FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Orwell Tech co.

-by Roody

The dark room was surprisingly warm, the only light on was that of the many electronic devices, mainly the tv screens showing data of a process. Near the center of the room, a big anthropomorphic grizzly bear was strapped, the leather cuffs attached him to a comfortable chair. He wore blue jeans and a gray t-shirt with the company logo and his current state, trainee, but what kind of company does treat their trainees like that?

Despite the situation, the bear just lied there, using a strange helmet with a visor, wires, boxes and LEDs connected. His breathing was calm, his chest and belly expanded and deflated from time to time. If someone see him closely, that one could see that strong mouth mumbling something so quietly.

The strange collar looked like some kind of enforcing device to the helmet, the same as it, 2 LEDs red and green flashing at random times, at the same time, or first one and the other later. Wires connecting to a rack of strange devices and to a big computer. In the screen now it shows a 95% of competition. A tabby cat man entered the room with a coffee tar in his right paw and a green almost transparent clipboard.

Nervously the cat saw the remaining time and tapped many random characters in his assigned keyboard. He almost missed something to this process, and in this company, "mistakes have a big cost". 15 minutes passed flying and the expected 100% was in the visor and the main screen. The cat retired the collar, the helmet and just waited there, admiring the bear but with a hint of uncertainness; then, the bear woke up and the cat turned on the lights.

"Woah, bro! I think I kinda got sleep in the middle of the course."

"Oh! Don't worry big boy. I will make a short test to see if you understood the basics or I should put you under..." the bear saw the cat with a suspicious stare. "I mean, to passing the training video again"

"Ok, shoot the test, I'll do anything for the good of this company"

The cat felt excited and satisfied, that answer was a very good sign. After all the 15 correct answers said with assertiveness, James O'Brian was more than ready to serve his chiefs at the night club, and far more important, his masters, the owners of Orwell Tech (for short).

Donovan O'Brian is a grizzly bear; however, he is thin and short for the average of all his kind, still he has strong arms, a round little belly, short legs and a look of a hipster. He has grown hair in his neck and a kind of mustache on his muzzle, curved as a barber from the 40's; he wears simple square glasses without that kind of lenses that help people see and REALLY need it (that weird gadget to pretend to be smarter).

He was working for a newspaper company, that kind of media that, instead of writing about politics, bad news or interesting science stuffs, this one was dedicated to cinematography, television media, and things like "what kind of food is ok" or "do old cartoons train you to be a serial killer?", or "if you eat feral, you'll become feral". All of his coworkers were ok with that kind of articles; despite some people used to mock about them and calling them "snowflakes journalism". It is an honest way of live.

Some of his friends, especially a "revolutionary" fox lady and a slender and a "delicate" bunny boy, told him that he should keep it easy. Donovan said that there's a company that was exploiting their workers to extended hours and paying little for their efforts. At this moment, he didn't know his brother was now recruited there.

"But Donnie, you know what kind of stuffs we're working on. I have tried to convince the editor but he refused many times, maybe it is because the people are dumb and don't understand. Common people are retrogressive!" said the lady.

"Well, this is a good work! it is good to have tickets for the premieres of all the movies! You can convince the editor to help me to write something for the new animated 'hooman' movie and we can go out" said the bunny boy with his spot of purple hair in his left ear.

"Thanks for the invitation, Charlie; but I'm not into hoomans, it is a weird fandom, maybe when comes the next dark and deep super hero's movie, not the 'c0MiKaL' universe of lame jokes of colorful super hero's movies, anyway. Danna, maybe you should have investigated and made the coverage before tell Mr. Johnson, and that's exactly what I'll do! A shocking report is needed to arise the name of this company!"

"Amigo, believe me, you DOESN'T want to do this. I veg you por favor" A gray pit-bull said, interrupting the conversation between the 3. He was wearing a baseball cap, a strange shirt and black jeans.

"Eh, it is 'you don't' not 'you doesn't', and you have no idea of true journalism, even you can't speak properly, rich men have to know they're not so powerful" the bored bear said to the stranger.

The pit-bull laughed, "I don't only have idea, why am I here with a college assistant who revises my writing? I have a reputation! and there in my country, I knew how is to deal with an angry politician, a powerful business man or a discrete 'narco' ... or whatever you call to landlords of drugs. I saw friends disappear. I didn't do anything directly against the big fishes, that's why I'm safe, and despite all movies say, I doubt it is different here in this country because people are people and in everywhere there is corruption." The man dog left them, Danna was angry too, like Donovan, however she suspected the dog was training to be in a high charge in this company and it is better to not go against him.

"The latino is right, promise you won't do anything Donnie" the bunny pleaded.

"Charlie, Danna, I promise I won't do anything"

That night Danna, Donovan and Charlie went out to a night club called "Vander". All three were eager to get some drinks, to chat a little and maybe getting some fun with random strangers. Outside of the club there was a large line of people waiting to get in, it was said this club was very savage and violent but from 6 weeks ago it was turning into a safe and good place, and so popular.

"Owh! Come on! It's a large line! It will take all night! Let's go to another place!

"Be patience Charlie! Jason, the guy of the 'where to go' column, said the waiting worth it!"

"Hey, well I think I can introduce us quickly" Donovan, from the distance, recognized his brother, he was the bouncer. The big bear wore a gray t-shirt with a logo on his left peck, the logo of the club, and in the back, in the middle of his back just near his neck, the logo of Orwell Tech. He stood like the military guards, that offered a strong view of 'keep it easy or else'.

Donovan and James were not so close brothers, even they didn't talk frequently or send messages from both sides, despite being in the same city; however, both bears sometimes get favors from one to other, that's why the next thing that happened made angry the little bro.

Donovan jumped from far trying to call the attention of his brother, the big one tried to not look at him, as if he didn't recognize him. Then, Don texted to James saying hello but the big bear didn't move an inch. Like he didn't listen or have the phone. Then the big bear touched his left ear and listened the earbud he had. He left to enter 5 party goers inside, it was not enough but at least the line was going shrink. Then, Donovan skipped the line to meet with his brother and all people started to complain; James started to get ready to use violence as if it was a trigger, however he reacted when he saw the little bro.

"Hey bro! what's up! I wasn't expecting to see you here"

"Me neither, just trying to survive"

The persons who were near the entrance started to say 'boo', that caused a commotion of angry people.

"Well, it is good to know the chain keeper sometimes"

"Sorry bro, you shall not pass until your turn comes" James said apological.

"But bro!"

"Now I am in my shift, and the politic of this fine establishment is that in any circumstance, a costumer cannot jump the line nor cause troubles, so, please costumer, get back to your position in the line." This time James said coldly, almost in a monotone way.

The people near the chain started to say whoa! And clapped 2 or 3 times. But Donovan refused to let it pass.

"Please bro, let us in. I just said that..."

A well-dressed coyote man opened the door and the bear resumed an almost military attitude.

"Is there a problem, James?"

A deer man, who would be the next to get in, said to the coyote that the hipster bear jumped the line.

"Oh, big boy, and why haven't you done like you should? Remember the employee's manual"

"Yes sir"

It was like James was replaced by Mr. Rude Bouncer. "James" forgot that he was dealing with his brother and hold the little bear's left arm and said "go back to line or you will be banned, costumer!" while he pushed violently to Don. The hipster bear felt humiliated while al the people of the line cheered the big bear. As Donovan turned to see his brother going back to his position, he saw the logo of Orwell tech.

The coyote touched the shoulder of the bear and said he did a good work; James smiled for 2 seconds and resumed his position. When the deer man passed, he left a tip of $20 to James.

"Let's get out of here" said the humiliated bear to his friends. He at that moment hated his big bro. But something felt bad... that attitude, that logo, He have to dig more into that company.

On Sunday at noon, Donovan knocked at a door in an apartment in downtown, it was a cheap one. James opened the door and Donovan pushed to his brother, but he barely moved him.

"What was that?! That's not the way to treat your bro!"

James rubbed his neck and started to apologize. "Look Don, I am new at that job, I had many troubles to get it and I don't want to screw it" his stare became unfocused. "The company trusts me; I want to be a good employee".

"That dirty tavern?"

"No, they are just a contract, I mean, Orwell Tech." his eyes were unfocused in the direction of Donovan. "Orwell Tech offers services of outsourcing to many companies, in the search for the proper worker for the perfect job. Orwell Tech is compromised with the quality, it is the reason to pay all attention to capacitation of the human resources."

"Ehm, you're talking weird"

The big bear shook a little his head. "Listen Don, the club have strict policies, now that it has new owners. They are cool bosses. The owners had told us that if we have friends or family, we have to ask for passes and our guests will get in thru another access point, you have to call me before my shift is on and with 3 days of anticipation, the club have a name to forge"

"I will forgive you, despite you humiliated me in front of my friends." Both bears went to the living room that was a kitchen and a dinner room too. But now I'm intrigued, what an interesting company is that, Orwell Tech, I thought they only were concentrated in technological researches..."

"I don't know bro, I was looking for a job, I saw the ad of them as a new outsourcing company, and the next day I had a nice job. I cannot tell you more. I'm very thankful with them."

On Wednesday, Donovan got out of work early and followed his brother; it was weird to see James going to his job at 4pm when many night clubs open at 7 or 8. James went straight to a modest building near his house. He showed a card to a reader and the automatic door opened. Donovan thought it could be the nest of Orwell Tech. It was difficult to see because there weren't any logos nor signs.

He waited outside of the building a saw some employees going in and out, some of them looked normal, others looked like some kind of robots guided by 'supervisors'. What he didn't noticed, is that he had been detected by the guards of the building. Donovan made quick research about Orwell Tech and found out that this company was going bigger but they almost went to bankruptcy because of bad decisions. Somehow, they were making lots of money so easily when they funded the Human Resources and outsourcing division.

Donovan was excited and took his cellphone to take some photos and videos explaining what he was watching. He didn't notice when 3 security guards got him from the back and knocked him out.

When he woke up, he was strapped to the same chair like his brother was, 7 weeks ago, his glasses were nowhere to be seen, his "classic" attire was removed to leave him wearing a gray t-shirt with the 'trainee' sign and the logo of the company. He had blue jeans instead of his old pants with squares and lines. He tried to move, bus his restrained arms didn't let him.

Donovan screamed but nobody showed up, he saw all the artifacts in this dungeon and realized it was really a laboratory. Minutes passed by and the door opened; then, 3 figures entered the room, a tabby cat man, a marten and a tiger.

"Do you realize this is a kidnapping?! Release me at once!"

"Honestly, my boys, my favorites are the bears, the rhinos and the bulls. They look so powerful, this one looks a little thin, but we can fix that." Said the tiger, he was dressed in fancy clothes, an expensive shirt and tailored pants"

"What? Is this some kind of..."

"Silence!" Said the marten dressed with black jeans and red t-shirt. "There is someone who needs a change of attitude!"

"Indeed! However, we need some answers, and for that" the tiger directed to the strapped bear. "Why did you come here? Who do you work for?"

"You are breaking my rights, you have no power to hold me here, release me!"

"You're not a clever one, let me explain. There are 3 ways for you. One, you tell me what I want to know, then I make my charms and you will be bearely... hehehe... barely harmed and you'll forget us. Two, you shut the mouth and start to respect me, I'll extract the true, and then you go home with some fixes to your brain. Or three, ..."

James knocked the door, the cat opened and he called for the marten.

"Mr. Smith. And good afternoon Mr. Sanders. Mr. Smith, there is a problem with the projector of room 4 and the class of the cleaners is ... what! ... Donovan?"

"Do you know him?" Asked the tiger.

"Yes, sir. He's my brother, I don't know what's he doing here".

"If I ask you to hit his face, will you do it, bear?"

"I am very grateful with the job but, everything has limits and..."

While he was talking, the tiger looked the ID card of the bear and saw a employee key, then...

"Worker B35-DX1312, attention!"

James went rigid as statue, his eyes unfocused and in a standby mode.

"Hit him in the face"

The bear didn't waste time and hit the face of his brother; a strand of blood fell from his nose.

"Now, worker DX1312, who is this"

"Name's Donovan O'Brian, he's a journalist and blogger for a little digital newspaper, age 28. He's living in 5th avenue number 1215, apartment 412..."

Donovan was confused because the punch. His brother was acting like a robot. He was afraid of what will happen to him. His brother was being controlled like some puppet.

"Oh, poor and confused bear, with bad luck, don't blame your brother, he cannot help it, he belongs to me, exactly like you from now on. Ok, I'll tell you what will happen.

"First, my dear friend here, Michael" the tiger pointed to the cat. "Will erase this day from your mind and will introduce you the idea of resigning your work. When you quit, nobody will stop you of coming here to be recruited. As I see you're a little rebellious, I will have to rewire all your brain. Finally, you will work for me as a loyal butler or a chauffeur until I get bored of you and I'll send you to serve to another rich person."

Michael put the helmet and the collar in Donovan and the life of the bear changed in a drastic way.

2 weeks later, Danna and Mr. Sanchez, the gray pit-bull, were chatting in a Starbucks, they enjoyed a hot beverage, then they went back to the Mr. Sanchez' old car. There in the parking lot the found a BMW car with a known person inside, in the driver's seat. Danna knocked the glass of the car without noticing the trance the bear was in.

"Donovan! It's good to see you! How do you do?" said the fox lady.

"I hope you're ok bear, you look better without that weird mustache and a proper cut hair" said the dog.

"oh" Don shook his head. "Hello! I'm ok. I got this new job. I am living cool. My boss is a good guy"

Danna was ok but Mr. Sanchez noted a weird attitude coming from the bear.

"An what about journalism?" asked Danna.

"It is ok, but I had to change to a safer work. I love my work. I am grateful with the company I work for."

Danna forgot her cellphone and she went back to the cafeteria and the dog said he will wait her in his car. They parted but the dog kept an eye to the bear from far. When the tiger approached the bear went rigid and acted as a drone helping the feline to pack all the things he bought, then the bear opened the door for the boss and they left the place.

The dog said "There is something fishy, but I won't do anything, sorry bear"