Waking, as always, to the sound of his alarm Lee got out of bed maneuvering around the small apartment. It was a small, functional apartment that was provided for him by the government so he couldn’t complain. Lee was an average man; average height, average weight, average face, and average hair. He was just like any of the other factory worker, except for his mind. Though he had failed to score high enough on the IQ exam to be given a job in The Red Square, he was still smarter than anyone left in the factories. Dressing in his work uniform, a grey jumpsuit with no added detail other than the name tag on the top left, he prepared to leave. Wasting no time he exited his small apartment and joined the others, all wearing the same grey jumpsuits, on the march to the factories. As Lee walked he couldn’t help but notice the new cameras place all along the streets. This was the third time this month that they had increased security in Central. Jack had told him there were some riots over in the southern farming sectors. Even though Jack’s brother was part of the security forces, Lee had trouble believing anyone would risk a fight with the government, especially in the farming sectors.
With that thought in his head Lee entered the factory with the mass of grey clothed workers. The factory was a mass of assembly lines building anything from farm equipment to mining equipment. Above the factory floor in the right hand corner of the facility is an office that oversaw the whole of the expansive facility. As the mass of workers begin moving into place on the lines the facility sprang to life. With the different areas beginning their jobs; metal being cut, picks and hoes being put together, and parts for the heavier equipment that would be shipped out to a dedicated factory. As the small metal bits for the blade of a harvester reached his station Lee began work. It was the same thing everyday place the bits together and move it along until the whistle blows and he either eats lunch or heads to the bar. Lee enjoyed the job though it gave him time to think about the things going on lately. “What if the riots are happening and “they” are back,” was all he could think.
“If “they” are back what happens if they hit central, what happens if they hit the factories,” Lee thought to himself. “Yes, the government has its faults, but there is no crime, no poverty why do “they” have to cause so much trouble,” as Lee stood thinking the overseer walked up behind him. “Pay attention we can’t have people daydreaming on the job,” as the overseer spoke Lee realized he had missed one of the parts he was to put together. “Sorry it won’t happen again,” Lee said in the most apologetic tone he could muster. “If it does it’s your ass not mine,” the overseer said as he walked away.
The moment the whistle blew it appeared as if a blob of grey flowed out the building as the workers began to march home, Lee at the forefront of them. On the way to the bar to meet his friends Lee could not help but notice all the guardsmen on the streets. “Did something happen? Is the director nearby? Are they expecting something?” these questions raced through Lee’s head as he entered the bar and walked to the group’s normal table. As he approached the table he noticed the gloom that seemed to shroud the area and then he noticed Davis was missing. “Where’s Davis,” Lee said as he sat down next to James and Jack. “The dumbass went and got himself arrested,” Jack said with a somber look. “What happened?” Lee said shocked. “A group of people along with him thought it would be a good idea to stand up to the Guardsmen. They lost,” Jack said as he took a drink from his glass. “Why would he do something so stupid?” Lee said still having trouble comprehending it all. “One of the raiders got in the city convinced that group along with Davis to start the fight to try and get a riot going,” Jack said unable to look away from his drink.
