{"id":138961,"date":"2023-09-11T22:26:06","date_gmt":"2023-09-11T22:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/?p=138961"},"modified":"2023-11-04T15:06:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T15:06:21","slug":"how-to-keep-your-cool-if-youre-a-mech-first-day-on-the-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/?p=138961","title":{"rendered":"How To Keep Your Cool If You’re A Mech First Day On The Job"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nDamn,<\/em> the exoskeleton was hot. Two minutes strapped into the smart harness with its thick exospine and the oversized, carbon-fiber limbs that grew from it, and sweat pooled between Jenna\u2019s shoulder blades, over her own spinal column. The whole thing hummed with electronics and throbbed with support motors. Nothing like the black top, mini skirt, and sneakers she\u2019d worn on her previous job, waiting tables and tending bar at Lazy Dog\u2019s.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut the pay was three times what she made in tips, and she had the evenings to herself.\n<\/p>\n

\nShe was moving up in the world.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna raised her thick new arms in front of her, closed and opened her fists, rotated her wrists, wiggled her fingers. Her robotic hands enlarged her motions, each finger lined with a flexible pad for a non-slip grip.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe clear visor of her hard hat displayed the specs. Lifting capacity: 400 lbs. <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nHoly shit, she was strong.\n<\/p>\n

\nIf Paps were still around, he\u2019d be both horrified and impressed. He\u2019d worked the docks all his life, loading and unloading endless trucks of e-commerce goods and wrecking his back in the process, before exosuits became \u201ccost-effective.\u201d All to give her a roof over her head and some measure of security at a time where robotics and AI were turning the job market upside down. He wanted her to have a nice, clean office job and wear a suit to work.\n<\/p>\n

\nWell, she was wearing a suit all right. Just not the kind Paps imagined.\n<\/p>\n

\nAnyway, she wasn\u2019t cut out for office work. Couldn\u2019t imagine anything duller than sitting at a desk in a cubicle no bigger than a port-a-john and staring at a computer all day.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWhat the hell are you doing?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nA grim-faced man stepped in front of Jenna. Piercing blue eyes under black hair peppered with gray. No exosuit, but judging by the way his muscles bulged and roped under his long-sleeve tee, he\u2019d worked construction for a while. He held a tablet in hand. \u201cYou don\u2019t move until I tell you to move. I\u2019m still linking you up. Got it?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nShe\u2019d forgotten her Mech trainer.\n<\/p>\n

\nHis name was Daron, and he\u2019d looked pissed from the moment she\u2019d walked into the hangar this morning, after onboarding in the office trailer\u2014an entirely computerized process that consisted of a rudimentary quiz on safety rules, followed by two dozen electronic forms, half of them the company\u2019s liability waivers. He barely spoke to her as he helped her suit up and run system diagnostics, and now he jabbed at his tablet, a permanent scowl etched into his face, like her very presence was a lousy joke.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWhat\u2019s your problem?\u201d Jenna snapped.\n<\/p>\n

\nThat got Daron\u2019s attention.\n<\/p>\n

\nHe looked up at her, gaze sharp enough to slice metal. \u201cMy problem? Right now, you\u2019re my problem. I have five houses to print this week, a rig that can handle two, and I\u2019m a man short. I need a real Mech, with experience on the job. Remind me, sweetheart, how much experience have you got?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna bristled. Sweetheart<\/em>? Was this guy for real\u2014or messing with her?\n<\/p>\n

\nSo she was new\u2014fine. But her tech certificate required sixty hours of VR practice, and she\u2019d clocked in ninety-four and aced all her tests, on top of a hectic schedule at Lazy Dog\u2019s<\/em>. She busted her ass to get here. A little appreciation would be nice.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cMy name is Jenna,<\/em>\u201d she corrected. \u201cAnd if we\u2019re as busy as you say, why are we wasting time standing around here talking? Give me a job to do. I\u2019m a fast learner, sweetheart.<\/em>\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron\u2019s eyes widened and his lips twitched, his face a fraction less menacing for a second. But then the scowl was back in place. \u201cOkay, Jenna. I see you\u2019re eager to get out there. Super. But I still need to know one thing. Your number one job qualification, and not something I can look up in your file.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cYeah? What\u2019s that?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Mech stared her in the eye. \u201cAre you going to lose your shit when something goes wrong?<\/em>Yes or no? Because my crew are out there, and I don\u2019t want anyone hurt on my watch.\u201d He pointed his thumb at the open gate of the hanger and a dusty office trailer baking in the sun. \u201cSo if you can\u2019t handle the heat, do us both a favor and quit right now.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna clenched her teeth and glared. What a dick. <\/em>Was that supposed to scare her? He wouldn\u2019t be the first to try. \u201cSorry, I\u2019m not much of a quitter,\u201d she snapped.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cIs that right? I guess we\u2019ll find out.\u201d Daron rotated his arm, the tablet unused for the moment, and jabbed a quick pattern on the touchscreen strapped to his forearm. \u201cAnd speaking of safety. See that faint lock icon in the upper right corner? It\u2019s a motion override. You try anything stupid, and I\u2019ll freeze your ass.<\/em>\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna glanced at the icon, indignant. She knew about the safety feature. It was for emergencies only. She was about to tell her trainer to go ahead and try it, see what happened, when a loud metal bang shattered her thought.\n<\/p>\n

\nAnother Mech\u2014a woman in a full suit\u2014had just brought her massive carbon-fiber fist in contact with the gate. Her hard hat was in her other hand. Tattoos swirled up her shaved head and sweat glistened on her throat. \u201cDaron, you coming? We need you to QC.\u201d Her eyes moved to Jenna. \u201cWho the hell is this?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cHi, I\u2019m Jenna,\u201d Jenna said quickly. \u201cI\u2019m new.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cNo shit,\u201d the woman answered, then banged her fist on the gate again. \u201cCome on, boss. Chop, chop. It\u2019s getting hot out there.\u201d And she was gone.\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\nDaron tossed away his tablet and suited up in record time, cursing fiercely as he did, although his annoyance seemed no longer aimed at Jenna. Then he spun around and marched toward the gate without another glance in her direction, his movements swift and limber despite the added bulk of his exosuit.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna stared at the obsidian vertebrae of his exospine, irked at being ignored, then hurried after him, her own gait clumsy and lumbering.\n<\/p>\n

\nHer trainer didn\u2019t ignore her completely, though, because his carbon-fiber arm shot out, halting her progress, a second before she ploughed through a utility cart loaded with equipment.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWatch it,\u201d he barked, frowning at her through his visor.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cOkay. Sorry.\u201d Her cheeks warmed. In her previous job, she could slip through a crowd with a tray full of drinks balanced above her head and never spill a drop. But she didn\u2019t even notice the cart.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron shook his head, then stepped out of the hangar and onto the main road. Jenna followed, her visor darkening against the harsh brightness of late morning sun. Gravel crunched and popped under her carbon-fiber boots as she walked.\n<\/p>\n

\nAt first glance, the construction site made Jenna think of a giant sandbox. The desert at the edge of the city stripped of all brush and flattened, with only an occasional saguaro or desert willow still left standing, and a tangled band of prickly pears marking the perimeter. A row of gray rectangles rose out of the ground like sand molds pressed down by a child\u2019s hand. A faint ring of pink and blue mountains wavered with heat in the distance.\n<\/p>\n

\nCute, <\/em>Jenna thought. Like one of those battered, second-hand picture books Paps used to read her when she was a kid.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut as soon as she turned her head, the 3D printing machinery ruined the illusion.\n<\/p>\n

\nA massive, moving steel frame squatted over one rectangle, which marked the foundation of the house. One tall vertical pillar in each corner, each pair connected by two parallel horizontal bars, with another perpendicular bar rapidly sliding alongside them. Mounted on the fast moving bar was a bulging print head, pointing downward and ending in a nozzle that glowed hot. The nozzle spit out a continuous line of goo on top of the short, curved wall already standing, layer by layer drawing the new house into existence.\n<\/p>\n

\nEven with their exosuits on, the machine towered over the human crew.\n<\/p>\n

\nDefinitely not a toy. Plus it stank like spoilt eggs.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna\u2019s nerves prickled. What had she gotten herself into? But she\u2019d never been in the habit of letting fear or self-doubt dictate her options, and she wasn\u2019t going to start now.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cBoss. Over here.\u201d The woman with the shaved and tattooed head, now covered by a hard hat, waved Daron over. She and another crew member\u2014a heavyset guy wearing a bright orange tee and a hard hat, no exosuit\u2014were bending over a bulky computer resting in an open hard case on a tall storage box. \u201cSomething\u2019s not right.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron groaned and hurried ahead, but Jenna stopped, her eyes drawn to the fast-moving print head that was just rounding the curved front corner of the house, adding another layer of the reddish goo. The house had no sharp corners, inside or outside. Here and there, short tubes were snuggly sealed into the walls, for the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems to be installed later.\n<\/p>\n

\nAs Jenna watched, mesmerized by the printing process, the nozzle reached a break in a straight stretch of the wall and smoothly reversed direction. A window, she guessed. The wall already rose to her waist. Up close, the goo looked like stacked rolls of red clay that matched the color of the ground she stood on. She\u2019d expected concrete but clay made more sense. A local, natural material would be cheaper and more sustainable.\n<\/p>\n

\nGood. <\/em>The city badly needed more affordable housing.\n<\/p>\n

\nIt wasn\u2019t physical labor that had killed Paps. Stress had done it\u2014the ever-increasing rent and threat of eviction gnawing at his heart muscle and chewing through his arteries month after month and year after year, as he hustled to squeeze more mileage out of the same meager paycheck, until one morning, his heart gave out. If they could have bought a cheap, 3D printed house, like the one she was looking at, Paps would have still been alive.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe old anger flared in Jenna\u2019s gut, but she pushed it down. Paps was gone. Nothing she could do for him now. Except to build some houses for families who badly needed them. Paps would have liked that.\n<\/p>\n

\nShe stepped around the corner pillar, still watching the nozzle\u2014and came face to face with another Mech in a full suit.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Mech stood inside the house, in the open space that looked like a living room, their own gaze fixed on the nozzle and a handheld device in his robotic fingers aimed at the line of clay that flowed from it. Monitoring the temperature and moisture content of the layer, maybe? Both mattered for the print quality and the length of the curing process, Jenna recalled.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Mech, at least a head taller, blinked at Jenna over the half wall. A magenta mouth framed by a neatly trimmed goatee twitched. \u201cSo you\u2019re the newbie, huh? Ever printed anything before?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cOnly veggie burgers, and they were god-awful,\u201d Jenna answered truthfully.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cShit,\u201d the Mech said.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cExcuse me?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nBut the Mech wasn\u2019t talking to her. \u201cKill it!\u201d they yelled over Jenna\u2019s head. \u201cUruk! KILL IT NOW!\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nIt was too late, though.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe nozzle choked, coughed, and sputtered, and the neat line of reddish clay thinned and then broke up into a handful of dark, chunky turds, just as a new, more foul stink\u2014rotting fish and burned rubber this time\u2014hit Jenna\u2019s nostrils.\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\nUruk must have heard the alarm, because the massive printer froze a moment later.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cNo, no, no.\u201d Magenta Mouth peered at the turds in horror, craning their neck to see around the print head that blocked their way. \u201cThey\u2019ll stick if they dry.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna hesitated, not wanting to do any damage to the uncured wall, but the Mech\u2019s urgency was infectious.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cI\u2019ve got it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nWith three quick steps forward, she shaped her hands into claws\u2014the thumb against the other four fingers\u2014and started picking off the turds from the wall and tossing them behind her.\n<\/p>\n

\nTo her relief, the robotic extensions of her fingers were less clumsy than she\u2019d expected, although definitely not designed for the delicate task. She ended up accidentally smooshing half of the soft, barely crusting clumps and getting clay all over her robo-gloves.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe last turd hit Daron\u2019s exosuit in the chest, promptly melting against the carbon-fiber shell warmed by the sun.\n<\/p>\n

\nHe glanced down at the clay on his suit, then glared at her. \u201cDidn\u2019t I tell you not to touch anything?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nShe lifted her chin and stared back. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t think you did, actually.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWell, I\u2019m telling you now.\u201d His voice was hard, irritation grating like rusted gears. \u201cDon\u2019t touch a thing unless I tell you to. You haven\u2019t been trained, and we don\u2019t have time to redo any walls because you can\u2019t keep your hands to yourself.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna sucked in her breath.\n<\/p>\n

\nShe just saved <\/em>his stupid wall by picking off the turds, and she did a good job too, barely disturbing the still pliable roll of the previous layer. Thanks to her, they didn\u2019t have to redo anything. Just add a new layer as soon as whatever was wrong with the print head was fixed.\n<\/p>\n

\nNot that she expected a show of gratitude. A simple thank you <\/em>would be enough. Instead, it felt like Daron was going out of his way to piss her off.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut why would he try to get rid of her? She was a fast learner, she hadn\u2019t lied about that. And if there was one thing Paps taught her, it was that anything worth doing was worth doing well. She wasn\u2019t afraid of hard work. She just needed a chance to prove it.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cOkay. So how about\u2014\u201d Jenna started.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut Daron turned his back on her and addressed Magenta Mouth. \u201cIrelyn. What do you think?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nIrelyn shook their head. They were ignoring Jenna too. \u201cIt was a sudden spike. So not the clay mix. The heatbreak or the cooling fan would be my guess.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron nodded. \u201cUruk thinks it\u2019s the fan too.\u201d He frowned at the print head suspended from the steel bar. \u201cI hope so. The fan would be an easy fix. We have a replacement. Skye went to fetch Khalil.\u201d He turned and called out. \u201cUruk? Can you move the print head to the origin and shut down the system? We\u2019re going to get her down and take a look.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nA musical, three-tone whistle rent the hot air\u2014an acknowledgment and a warning.\n<\/p>\n

\nWhere was the origin? Which corner of the frame? Jenna tensed, ready to duck if the print head moved toward her.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut Daron threw her a grim glance, and she stayed where she was, strangely reassured. He may want her gone, but he wouldn\u2019t let her get hurt. She wasn\u2019t sure how she knew this, but she trusted her gut feeling.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe machinery sprang into motion again, the print head lifting straight up, as if to avoid invisible obstacles, then retreating to the end of the horizontal bar, as the bar itself travelled along the parallel support bars to the opposite corner of the frame. There, the print head descended to an easy reach and stopped.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe printer sighed\u2014a deep, eerily human sound, like a worn-out worker catching a break, rather than motors and fans powering off\u2014and went still.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron and Irelyn hurried toward the print head, and Jenna followed.\n<\/p>\n

\nTwo more Mechs in full suits joined them, a trail of dust marking their path from the hangar. The woman with the shaved, tattooed head\u2014Skye\u2014carried a cardboard container, slicing it open with her robotic finger as she walked. The short, dark-skinned guy\u2014Khalil\u2014lugged a huge red toolbox. He set the toolbox down, then deactivated his exosuit and stepped out of it before throwing the box open and grabbing a bunch of tools.\n<\/p>\n

\nUruk was the last to arrive, at a heavy jog and huffing from exertion, the computer case clutched under his arm.\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat followed made Jenna think of an emergency field surgery\u2014except the patient was a machine.\n<\/p>\n

\nA work table was wheeled closer and locked in place; the print head dismounted from the support bar and disassembled; the component parts examined for damage. Clay, instead of blood, crusted the nozzle and clogged the internal tubing, although the odor was just as potent.\n<\/p>\n

\nWhen Khalil was done, they all leaned over the disassembled print head.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna\u2019s VR training hadn\u2019t covered repairs, so she had only a vague idea of what she was looking at, but the somber mood told her plenty.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cDammit. It\u2019s not the fan,\u201d Daron said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have an extra heatbreak, do we?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cSorry, boss. Not this type,\u201d Khalil said.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWe could try a substitute,\u201d Irelyn offered.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cI have an old spare we could modify,\u201d Skye said. \u201cIt won\u2019t be a perfect fit but it\u2019ll do the job.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nBut Daron shook his head. \u201cToo risky. We need the real thing.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nUruk was furiously typing on the computer.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cAn express drone can be here in an hour. But it\u2019ll put us over budget.\u201d He hesitated, sweat glistening above his upper lip and on his neck. \u201cI could put in a priority request to\u2014\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron waved his robo-hand dismissively. \u201cDon\u2019t bother. It\u2019ll take them a week and a shitload of emails, and they\u2019ll still reject it.\u201d He clenched his jaw. \u201cDeduct it from my pay. We\u2019re going to finish this house by sundown.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cYou got it, boss,\u201d Skye said. \u201cBut we\u2019ll all pitch in. Yeah?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nNods all around. They didn\u2019t look happy about it, but nobody hesitated either.\n<\/p>\n

\nKhalil grinned, breaking the tension. \u201cMaybe we\u2019ll get a bonus this time. It\u2019s not impossible.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nSkye chortled. \u201cA bonus? I\u2019m not selling myself cheap. I want a proper raise, dammit.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cHell, yeah. A raise and a company hovercar.\u201d Irelyn pursed their magenta lips. \u201cI\u2019m sick of taking the train. I swear, it always smells like someone took a piss in it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nBy now, they were all chuckling. Except their boss, who still looked grim and preoccupied as he turned to Uruk. \u201cYou put in the order?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cSure did. Forty-eight minutes to delivery.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron heaved a sigh. \u201cOkay. Thanks, Uruk.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna moved a step closer, the motors of her exosuit whirring, and cleared her throat to get their attention. \u201cI want to pitch in too,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe majority reaction was widened eyes and raised eyebrows. Only Darren\u2019s eyes narrowed behind his visor.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThat\u2019s a generous offer,\u201d he said, voice cold as ice. \u201cBut I have a better idea. Did you know that if you quit right now, before lunch, the company still has to pay you for the whole day? It\u2019s the law. You should take advantage of it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nHeat rushed to Jenna\u2019s face, above and beyond that produced by the hot desert sun. She didn\u2019t care if Daron was her boss. She\u2019d trained plenty of wait staff and a few bartenders too, and this was bullshit. \u201cWow. You know what? If this is how you train new crew, I\u2019m not surprised you\u2019re short-handed and behind schedule.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nSomeone clicked their tongue, a small tribute to her boldness.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut Daron was not amused. \u201cIf it was up to me, you wouldn\u2019t even touch that exosuit for the first week. Not until you learned what we do here and how to handle yourself so no one gets injured.<\/em>\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna stared in confusion. That was why Daron was upset? Because she wore her exosuit? \u201cThat doesn\u2019t make sense,\u201d she blurted out. \u201cThe exosuit makes me safer.<\/em>\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cWrong,<\/em>\u201d her boss growled. \u201cAnd the fact that you believe it tells me you\u2019re not ready to wear it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cSpeaking of lunch,\u201d Khalil interjected.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut for once, Daron\u2019s attention was fully on Jenna.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThen why do I have it?\u201d Jenna challenged, but with less certainty. \u201cWhy are you <\/em>wearing one?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThe suit lets you work harder. Lift more. Finish the job faster. But it doesn\u2019t automatically make you safer. You got that?\u201d From behind his visor, Daron\u2019s eyes drilled into Jenna. \u201cNot until you get used to it and learn how to use it. And not in some nice, clean simulation\u2014but out here, on the job site, where it\u2019s hot and dusty, and one mistake can cost you an arm or a leg.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna held his gaze. \u201cThen teach me, instead of telling me to quit,\u201d she said hotly. \u201cI want to learn, and I\u2019m not going anywhere.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron studied her. \u201cYou want to learn? You\u2019re sure?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cYes!\u201d Impatience grated on Jenna\u2019s nerves. How many times did she have to say this?\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cBoss,\u201d Skye piped in. \u201cWe should break for lunch before the drone gets here.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron nodded at his second in command. \u201cGreat idea.\u201d Then turned back to Jenna. \u201cOkay. Your first lesson starts in five. And the topic is\u2026\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n\u201c\u2026Self-control.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cSelf-control?<\/em>\u201d Jenna bristled. \u201cCan you be more specific?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nShe was hoping for something more technical. Unless her boss was just pulling her leg.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut Daron had already turned away and was marching toward the hangar, his carbon-fiber-reinforced boots crunching the gravel and stirring a cloud of reddish dust. The rest of the crew followed.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cNot freaking out,\u201d Skye said to no one in particular as she passed Jenna.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cGrace under pressure,\u201d Irelyn added.\n<\/p>\n

\nKhalil was just strapping into his exosuit. \u201cHydraulic<\/em> pressure.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nUruk snorted, then threw Jenna an apologetic glance and hurried after the others, jogging to keep up with their mechanically lengthened strides, his computer under his arm.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna glared at the three carbon-fiber spines and the orange t-shirt. Her new boss and crew mates were really pushing her buttons.\n<\/p>\n

\nWhatever. The best strategy was to ignore the jabs.\n<\/p>\n

\nInside the hangar, clearly visible through its open front gate, Skye, Irelyn, and Khalil were already out of their exosuits, the hard hats gone. They crowded near the small fridge, then carried their lunch containers and water bottles to a beat-up table with a bench on each side.\n<\/p>\n

\nUruk hit the fridge and hurried to join them.\n<\/p>\n

\nOne by one, the crew snuck out the back door, no doubt to use a port-a-john.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna\u2019s bladder tensed as she neared the hangar. She could use the restroom herself.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut first\u2014where was her boss? She had more questions about that lesson.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron stood off to the side when she entered, his exosuit and hard hat gone.\n<\/p>\n

\nHe glanced at her, then hit a switch on the wall. A large fan opposite the table shuddered to life, the head slowly rotating side to side.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna stopped when the breeze brushed her. The breeze was warm, but it still felt wonderful after the blazing, oppressive heat outside, and so did the shade. She closed her eyes and held still.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cOkay,\u201d a voice said.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna\u2019s eyes flew open, just in time to see her boss lowering his hand, the touchscreen on the inside of his forearm still lit up. Was he speaking to her?\n<\/p>\n

\nBut Daron was already walking to the fridge. He grabbed his lunch, then crossed to the table where his crew were busy shoveling food into their mouths and washing it down with water.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cUruk, can you keep an eye on the delivery updates?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cSure.\u201d Uruk pulled his computer case closer, cracked it open, and started typing with one hand while holding a sandwich in the other.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna watched the group grudgingly. Weren\u2019t they going to invite her to join? She was hungry too, she needed to pee, and she was going to need help taking off her exosuit for the first time. Worse, she was pretty sure they knew that, and they were ignoring her on purpose.\n<\/p>\n

\nFine. <\/em>If they wanted to act like jerks, let them. Jenna didn\u2019t care. She would take off her suit by herself and eat her lunch outside, alone. She\u2019d rather bake in the heat than put up with this unfriendly bunch. No rule said she had to socialize on her break.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe exosuits stood in a neat row along the wall, each next to its charging station. Jenna\u2019s spot was at the end. She better park her suit there, not to give Daron an excuse to complain.\n<\/p>\n

\nShe started to lift her foot\u2014\n<\/p>\n

\nNothing. Her boot wouldn\u2019t budge.\n<\/p>\n

\nShe tried again, straining harder.\n<\/p>\n

\nOuch. <\/em>Her knee popped but didn\u2019t bend, the boot as good as nailed to the ground.\n<\/p>\n

\nAnnoyed, she looked down, leaning forward\u2014and was brought up short.<\/p>\n

\n

\nShe couldn\u2019t bend either. She couldn\u2019t move at all, her exosuit like a rigid cage around her limbs, torso, and the back of her neck. Her muscles were no match for the carbon-fiber frame that encased them.\n<\/p>\n

\nEmbarrassment whipped through her. Did she touch her control panel by accident? Or was it a malfunction of some sort? Wouldn\u2019t the suit diagnostics warn her, though? Nothing was flashing in her display.\n<\/p>\n

\nWait. <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe lock icon was on.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe motion override.\n<\/p>\n

\nDammit. <\/em>She should have known.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron had threatened to freeze her ass, and now he did\u2014for no reason whatsoever. That\u2019s what he tapped into the touchscreen on his arm when she paused to enjoy the breeze stirred by the fan. He tricked her!\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\nJenna gave herself a few moments to seethe in silence before she spoke, to make sure her voice was calm. \u201cI can\u2019t move.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cDid you hear that?\u201d Daron took a swig of his water, then bit into his sandwich. He looked around the table at the others. Not even a glance at Jenna. \u201cShe can\u2019t move.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cIt\u2019s a problem,\u201d Skye admitted.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cDefinitely is,\u201d Irelyn agreed.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cMost unfortunate.\u201d This from Khalil.\n<\/p>\n

\nThere was a pause as they waited for Uruk, but he was staring at his computer screen. He jumped up when Irelyn\u2019s elbow poked his ribcage. \u201cWe\u2019re still good. No delays. I\u2019m keeping track.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWe\u2019re talking about the newbie, Uruk,\u201d Irelyn said. \u201cShe can\u2019t move.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nUruk blinked, still oblivious. \u201cWhy not? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThat\u2019s a very good question,\u201d Daron said, and this time he looked straight at Jenna.\n<\/p>\n

\nHer temper flared. \u201cI can\u2019t move because you froze my ass<\/em>!\u201d she growled.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron chewed on his sandwich, unfazed. \u201cCorrect.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna\u2019s insides boiled.\n<\/p>\n

\nThen the pieces clicked into place. \u201cWait. This<\/em> is my lesson?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWe have to start with the basics,\u201d her boss admitted.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna gritted her teeth. \u201cYou mean, you\u2019re going to keep me standing here like a moron, stuck in this suit, instead of letting me take my break? What if I want to eat lunch?\u201d She hesitated, but she was past holding back. \u201cWhat if I have to use the damn restroom?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron shrugged, but his expression was somber. \u201cLike I told you this morning, I consider self-control a basic requirement for the job.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThe part about me not losing my shit if things went wrong, right? I remember.\u201d She might not be able to move her body, but she still had her tongue and her face. She scowled. \u201cI just had no idea you meant it literally!\u201d <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nLaughter shook the lunch table, with Khalil snorting so hard, he choked on his food and had to spit a mouthful into a napkin while Uruk pounded him on the back.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron\u2019s lips twitched.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cOkay, Jenna.\u201d He rose from his seat and walked over, his half full water bottle in hand. \u201cYou want me to lift the lock, so you can get out of this suit? It\u2019s easy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna narrowed her eyes, suspecting a trap. \u201cReally?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron stopped three feet away from her. \u201cSure. All you have to do is say the safe word.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThe safe word?\u201d <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nThere was no safe word. Was there? Jenna glanced at the others and caught a look of confusion on Khalil\u2019s face, but Skye kicked him under the table before he could speak.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cTwo words,\u201d Daron continued. \u201cYou already know them. You\u2019re probably thinking them right now\u2014\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nI quit. <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nInside her frozen exosuit, Jenna shivered in fury. \u201cScrew you. I\u2019m not <\/em>going to quit! So leave me alone. I\u2019m fine.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nShe had to pee, that was true. But she could hold it. When they got busy at Lazy Dog\u2019s<\/em>, especially when one of the other servers quit without notice or didn\u2019t show, she had to hold it for half a night and run around the whole time.\n<\/p>\n

\nThis was nothing. It wasn\u2019t so bad at all. She wasn\u2019t baking in the sun. The breeze from the fan wasn\u2019t too cold either. She could handle it.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron lifted his bottle to his lips and gulped down the rest of the water. \u201cCome on, Jenna. There are so many better, safer jobs. You could work in a nice office and drink all the water you want, gallons of it, cold and refreshing. And the restroom would be right there, you know?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna pursed her lips. She wished her boss would shut up about the water. The very thought made her bladder fuller. She couldn\u2019t turn her head away\u2014the carbon-fiber spine hooked to her hard hat prevented the movement\u2014but she could glare just fine, and did.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cSuit yourself. I\u2019ve got to hit the john.\u201d And Daron tossed his empty bottle into a recycling bin and strolled out the back door.\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\nThirty-two minutes later, according to the clock on Jenna\u2019s display, a faint buzzing tickled her ears. She strained her neck toward the open gate of the hangar but her suit was still frozen, and she could only turn her head an inch. Not enough to look outside.\n<\/p>\n

\nNo one at the lunch table reacted, their attention on Uruk as he explained a holo-blueprint of a house that he called up from his computer, with occasional questions and discussion from the others. The food containers were long gone, the lunch break transformed into a work meeting.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cGuys,\u201d Jenna said. \u201cDo you hear this?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nHeads turned as they all looked at her, instantly alert.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cHear what?\u201d Skye frowned.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cA buzzing,\u201d Jenna said. Her high-tech hard hat was probably enhancing the sound. She was the only one wearing one at the moment. \u201cVery faint.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThe sound grew louder, like a swarm of mosquitoes heading their way, getting closer.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron got to his feet and walked over. \u201cI hear it. The drone must be early.\u201d He turned to Jenna. \u201cHow are you doing?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cI\u2019m not a fan of your teaching methods,\u201d she said drily.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron lifted an eyebrow. \u201cI can live with that. Now don\u2019t lean back or you\u2019re going to fall. Take a step forward.\u201d He lifted his arm and tapped on his touchscreen. \u201cAnd go.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThe tension went out of her exosuit, her center of gravity all wrong for a moment, and Jenna half-stepped, half-fell forward before catching her balance.\n<\/p>\n

\nShe took a few more steps in place, twisted her torso from side to side, lifted her arms and turned her head. It felt good to move again. Somehow, the suit fit her body better than before, like a new pair of sneakers after she broke them in.\n<\/p>\n

\nNot that she was going to share it with her boss. She was still mad at him.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cYou owe me a lunch break,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron\u2019s blue eyes flashed. \u201cCan I open a tab? It might be easier. We\u2019re just getting started. We can settle my bill when we\u2019re all done.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna blinked in surprise, the reference to her job at Lazy Dog\u2019s<\/em> sparking an odd flicker of pleasure. So her boss had taken the time to read her application and learn her job history after all. She didn\u2019t think he had.\n<\/p>\n

\nNot that it excused freezing her suit, Jenna reminded herself.\n<\/p>\n

\nIt didn\u2019t.\n<\/p>\n

\nLife had knocked her through a whole series of hard, thankless jobs after Paps had died, and there was always some sort of hazing, some sort of test for the newcomers. It was such a shitty thing to do, a cruel and pointless power trip, nothing more. Even at Lazy Dog\u2019s<\/em>\u2014by far her favorite place to work\u2014she found the pockets of her apron filled with ketchup on her first night.\n<\/p>\n

\nFor once, she would like her co-workers to trust her and cut her some slack, instead of her having to prove herself from day one. She wanted to do a good job; she wanted to do right by the team. She just needed time to find her legs under her.\n<\/p>\n

\nHell, <\/em>nobody was born a Mech. They all had to learn and grow into it. Even Daron.\n<\/p>\n

\nOutside the hangar, red dust was blowing, the buzzing now loud and mechanical, a low whirring undercut by a rhythmic hiss of rushing air. An engine and several rotating blades.\n<\/p>\n

\nHow big was the drone? Jenna wondered. She badly needed to use the restroom, but her curiosity won out and she lingered.\n<\/p>\n

\nSkye and Khalil had hurried past her and Daron and out the gate to check on the delivery.\n<\/p>\n

\nNow Skye looked back over her shoulder. \u201cUm\u2026 boss? We have a visitor.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron\u2019s face darkened, and he cursed fiercely and stalked outside.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna followed.\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\nIt wasn\u2019t a drone.\n<\/p>\n

\nA sleek, executive hovercar touched down on a patch of packed dirt and powered down with a grunt. As soon as the blades stopped and the red dust settled, a woman in a shimmering gray pant suit emerged, her blue-black high heels and leather bag perfectly matching her blue-black, shoulder-length hair, or maybe vice versa. She squinted against the hot, bright sun and shaded her eyes with her hand, her mouth twisting with disapproval.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna had never seen someone more out of place.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron glared at the stranger. \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna saw his bad mood earlier. But this was different\u2014ice cold and laced with resentment. He and the exec clearly knew each other and hated each other\u2019s guts.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe woman smiled, but her voice dripped with venom. \u201cReally, Daron. Would it kill you to be polite? A simple professional courtesy. Not to mention I\u2019m much higher in the food chain.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron spoke through clenched teeth. \u201cWe\u2019re busy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nA smirk. \u201cI can see that.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nIrelyn walked up to Daron and handed him a hard hat. The hat was smeared with the printing clay, and Jenna could smell the stench from where she stood.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron nodded thanks to Irelyn, his eyes brightening for a moment, then offered the filthy head gear to the visitor. \u201cIf you really want to see what we do here, by all means, come along. But you\u2019ll need a hard hat. A safety rule.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThe woman glanced at the hat and shrunk back in disgust. \u201cThat won\u2019t be necessary. Not my department.\u201d She flashed Daron a smile sharp enough to cut. \u201cI\u2019m here to talk to your new team member.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWait a second\u2014\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron tried to block her way, but the exec slipped past him, one hand clutching the bag, her high heels clicking as she took quick, cautious steps on the gravel. She had impressive balance, Jenna had to give her that. Jenna would\u2019ve broken her ankle already. She avoided any shoes she couldn\u2019t comfortably run in, and high heels topped the list.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe woman headed straight for Jenna, as though guided by a targeting system. She extended her hand for a handshake, then registered Jenna\u2019s exosuit and robo-gloves, and opted for an ultra-friendly smile instead. \u201cYou must be Joanna.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cIt\u2019s Jenna.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWonderful to meet you.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThe exec rattled out her own name and title, but she spoke so fast that Jenna only caught two words. Retention strategies. <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nHer full bladder pinged, and she winced. Seriously? <\/em>Retention as in holding it in? <\/em>She could do without another reminder.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe woman was still talking, so Jenna made an effort to focus.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cFirst, on behalf of myself and everyone in the Employee Success Division, I want to say: welcome aboard! We are thrilled to have someone with your training and experience join the team, and we know you will be a terrific asset and make fantastic contributions to our company\u2019s production goals and our mission to provide innovative, sustainable, and affordable housing options to all members of our community.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThe speech would sound less memorized if the woman paused to take a breath instead of rushing through the script at a breakneck speed.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThanks.\u201d Jenna moved from foot to foot, impatient to wrap it up. She should have shed her suit and snuck out to the port-a-john when she\u2019d had a chance.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe woman\u2019s eyes narrowed, and a shrewd, hungry look came into her face. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Joanna?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna stopped moving. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cSomething is bothering you. Did anything happen?\u201d The woman moved a step closer and lowered her voice, as if the sound system in Jenna\u2019s hard hat didn\u2019t already pick up every rustle of her expensive pantsuit, the fabric glinting in the sun like the scales of a snake. \u201cYou can trust me. It\u2019s not about pointing fingers, anyway. It\u2019s about improving the culture for all future employees. A positive experience on the first day is critical to employee success.\u201d The woman\u2019s eyes flicked to Daron, then back to Jenna, her expression predatory, a fox ready to pounce. \u201cSo if anyone treated you poorly today, I need to know, and I will personally make sure that they will never do it again.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nHeat rushed through Jenna, her tongue itching to speak.\n<\/p>\n

\nSomeone did <\/em>treat her poorly. In fact, motion-locking her suit was probably classified as harassment. She could get Daron fired. A small part of her wanted to.\n<\/p>\n

\nExcept\u2026 Jenna had never ratted on anyone in her life\u2014and that\u2019s what it was, no matter how Retention Strategies spun it. She would settle the score herself later.\n<\/p>\n

\nBesides, the woman didn\u2019t give a crap about Jenna. She had her own agenda\u2014to strike at Daron and use Jenna as a hammer.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThanks, but so far, so good,\u201d Jenna said brightly. \u201cI\u2019m just still getting used to all this cool gear, you know?\u201d She gestured at her suit and hard hat.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWonderful. I\u2019m happy to hear that.\u201d The woman\u2019s voice was chilly. \u201cWell, if you ever have any issues or concerns, any at all, don\u2019t hesitate to reach out. I\u2019m here for you, Joanna.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna would rather dig a ditch with her bare hands. \u201cYep. Got it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\nThe real delivery drone, when it arrived a moment later, was a quadcopter the size of a briefcase, with a propeller in each corner and virtually soundless. It descended to Uruk\u2019s eye level, confirmed his identity with a retinal scan, then deposited a small package at his feet and took off again, vanishing into the bright sky.\n<\/p>\n

\nWas it the right part? Could they fix the print head and finish the house as planned?\n<\/p>\n

\nAll the eyes were on Uruk, including Jenna\u2019s, as he tore open the package and inspected the contents.\n<\/p>\n

\nWhen he gave a thumbs up, the response was a collective sigh of relief. Skye, Khalil, and Irelyn exchanged high fives.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna felt a sting of disappointment at being left out, but Daron was already marching toward them.\n<\/p>\n

\nHe ignored the exec and addressed Jenna, his tone neutral. \u201cDo you need more time?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna shook her head. \u201cNope. All done.\u201d What she needed was the restroom.\n<\/p>\n

\nHer boss gave a slight nod before turning to the visitor. \u201cOkay. Then let me show you <\/em>out.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThe woman huffed with irritation, her smile gone. \u201cYou know, I\u2019ve had it with your attitude. I still need to explain to our vice-president for Employee Relations what the hell happened here last week. And how am I supposed to do that?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna drifted a few steps away and stopped, the urge to eavesdrop stronger than the need to empty her bladder.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cIt\u2019s all in my report,\u201d Daron said.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe woman glared. \u201cYour report <\/em>was one sentence long.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cHe quit. <\/em>What else do you want me to say?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cQuit after just three days on your team. And that doesn\u2019t bother you? No thoughts on how to prevent an embarrassing fiasco like that in the future?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron\u2019s face darkened. \u201cYou want my thoughts? Okay. Here\u2019s one. Scrap the idiotic hiring algorithms and let me pick my own crew. Based on actual skills, not goddamn keywords.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThe woman blinked in shock. \u201cYou? <\/em>That\u2019s never going to happen.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThen stop wasting my time. I have a house to print and a new Mech to train.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna\u2019s ears pricked. A new Mech. <\/em>He meant her.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cFine. Suit yourself.\u201d The woman gave a malicious smirk, any pretense of sophistication gone. \u201cBut just so you know, I\u2019m assigning you an online training course in Workday. Leading With Compassion To Maximize Team Productivity. <\/em>I think you will really benefit from it. You have a week before it\u2019s overdue, and you know how many notifications that will generate.\u201d And she tossed her black hair and stalked away.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron watched her go, his jaw clenched and teeth grinding like he was chewing on rocks.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cJenna?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna turned, startled, her carbon-fiber elbow narrowly missing Skye\u2019s ribcage. \u201cYeah?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cI bet you need to pee. Come on.\u201d Skye pointed toward the hangar. \u201cI\u2019ll help you out of the suit.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna\u2019s pride flared, and she was tempted to refuse the offer, to deny she had to pee at all. But that would be stupid. Her bladder throbbed, on the verge of bursting. Not something she wanted to experience on her first day\u2014or ever.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThat would be great. Thanks.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nSkye was still there, waiting to help her back into the suit, when Jenna got out of the port-a-john, her bladder blissfully empty.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWhy did he quit? The new guy before me, I mean?\u201d Jenna asked.\n<\/p>\n

\nSkye frowned. \u201cThat guy. Ugh. <\/em>Never should\u2019ve been hired. He thought robots would do all the hard work for him, and he\u2019d just sit on his ass and press buttons. And when Daron disabused him of that notion, he got all pissy, ignoring directions, and almost walked into the print head. Irelyn had to smash through a wall to pull him out of the way. And then he quit.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cAnd good riddance,\u201d Jenna said with feeling.\n<\/p>\n

\nSkye chuckled. \u201cDamn right.\u201d Then her expression hardened. \u201cHe really screwed us, though. Just up and left in the middle of a shift. Uruk had to suit up to help us take apart the printer, and that\u2019s not his job. We\u2019re still behind schedule. Although we\u2019ll catch up. We always do.\u201d Skye shook her head. \u201cDaron was pissed. He\u2019d just trained the guy for two whole days, and the asshole took off on the third.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nAh-huh. <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe pieces snapped together in Jenna\u2019s mind.\n<\/p>\n

\nSo that\u2019s why Daron was so harsh and skeptical when she showed up today; why he taunted her about quitting; why he froze her suit to test her resolve. She was another newbie the company hired without his input, although if anything went wrong, if she got injured or caused damage, it would be on Daron\u2019s head.\n<\/p>\n

\nIt didn\u2019t excuse him, and it was still unfair to Jenna, and she had no intention of letting it go.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut now she understood his reasons.\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\nThe rest of the work day passed quickly.\n<\/p>\n

\nWhen the printing resumed, Daron told Jenna, less gruffly this time, to watch and learn but stay out of their way. With the new heatbreak in place, and a clean nozzle spitting out a perfect roll of clay, the small crew were rushing to make up for the lost hour, and Daron didn\u2019t have time to keep an eye on her. They would start the proper training the next morning.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut Jenna hated being idle while the others were so busy, and she kept asking for a job until her boss relented and gave her one: scrubbing the clogged extrusion nozzle.\n<\/p>\n

\nAt first, Jenna was indignant. A cleaning job? Really? <\/em>Was Daron messing with her again?\n<\/p>\n

\nBut he wasn\u2019t. The job was time sensitive, because a fully hardened clay was almost impossible to remove; and it required precision and a light touch, which meant no suit and only latex gloves. With everyone else occupied, Jenna was the only one who could do it. For all the high-tech advances in 3D printing, the cleaning tasks still fell to humans. Jenna mused about the irony of it as she pried bits of clay from the nozzle in the lengthening shadow of the printer frame.\n<\/p>\n

\nDusk was falling by the time Daron called it a wrap, a good few hours past the time their shift was supposed to end, although no one complained.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe house was finished\u2014and that\u2019s what mattered. All except for the precast roof, which a specialty crane would drop, section by section, into the rebar cages on top of the walls when all five houses were done.\n<\/p>\n

\nIt had been a productive day, and that made up for Jenna\u2019s aching muscles.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut she didn\u2019t forget about Daron freezing her suit. And to think of it, none of her crew mates had stood up for her or tried to intervene either. Which meant Jenna had a score to settle with all of them\u2014and she\u2019d love to settle it right now, tonight, and start fresh tomorrow.\n<\/p>\n

\nWhen Uruk powered down the printer, Jenna expected a hasty exodus. Surely, they all wanted to get home and kick back after a hard day. Or just escape the earthy stench of the printing clay that somehow grew more potent after sundown.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut the group lingered, Skye, Irelyn, and Khalil all throwing Daron pointed looks while he stared back grimly, lips tightly shut.\n<\/p>\n

\nSkye wasn\u2019t having it. \u201cCome on, boss. You should say something.\u201d And just to make her meaning crystal clear, her eyes flicked to Jenna.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron frowned, but he was outnumbered. He cleared his throat and turned to Jenna. \u201cUmm. You did well today. You kept your cool.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna grinned, a spark of an idea sending a shiver down her spine.\n<\/p>\n

\nYou kept your cool. <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nThat was it. She knew what to do.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThanks. I appreciate it. So\u2026 how about a round of cold beer? My treat.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nA look of surprise crossed Daron\u2019s face, and his blue eyes drilled into her like lasers.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna held his gaze and kept smiling, although her nerves were in knots.\n<\/p>\n

\nShe had one shot at this. If she pushed it, her new boss might get suspicious. She sensed the others were letting him decide.\n<\/p>\n

\nCome on, Daron. Say yes. Who doesn\u2019t want a cold beer after a long, hot day? <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron\u2019s lips twitched. \u201cOkay. Why not?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna beamed. \u201cGreat. I know a perfect place.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\nAs far as the names of pubs went, Lazy Dog\u2019s<\/em> had to be least accurate in the city, since most of its regulars were construction and hospital workers who busted their asses all day like nobody\u2019s business.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe cavernous main room was all dark wood and green synthetic leather, with dim, warm lights and old, framed photos of canines of all shapes and sizes on the walls. The restaurant took up one half of the room, while the bar with standing counters took up the other.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe place was packed when Jenna and her guests arrived\u2014every table, every booth, every stool at the long bar taken.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut that was no surprise. Lazy Dog\u2019s<\/em> was always busy on the week days. In fact, Jenna counted on it.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWow,\u201d Skye said, looking around. \u201cThis place is popular.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Jenna said.\n<\/p>\n

\nSeveral servers deftly wove their paths through the crowd, carrying trays with hot food or cold drinks. Jenna waved to one\u2014Moira, whom she\u2019d trained as her replacement\u2014and the girl hurried over, grinning.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cJenna! Are you back? Bob will be so happy. We\u2019re swamped, as always.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cNo. Sorry.\u201d Jenna smiled. \u201cI need a favor, though. I promised my friends cold beer, and I was hoping to use the party room.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nMoira sighed. \u201cSure thing. Go right ahead. I\u2019ll get your order ready.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna almost laughed. She might actually be able to pull off her crazy idea. \u201cThanks. I\u2019ll come say hello to Bob in a bit.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cA party room?\u201d Daron commented. \u201cSounds fancy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna shrugged. \u201cI used to work here. It\u2019s a perk.\u201d Then she turned to the group. \u201cCome on. Follow me. We\u2019re going this way.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThe private party room was in the back, a smaller, windowless cavern with large wall screens and green synthetic leather couches surrounding a low table in the middle. The air was blissfully cool, the AC humming in the background. Jenna had picked a slightly longer route to avoid the restrooms.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cCome on in.\u201d She held the door open with a smile, letting her guests enter first. One by one, Khalil, Uruk, Skye, and Irelyn walked in and stretched on the couches with a chorus of grateful sighs.\n<\/p>\n

\nOnly Daron paused in the doorway, frowning. \u201cI appreciate the gesture, but we\u2019re thirsty enough to drain a lake, and I won\u2019t let you blow your first paycheck. We\u2019ll split the bill six ways.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nLaughter tickled Jenna\u2019s throat, but she managed to keep her voice steady. \u201cDon\u2019t worry. I get a great discount.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThe moment stretched, with Daron still standing in the door, one leg in the room, the other out, and it took all Jenna\u2019s willpower not to nudge him inside.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut at last, he walked in.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna\u2019s spine tingled. \u201cMake yourselves comfortable. I\u2019ll be right back with the beer.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd she closed the door, savoring the satisfying click, and hurried to find her former boss.\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\nMinutes later, Jenna had Bob\u2019s office all to herself. She spun around in the chair, propped her feet on the desk, and faced the intercom screen. This was going to be fun.\n<\/p>\n

\nShe hit the remote, and the party room filled the screen.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cHi, there,\u201d Jenna said.\n<\/p>\n

\nHer guests could see her on their screen and hear her on the speakers, just as she could see and hear them. A generous case of beer sweated on ice on the table, together with a platter of food, all delivered through a rotating tray built into the wall. Khalil, Irelyn, Skye, and Uruk each held an open bottle already.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna grinned. \u201cI hope you enjoy the beer. Cheers!\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cCheers!\u201d Her crew mates raised their beers to her in response.\n<\/p>\n

\nBob, the owner of Lazy Dog\u2019s<\/em>, used to be a coast-to-coast trucker before automatic transport fleets made his job obsolete. Now, maybe to catch up for all these dull years alone behind the wheel, he loved nothing more than to be let in on a mischief, and was perfectly willing to lend his property, whether a room or a volume of beer, to share in the laugh.\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron walked up to the screen, his eyes on Jenna.\n<\/p>\n

\nTo her disappointment, his hands were empty. Too bad. She was hoping he\u2019d finish a beer or two before he realized her plan.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThe door is locked,\u201d he said casually.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cHmm.\u201d Jenna popped her own beer bottle open and took a sip. The cool, crisp taste was exquisite, with just a tinge of bitterness that lingered on her tongue. Perfect. \u201cIf the door is locked, then\u2026 it\u2019s a problem.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron\u2019s eyes flashed as the realization hit him. \u201cYou <\/em>locked it, didn\u2019t you?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nFour heads swung in Jenna\u2019s direction, various degrees of shock on their faces.\n<\/p>\n

\nJenna grinned. \u201cI did.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nFor the first time since she met him, Daron smiled, one corner of his lips riding up higher than the other, as if he was out of practice, his facial muscles unused to forming that particular configuration.\n<\/p>\n

\nAn understanding passed between them, and Jenna smiled back. Something told her they would get along just fine from now on.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cSo how do we unlock the door, Jenna?\u201d Daron asked.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cOh. All you have to do is say the safe word. I\u2019m sorry for being an ass. <\/em>Otherwise, I\u2019d go easy on the beer. Sorry. I know it\u2019s delicious. But hydraulic pressure and all that.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nDaron actually chuckled. \u201cI guess we deserve it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cI almost forgot.\u201d Jenna picked up the remote again. \u201cWhite winter or a babbling stream? Let\u2019s go with a babbling stream.\u201d A looped nature video filled the other screens in the party room. \u201cI just love the sound of running water, don\u2019t you?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nThere was a collective groan.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWell, I\u2019ll check on you all in a bit.\u201d And Jenna turned off the intercom.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe saying was true. Revenge was best served cold. Chilled-beer-in-a-sweating-bottle-with-the-AC-turned-way-up cold.\n<\/p>\n

\nBut with the score settled and the payback delivered, she decided she liked her new job and her new team. Sure, she had a lot to learn, and the job would kick her ass for the first few weeks, until she got the hang of it. But that was fine.\n<\/p>\n

\nShe couldn\u2019t wait to put on the exosuit and help print another house tomorrow.\n<\/p>\n

Vera Brook is a neuroscientist turned science fiction and fantasy writer, with three indie-published novels and a handful of short stories out in the world. She tweets about writing at @VeraBrook1. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Damn, the exoskeleton was hot. Two minutes strapped into the smart harness with its thick exospine and the oversized, carbon-fiber limbs that grew from it, and sweat pooled between Jenna\u2019s shoulder blades, over her own spinal column. The whole thing hummed with electronics and throbbed with support motors. Nothing like the black top, mini skirt, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107745,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,20094],"tags":[20095],"class_list":["post-138961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiction","category-tcl-43-spring-2022","tag-the-colored-lens-43-spring-2022","entry entry-center"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/107745"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=138961"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138961\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":138962,"href":"https:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138961\/revisions\/138962"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=138961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=138961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=138961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}