Chapter 53: Short Straw And New Orders

Arron watched as the security bots herded the restless crowd away from the shopping district.

A few of the more rambunctious people tried to block the security bots.

“Receive justice!” chanted the security drones.

Bzzt! Electric jolts caused them to drop like sacks of potatoes.

“Let's check the rear entrance,” said Kix, waving for Arron to follow him.

The large main street that was normally filled with many portable food stalls, stalls selling various knickknacks, and the ever-present flashy and colorful holo-signs were nowhere to be seen.

The entire place was like a ghost town. An amazing feat with the massive population of the first level.

“So weird,” said Arron as he looked at each of the boarded-up buildings they passed.

“It's because of those types of idiots out there,” said Kix pointing behind them. “That the shops, stalls, vendors, and even other workers in almost all parts of the first level call in sick so they can stay home with family and weather the entire week. 90% of the time the only civilians on the streets are those with grievances with someone and are looking to get even.”

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The sound of someone hitting a building farther down the street reached their helmet sensor alerting the two.

Arron and Kix drew their service weapons and ran down the street towards the banging noise.

“Hurry up your hammering you slow bot! Damn, I knew I shouldn't have cheeped out and bought the last-gen service bot. Next month I'll definitely get the para-steel shutters.”

A short chubby man was both yelling at his service robot and talking to himself as he fretted over the slow pace while patting his sweaty brows with a dirty piece of cloth.

“Sir?... Is everything Ok?” asked Arron while scanning the area for anyone else.

“HEEEE!” the short chubby man cried in shock and swirled around to see Arron and Kix who were running towards him.

The door to the shop opened up and an equally short and chubby woman stuck her head out, “Hurry inside Bibidy!”

As the scared man ran towards the door he tripped over his feet falling flat on his face. But in his fright he only cared about getting to safety and care not how he looked doing so, so instead of standing up, he rolled through the open door which immediately slammed shut behind him leaving the service bot still hammering nails into the Parawood.

Arron looked to Kix who only shrugged and holstered his weapon.

When they reached the rear entrance they encountered a similar situation as the front entrance but with a little elbow grease, they were able to clean up the situation with the help of the security drones.

Arron and Kix spent the rest of the day and several hours past their normal work time chasing after the numerous reports of separatist activity.

In between those calls they had been tasked with clearing up several massed groups of vigilantes that kept forming whenever a new report of someone being a separatist was posted to the government-approved social media.

***

A refreshed Arron walked out of the M1's mist shower room with his towel wrapped around his waist revealing his toned muscles as he walked to his locker to get a fresh change of clothes.

Kix was already pulling on some comfortable clothes to sleep in. They along with several other M1 officers had drawn the short straw and were ordered to stay the night at the M1 barracks in case of an emergency. Arron hoped this was only for one night.

“I'm going to have crap sleep for this whole week,” said Kix.

“Can't you just take a synthsleep pill?” asked Arron.

“That's not real sleep and using that junk is bad for your body.”

When Arron finished getting dressed he stood up and followed Kix to the room they had been given. The room was just like the one he had shared during his time in training but there was a little more room for a table in the middle and it had a holo-tv on the wall broadcasting the news.

“...and the new information we just received a moment ago says that Buck Boomer, a member of the party of Mother and Father, particularly under the leadership of Mother, will be touring the first level tomorrow as well as joining an unknown large event,” said Kommy.

“This is the short statement they wanted us to read to you: 'Please come to the 3rd zone of Sector 11 to join the celebration of the unveiling of a new important building.'” said Fela.

“In other news, there has been a sharp rise in deaths on the first level, along with that the number of reports about Separatist activity has also skyrocketed! Our official sources are not sure why this has happened but they believe it to be the fault of Separatists. They ask that everyone do their part to rid Neo-Tokeyo of the Separatist scourge plaguing the Megacity.” Said Kommy, as he stared directly at the camera with a serious expression.

Arron felt like Kommy was staring right at him which made him feel weird.

“What the crap? Why is a politician coming down here during rage week? Does he have his head screwed on straight?” asked Kix as he flopped down onto the lower bunk bed while Arron climbed up to the top bunk.

“It should be fine, they have their security personnel right?” asked Arron.

Toothbrush entered the room with a haggard face. When he saw Arron and Kix he staggered over to them.

“You guys save me! That logistics room is hell! I can still hear the non-stop ringing in my ears, even though I'm no longer there. Let me ride with you guys!” pleaded Tooth.

Ping!

Both Arron and Kix received a holocall at the same time.

“Chief!” said Arron as he sat up straight and saluted chief Chesty.

“You two have been assigned to escort the party member Buck Boomer starting tomorrow. Since we don't have anyone else to spare you will have to make do with working with their personal security and the few security bots we can send with you.”

“But sir! We should be out patrolling with everyone else. What is this politician thinking coming down during rage week?”

“It was not my decision to send someone to escort him. I was ordered by Mother herself to pick someone. You two are one of the only newer units that we can spare. Everyone else is all too busy. The information on Buck Boomer will be sent to you in the morning. Read it before you meet with him so that no misunderstandings happen.”

“Understood,” said Arron and Kix reluctantly.

With a nod to both of them, chief Chesty ended the call.

“I knew they were building something when they tore all those shops down and kicked the people out of the area, but I didn't think it would be unveiled at such a time like this,” Kix.

“Well... at least we will get a first-hand view of the event,” said Arron.

“You guys have all the luck in the world,” said Tooth with envy.

“This will be my first time meeting a true party member politician, I wonder what it will be like,” said Arron.

“Ha, don't get your expectations up. They're all the same. Corrupt to the core,” said Kix.

“But aren't those under Mother supposed to be caring for those less fortunate, while those under Father are more focused on keeping the rule of law?”

“An egg is an egg. It doesn't matter if it is scrambled or sunny-side up, it's still an egg.”

“Arron, your descriptions of them are too simple, even I, a person who doesn't pay much attention to politics knows that's wrong,” said Toothbrush.

“While the Party members of Father do hold to tradition and law and order more strictly than the party members of Mother. They are mainly just a handbrake to slow down the more radical members under Mother to stop them from going farther and farther down the road of insanity. But they are no saints either as they have used the heavy hand of The Office of Reason to clean up the messes caused by some of Mother's laws and regulations that backfired. This happens more often than you would think. Other than that, they don't do anything really important.”

“Where do we as citizens or just as officers of M1 fit in this equation? Are the local party members friendly?” asked Arron.

“I can't say much or the Office of Reason would want to pay a visit to me. Generally 90% of the party members that are supposed to represent us on the first level have a B rank social credit score and have a second home on the second level where they stay unless they need people to vote for them.”

Arron let all the new information sink in.

“Just remember this one thing. Everything they say and do, is done to warp your perception and change it to what they want you to think about a subject, whatever it may be,” said Kix quietly.