Ch.1Final Work Record – A Very Minor Violation of Rules (1)

Rain pours down. Raindrops tap against the window, but I can’t hear what sound they make. The employee residence building of Belwether Corporation, where I work, is famous for its perfect soundproofing. An unusual compliment for a defense contractor.

Even with my head close to the window, I feel neither moisture nor the shallow earthy scent typically present when it rains. All I see in the window’s reflection is my auburn hair and the black prosthetic eye with targeting correction functionality.

Is something wrong? I briefly entertain this pointless worry before dismissing it. If this is a wrong morning, what would a right one look like? Spending time on things I cannot understand is inefficient.

Above all, work hours are approaching. It would be ridiculous for a security team member to be late because the rain doesn’t smell right. I straighten my clothes one more time.

Everything I wear is company-issued. From the black t-shirt with the bell-shaped logo to the navy security team uniform, the prosthetic eye with targeting correction, and even my hands with anti-tremor functionality—all of it.

My preparations were nearly complete, but I stood before the bedroom mirror to practice once more the energetic, trustworthy face of a new employee that I’d diligently rehearsed since my first day. It still felt awkward.

The work-assistance AI connected to my prosthetic eye, sharing my vision, addressed me in an exasperated voice.

It appears emotional, but it’s merely a programmed language module. The voice sounds like someone who can’t properly express concern, but it’s only been trained to appear that way.

“Really… every day is like your first day. A blank expression would be better. You don’t need to flatter with your face to be a perfectly fine security officer. How about trusting in your own abilities?”

Yet, amusingly, even knowing this fact, this seemingly kind yet unkind voice significantly helped employee efficiency. I sighed before answering, appearing to speak into empty air.

“If I’d heard that kind of talk since I was eight, of course I would. But for twelve years, all I’ve heard is to try harder, and suddenly I’m supposed to be someone who believes in my abilities. It’s stranger to become that person overnight.”

The work-assistance AI responded curtly, though it didn’t sound particularly sharp.

“As long as I don’t ask this question again in twelve years and get the same answer, that’s fine. If you’re ready, I’ll start the routine check. Do you authorize external operation of your body implants?”

“I authorize it.”

With the voice authorization, my body begins to operate independently of my will. I draw an unloaded pistol, and a virtual sight overlay appears in my vision, moving in sync with the gun barrel.

“Targeting assistance functioning normally. Let’s check the anti-tremor function too.”

I consciously activate the anti-tremor function and grip the pistol handle. My hand applies the exact amount of force I’ve preset, maintaining a stable grip without increasing or decreasing pressure.

“Anti-tremor function is also working normally. I’ll check the life support system now. This will sting a bit.”

As promised, I feel an unpleasant pulling sensation at the base of my skull. The mechanical device in my neck, normally inactive, seems to be working. Keeping a trained employee alive is more efficient than replacing them with a rookie.

Even so, it only buys a brief reprieve. During that short grace period granted by this device, I’d have to hope the emergency team arrives promptly to preserve what remains of my body in preservation fluid.

All of this would be useless if this small device malfunctioned. And my life support system worked perfectly well. After completing the routine check, a large green circle appears in my vision.

“Routine check complete. All functions operating normally. Your calorie pack is on the table, so eat that before heading out.”

I squeeze a tube that leaves no residue inside, consuming a paste-like substance with a slightly salty and savory taste.

Belwether Corporation despised the word “variable.” Security team members getting nauseous from greasy breakfasts was one of those variables they hated. Proper food could only be eaten after work hours.

After tossing the empty tube, I leave my residence. The interior of the employee residence building was dry, with a faint scent of unidentifiable flowers from air fresheners. The rain was pouring outside, but I still couldn’t feel it.

As I place my hand on the window, which showed no sign of moisture, I sensed someone approaching from behind. I turn around.

It was another security team member. Same tenure but a few years older than me. Due to regulations, security team members had to maintain hair and body hair colors that wouldn’t stand out in darkness, so he also had black hair and black eyes.

He was wearing glasses now, but since all security team members used company-provided prosthetic eyes, they were merely for style. A minor violation of regulations, but the company didn’t mind as long as he didn’t wear them during work hours.

Though a few things about him bothered me, he was good company like most laid-back people. He greeted me warmly first.

“Weather’s something else today. At times like this, I’m really glad to be working at Belwether, and doing internal security rather than building security. Don’t you agree, Arthur?”

“Ah, Francis. Yes. It’s also fortunate not having anyone to meet outside on workdays.”

It’s just a conversation like a coded exchange. I’ve never worked anywhere other than Belwether Corporation anyway.

But something about my usual response seemed to make him grin noticeably. He spoke proudly.

“Oh, my colleague. My dear colleague… how can I say this without making you feel bad? I actually have someone to meet today. This dating app that wouldn’t even let me sign up when I worked at some nobody company didn’t even ask my name when I put down Belwether! So I scored a date.”

“It is a good day for dating. Though it’s a shame there’s no lightning.”

He let out a small laugh and gently pushed my back as if suggesting we should walk while talking. Standing by the window chatting wasn’t particularly efficient if it meant arriving later than scheduled.

“Anyway, what does she do?”

“I don’t know. But our tastes seem to match well! Her profile says she likes cooking. You know I blow my entire salary on ingredients. She also likes interior design, and you know how obsessed I am with holographic plants…”

His expression… I felt like throwing out a few honest words and then dismissing them as jokes.

“When a woman like that falls from the sky, it sounds like a scam…”

So I didn’t hesitate to say it. He gave me another push, slightly more malicious than before, but we were just sharing mild mischief. I shrugged lightly.

“As long as you don’t meet during work hours, Belwether probably won’t care. And neither do I.”

“A guy with no problems talks like that? Call the elevator, man. She kept asking if I really work at Belwether, so we agreed to meet briefly at the visitor center. I’ll go during proper break time, so don’t worry.”

I hold my employee ID against the elevator switch, and the elevator that had been waiting on the first floor comes up.

We head to the ground floor of the residence building. We had to walk a bit to reach the company building, but since the path was covered, there was no need for umbrellas.

The security staff corridor had no decorations except for occasional holographic plants. If you spun around thirty times here and got dizzy, you wouldn’t be able to tell which way was forward or backward—that’s how bland the design was.

On the way to the security team locker room through that staff corridor, a bell-shaped logo appeared in my vision. It was a communication from the artificial intelligence responsible for Belwether branch security.

Unlike my work-assistance AI with its simple mimicry, this was an AI with a proper sense of self. There was a subtle difference in feeling. More precisely… it had moods.

“Belwether Corporation protects employee-citizens from terrorists, organized crime, nationalists, and mutants 24 hours a day. Security Team Research Building Guard Division 4 General Officer Arthur Murphy, it’s Stephanette. Say hello. You’d be surprised if you knew how many people I’m sending this message to simultaneously. Give me some comfort.”

Stephanette was quite a willful AI. They said they added some variables to mimic humanity for adequate work efficiency, resulting in this vain artificial intelligence. Nevertheless, she was at least efficient enough to handle her vanity.

“Always working hard, Stephanette. What’s up? Since you mentioned how many people you’re talking to at once, I’m guessing this isn’t just small talk.”

At my brief words of comfort, Stephanette output a laughing sound. She cannot laugh. She can only output.

“So jealous. It’s nothing major. Just stop by the supply department before going to the locker room. New supplies have suddenly been allocated to the Research Building Security Division. Defense against neurological malfunctions caused by mutants… too long, too long. They say it’s helmets to protect against psychics who can scramble your organic friends’ brains just by making eye contact.”

Probably just a filter attached to the visor part… or if the situation is better, maybe an additional visor installed outside the regular one to block such perceptual hazards. That’s about the level of welfare for general officers.

Not that I’ve ever envied the security mobile division with their closed reinforcement suits, or the headquarters security team with their latest reinforcement suits, or the legal assassination team. Handling impressive equipment meant being assigned dangerous work.

“Message received clearly. Any additional notices?”

“None. I’ll end the connection now. Sheep should be led by sheep, not wolves. We will be the sheep led by Belwether. Belwether expects your maximum efficiency today as well.”

After hearing this ceremonial yet somehow burdensome farewell, I turned toward the supply department.

Research Building Security Division personnel were gathering in front of the small window with iron bars at the supply department. Judging by how people started pouring in after I arrived, it seemed I’d made a good decision coming early.

The helmet was as I expected. It was a standard security team helmet with a visor covering the entire face, but when activated, a second visor with dark green coating would come down.

It might have been better to coat the original visor, but that would make it difficult to identify faces. It would be terrible if what was behind an opaque visor wearing an employee ID turned out not to be a fellow employee. Terrible both in terms of feeling and security.

With that helmet, I headed to the security team locker room to put on my gear. An indoor-use rifle with a shortened barrel and silencer, boots that came up above the ankle with gaiters and knee pads. I also put on a bulletproof vest with shoulder covers.

As I checked the condition of my rifle with the magazine removed, the head of Security Division 4 approached me and briefly nodded in greeting.

“Didn’t even have to wait in line at the supply department, huh? Having a capable and diligent rookie makes my job easier. That Francis guy is still waiting in line. Anyway, you were originally stationed at the A3 Biology Research Building entrance, right?”

The head spoke casually, but a casual response wasn’t expected. I answered with slight tension in my abdomen.

“Yes, I’m in charge of guarding the A3 Biology Research Building entrance. Are there any changes to my post?”

The A3 Biology Research Building was where biological weapons were researched. It was where all sorts of monstrosities were created to extract traits for enhanced bodies, and working there at least meant good hazard pay.

With that hazard pay included, the annual net income was at least 35,000 credits. That’s quite a lot for a 22-year-old to earn. Most of it went into savings… though I still didn’t know what to spend money on.

The head looked at my expression for a moment, then patted my armor-covered shoulder and said:

“Relax a bit, kid. A4 Enhanced Body Research Building requested reinforcements, and they asked for someone who can work in dangerous areas like A3. Since Francis is still waiting in line at the supply department… the opportunity is yours. What do you say?”

The A4 Enhanced Body Research Building was a relatively safe area. Though there were frequent incidents where biological weapons went berserk or a test tube broke, leading to the entire research building being sealed and high-temperature sterilized, enhanced humans rarely went on rampages.

Still, if they were requesting reinforcements, there might be something dangerous happening? If the pay was the same, it seemed worth trying a potentially easier post rather than the consistently dangerous one.

“I’ll do it. Should I go to A4?”

The head, with one normal dark gray prosthetic eye and the other eye fitted with sniper components that extended to the eye socket, raised one corner of his mouth in an approving smile.

“Clear answers too. Just need to learn to relax those shoulders a bit more. Yes, I’ll assign you to A4. You’ll still get hazard pay as if you were working at A3. Any unusual matters to report?”

Usually, this would be followed by “Nothing trivial, just things that help with the job,” but at some point, I stopped hearing that addition. That must be a good sign.

And as for unusual matters to report today… there was only the trivial fact that Francis was meeting a woman. Not something worth reporting. Trying to relax my shoulders a bit, I answered:

“No, sir.”

“Couldn’t ask for more. I’ve sent the A4 duty position. Check it and head there.”

The A3 Research Building was particularly bleak even within this austere company building. Unlike other research buildings, it had double-layered hazardous material detectors from the entrance, and containment doors on both the inside and outside. Working in such a place wears people down.

In contrast, the A4 Research Building, though only about a block away, had a very different atmosphere. The researchers showed pride in improving Belwether’s finest weapons with their own hands rather than exhaustion, and there were no scratch marks from containment doors closing in emergencies.

Standing guard at the entrance to such a place was… honestly, a bit boring, though it would be somewhat inefficient to say so. Nothing happened, the gun’s safety could perhaps remain on, and Stephanette didn’t intervene in colleagues’ small talk.

Four hours passed before break time with absolutely nothing happening. Instead of going to the cafeteria, I opened a tube like the one I had for breakfast and squeezed it out as a meal substitute.

It was fortunate that the security team post was far from the employee cafeteria. This was only edible when you didn’t know that others were having meals with at least a decent appearance, or at least the appearance of decency, even at lunch.

And while I was squeezing out that one tube, Francis nodded a greeting to me and strode past the A4 Enhanced Body Research Building entrance with a triumphant gait. He was heading to the visitor center.

He was wearing glasses. A minor regulation violation. A minor violation that was overlooked since it wasn’t during work hours. What counts as a minor violation, and what counts as a trivial violation? I still couldn’t tell the standard.

If I could just clock out properly today, it wouldn’t matter. After spending about thirty minutes joining in the A4 area guards’ chatter and exchanging trivial stories, I returned to my guard post. With meals barely provided, shorter meal times and earlier clock-out times were much better.

However, I didn’t seem to have seen Francis return. Belwether wasn’t lenient enough to let employees spend time with visitors after break time ended. I called my work-assistance AI.

“Please connect me to Stephanette. I need to request some work-related information.”

During work hours, the emotion mimicry system of the work-assistance AI was turned off, so the response was rigid. That system consumed quite a lot of resources. Making something inhuman speak like a human is difficult.

“Confirmed, Shepherd Six. Connecting to security system management AI Stephanette. Connecting. Connected. All subsequent requests will be recorded and logged for potential review by the audit team.”

I confirm the small bell-shaped logo appearing in my vision. It was the signal that Stephanette had connected.

“Stephanette, it’s not a big request… has Francis returned? I heard he was going to stop by the visitor center to meet someone, and I saw him go to meet a visitor, but I didn’t see him return.”

Since it was a properly work-related request, Stephanette also hid her usual arrogant attitude and focused on the task.

“I’ll check his employee ID location first. From the movement, it seems he’s returning through the employee corridor, but if he hasn’t returned even though break time has already ended, I’ll impose penalty points. For Belwether Corporation, the virtue greater than vigilance is… wait a moment.”

With those words, a window overlaid in my vision. It seemed to be CCTV footage of the employee corridor.

It should naturally be footage of the corridor where Francis was returning, but there were too many people for an employee corridor where break time had already ended. The departments were diverse too. There should be someone in security team uniform who must be Francis… but the person in security uniform wearing a helmet was too short to be Francis.

Damn, I told him it was a scam… I should have spoken clearly instead of being vague. This was absolutely not a minor violation of company rules. Is it my fault? I can’t tell. There’s so much I don’t know.

I still couldn’t tell who these intruders were, but one thing was certain: security had failed.

“We’re fucked… Stephanette, file a report. Notify nearby security personnel, then check the visitor center too. Tell them not to sound the alarm and that it’s best to send a team quietly to round them all up now.”

We saw it first. We knew someone had infiltrated. If we know, we can respond. Recalling what I learned at Belwether Security Training College, I moved the selector switch from safe to semi-auto. I lowered the second visor.

The nearby security division personnel must have received the message too, as they also began slowly walking toward the employee corridor where the unknown intruders were hiding. But then, something completely unexpected happened.

The research building corridor lights went out, and red emergency lights began to flicker. Thanks to the visor, my vision remained clear.

The internal alarm broadcast began screaming instructions for general employees to evacuate and researchers to activate containment doors. I blocked out the noise. The unpleasantly loud sound was no longer audible.

I called Stephanette with an irritable voice. Those in the corridor would now be aware of the situation too. Until now, we knew a bit more, but not anymore.

“Stephanette, Stephanette. What are you doing? Did approval not come from above?”

She answered in a somewhat flustered voice. Not many people could fluster an artificial intelligence.

“No, the security chief said the plan was excellent and would approve it. I was about to tell you that… There’s a terrorist attack at the west work building. Four vans simultaneously drove over the flower beds on the first floor of the work building and broke through the windows.”

It’s a diversion. They’re causing a commotion at the outer wall while an infiltration team that had already penetrated tries something from inside.

The rain was still pouring, but what I heard in my ears wasn’t the sound of rain but sirens. What I smelled wasn’t rain but the distinctive new product smell of the fresh visor.

The reason I couldn’t hear the rain or smell it was actually simple. We don’t have the luxury to notice such things. I had just briefly indulged in the morning’s tranquility. That’s what I decided to tell myself.