office.
Inside, a young man sat at a long desk facing the door. In fact, it looked long enough for five or six people to sit behind, instead of just one. Above him was the company logo with the words, Novacorp Galactic, Inc in shiny, bronze letters.
There were two frosted glass doors on either end of the room. And over the doors, holographic signs displayed various company slogans like, "When we work together, we make Novacorp stronger," and "More profits for better living."
The man behind the desk stifled a yawn as he looked her up and down. "Yes?"
"I need information."
"Identify." He motioned to the glass desktop. A blue rectang ular outline glowed where she was to place her hand.
Nadira pressed her left palm against the glass. It only took a few seconds for the system to identify her with a beep. The blue outline turned to gold and she lifted her hand.
Sitting up straighter in his chair, he scanned the clear desktop as her stats scrolled across. "Guardian Sentry Nadira, what is your inquiry?"
"I have a question about Service Houses. Why aren't they ma naged by this office?"
"According to the corporate charter, the GAO only handles citizens with PSI abilities."
"Deshtu have PSI abilities. Why aren't the Service Houses managed through this office?"
"Sentry, perhaps my manager can assist you."
"It's just a simple question."
He stood up and smoothed out his grey jacket. "I'm not autho rized. Perhaps the personnel manager can assist you. Or the city manager. Or perhaps the security manager--"
"Can't you check the database?"
"Not without authorization. Perhaps if you would have the Sentry Leader call my manager, and she can call the other manager--"
Was he serious? She'd never get an answer like this. "What's your name?"
"1st Level Manager Clark," he replied. "Why do you want to know that?"
"Please call your manager. I'll wait."
He tapped the desk with the tip of his index finger. "This is the front desk. Guardian Sentry Nadira is requesting assistance."
A few minutes later, the door on the right side of the room opened. A woman wearing a brown executive suit walked out. Her heels click-clacked across the floor as she approached. "Sentry, I'm 1st VP, Howell. Please allow me to assist you," she said, a smile on her pink-lacquered lips.
"Service Houses. I had a question about why they aren't handled through the GAO."
"Oh, is that all?" Howell scowled at Manager Clark, but when she addressed Nadira, she was smiling again. "The GAO only ha ndles Guardian affairs, of course."
Nadira waited for the VP to say something more, but she only continued to smile. "And?"
"And Service House workers are not Guardians. According to Novacorp directive 1990-45 in the corporate charter, no verified Guardian can be registered as a Service House worker. If anyone knowingly commits such an act, it is a violation punishable by detention or long-term imprisonment," she replied. "Is that what you wanted to know? I hope I've helped you. Would you mind filling out a customer service survey?"
Gritting her teeth, Nadira stopped herself before she could tell the VP what she could do with her survey. Instead she took a deep breath and tried again. "So that means that even though the House workers have abilities, they can't be protected by this office?"
"Protected? From what?" The VP's eyes grew wide. "I don't understand. Service House workers are registered, like any worker."
"There was a fire today. It was arson. Didn't you hear about it?"
"It's a large city, Sentry. There are so many things going on, I don't have time to watch every news report. Besides, why would anyone purposely set a fire and damage company property?"
"Maybe as a threat? Or revenge? Will anyone look into it?"
"No one has to threaten them. They sell their services to whoever has enough credits. And no one is allowed entry to Hathor if they don't have credits to spend, Sentry. Surely you already know this."
"What I know is that the GAO doesn't help people who
Inside, a young man sat at a long desk facing the door. In fact, it looked long enough for five or six people to sit behind, instead of just one. Above him was the company logo with the words, Novacorp Galactic, Inc in shiny, bronze letters.
There were two frosted glass doors on either end of the room. And over the doors, holographic signs displayed various company slogans like, "When we work together, we make Novacorp stronger," and "More profits for better living."
The man behind the desk stifled a yawn as he looked her up and down. "Yes?"
"I need information."
"Identify." He motioned to the glass desktop. A blue rectang ular outline glowed where she was to place her hand.
Nadira pressed her left palm against the glass. It only took a few seconds for the system to identify her with a beep. The blue outline turned to gold and she lifted her hand.
Sitting up straighter in his chair, he scanned the clear desktop as her stats scrolled across. "Guardian Sentry Nadira, what is your inquiry?"
"I have a question about Service Houses. Why aren't they ma naged by this office?"
"According to the corporate charter, the GAO only handles citizens with PSI abilities."
"Deshtu have PSI abilities. Why aren't the Service Houses managed through this office?"
"Sentry, perhaps my manager can assist you."
"It's just a simple question."
He stood up and smoothed out his grey jacket. "I'm not autho rized. Perhaps the personnel manager can assist you. Or the city manager. Or perhaps the security manager--"
"Can't you check the database?"
"Not without authorization. Perhaps if you would have the Sentry Leader call my manager, and she can call the other manager--"
Was he serious? She'd never get an answer like this. "What's your name?"
"1st Level Manager Clark," he replied. "Why do you want to know that?"
"Please call your manager. I'll wait."
He tapped the desk with the tip of his index finger. "This is the front desk. Guardian Sentry Nadira is requesting assistance."
A few minutes later, the door on the right side of the room opened. A woman wearing a brown executive suit walked out. Her heels click-clacked across the floor as she approached. "Sentry, I'm 1st VP, Howell. Please allow me to assist you," she said, a smile on her pink-lacquered lips.
"Service Houses. I had a question about why they aren't handled through the GAO."
"Oh, is that all?" Howell scowled at Manager Clark, but when she addressed Nadira, she was smiling again. "The GAO only ha ndles Guardian affairs, of course."
Nadira waited for the VP to say something more, but she only continued to smile. "And?"
"And Service House workers are not Guardians. According to Novacorp directive 1990-45 in the corporate charter, no verified Guardian can be registered as a Service House worker. If anyone knowingly commits such an act, it is a violation punishable by detention or long-term imprisonment," she replied. "Is that what you wanted to know? I hope I've helped you. Would you mind filling out a customer service survey?"
Gritting her teeth, Nadira stopped herself before she could tell the VP what she could do with her survey. Instead she took a deep breath and tried again. "So that means that even though the House workers have abilities, they can't be protected by this office?"
"Protected? From what?" The VP's eyes grew wide. "I don't understand. Service House workers are registered, like any worker."
"There was a fire today. It was arson. Didn't you hear about it?"
"It's a large city, Sentry. There are so many things going on, I don't have time to watch every news report. Besides, why would anyone purposely set a fire and damage company property?"
"Maybe as a threat? Or revenge? Will anyone look into it?"
"No one has to threaten them. They sell their services to whoever has enough credits. And no one is allowed entry to Hathor if they don't have credits to spend, Sentry. Surely you already know this."
"What I know is that the GAO doesn't help people who
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