[INT. BASEMENT STORAGE ROOM - DAY]
Working as a Cleaning Unit, SIX fulfills his morning shifts at the company storage room, mopping the floors in solitude. A few minutes into his shift, he takes a sip from a water bottle. The elevator dings. He places the bottle on a nearby shelf.
SIX
(confused)
No one comes down here at this hour.
The technician coded T-0123 enters the room, struggling to carry an old CPU. Six sighs in relief at the sight of a familiar face.
T-0123
Hey, Six. Mind telling me where the
B-units keep their stuff?
SIX
Dunno if I can. Is it part of my Role?
Six gestures towards the CCTV camera in the corner of the room.
T-0123
(chuckles)
Oh, c’mon. No one really watches those
things. The Security Units are dumber
than you think.
Six takes one last glance at the cameras then leads his friend to the B-section. After T-0123 stores away the CPU with a huff, he leans on the shelf for support.
T-0123
(sighs)
By the way, I forgot to thank you for
giving me those antibiotics yesterday.
Still can’t believe the new medic prescribed
me anti-inflam stuff.
SIX
(shrugs)
Well, I couldn’t waste good medicine.
T-0123
Such are the words of the company’s
former Medic.
SIX
It’s the least I could do for old
friends.
The elevator dings. The accountant coded A-1207 steps out, carrying a heavy box of documents. She peers around the box and shrugs at the sight of T-0123.
A-1207
So this is where you ran off to. The
Supervisor’s not gonna be happy about
this.
T-0123 raises his fists to the air.
T-0123
(proudly)
Down with the old hag!
Six rushes to help A-1207 with the box, but she quickly pulls it away from him.
A-1207
No, Six. Wouldn’t want to put you in
more trouble than you already are.
Six concedes and watches her approach her shelf. T-0123 looks around the room and finds the Medical Unit shelf, spotting Six’s former code label in one section, its text almost faded out to nothing. T-0123 smiles.
T-0123
Can’t believe it’s been three months since
they decoded you, Six.
A-1207 soon walks over to T-0123 and sees Six’s former label on the shelf.
A-1207
(annoyed)
You know, ever since B-62 ratted you out
for helping a Trainee with their finance
report, everyone’s been avoiding the B-units.
She gives Six a pitiful look.
A-1207
Being good at math and medicine is a
crime, I guess. That was enough
to decode you to a Cleaning Unit.
T-0123
That’s only the tip of the iceberg.
T-0123 glances at the T-Unit shelf where his department’s equipment is stored.
T-0123
The T units are grateful for your work
on the company’s employee database.
Six shrugs, brushing it off.
A-1207
The B Department is as bad as the
Admins. They want everyone to stick
to one Role. Especially the Supervisor.
SIX
Still coughing her lungs out?
A-1207
(nods)
Not even the new Medic can annihilate dust.
T-0123
The Admins are a given, stuck in their
ways and all. Aren’t all the B-units a
hundred years old, too?
A-1207
(blankly)
B-62 is 28.
T-0123
And your point is?
Sick of the conversation, Six walks away from his old shelf.
SIX
Look, the world’s still spinning, right?
If they saw I was unfit for the role—
A-0127
It wasn’t because you were unfit, Six.
They just can’t stand versatile people
like you.
A-0127 checks her watch and begins to make her way towards the elevator.
A-0127
It’s almost lunch break. We better head
back before we get decoded.
T-0123
Fine by me. I’d get to hang out with Six
down here.
Six shoves his friend towards the elevator.
SIX
(chuckles)
Just go. The both of you.
Before T-0123 can bid him farewell, he jumps at the sound of the elevator descending, halting with a ding. A-0127 freezes, hearing a familiar coughing. The three stand together and watch the doors open. The SUPERVISOR steps out, the clicking of her heels echoing throughout the room. She points at T-0123 and A-0127.
SUPERVISOR
(sternly)
You two have exceeded your five-minute
storage time.
She coughs into a handkerchief before continuing.
SUPERVISOR
Leave. I’ll have a word with you two
later.
T-0123 and A-0127 spare no glance at Six and rush to the elevator. As they ascend, the Supervisor approaches Six.
SUPERVISOR
You doing another’s job was already
out of line. Now, you getting in the
way of superior units is unacceptable.
Six clenches his teeth, digging his fingers into his thighs.
SIX
(coldly)
So, I’m still not allowed to assist others?
The Supervisor crosses her arms, face crumpling into a frown.
SUPERVISOR
Not only are you selfish, but
disrespectful as well.
SIX
What are you going to do with them?
SUPERVISOR
You are not in the position to ask
that.
Six walks toward her, his hands shaking with anger.
SIX
Don’t decode them.
The Supervisor holds her handkerchief up to her mouth, stifling more coughs.
SUPERVISOR
Two more bugs in the system.
Back-up units are always at the
ready.
SIX
We only talked!
SUPERVISOR
Superior Units cannot converse with
inferior Cleaning Units.
(coughs)
It is not part of their Role. Or yours.
SIX
You took my job away from me! My
reputation! Isn’t that enough for you?
The Supervisor shakes with anger.
SUPERVISOR
(shouts)
Talking back to a Superior Unit
is not your—!
SIX
Nevermind my Role!
Six marches towards the Supervisor who is now coughing at a frightening rate. He does not slow his steps, cornering her in between two dusty shelves.
SUPERVISOR
Don’t come any closer!
She collapses to the floor in a coughing fit, grabbing her throat when she spots Six’s water bottle on the top shelf. She raises a finger to it with Six’s eyes following its direction. His lips curl into a smirk.
SUPERVISOR
(gasping for air)
Wa...water...
Six simply watches her.
SIX
That’s not part of my Role.
END.
