The Unemployment Line

The sun eventually rose. Beams of light shown through the broken blinds on the apartments one and only window. R.C. had slept through the night like a rock. He was woken when he shifted his weight while sleeping and fell off the couch.

Time to figure out how to get some money, he thought reluctantly while still on the floor.

He stood up and grabbed a pair of red joggers and a blue T-shirt off the floor. Putting them up to his nose he smelt them. They didn't smell too bad, so he put them on.

He walked over to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. His face was full of cuts and bruises from yesterday. Picking up his tooth brush, he quickly brushed his teeth. He had to use his left hand because his dominant hand was still bandaged up. His hair was messy, but he didn't bother to brush it down since he could care less.

Back in the other room, he opened his cupboard, it was completely empty except for a tied bread bag. There was a single slice of bread in it. He pulled it out and put it on an old paper plate that was laying around. This was all the food he had left. Not to mention his fridge didn't even work. He couldn't even keep food cold if he wanted to.

Turning on the faucet to his kitchen sink, he filled up a glass with tap water. He sat down and bit into the piece of bread. It was dry and flavorless. It was very stale and was more like a crouton than a slice of bread. He proceeded to chug down the glass of water.

He got up and made his way out the door.

"Another wonderful day," he said to himself sarcastically.

Locking the door as he left, he made his way to the ground in front of his building.

Today, he wouldn't be taking his dirt bike since he couldn't afford to fuel it. He started walking on foot to the business district.

... 

R.C. stepped through the front door of a very plain looking brick building. A small round metallic drone hovered up to him. It scanned him with a blue laser. It was probably checking to make sure he didn't have weapons or drugs on him.

In front of him was a very long line of people. They were waiting to speak with the lady who was working at the service desk.

This was Popolis' unemployment office. A government agency that's purpose is to help find work for the unemployed residents of the city.

R.C. waited in the line for roughly two hours.

This place is run about as well as the DMV, he thought to himself.

Finally he made it to the front of the line. He walked up to the desk. A very annoyed looking gray haired lady sat on the other side of the desk.

"Name and former occupation." The lady said with an attitude.

"Royce Crown and I guess you could say I was an errand boy." R.C. replied.

The lady typed some things into the holographic terminal in front of her.

"Please hold out your left hand." The lady asked.

He put his hand out. The lady pulled out a hand held scanner device. Implanted on the back of his wrist was a small golden rectangular chip. The lady scanned it.

The terminal flashed red. He already knew this was probably a bad sign.

"I'm sorry sir, but there are currently no positions accepting S.C.R.A.P."

"C'mon there's got to be something. I'm willing to take anything. I'll dig ditches or pick up trash or something." R.C. said, getting a bit annoyed.

Popolis has a very strict social credit system. It was established through coordination between the city's government and the beverage corporations. S.C.R.A.P., which stands for Social Credit Rejected Applicant Program, is a status given to individuals who are blacklisted from holding regular employment.

"Sorry, nothing I can do. Next!"

R.C. was angry. Deep down he really wanted to trash this office, but this was a government building. Security drones were everywhere. If he tried anything, he would be arrested almost instantly.

As he walked out of the office. Someone called from behind,

"Hey wait!"

R.C. turned around. There was an old guy behind him.

"Huh?"

"I overheard your conversation in there that you're looking for work."

"Yeah, but apparently this city doesn't want me to have a job."

"Well my son happens to be a S.C.R.A.P. too. He told me about a rumor that at one of the warehouses over by the docks, there is a group that is looking for people to work. Apparently, they are paying people to pick up aluminum cans to be recycled or something."

This peaked R.C. 's interest.

"Interesting. I think I'll take a walk over to the docks then. Thanks for the tip!"

R.C. decided to see if this rumor was true or not. Either way it couldn't hurt to check, it's not like he had that many options left aside from crime.