The Tragic Death of Corporate
Man
a hero for
capitalism;
champion of the
working class
by Tom Landaluce
Section 6:
This Section Title Has
Been Outsourced.
(we apologize for any
inconvenience)
6.a.
The lighting
was stark, as if no shades of grey existed between the swaths of black and
white. In the cramped room a man lay on
a medical gurney, a blocky mechanical arm, recently attached to his shoulder,
oozed a clear pus at the suture lines.
Antibiotics seeped from bruised flesh which extended halfway across his
chest, up his neck to his ear, and down to his hip.
The man’s eyes
were dilated and his lips cracked.
Tangles of wires and tubes from various medical and mechanical machines,
life support and diagnostic, fell about him, draped from suspended equipment. There was a smell, like axel grease and
afterbirth.
“Try wiggling
your finger,” said a weasely looking man in a bright, shadowless lab coat. His fingers clattered against the chunky
buttons of roundish keyboards and ten-key pads.
A stream of green numbers filled the black screen of a small monitor,
whirs and clicking noises sounded in accompaniment.
The index
finger of the mechanical arm spasmed in a series of jittery clunks.
“Good. When you have rested there is a battery of
tests we need to run through. It will
take several hours but is quite necessary in order to properly calibrate your
new arm. As per your specifications, the
imprinting mechanism–” the man in the lab coat paused and reached for a lever
on the forearm of the mechanical appendage.
With noticeable effort, he slid it forward and then back again creating
a distinct ca-chunking sound. “–is
functional. A small housing underneath
holds a maximum of twenty carbons. Be
sure to carry additional slips in a belt pouch.
It will serve you well in future business endeavors. Speaking of which…”
A form moved
in the shadows and a silhouetted shape edged around the room. It said, “Your upgrade was funded by an
associate of mine and was done relatively free of charge. He requires only a nominal monthly fee for
the use of the equipment as well as a percentage of what you charge your
clients for your services. Additionally,
when you are called upon to do a job for us, a discounted rate must be extended. Wiggle that cybernetic finger if you
understand and comply.”
At first,
nothing happened. Then the finger moved.
“Great,” said
the man in the shadows. “I’m glad this
all worked out, Commander Credit.”
The shadowy
man stepped into the light.
“I too have a
military moniker. You may call me Captain
Apathy.”
