Out in the Nevada desert. a factory that stands 250 tall. it lies a secret that not alot of people know. it took me awhile to recollect some off memories that I finally have full confidence to write this.
it first started with an interview process. everything seem pretty normal down to the questions. yet a couple of things that were said. I finally understood why. I drove to the middle of nowhere and turning to this quite road that led to the factory. passing the guard gate and remembering a tow truck passing by me in break neck speed. I really hate drivers like that. I finally get checked in and drove through what seem like a sea of vehicles.
Once I found parking, I finally got to walk into the building. I was greeted with the smell of corn, dog, and copper. the front door was open but the second door was locked. a intercom with a lovely feminine voice reaches to my ear.
"please state your name and business please."
"um hi, I'm here for an interview."
"Thank you! please wait for"
Another voice follows after to state his name.
"Nick Bird"
the woman comes back after
"will be here shortly! Thank you for choosing Moon incorporated! we are here for you!"
a door opens with a tall skinny man, his lengthy torso didn't match his arms, the top of his head swelled as if you grab a balloon and gripped it to see the air push inside move to find room.
"welcome to moon!"
another man who was alot shorter and more stout like. a pumpkin size head that was on top of a short body. I probably stood over him by a foot and half.
"please follow us" said the short man.
the room we entered was quite nice for an office, it was large and open. the previous smell now engulfed in me. it took awhile before I was accustomed to the smell. I have past experiences from other factories with odd smells. so I imagine it be like any other gig.
when we sat down in a small room, the two started asking questions. Who am I, where I'm from, what are my experience ect. finally the small stature man named Juan ask.
"if you were inclined to eat the dog food, for quality concerns would you incline to?"
"yeah?" the question seemed odd already but I told myself there's probably reason why. accidental consumer like kids and other curious individuals.
"good, sometimes we can serve to at lunch if you ever go hungry..." his voice seemining satisfy with a creepy tone of glee.
Nick finally end with he question that may rattle a bit for me now.
"do you have any family or children."
"yeah wife and two kids."
"would you be ok if you stay here with accommodations when needed?"
"sure if the pay is good." the pay was neither lucrative nor unprofitable.
we shook hands as the tightening grip of both their arms seemed way to joyus of my interview but I shrugged it off and left.
once I got into the car, an immediate call from corporate, I answered.
"congratulations, you have been selected to be part of our delicious staff and we hope you can come to our orientation. Tomorrow morning!"
I was excited, I called my wife and told her about the job and interview she seem quite confused.
"are they that desperate?"
"I guess they must of really liked me"
finally I head back home to prep myself for the following day.
when I arrived to the facility that same damn tow truck speeds pass me hauling another car.
"slow down!" I finally yelled out of my car. passing the security gate but I notice something at the gate. it wasn't a human guard from yesterday. but a Boxer. it waved its had at me and allowed me through.
I got inside and was greeted by the same robotic feminine voice.
"welcome! please state your buisness."
"I'm here for orientation"
the door opens and I was greeted by English bull dog. I read it's collar.
"oh your name is king! nice to meet you buddy."
the dog stood silent and started to walk into the offices. I see a lady who stumbles out of the cubicle until she walks normal. "hi name Is Shelly! let me take you to the orientation, you will be meeting with J.J."
I couldn't help but notice the way she is scratching herself constantly as she talk to me. as I turn away and look from the corner of my eye it seem like she finally got her scratch as she roll her eyes and mouth open. the scratching finally stop.
I walked into a room of 4 people. Rob, Adam, Anton, Joy.
We all got to know eachother and find some common interest.
we found out all of us were working in sanitation and quality.
"cool that means we all get learn the same thing" said Adam.
"I hope we can listen to some songs if we're cleaning" said Rob
Anton and Joy shook there heads agreement. J.J and the short stature man Juan enters the room.
"alright guys the first thing we are going to do is learn about our product." said juan
He had a strange look from the last time I met him. his skin slightly more faded from the last time I saw him. almost as if he had a allergic reaction to something.
he got close to the group to set a bowl each in front of us.
"before we get to the nitty gritty I want you to try out our product." said J.J
"im not trying that!" Joy looking in disgust as she sees the different color kibble in front of her.
J.J replied
"we want you guys to at least try 3 pieces of it. we're not asking you to eat the whole thing just a couple."
Anton who began to grab a couple of the Kibble began to eat it. "im starving i haven't ate breakfast." with a couple of chews and bites he began to eat more.
"oh shit this taste good! like a deli meat, bit of turkey, salami, and ham."
I tried it. I was quite surprised to say the least.
Adam began to try it followed by Rob. Joy refuse.
J.J sigh and took her bowl away. "well that's one infraction."
Joy
"wait what do you mean? I just don't feel like I should be forced to eat it."
Juan quickly jumped in.
"let's watch the video and we can discuss this afterwards."
as the the orientation continued, watching the history of the company, the safety protocols which was on its own occured. If there was an accident just ignore and report it. ,lastly full compliance policy. with 3 infractions that lead to disciplinary but it didnt say termination. Just warnings and a meeting with your manager. During this time Anton has completed his bowl.
"Dude seriously?"
Rob in disgust as the majority of us have only sample the first go around.
Oddly enough I was craving to have more of it. But feeling ashamed to eat it in front of everyone. I think everybody but Anton in the group thought of the same.
"This is bullshit!" Joy very annoyed by receiving here first infraction.
"You guys didn't tell me any of this besides the dog food tasting."
"Just follow the rules" said Juan in a response tone. This time his skin receeded back to normal. No fleshy look but a normal tan.
We were finally given a full tour of the plant and our designated areas. The floors expanding to 7 floors of milling for the corn. Checking the pipe lines of the certain areas weren't leaking, and avoiding the slurry room. Only operators were allowed. Ive learn that in this place you were either an operator or an associate. We were the associates. As associates we felt like guinea pigs doing the Operators bidding and to follow their orders.
Our jobs were simple clean and make sure the facility was clean, sample the Kibble and report it. Check out tools when needed and check them back in after the end of the day.
We were divided into two groups from Anton and Joy. To me, Adam, and Rob.
The couple of days went by and everything seem normal, dust the powder areas and sweep them in to a trash. We've notice Anton wouldn't stop eating the dog food. Even on the floor he kept digging his hands in the conveyor. He was slobbering now. His mouth drooling everything he passes by the expose machines.
Joy was working with him and called Nick on the radio.
"Nick do you copy?!"
"Go ahead"
"It's Anton he's acting like a fucking animal and won't stop eating!"
"This radio is for buisness only can I see you at my desk?"
I was with Rob and Adam moving waste tote of powder off the floor until Adam notice something. One of the lines from the factory was red, but moving. The viscosity of it almost seem like honey being push through the tube.
The smell of Copper was more enchance now that we were on the factory floor.
We see Joy and Anton walking back I to the office. There was something Odd about Anton.
"You guys see that?" I looked more carefully as he leaves a trail of water behind him.
"We heard he was drooling right?"
"Yeah I only suspect it be just something quirky about him"
The lunch alarm rung and all three of us walk into a lunch room. They offer us more dog food. I kindly decline mine, Rob rejected the offer, but not Adam. He forgot his lunch and wanted to have a bit of it to get through his day.
Joy burst out into lunch room already pissed.
"Three fucking infractions are you kidding me. They already are going to fire me!"
"Woah calm down, what happen?" I was a bit taken back by her voice.
"We were just cleaning and than he started snacking a bit. I kept telling him to keep going but he just stood there. Continuity eating. His back hair was growing a bit. And he started to-"
"Started to what?" Rob was lost on what was going on.
"He was growling at me. I kept call his name but he just totally forgot. Who he was"
Nick and Juan appear from the room and started to walk to joy. "We need to speak with you"
Nick looking more stern. His facing looking more stretch than usual. His ears a bit more pointed up. I was trying to recollect how he look from the beginning but it always seemed off.
Joy sigh as he walks with the two and was never seen until the end of the day.
During the last few hours of the shift we were gathering tools and notice Anton and Joy had already checked in their tools. We shrug and decided to head out but notice a new dog in the office. A saint Bernard. It was covered in drool and was wet all over. He decided to lick us but I notice the copper smell from his breath.
I thought i would use to the smell but I couldn't stand it no more. I finally clocked out with guys and Adam notice something.
"Huh that's wierd."
"What is it?" Rob thinking he lost something
"I don't remember where i parked?"
"Maybe that lunch got into your head man"
"I remember who I parked close to though."
"Who?" I said looking out into the lot. There's less cars now from this morning.
"Joy"
"Alright do you remember your car?"
We guided ourselves to the point where Adam remembers. "I thought she left?"
Joy car was still in the parking lot.