Free Kings and Crowns: A Dystopian Thriller (Age of End Book 2) by Chris Yee Page A

did he go?” he asked. “Why did he leave instead of staying here with us?”
    “You’re his number one priority, but not his only priority. He still has to run the Spire and watch over the City. He’s a very busy man.”
    “You can just drain something, right?” Alan asked. “It’ll heal right up.”
    Vince shook his head. “Draining is what got him into this situation. The bullet is stuck in there. Draining isn’t going to help.”
    “Stay optimistic,” Ella said. “It sounds like they’re well equipped to treat you.”
    “That’s right,” Charlotte said. “We have the best of the best in the Spire. It’s one of the perks of working here. You work for Greene now. For all intents and purposes, you are all Spire employees. That means you get all of the benefits, including our state of the art healthcare.”
    “Does he pay us?” Alan asked.
    “There’s no need for money in the Spire. To compensate for the work we do, he provides food, housing, and entertainment. Ask for anything within the lines of reason and it’s yours, as long as you keep up your work performance. If you’re valuable to him, he’ll take care of you. Right now Vince and Saul are extremely valuable.”
    “What happens if you underperform?”
    “He fires you. He stops providing food and shelter, and he sends you back to the streets to take care of yourself. He takes his work very seriously, and if you aren’t contributing, he’s not afraid to get rid of you.”
    “That’s harsh,” Alan said. “But I guess that’s how you get things done.”
    “Over the years, many people have come and gone. Those who stay longer earn Greene’s trust. Many of us have been around for over a hundred years. Barnabus was over two hundred.”
    “Really?” Rupert said. “Greene doesn’t seem too upset that we killed him.”
    “Barnabus was a loose cannon and Greene knew it. It was only a matter of time before something like that happened. Now that it has, he’s moved on. Vince and Saul are the next big thing. You’re far more valuable than Barnabus was. Of course, you wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for Barnabus. He was unconventional, but extremely loyal, a trait that Greene admires.”
    “How long have you worked here?” Alan asked.
    “About fifty years in the Spire. Ten years as Vince and Saul’s monitor agent.”
    “What were you doing for the other forty years?” Ella asked.
    “I did a lot of small jobs. I was a soldier at one point. After that, I worked in the cosmetic sector, but that wasn’t satisfying for me. I felt the urge to do more. So I worked my way up.”
    “And now you’re a monitor agent,” Rupert said.
    “Yes. Being a monitor agent for such high profile subjects is a long-term job. It is extremely strenuous, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, but once it’s all over, I’m done for good. Greene will continue to provide food and shelter for the rest of my life, and he’ll slap a big paycheck in my hands. That’s how all of the high profile monitor agent positions work. I have no family, and I can handle the stress, so this job is perfect for me.”
    “That’s interesting and all,” Saul said, “but I was just told I’m going to die. Can we focus on that?”
    “That’s what I’m saying,” Charlotte said. “You’re not going to die. Greene would never allow it.”

SIXTEEN
    GREENE LED THEM into the surgeon’s office. A well-dressed man sat at his desk, flipping through documents. He wore a fitted black suit with the City logo patched on the shoulder.
    “Welcome,” he said, rising to his feet. He walked over and shook Greene’s hand. “I take it these are our guests.”
    “That’s right. These are the ones from outside.”
    “It must be fascinating out there.”
    “I wouldn’t say fascinating,” Rupert said. “It’s…different.”
    “Fair enough. I’m Dr. Brant. It’s a pleasure to meet all of you.”
    “He’s the best we have in the Spire,” Greene said.