by Terri Lane
“These are looking quite wonderful,” she commented.
“Thank you, Ulita. I’ve been working hard on this batch,” Erika said.
“I wonder if we could increase the hormonal percentage by a few notches just to get the product bigger,” Ulita said.
“Well, we don’t want to increase it too much. That would just cause the roots to tangle together and take too much water,” Erika replied.
“You’re right, amiga,” Ulita said. “Would you like for me to get the other batch ready?”
“Sí, that would be splendid,” Erika replied.
While Ulita went to the other end of the greenhouse for their supply of seeds, Erika scrolled through the charts displayed in front of her eyes using her thumb. She tapped her thumb twice on her palm to enlarge a growth chart, and smiled at her success.
This has been a good year for us, she thought.
Ulita returned with a jar of seeds and handed them to her coworker. Erika closed the charts by tapping her palm three times and resumed normal vision. She opened the jar and pulled out a few seeds to place under the microscope.
“These are doing well. Let’s send this batch out to be planted tomorrow,” Erika said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Ulita replied. “I’ll put them on the chart list.”
Ulita looked down at her touch pad and tapped a few keys, updating the system that charted the amount of seeds sent out each day. Erika received an alert from her chip about the update and she approved it.
“So, what are your plans this evening?” Ulita asked, picking up the jar to set in the distribution window.
“I’m not sure yet. I was thinking of joining Jo and Myra down at the bar. Would you like to come with us?” Erika asked.
“That would be lovely!” Ulita responded. “Isn’t there a new one opening up soon?”
“I believe so. It’s supposed to be an exclusive club purely for higher salaries. I imagine that means more expensive drinks,” Erika replied.
Ulita giggled.
“They just want the excuse to charge more,” Ulita commented. “Besides, it might be nice to be in like-minded company.”
“I don’t mind being around the field workers,” Erika said. “I think it’s great to have a different perspective.”
“Sure, until they start drilling you with questions about your work,” Ulita said.
Erika shrugged.
“I don’t ever get tired of explaining it,” she said.
“I do,” Ulita retorted. “It just gets aggravating. They’ll say, ‘Wow! You do all that amazing science! How does it work? Where do your ideas come from?’”
“Well, when you put it that way, yeah,” Erika said. “Redundancy is quite annoying.”
“Absolutely. And they always want to know your future plans,” Ulita said.
“Like they want you to be part of them,” Erika joked.
The two laughed and went back to trimming the plants on the table, taking samples of the teal leaves to pick apart and check under the microscope. Erika checked off a few things in her touch pad and then set it on the table. She then fixed her long hair into a ponytail.
“You know, I wouldn’t mind settling down with a field worker,” Erika said.
“That would be quite a scandal,” Ulita commented.
“Why’s that?” Erika asked.
“You’re from a higher class which means your standards should be higher than a field worker,” Ulita replied.
“I mean, they’re good workers and they’re loyal. Their genetics are up to speed and none of them suffer from any disease. Strong genes are good for moving forward, right?” Erika asked rhetorically.
“Of course, but you should really mate with someone like Gregory Mets,” Ulita said. “He’s just too dreamy to be single.”
“Our superior? No way!” Erika said, playfully pushing Ulita’s blue arm. “Come on, Ulita. He’s such a strange man.”
“But he has a great salary, a lovely home, and you can’t go wrong with how handsome he is. You two would have spectacular babies,” Ulita said.
Erika blushed, waving her hand and pushing a lock of hair behind her ear that had escaped her hair tie.
“Please,” she said. “Me? Have babies?”
“Aw, Erika! You would make such an excellent mother. You’re so nurturing of your own plants. I’m willing to bet your children would get much of the same care, amiga,” Ulita said.
Erika smiled wide, looking out the window to study the fields filled with figures.
“I suppose I might be interested in parenting one day,” she said, her eyes completely lost in the haze of green that was quickly filling up the bare field. She shook her head. “But I can’t think about that right now.”
“Sure you can,” Ulita said. “Why don’t you ask Gregory out for a drink tonight?”
“But we’re having a girls’ night,” Erika replied. “Let’s have some fun first. I don’t want to worry about dates.”
“Fair enough. Can you pass me that beaker?” Ulita asked.
“Of course,” Erika responded.
The two went back to their work and soon it was past noon, the sun was glittering through the glass of the window as Ulita went out for a break. Erika watched as she walked away and straightened her apron, brushing a bit of soil off the pockets. She turned to her touch pad and shut it off. It was time for a break. She went to the microwave and pushed the tea button, waiting patiently as a mug appeared and was filled with hot chamomile.
Just as Erika was sitting down with her cup of tea, an alert went off from her chip and she blinked twice to check it.
“Factory G packaging malfunction. Maintenance required.”
Sighing, Erika set her cup of tea down and tapped her thumb against her palm to accept the alert. She stood from her chair, brushed her apron straight, and then grabbed a flash drive from the cabinet that held maintenance data for Factory G. Placing it in her pocket, she checked her reflection and smiled, pushing a loose lock of hair behind her ear. The eyes staring back at her were a honey golden brown that glowed in the afternoon light shining through the windows. Dark brown bangs hung low over her brows, nearly getting into her eyes until she shook them out of her vision.
I ought to get my hair cut, she thought while fixing her pony tail. These bangs are way too long. I have to pin them back just to see anything.
Erika checked her pockets before heading out the door, making sure her phone and the flash drive were in the same pocket. She shut the door firmly behind her and set the lock on the keypad. Factory G was just a twenty minute walk from the greenhouse and the air was filled with the beautiful smell of clean, fresh soil. It was a fine day for a walk and Erika hoped it might raise her spirits for the rest of the day.
***
The pathway was lined with colorful flowers, each of them varying in height and hue. They filled the air with the intoxicating scent they gave off and Erika stopped to admire one of the purple ones that smelled like lavender. She inhaled deep and sighed contentedly. The sweet scent left a smile on her lips that last most of her journey to Factory G. Just a hundred yards away from the entrance, she spotted a rugged man carrying a massive pumpkin who appeared unmoved by the sizable object on his shoulders.
He was a handsome man with blond hair, large, strong muscles, and a chiseled torso. His skin was tan from working hard in the sun and his eyes were a bright green. They glittered as she studied them, allowing the dark pools in the center to absorb her entirely and wash over her like ocean waves. A tingle grew between her thighs and she stifled the feeling, hoping it wasn’t evident that her body was having such a visible reaction. She kept her eyes forward.
As they passed, he nodded in her direction and she smiled wide, looking back down at the path as her cheeks flushed. He was so handsome. Those eyes were beckoning, inviting her to dive in and take a cool dip for a while in the hot afternoon sun. But what would her coworkers think? He was a field hand with a strong body and a rough outer shell, possib
ly even a lot poorer than he appeared. Not that that really mattered. She was just concerned about the fact that--
“Excuse me, ma’am?” he said in a deep, masculine voice.
Erika turned to find him holding the flash drive she had dropped in his hand that was outstretched towards her.
“I do believe you dropped this,” he said.
“Oh, thank you,” Erika said while taking the drive.
She placed it in her pocket, her cheeks still filled with the red hue from just seconds prior. The man smiled and looked down, then back up at her.
“My name is Leonard Hampton, Factory Version C2C4, of the Green Field,” he said.
“Lovely to meet you, sir. I’m Erika Hopper of the Green District, Head of Agriculture. Is your day Bueno?” Erika asked.
“It is indeed, ma’am. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Leonard said.
“May I ask you something?” she asked him.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.
“Does that hurt?”
Leonard looked up at the pumpkin looming over his head and chuckled.
“Not a bit, ma’am,” he replied. “But sometimes it gives me a little crick in the neck.”
Erika giggled.
“It just looks so heavy. I can’t imagine carrying that thing even a few feet without falling over,” Erika said. “You must have gotten the Extend Serum.”
“I did,” Leonard said. “It’s done me well over the past six months.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m glad it’s working for you,” Erika said.
“I imagine that drive has some important information for you,” Leonard commented. “I’d keep it closer than your apron pocket.”
“Well, yes. There seems to be a malfunction in the factory just over there,” Erika said, pointing to Factory G.
“I hear that happens from time to time,” Leonard said.
“It does,” she said.
The two stood in silence for a moment, Erika reaching for something else to say that wasn’t work-related. She wanted to ask him to dinner so she could pick his brain. His brawn was intensely attractive, but he seemed like a kind man who might have more to him than mere muscle. Leonard smiled, inspiring Erika to snap a quick picture to store in her memory chip.
“Well, I wish you a wonderful day, amiga,” Leonard said.
“You as well, amigo,” Erika said.
When she turned away, she squeezed her eyes shut and exhaled hard, walking briskly towards the entrance for Factory G. She punched in her work numbers, 2-4-6-6, and then turned to see if Leonard might have been looking back. He was already a number of yards away and seemed to be preoccupied with the weight of his vegetable. She sighed and stepped inside to walk towards the electrical unit that housed the computer for the packaging equipment.
Such a lovely body he has, she thought with excitement. I wonder how those hands would feel on my body. I bet they’re rough, but gentle, firm and…
Erika tapped a few buttons and opened the maintenance chart for the packaging equipment. According to the chart, the equipment had been tended to very recently.
“What’s the issue?” Erika asked herself out loud. “This seems to be fine.”
Opening a diagnostic app, she ran the program and stepped back to let it work as she looked around at the factory. The conveyer belt led from the right side of the factory all the way to the left. There, the food was wrapped in biodegradable plastic and stored in compartments until the drones came to pick it up in the evening. The system was quite impressive, having been given to them by the Guilderans, who were highly advanced at agricultural science. They had advanced the stages of growing crops in order to double their world’s food supply, and were now helping to do the same on Earth.
As a result of these advances, food sources were now abundant, making it nearly impossible not to feed every mouth on the planet. Dietary restrictions had been put in place early on during agricultural development in order to reduce the need for meat. Reliance on plant-based protein increased, meaning there was less need to house farm animals. Most of them were shipped off to neighboring farming planets. It was certainly a thriving society.
The diagnostic app beeped from the touch pad and Erika went to inspect the results, noting that there was some damage to conveyer belt number four. She typed in a work order for the following day and shut the box, rubbing her hands together.
“Well, that wasn’t so difficult,” she said out loud. “Now to get back to my plants.”
While Erika walked the path back to the greenhouse, she noticed a collection of workers heading in the same direction. They all hauled their own vegetable or fruit, chatting intermittently and laughing. None of them looked or talked like Leonard. He seemed to be a true gentleman despite his social class. He was a gritty man with a gentle heart and kind eyes.
Inside the greenhouse, Erika greeted Ulita who was setting some plants out in the main area of the dome. She set them down carefully and checked the roots for proper growth, just as she had taught Erika to do. Erika was quite fond of Guilderan culture and admired their knowledge of crops. It had brought numerous advancements in her field and had earned her a number of awards as a result.
“My goodness, Erika. Your face is flushed,” Ulita commented while standing. “Were you running?”
“Oh, no. I just had to walk to Factory G and back for a malfunctioning platform,” Erika explained. “I think it’s just the heat.”
“It’s not that hot out,” Ulita said.
“Guilderan skin is a lot more resistant to heat than mine is,” Erika said.
“That’s very true,” Ulita agreed.
“So, how’s that new formula coming along?” Erika asked, opening up her touch pad to prepare for the end of the day.
“These zucchini roots aren’t doing so well with the new hormones,” Ulita replied. “Could I tweak the formula a bit?”
“Absolutely,” Erika responded. “The other one worked fine. I only changed one or two components for the new one.”
“I’ll have a look at it mañana,” Ulita said.
“That sounds good to me. Shall we catch the dinner rush?” Erika asked.
“Certainly! I think I could go for a veggie burger right now,” Ulita replied.
“Oh, that sounds exceptionally delicious,” Erika commented. “Let’s clock out and beat the rush.”
“Definitely!” Ulita replied.
Erika punched her numbers into the touch pad and handed it to Ulita who clocked out and turned off the pad. After setting it on the table, she grabbed her purse from the locker at the other end of the greenhouse and the two of them walked out towards the dining hall. There were already a number of people heading in that direction, their chips buzzing with recent events and other local news.
Our great province has provided food for this world as well as many others. What do you expect will happen next, Mr. Wallace?
Ulita turned to Erika and commented how he looked like he was gaining weight.
“I suppose our formulas are doing something right,” she commented with a wink.
The girls giggled and walked inside the dining hall, lining up along the counter to receive their portions for dinner. For the remainder of the evening, Erika kept Leonard in the back of her mind, frequently bringing the picture she had snapped of him to the forefront of her vision. Someone asked about her silence. She brushed off the question, saying she was just being tired.
I hope I see him tomorrow, she thought. And maybe I’ll be brave enough to ask him to dinner.
***
The following day, Leonard was walking the length of the path up to the greenhouse with squash on his shoulders when he encountered a lovely purple flower standing tall amidst the rest of the flowers. It smelled like lavender. He bent to sniff the petals and smiled, immediately picturing Erika. It caught him by surprise to picture the beautiful scientist who had been kind to him the day before.
He considered plucking the flower from where it was growi
ng, but decided that he didn’t want to ruin the beautiful plant. It would have been a nice gift for Erika, whom he was sure was working in the greenhouse today. As he approached the dome, excitement washed over him and his stomach flipped. He set the squash down on the scale and waited for the display to register the weight, then tapped the touch screen next to the scale. A smiley face appeared, wished him a good evening, and Leonard looked around for the lovely lady who was quickly stealing his heart.
She was nowhere to be found.
Coming out the door was Ulita who pushed her blue hair behind her ears as she tapped the keypad to lock the door.
“Good evening, amiga,” Leonard said. “Where’s Ms. Erika?”
“Oh, she left early today for an appointment,” Ulita replied. “How is the harvest today? Good?”
“It has been excellent today. The squash has grown rather quickly,” Leonard replied.
“Bueno. Have a good evening, amigo,” Ulita said with a wave as she walked away.
“You, too, amiga,” Leonard said.
Disappointed, Leonard walked in the direction of the recreational center where he typically showered after work to get the grime of the day off his body. He grabbed a fresh towel from the warmers and stepped into a stall, pushing the digital buttons for a warm shower. The hot water fell over his muscles and soothed his aching body, his chip alerting him that his energy levels were low.
The words scrolled across his eyes. Alert: energy levels depleted. Nourish immediately. He tapped his temple to turn it off.
“I’ll get food in a minute,” he said out loud.
A few men entered the washroom and occupied the other stalls, talking loudly about the harvest and the curfew.
“We can’t even go grab a pint. I could really use a cerveza here soon,” said one.
“I’m sure the curfew will be lifted within a week. They never last long,” said another.
“Did you see the new seeds they gave us? They glow if you look close enough,” said one.
“I’m sure you’re hallucinating, Steve,” said the other.
“No, I swear!”
Leonard chuckled to himself and pushed the digital button for soap, allowing the white foam to coat his body before pushing the button to rinse. When he was finished, he shut the system off and grabbed his towel, carefully patting his sore skin dry. He wrapped the towel around his waist and went to the locker area where he quickly dressed and headed for the dining hall. Peter joined him on the way.
