A blonde woman stood waiting in an elevator, her eyes lost in something. She was in the elevator by herself, so no one could have snapped her out of it. She had to wait until the ding of the door brought her back to the world. She stepped out. The heels of her shoes announced her arrival to the people in the hallway, all looking visibly shaken and seemed to move at a faster, more work-focused pace.
One of the people walking looked at everyone around and taking it in, bumped into the blonde as she exited the elevator. The employee's eyes went wide with the realization of who they just walked into.
"What are you doing?" The blonde woman asked, her accent thick with a foreign land. This one happened to be Irish.
"I um…" Was all the employee could get out?
The boss rolled her eyes and looked down at the employee, "I'm sorry, let me rephrase. What are you doing here?" The accent was thicker now and more forceful.
"I was going to the networking area," the employee said in panic. "They were saying cluster seven was having issues."
The blonde doctor thought for a moment and adjusted her coat, "Don't be so distracted next time, we're on a schedule here...always…" She corrected the person.
The employee nodded and moved past her, "Yes, ma'am sorry Dr. Healey, '' she looked at their name tag as they walked by it read "Hunt '' she nodded as they went by. Healey walked to the door right in front of the elevator to what was a large room filled with many workstations, holograms with information, and people working hard with a purpose. Like a fine-tuned machine as Healey wanted.
She did not expect her people to be lazy in her work It is after all what made her the person in charge. She graduated from university by age twenty, acquired her master's by twenty-two, and finally her doctorate at twenty-three. Her thesis was on what she found as a lost technique used during the war dubbed the “yusei method”. Upon doing her research, she learned the company that founded it was bought by another company unknowingly. When she got in touch with them about it she also pointed out the uses of the method. After she got her doctorate, she was brought to the head of the company. Richard Reign. He then proceeded to listen to her about her thoughts on what they could do with the method. The suggestion was that putting employees through it would increase their productivity. So much so, even as odd as it sounded to say, slaves to the company, perhaps a better phrase was better focused for the company's benefit. That got his attention, and a few weeks later Healey got another call this time from Reign himself. He offered her the position as the head of a new project he wanted to do. She was given two subjects and over the next few months, deployed the yusei method on two people, one who was willing. The other was intentionally unaware, to see just how effective the method was applied.
The results were that both subjects changed in behavior and also changed their looks according to the conditioning. The one who was unaware also changed in personality. Once the results were shown, Reign then informed her the test was a success, and now the two would be permanently used as the prototypes of the Servant program. This was where the techniques and processes they use now were refined. This was also all done by the time she was twenty-five. Thus when people are hired she expects everything from them. To make the times and quotas, the whole group must work to peak efficiency and perfection, including new hires.
She walked over to the center console area, or “the post” as it was called among those who worked there. From here Healey and others who were the leaders of this group would direct and/or address “the school” behind the scenes, and develop progress reports of everything going on. As she walked over, Gold looked over at her, the streak of gold on her hair moved as her eyes focused on Healey.
"Good morning doctor, I trust you slept well?" The Servant, the term used for fully conditioned people asked her and handed her a mug of warm oolong tea.
Healey took her sip savoring the first taste of the warm liquid on her tongue "I did, how are our students doing today?"
Gold hit her PD and tossed a holo onto the HD placed on the post showing the statistics and other information in an overview. "So far, our students are taking to the conditioning as well as expected. We do have a few subjects of note though."
Healey studied the information as she listened to her. She noticed two of them and zoomed into them. She looked over the information of a blonde girl and blonde boy who looked like siblings. "The Smiths, well we knew that could get a little dicey.”
Gold looked over at her "Should we isolate them? As the poet of our people, you would know best ."
Healey had heard this before. It was never meant to be mocking but her nickname among the rank and file was simply "The Poet". A nod to her as she was the author of the whole Servant project and her precise and demanding standards often came off as a perfectionist attitude over the program. While she did not like it even, she had to admit it was not a bad nickname.
Snapping back to the world, she thought for a moment and shook her head, "No, keep them in the group. They had…well one of them had a very intense episode before we found them," She elaborated, "I want that one kept on a watch just in case." Gold nodded to her request and made her notes as Healey sifted through the information, "You and Black brought a group of new subjects, how are they taking?"
Gold forwarded her the information, "As you can see we have two that will require more manipulation than usual. My sister seems to have taken an interest in the one we took from the bus stop."
Healey studied the notes quickly but thoroughly. "Well, let's see how they adapt. If they can be done normally well we will do so, if they cannot well...we can use special means."
Gold nodded to that "Is there anything else you need of me now doctor?"
Healey shook her head "No I need to go and prepare a report for your...Master" She commented. It did not exactly roll off the tongue as easily as it did off of hers. "I hope you can find Black and let him know I want him in my office." Gold nodded to her and dismissed herself. Healey walked up the stairway to her private office. She looked at the time and realized he would be calling soon. She blamed the loss in the track of time on the interaction, or altercation, with that Hunt person. She sent a quick memo off to security to collect Hunt‘s profile. Perhaps they required some time in a school setting.
She adjusted her lab coat, took a quick look at a reflection, activated her room's HD projector, and stood in the area to have herself in view. Slowly, an older man who was tall but graying materialized into existence. He had a very sharp suit and cold, blue eyes that could pierce through anyone. She imagined he could find any information he wanted from someone through his stare alone. This was the person who listened to her, who gave her what would become her life's work, and also his trust to execute it: Richard Reign.
"Good morning doctor." His voice was polite and also authoritative. He walked over to a desk that appeared and sat at the chair behind it.
"Good morning Mr. Reign," she addressed him, "How are you doing?”
This seemed to make the man slightly irritable, as he did not want to expose his impatience. "I'm not trying to be rude but my time is short today doctor. I wish to be given an update on our new generation."
Healey did not question him and sent him information almost instantly, "As you know, the Yusei method has evolved, we now use a virtual world as a trap and your Servants are the ones in charge. As of right now, the occupancy is roughly at ninety percent." She explained, "But, Gold helped supervise a new group so we are nearing our target quota. Once they are processed and converted, we will then be able to begin the sale of our Servants to your clients."
The whole place was built with one goal: sellable Servants. The ones who can be controlled with ease would be able to function as a Servant in three easy-to-understand classes. Well, if you want to be realistic, it was two cause everyone wanted to have sex anyway. She did not understand why she needed a separate class made, but they were often the most profitable. So if it is not broken as they say. Besides, sex sells and there is a reason prostitution was often considered the oldest profession.
Richard seemed to study the information, "I should warn you, I’ve heard that Walker may have some... problems in time," the man informed her, "We may see a decline in supply as a transition takes place."
Healey looked a bit confused for a moment but then understood. "I don't think we will have an issue but I am going to have the conversion department run inventory just to be safe. Unfortunately, Walker's nano-technology is the best. If we use anything less, performance enhancement results may be subpar ." The doctor warned.
This did not seem to phase Reign, though he seemed a bit off for a moment but then quickly recovered. "The sooner the better then. As for the long term, I am working on that. I did not think he would be willing to take Servants, but Thomas is young and may be easily convinced at the right moment."
The scheme started to come into focus for Healey and she nodded, "Cruel, but effective sir, I'll leave that to your capable skills."
Richard nodded, "One more thing, I hate to ask this but, Stephen's little toy finally broke... again. He'll be looking for a new replacement, the usual routine. Do you have anything to recommend?"
Healey had to subdue a gag as he informed her. His other son, “human” in word only, Stephen Reign, had a knack for going through Servants given to him as a child goes through drawing paper when they think they can draw, only to get bored and disregard the entire thing after tons of money was poured into the hobby. She did her best to fake a smile, "of course, I'll make sure we'll have something ready." This seemed to satisfy the old man.
"Good. I want to see what you have planned for the next generation. Also, any improvements or modifications you can suggest. We'll need to look for subjects soon I imagine." He moved from his desk, "That will be all doctor." With that, the image faded into nothing and she was alone again.
Healey walked over to her desk and sat down. As she did, the man with sharp features, clad in black walked in. He was a sharp-dressed assistant who looked like he could also maybe break your neck.
"Good morning Mistress," the man said, closing the door behind him upon entry.
"Good morning Black. Good job on the acquisition of new subjects." She praised Mr. Black as Healey’s personal Servant and the Servant programs recon specialist. He was taken in the thirteenth generation. singled out, and processed separately from the rest. Healey liked his look and requested to be his Mistress. She also enjoyed extended time with him when she took the rare vacation.
"We, as always, had good intel,” Mr. Black bowed his head slightly, “to what purpose am I summoned for this morning?" r
Healey sat back and closed her eyes, "I need you to follow up with security on a worker named Hunt. I don't think they will be useful much longer and may need to disappear or be enrolled." Also, I feel a little tense. Would you mind?
Mr. Black nodded to acknowledge her requests and went to hit a button on the wall. The windows darkened and the lights dimmed a little, "Of course...”