CHAPTER 70: FIRST DAY PROTOCOLS

Marcus woke up happy for the first time in weeks. He'd secured jobs in both worlds, which meant stability in one and progress in the other.

He checked his phone and saw a message from Tyler. "Dude, I'm moving half of my stuff today. Don't be startled when you see me."

Marcus picked up the pile of empty ramen boxes scattered around his sleeping area and stuffed them inside an empty pizza box, then crammed everything into a garbage bag. Time to make himself presentable for his first day at Pressley Guns.

When he arrived at the shop, John Pressley was waiting for him with what looked like a welcome speech prepared.

"Marcus! Congratulations on starting the job. I arranged a security course you can start on Monday." John's enthusiasm was infectious, even at eight in the morning. "Then let me introduce you to some of our coworkers."

John gestured around the shop. "Not everyone is here today. With part-time workers, we have twenty-one people total. Most of our crew is at the gun fair in Texas. We have a small booth there. Since I'm not a good salesman, I'm keeping an eye on the gun range with Sally, Jimenez, and that right there is Alex."

He pointed at a tall, slender man in his late twenties who was shooting practice shots at the indoor range. "Irene's supposed to be here today as well," John added, his voice taking on an irritated edge.

Sally looked up from the front desk. "You want me to call her, boss?"

"No, no. She probably had a meeting she forgot to tell me about. I'll call her."

Alex finished his rounds and walked over to their small gathering with a noticeable limp. "So you're our new chief of security," he said jokingly. Everybody laughed.

"No, I'll just be security," Marcus replied.

Jimenez, a stocky man with grease stained hands, grinned. "Well, you're the only security, so that makes you head of security."

"Yeah, congrats, chief," Sally added with a smile.

"Stop messing with him," John said, but he was smiling too. "Marcus, this is Alex. He helps with customers, but most importantly, he tests our products."

Marcus noticed Alex's careful gait. "Cool. Did that happen in the military?" he asked, pointing at the limp.

"Very observant. Where did you say you found him, boss?"

"I gave ads for mandatory security job. He really wanted the job. So until he gets his certificate, he'll do menial jobs, right Marcus?"

"Yes sir—I mean, Mr. Pressley. I'll do anything."

"Alex, whenever you have a chance, show him how to handle weapons."

"OK, boss."

The rest of the day went by in a rush. So many piled-up jobs needed doing, and since most of the crew had gone to the fair, the shop was short handed.

Mr. Pressley isn't good with management, Marcus thought as he watched the man personally fix a broken drill press instead of delegating. Unlike his organizational tidiness, he lacks the ability to direct workers. He just picks up and fixes things rather than ordering others to do it. He probably entered the business with enthusiasm and engineering knowledge but never developed half the business mind that Aldric had.

Marcus worked steadily through the day organizing inventory, cleaning workbenches, and learning the basic layout of the shop. Until he got his certificate, he couldn't get spare time, but after that, this job would be a great asset for Valdris research.

After work, his body was aching, but mentally he wasn't exhausted. This body didn't have his Valdris counterpart's cardio, but he at least had the mentality of a hard worker.

When he entered Tyler's apartment, he saw his friend chatting with his girlfriend Alicia on the couch.

"Hi Tyler! Hi Alicia!" Marcus called out.

"Dude, it's been like ages since we saw each other! But we'll be roomies again. Well, flatmates. How have you been? Tell me everything. Crazy that they expelled you from school."

Alicia nudged Tyler. "Tyler, you forgot to breathe again," she said jokingly. Then to Marcus: "Hi Marcus. Help Tyler settle in. I have my last final. Catch you later. I live across the hall anyway."

"Alicia, don't forget the co-stream after finals. You promised."

"Yeah, yeah, I remember."

Marcus sat down on the edge of the couch. "How's Jake? How are you? Is college going well?"

"Jake's good. Studying like a cow, always buried in those books. And my streaming and studies are going great."

"That's good to hear. College officials didn't bother you about me after, you know, what happened?"

"No, they're acting like it never happened. What are you doing? Did you quit TT Burger?"

"Yeah, I found a job at a gun range as an intern security kind of thing."

Tyler shook his head in disbelief. "Security guard? You? Dude, that is not like you. You had business ideas"

"After I get the certificate, I'll just be sitting at the gate. It's a good gig."

"Isn't that place dangerous? Also, you have a productive, researching mind. You should have found something where they produce or invent things," Tyler said, making broad gestures like he'd invented something himself.

Marcus laughed. "No man, it's pretty chill. Also, who would attack a place where literally everyone is armed?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Anyway, man, I need to head back to the dorm. After my last final, I'll be back with the rest of my stuff." Tyler got up and started packing his bag. "Peace, I'm out."

After Tyler left, Marcus went to his room with a microwaved frozen pizza and opened his laptop. While eating, he looked at his to-do list, thinking about what should come to the top and what he should add:

• Produce fast-growing foods

• Learn to produce a rifle in real world

• Learn to use guns

• Plan a mass-producing agriculture movement

• Learn to produce sewing machine

The list went on and on, with each point linking to other files. He added a new item to the list: "Study security protocols and gun safety." If he was going to do this job, he might as well do it right.

He looked obscure details online anything related to his list till he can no longer awake.