My television at home had woken me up, but I wasn’t exactly sure how it had turned itself on. It was the morning news, as usual, and… There was that cute mare, uh, Ghostly behind the desk. I smiled warmly at her, as if she could actually see it. However, it didn’t last for very long, as suddenly her coffee spilled over onto her lap, and she stood up with a screech. I stifled a laugh, and my slight amusement quickly turned to anger. I saw that bitch next to Ghostly, I saw her smirk. She thought she hid it with her hoof well, but no, I felt her thinking she had conned everyone into thinking it was an accident.

That bitch.

I slammed my hoof into the remote, shattering it and thusly turning off the television. Damn, it cost me at least ten bits for that thing, too. Whatever, I got up off the couch for work, recalling how mischievous I thought I was last night on my walk home. Apparently, though, the party wasn’t for another week, as Belgian filled me in over the phone yesterday. Another boring week of work, and this week was the beginning of production month. Yippee. I get to throw out my fucking back again.

Internally sighing, I simply put my jacket on once more, and left the house, hearing my door creaking loudly. Ugh, I needed coffee really bad. Even worse, I didn’t get to sleep until midnight again, and I was up at five in the morning. I felt like shit, and probably looked like it. But, a man’s gotta bring home the bacon.

Speaking of bacon, I found a box of homeless puppies outside yesterday, thought I’d cook them up and treat myself.

Anyhow, the walk to work was like any other, however that morning was unusually sunny and cheery. I hated it with a passion, though, it was better than it being rainy, I suppose. The power plant was within my sights as I picked up my pace, itching to get the day over. Unfortunately, my luck never allows for the work day to go by quickly.

I’d reached the steps to the massive facility, feeling the warmth of the reactors inside. I took a deep breath, and smiled, and forced the doors open. Ponies inside, all working monotonously and in sync all turned to look at me. Many sneered, some got sweaty and looked away, and others simply ignored my presence. None would look at me invitingly. I looked around for Greenback, or his wife Peppermint, but neither seemed to be around. Sucked, I rather liked having Pepper as company; at least she treated me with respect.

“Morning, man.” I said to a random co-worker. He was taken aback by my overtness.

“U-uh, g-g’morning? Uhm… I, uh, I have to uh… Go!” The little one darted off, tail between his legs. He was one of the ones I had to evacuate the first times the plant had a meltdown. Poor guy’d been scarred since. I felt some sympathy, but not enough to give him any reimbursement.

Chuckling to myself, I walked along the blue tiled path to the production line, where Hell awaited me. Now, mind you, I can lift quite a lot. A damn lot. I can easily lift these reactors and their tons of parts, but it ain’t fun nor is it comfortable. The bases usually have lots of sharp corners and bolts poking out of them, which dig into my skin and spine, and just hurt in general.

I came to the intersection, where three different colors pointed to three wings of the facility. There was the red, for the chemical wing, green for the production wing, and blue for the main wing. I took a left, to the green area. I heard the working machines grinding their gears, and the supervisor yelling my name over the loudspeaker. “Flux Chord, you’re early. Get to work; you have twenty of them to assemble today. Greenback would also like to speak to you in his office after lunch.”

Ew, I had to deal with him again. Another thirty minutes of his condescending speeches to me, reminding me that I’m not the real CEO anymore, prolly gonna yell at me for messing up his desk again. I sighed mentally, and longed for my old job back. Curse Radiant for blowing up the place twice…

I stood on the yellow line in front of a conveyor belt, waiting for the first part to be—“HURK!”

Jesus Fuck, this hurts, this wasn’t my team’s design! This a new… Thing…? I looked back, and noticed this was an old model of reactor. The original. Just a big box base with nothing but screws and pointy bits on the bottom, and it weighed a lot more than normal.

“FUCK YOU!” I screamed out at my supervisor, knowing he was the one who put the workers up to this. I know it’s a punishment, for my past mistakes, but come on. This isn’t cool.

It hurt, and as more and more parts got welded to each other on my back, the pain only escalated, until bolts were digging under my skin. I attempted to change my back into carapace, to no avail. The bolts still dug under. I had to suffer this time, and for real. I would get Greenback back for this later. Mark my fucking words.

It took four back-breaking hours before I was able to take a break, and by the time I got back to my locker to put on my jacket, blood was trickling down my legs and leaving a trail. I decided against trying to wear anything that time, and just slowly crept my way up to the office. My office, Greenback’s office, they were both one in the same.

Swinging the door open in a huff, I took a step inside and looked Greenback in the eyes as he looked up from his paperwork. “Mr. Chord, welcome back. Third time this month, already?” I supposed he noticed my bloody back. “Well, feel better. So, about what I called you up here for…” He began.

“What, what could I possibly have do—“

“Do not come back in this office while I’m away again. You were banned from ever taking the chair again, and I will not be the one punished if they catch you again. Need I remind you of what happened the last two times you sat your ass in here?” He sounded panicky. Perhaps he had a run-in with the higher-ups, I thought. Those three can leave even the toughest ponies with their tails between their legs.

I ignored his comment about the last couple times. He knew how to get under my skin, and with the raw wounds, it’d be easier, but I chose to ignore the urge to tear off his lips. “No. No need. I won’t do it again, if it makes you happy.” I responded tersely, biting my lip.

“Good. Now, any last things to say, or can I let you go?”

I smiled slightly. “Where’s your wife, eh?” That made his face go red, and I walked away, closing the door with a flick of my tail.

Author's Note

-His comment about Greenback's wife is cryptic at the moment, for good reason.