More Than Just a Bio-Machine

By Eule Vix

Disclaimer: I do not own Welcome to Night Vale nor do not make money off of this fic.

Chapter 1: Ten Years Ago

Lauren pressed the red button to the left of the door and then peered back through the window into the steel walled room. She had just finished the last layoff of the day, her body sore and yellow suit speckled red. The box of new donated resources that the ex-employees had given was heavy in her tired arms, and some of the blood that had not been fully drained seeped out and over her fingers. She ignored her body's pleas for rest as she watched little vents open around the edges of the room. A mixture of water and cleaning chemicals cascaded down the walls and washed away the pooled blood and remaining bone and flesh chunks down into the large grate in the center of the room.

But she wasn't truly watching the blood be cleansed away from the walls and floor, nor was she gazing back into her own blood splattered reflection in the window. No, she was years away, watching memories or better times unfold.

[+]-[+]-[+]

Ten Years Ago

Lauren could tell that she was lying across a flight of stairs. Her head was pounding, wrists on fire from the lingering rope burns, and her sides sore with eventual bruises in the shape of boots. She rocked herself onto her elbows and pulled back the strands of hair that covered her face. She looked up, and smiled.

In shining yellow letters overlaying an orange triangle read the words Strex Corp. Synergists Inc. with underneath in a sandy yellow DESERT BLUFFS HQ. She could not have been more happy.

Once she would be able to stand and walk through those doors her life would change, if it hadn't already. One step would be the first of many to follow on to her goal, to being a part of Strex, a part of the Smiling God; to being perfect. Shaking and slipping only once, she eventually managed to stand up, her purse heavy in her hand and head still woozy from the interview and light beatings. She dragged herself up the steps and through the double glass doors and stepped into the cool recirculated air of the building.

The lobby was bright, so stunningly bright, for a brief time; as if the Smiling God had for a mere moment in time greeted her itself. The light dimmed down until she could see clearly. White pearlescent walls done in filigreed squares ran in a circle around the back of the lobby. The edges of each section like that of a giant tooth, smooth and perfect, wrapped around the edges of red detained with gold delicate designs. The half-moon desk in the center of the room was of white birch wood, flawless and the corners and edges lined with mother of pearl or maybe opal. The shifting light that came through the windows that lined the sides of the front doors would occasionally catch and shine with so many colors. Above the lobby desk was the only picture in the room, a large and wide picture of a perfect smile with perfect teeth. Everything seemed to sparkle and shine with a bright light she could not place the origin of, it was like each surface was encased in glitter or fresh blood.

It was more perfect then she could have imagined, and for the first time, she felt at home.

A loud chime rang over the intercoms laced throughout the building snapped her out of her daze, bringing her world back into focus. All the people that had been bustling about had stopped and looked up, all listening intently as a female voice echoed in the perfect silence.

"Attention. All Strex Employees. Will all new interns please report to Orientation in thirty minutes. Attention..." The voice repeated itself again before the chime sounded, signifying the end of the interruption and the white noise of work could be heard again.

Her palms felt grimy and slick with sweat. She had no idea where to possibly find Orientation room, knowing that if she was late for her first day her dreams and any ones of the future would be rendered into a literal pulp. She started to frantically search her purse and then her body, hoping and pleading that the interviewer didn't forget to give her the information. Eventually she let out a deep sigh when she found the desired paper folded in her pocket. She checked her watch and smirked, happy that if she hurried she would have enough time to freshen up and still make it to Orientation on time.

After she had gotten to the bathroom she quickly washed her face free of the sweat, blood and tears the dried on her skin. Once her face was clean she shed her vomit and blood covered coat and shirt, tossing both into the waste bin, and pulling out clean clothes from inside of her large purse. She looked in the mirror, straightening her hair carefully, smiling with pride that she had come so prepared. Once she deemed herself again presentable she briskly walked out of the restroom and followed the directions to the Orientation room.

She entered the room with five minutes to spare. The room had the same pearly walls but on them there were paintings of teeth and curled lips amidst the welcoming sight of blood slashes and organs nailed to them in varied places; the contrast of white and red and warm grins brought one to Lauren's own face. A table with some snacks and drinks sat next to the door, the masked table captain monitoring those who came to retrieve the portions they were allowed. The room was semi-filled, a few people chatting, others sitting and scribbling notes, and a few people sitting against the wall curled into a fetal position rocking back and forth and back and forth. She decided to save the topic of food for later, finding her stomach still unsettled from the kicks she had received to it, and instead wove between the other roaming interns and new hires finding a safe seat in the second row. Not too far enough away to be unable to see what was being shown and not close enough for the instructor to have a clean shot at ripping out her guts if given the chance. She had taken to watching the walls and the slow drip of the fresh blood running over the old, stilling herself in preparation for what might happen next.

She could feel the change in the atmosphere when he walked in. The hairs on the back of her neck bristled and she could smell the undertones of oil and ozone permeate the room. She turned and watched him cross the room, the people growing silent and those that could moving to empty chairs. The plated lines on his face gave away that he was one of the new bio-machines, the most recent in innovative technology in Desert Bluffs. He strode to the front of the room, commanding everyone within it without as much of a word. He was pure and raw power, seamless productivity, every move he made deliberate and with complete purpose and maximized results with small effort. He was the perfect worker.

"Good morning. new Strex Corp. Employees and Interns. My name is Daniel, I will be your Orientation leader for today."

[+]-[+]

They had just been released for lunch, but Lauren found herself scarcely hungry. Despite that the room had been so welcoming and the lecture quite riveting, she found herself queasy. Little more the half the room remained of new hires, the bodies that littered the floor being dragged away by more of the masked workers. She did her best to wipe off the blood from someone who had been unlucky enough to have been sitting in the front, focusing on the smearing stain to help quell her shaking.

Daniel had taken no time in showing himself to be ruthless in his selection of those who made it pass orientation. He noted that the weak did not belong in Strex, that only those who wanted to reach, strive, and achieve their fullest potential could be accepted. The streaks of blood of her shirt became unnerving to her as she couldn't brush more of them away, and instead took to placing her sweating hands together and twiddling her thumbs.

'What if I'm not good enough? What if I can't be the employee I need to be? I….My career can't end here.' She thought to herself, 'I don't want it to end here.'

It took her around ten minutes to finally decide she needed to eat something because nothing else she did seemed to be able to still her nervousness. She went out following the directions she had been given to the cafeteria and waited in the short line. As she did she scanned the area for a suitable eating area but by the time she had reached the end of the line with her pre-made sandwich, she could see no empty tables. She gripped the plastic container tighter, the receipt in her hand crinkled from the curling of her fingers as she swallowed and took a step towards the first set of people she recognized from Orientation.

"Hi. I'm intern Lauren." She said as soon as she reached the table. It held a small group of three girls who stopped mid conversation, their eyes wide and dilated, faces pasty and drained at the sight of her. "Mind if I join you? We can talk about Strex or..or work? Just get to know each other better!" The girls continued their unbroken gaze as she put on her most winning smile. The drawl of the cafeteria soon became all the response Lauren seemed to be getting until one of them started to roll back their eyes, body seeming to vibrate as dark blood started to ooze from the tear ducts, ears, and mouth of the girl. Lauren bit her inner lip doing what she could to keep herself under control.

"Well, it seems your table is full so enjoy your lunch and maybe we'll see each other on one of the floors!" She scurried away, not looking back, the feelings if rejection and hatred churning in her. She began to look again to see if there might be anyone that might let her join their table.

She tried again and again, each time met with some kind of rejection from the table. At one table before she even got close the two at the table started to howl and point at her, at another a man had started to repeatedly stab his left hand over and over again with a fork, a third the people there started to vomit their entrails, and all of it left Lauren in near tears. She thought that by now she would have been used to rejection. But she had been so ready for a new start, so ready to be able to be seen in a new light and possibly without judgment. Maybe they had read her profile, maybe they just didn't like how she dressed, she could never tell. She just knew that she had only a few more minutes to eat, he stomach now growling in hunger and nervousness replaced with fury and feeling so very, very alone in the crowded café.

"That's not very productive Ms. Mallard." The deep electronic voice of Daniel from beside her washed over her. She felt sudden relief that at least someone noticed her; even if it was the deadly orientation leader commenting on her lack of work ethic.

"S-Sorry Daniel. I cannot seem to find a proper seating arrangements due to…unforeseen circumstances."

"There are some proper seating arrangements from across from me. You don't have long, so I recommend you sit now." She turned to fully face him. He was not looking at her, and instead continuing to consume the last bits of his soup that smelt odd and left a tangy residue in her mouth. She knew she should be afraid of him. That even now at any moment he could, and quite possibly would, reach across the table and rip out her heart, or chunks of flesh, or bone and he would gladly add them to the resources of the company. But she was to grateful for the gesture for her to honestly care.

She sat down and started to feast on her sandwich. She didn't have long to eat it, nearly choking twice on the wheat bread and roast beef; but it had been the most wonderful sandwich she had the joy to taste. She wasn't sure if it was the products they had used or that for the first time in a while she had someone to eat with. She was certain that she would have to try this again soon, sitting in silence and eating with the closest thing to good company she could have.