Thanks for the encouragement Shocker and chg. I realise this is a less frequented forum and am happy that you liked the start. Again a slow steady build.
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Chapter 2
Kane walked confidently, if somewhat nonchalantly, into the three-story glass and steel architectural statement that was his head office. He never came in before 10am, preferring to start his day at home with a leisurely coffee and breakfast and catching up on news. Being the CEO of DT meant he wasn’t bound by the 9am start time of his minions. He glanced appreciatively at the two receptionists on the front desk, who watching him apprehensively in return.
He looked good for his forty-five years, the product of wealth, and the appearance and longevity enhancement it afforded. Thick dark hair, chiselled features, cold grey eyes and a lean fit body, gave him presence, which was reinforced by the power he was used to wielding. Kane was a member of the Elite, the small super wealthy class that emerged with the rise in biotech and infotech companies. The business leaders that controlled the data, information, technology and infrastructure that underpinned the post-industrial economy.
DT had risen as a conglomerate that pioneered the use of big data and information to influence people to support causes, purchase goods, trust brands and elect politicians. Pressing the right buttons in effective ways to make individual’s ‘free will’ respond emotionally in order deliver a predictable outcome from activists, consumers and electorates alike. Outcomes that the elite’s desired and enabled resource flow, corporate growth and political power.
Most importantly ensuring political allies were elected and corporate aligned policies and legislation were adopted. Taking the early pioneering work by groups like Cambridge Analytica and perfecting it to be far more effective. It was companies like DT that created and maintained the Algorithms upon which everyone depended.
As he rode up in the glass elevator that only went to the third floor, where all of his fellow executives had their offices and facilities, he looked out over the open plan spaces on the ground and first floors. This wasn’t the heart and body of the company, just it’s head and its face to the outside world. Operations and R&D were located offsite at the DT Campus.
Most of DT’s head office employees were woman, young technically competent good-looking women. He smiled to see them sitting at their desks, common meeting areas or clacking along in their heels, all wearing short business skirts and blouses. Worker bees servicing the interests of the company. Electronically linked to the company Algorithm, referred to as Alpha.
As he exited the elevator, a statuesque brunette was waiting with a tablet to brief him on the day and take any instructions, having been told by Alpha that he was on his way up. While not really necessary because the Alpha would assist him through the day, he loved the anachronism of a female assistant briefing him. Dressed to his preference in an extremely short stretch skirt showing a hint of her stocking tops on her long legs, with pumps creating a delightful tension in her muscles, and a sheer blouse revealing a suggestion of her lacy red bra. Her manicured and painted fingernails, hair done up in a messy bun with large framed glasses accentuating her pretty hazel eyes and gorgeous features, ensured that she was the image of a retro sexualised secretary.
“Morning, Sir. I trust you are well this morning.” Her sultry voice, quiet and respectful to match the attentive expression. But not the slightly anxious look in her eyes that she could never hide. It was never good if he was in a foul mood, nor if she was guilty of some perceived infraction.
“Actually, very good Stephi.” He said with a self-assured smile. “What have we got today?”
“ExCo at eleven, lunch with Aiden and then a Council meeting at two. You’re free from four.” Referencing the tablet in the way she knew he liked.
“Good.” Approaching his office and a pretty young blond, standing at attention holding a cup of coffee, he grinned, saying. “Ahh. Thank you, Candi. Why don’t the two of you join me for a few minutes. . . And shut the door.”
He had already gone into the office when the two women glanced at each other in trepidation, following him in, both clearly hearing Alpha’s instructions in their heads. ‘Cleavage. Posture. Parade.’
Over an hour earlier, Moona had a very different experience of arriving at the DT head office. Not having an access card, she’d reported to security. A couple of large uniformed male guards were lounging in chairs behind a counter, chatting when she arrived. She didn’t like the way they looked her up and down, literally undressing her, before grinning and looking at each other.
“Morning Miss. Can we help you?” A gruff voice from the crew cut man, not sounding very helpful.
“Yes, please. My name is Moona Wilson.” She knew to be respectful of authority. “I’m starting my new job here today. In the Ethics Section.” She couldn’t help revealing her sense of pride at this statement.
“Hmm. A smart professional girl.” The other bald one said with a smirk. “Look here, love.”
An optical scanner confirmed her claim, while she bit her tongue to prevent responding with indignation at his familiarity.
‘Calm down, Moona. Your bios are elevating.’ Al’s calming voice in her head affirming her decision. ‘It means nothing.’
She didn’t agree and made a note to raise their misogynistic attitudes to her section head once she was inside. But not wanting to antagonise these men, yet.
The bald one took her to a side entrance, into a room with security scanners. A ping sounded as she stood front of the body scanner, hands held above her head, feet apart.
“Sorry, love.” The guard smiled without a hint of apology. “I just need to check you’re not carrying anything prohibited. Stand here. Feet on the marks. Hands behind your neck.”
“Surely a female guard should do a body search?” She asked.
Al advising. ‘Do what he says. It is protocol.’
Taking the required position. Thinking this was very odd, but not having the courage to challenge the security man.
“No female guards on duty.” He responded, standing in front of her, face to face, eye to eye, waiting for her to resist. Sliding his hands down her arm sleeves, down her side, around and up her back, and then under her boobs, giving them a subtle squeeze.
She said nothing, just turning bright red with embarrassment as he knelt down and unnecessarily gliding his hands from her ankles, up her stockinged legs and under her skirt across the skin of her upper thighs. Muttering “Nice” as his hand bumped into her panty clad crotch and slipped up the crack of her thong split buttocks.
“Hey. Don’t!’ She yelped, moving away and bringing her hands down to push his arm away.
“Just doing my job, Miss.” He leered. “Can’t take any chances with security at DT. Too many secrets and too much tech that others want.” As if that explained her inappropriate groping.
‘Don’t make trouble. He is finished now.’ Al chiding her.
The guard led a blushing Moona down into the basement, along a deserted corridor with closed doors, until she was shown into a room marked ‘INDUCTION’.
It was decorated in the retro chic style of the rest of the building, but windowless with only a couple of closed doors leading off on either side. It felt almost like a doctor’s waiting room, a couch and some comfortable chairs around a low table, on which were spread company pamphlets instead of magazines.
“Take a seat. Someone will be with you shortly.” The guard left, ogling her one last time, before closing the door with a loud click. It sounded as if it were locked, which it was when she immediately tried to open it.
“What’s going on Al?” She murmured, finding the entire ordeal increasingly strange. “Al. . . Al?”
Silence. Nothing. She started to panic. They must be jamming signal. She hadn’t been without Al there to support her. Ever.
Calm down. That’s what Al would say. Be patient. There’s nothing to worry about. You’re here for a job. They’re super security conscious, as you’d expect from a tech company.
She controlled her breathing, with difficulty, drawing on her yoga techniques, as she sat down, perched on the edge of one of the chairs, hands clasped in her lap, eyes flitting nervously around the room. Waiting.
A couple of minutes later a tall stunning black woman entered the room from the door opposite Moona’s chair.
“Hello Moona.” She strode purposefully, smiled welcomingly and held out her hand in greeting. “I’m Jamie, from HR. I’ll be managing your induction.”
“Good morning.” Standing greeting diffidently, shaken by the events of the past half hour, but still too new and timid to question. Maybe there would be a chance later?
“Please sit down.” As they were sitting Jamie continued. “There are some details to agree before we start. And I’ll need your agreement on a couple of things. All fairly routine. Okay?”
Moona nodded, cautiously. “What kind of details?”
“You’ve probably realised that you can’t access your Algorithm in here?”
Nodding again, not sure of her rights. “I’ve never been anywhere without connectivity since I can remember.”
“I understand how that would be disturbing. But you need to remember that this is a global tech company with billions of people’s information. We have to be secure and vigilant.” Jamie said this as if she were evangelising for a social cause. “All employees are required to migrate to the DT Alpha platform to access their Algorithm. Nothing will change for you. Your Algorithm will keep all your preferences, information and history. It’ll just be more secure.”
“Is that really necessary?” Taken aback by the requirement.
Jamie’s expression adopted the universal superciliousness of HR as she lectured. “It’s a condition of employment.” Then condescending. “You’re in the real world now. You need to grow up.”
Putting a tablet in front of her, with a fingerprint reader and camera monitoring what she read and agreed to. Stunned, cowed, Moona took it, flipping through the small print of the five-page consent form. Scanning, feeling embarrassed about taking too much time to read it all.
“Okay. When will it be activated?” Adding her fingerprint and optical scan, before handing it back.
“Thank you. We’ll send you a copy.” Jamie beamed, but with a hint of something disconcerting in her eyes.” As if talking to herself, she murmured. “Activate Alpha for Miss Moona Wilson.”
And then as if he hadn’t been silent for half an hour, Al’s voice the same as ever ‘Hello Moona. It seems that we have both joined DT.’ The closest thing to a joke that she’d ever heard Al make.
Relief flooded Moona’s expression, but all she was prepared to whisper was “Hi Al. Glad you’re back.”
Now that the first order of business was done, Jamie didn’t hesitate. “DT has bought your scholarship debt. It’s common practice with the large tech companies and is usually regarded as a perk. Because we provide competitive rates and an affordable payment schedule to our young staff.” Raising an eyebrow to ask if Moona wanted to query anything.
Continuing when she looked stunned but saying nothing. “Here are the terms and conditions. Please acknowledge your obligations.”
Again, Moona took the tablet and scanned it. Seeing the amount that would come off her monthly salary to cover the repayment and thinking that it was manageable. She always knew that she would have to pay her scholarship debt back. Everyone except the Elite had student debt, but so soon? And to the company rather than to the state?
‘I have reviewed the terms. You have no alternative Moona. You will need to sign.’ Al being thorough and logical as usual, but that didn’t stop a feeling of disquiet twisting her gut.
What happened if she didn’t like the job or got fired. Then what. She looked and found that section in the agreement, indicating that she would have to find an alternative debt holder or pay it back. Was this just a different form of indenture?
‘There is nothing you can do about it now.” Al’s emotionless voice not helping her nerves. “And you should not worry, DT is a great company for a young woman to work for. They achieve over 90% in their engagement survey. This is what you have always wanted.” Al was right, even if he sounded like a promotional video. She’d studied philosophy to work for a tech company.
Moona endorsed the agreement and gave the tablet back to the tall black woman, who then stood up with an almost relieved sigh. “Great. You’re official now. Come with me. It’s time for your medical.”
As she followed Jamie out of the room through one of the side doors, she summoned up the courage to query. “Can I ask you something?” To Jamie’s nod and quizzical look Monna tentatively asked. “The guards this morning. They acted very. . . umm. . . inappropriately. . . umm. . . disrespectfully. One even felt me up during the body search. . . umm. . . Is there something. . .”
Jamie laughed brittlely as she interrupted. “Oh them. They’re just goons. Don’t take them seriously. You shouldn’t have to interact with them too much again. My advice is not to make a fuss on your first day. Let it go.”
Moona was about to respond to such a dismissive and unsupportive perspective from HR when Al chimed in. ‘She is right. You need to be a team player. Not a trouble causer. That is very important in DT.’
Gritting her teeth and supressing her natural outrage and frustration, Moona carried on walking in silence. But Al unhelpfully reminted her ‘Your bios are elevating. Calm down. Breathe deeply. They are monitoring your state. Keep within regular parameters.’
She was thinking she had entered a nightmarish twilight zone, when they walked into what looked like a typical doctor’s office. On the one side an examination table and on the other what seemed to be sophisticated scanner.
“Before the Doctor get here, we need to take a couple of scans. As a record of your physical wellbeing.” Jamie smiled encouragingly, indicating the scanner. “Please stand there. Hands behind your back. Look at the dot up here.”
Moona did as she was asked, thinking it was a strange scanning pose, but complying with the older woman’s instruction. A flash, a whir and a click. A full-length image of her appeared on the scan monitor.
“Please remove your shirt and skirt. Hang them there.” Indicating a hook to one side. When Moona hesitated, Jamie snapped. “Come on. We haven’t got all day. This is for your health baseline. So, we can monitor changes on a quarterly basis and act pre-emptively when necessary. It’s really for your own good.”
Al reinforced with. ‘It is a non-invasive internal tissue scan. Part of their health insurance and wellness management programme. Without it you are not covered.’
All very well for you to say Al. Non-invasive. . .It’s totally invasive, of my privacy and . . . But she complied again, until she was standing in her underwear, blushing red with her hands behind her back as instructed. She felt her breasts push forward in this position but tried not to think about it too much. Just concentrating on the dot. Flash, whir and click.
A full-length image of her in her bra, panties, stockings and heels appeared, together with an internal X-ray looking image with different colours highlighting her organs, flesh and bone. That just made her blush even more, because she looked like a lingerie model, or maybe even a hooker in her sexy attire.
“Turn around. We need one from behind. Hands on your hips. And look over your shoulder, so we can see it’s you.” Why would they want this? Was this right? Or even legal?
‘Calm down. Your bios are elevating again. It is a common health baseline procedure. It will soon be over.’ Al’s emotionless tone belying the turmoil in her mind. But she turned around anyway. To her shame, the image that appeared looked coquettish and sensual, not at all medical. Her thong, stockings and heels, making her legs taut and emphasising her rounded backside.
“Last one.” Jamie acting professional and unphased by her embarrassment. “Face forward. Hands behind your neck and feet shoulder width apart.”
She’d become used to complying with the HR woman by this stage and took the position, hesitantly and with a worried expression. An enticing image of a reluctant woman displaying herself for the camera was indelibly captured and displayed on the scan monitor, alongside the medical version.
“Please sit down on the table. Doctor will be with you shortly.” And with that, Jamie left the room. Leaving Moona to her humiliation and anxiety about what else to expect from her new job at DT.