathing.

"Wow!" Chang whispered to Lance, "That annoying brat, he deserved it. But, in my position, you will answer to your actions, Mister Berkley. I suggest you report this to Mister Leric."

It felt good. He felt the smiles and the ease of the employees in the production line with Flanegan lying on the floor. Some even tapped my shoulder. He was not sure though if it was a tap because of admiration or a sign of good luck, because Lance had to deal with the consequences. Or worse, to be executed.

"Everyone, forgive me for my rage. It was not the right thing to do. Please continue working. I will be just out a bit," Lance announced and everybody listened and remained only silent. There were curt nods and smiles toward him.

Flanegan laid on a stretcher to the clinic. Lance went to his office and called Leric via Opticom. Leric was rather silent, with only a few affirmations while Lance reported the incident flatly.

Lance took over Flanegan's place and supervised the production floor. Without the condescending commands of their TOR, the workers moved in unison with precision and efficiency.

***

That night

***

"Lance. I am surprised that you punched Flanegan in the face," Leric said, puffing his cigar inside his office. Smoke wafted between them, Lance settled a chair across Leric.

"He needed to learn to handle the employees, Mister Leric," Lance responded.

"We are tight with our policies here in CBD manufacturing. We are dealing with deadly weapons, Lance. You know that right? Therefore, there are stringent measures that we put in place in every aspect of the Department, risk assessment to the highest level. Now, what you are doing is considered a risk in your behavior," Leric said coldly.

"I will face the consequences, Mister Leric," Lance responded. He was not sure if what he said was the right answer, or would lead him to his execution.

"For a few days, you have shown rage. You have not proven your worth yet to us. Don't let me regret my decision hiring you," Leric said.

Lance only remained silent; such a haphazard answer could be detrimental to his position even further. He only looked the head of the Customs and Border Defence Department straight into his eyes.

"Do you know Flanegan's parents hold positions in the Departments?"

Lance shook his head.

"His father holds the City Budget Treasury while his mother is in the Governing Laws Department under Legislative bodies."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Lance had no idea about the hierarchies of positions in the Government. He never considered studying them. He only studied how to take them down. However, if the need arises for his scheme, he would consider it.

"No, I did not, Mister Leric," Lance responded.

"However, I can talk to Flanegan. Make an exception out of this. Chang told me the situation also. Flanegan is not the best of minds, he is not also the best at supervising. That's why AmdonCore Sectors are throwing him out. His parents pulled some strings to be assigned here in CBD. I will talk to him and explain that I will let this go."

"Excuse me, Mister Leric?"

"Yes. I will let this go. You will not be sanctioned and won't go to human resources. I like the fire in you, kid. That's why I decided to get you first before the others are looking to hire you."

Surprisingly, somehow his heroic deeds impacted all over the City. Obviously, Leric wanted control, and hiring Lance first among others gave him the advantage.

"Continue with your loyalty, Lance. You will be awarded. Remember, you are earning this much to retain your status in life. In this age, it is all about money. If you don't have it, you will suffer. So, do good in my department and you will find yourself elevated."

"Thank you for letting this go, Mister Leric," Lance said. "Talking about elevation, can I patent the poison bombs? I wanted to augment my Scientist Rank."

Leric clapped. "See! That's the fire I want from you. The aggressiveness. It shows strength, Lance… I will coordinate with Zee about this and you can have your presentation this week or the next. The question is, are you ready?"

"I am, Mister Leric."

Leric had a mischievous smile that was hard to read. Lance felt like a small experimental pawn that Leric would mold. Find more to read at empire

"Second order of business. I want to maintain the momentum. I want you to take advantage of the Aiveez nectar. We build weapons out of it. Think outside the box. Guns, rifles, using nectar bullets. I mean, the limit is only your imagination."

'Now, he's talking.' What Lance liked most about working was that he could create something out of it. And as with their agreement, Lance would keep patents of the weapons he designed. And with the resources from CBD, he would be unstoppable.

"I will show you draft designs this week, Mister Leric. I would like to know the budget if I am going to build weapons."

"Don't worry about the budget, Lance. But If you really want to know. I will give an initial of two hundred thousand units to manufacture weapons. Then if it's exhausted, come to me again with new designs and the new budget."

"Mister Leric, if I will be aggressive and knowledgeable enough to make efficient weaponry for the CBD, I should be augmenting my Intelligence grade first. Not only I will garner further studies of Science, but I will also be able to access High Tier Markets to procure materials for my prototypes. If we will do this covertly, then, it will not be obvious if I will be the one who'll spearhead the component procurement as well. I believe you have read my credentials as a scrapper. I am known by my clients as a good quality inspector when it comes to the scrap materials with the fair price." Lance elucidated.

"Yes. I have read them. And I appreciate that you are keen on the quality of materials. It's hard to come by these days especially that the scrappers are being outrageous with their pricing."

"Not me, Mister Leric…" Lance said. "So, I have a pending course with Doctor Adamson. Maybe I will just adjust my schedule to participate in the courses and increase my intelligence grade.

Chester Leric approved. It also meant that the courses that he would enroll in would be shouldered by the CBD's budget. Now, this made Lance excited.

Leric seemed to have infinite budget resources except for the other departments.

'Be aggressive,' Lance thought as he sauntered on the road walkways of Steamhaven. Two bodyguards were fifteen steps behind him. The distance accuracy still surprised Lance.

'What about a rail gun, poison-infused beams.' He felt tingling on his fingertips.