4 Chapter 4 Basic Screening

"Eh, well that's a surprise. Never gotten an application from a rescued slave before."

John remarked to himself as he looked at Kole. Although cases where rescued slaves applied for the Corporation weren't unheard of, most slaves were to emotionally broken to do much of anything.

"Well, if you really want to join, I can run you through administration. However, I can't guarantee anything, alright?"

Like nodded as he grasped the general situation. The strong survive while he weak perish. A simple principle that, while not always as severe in every situation, was embraced by the universe.

John directed the group of slaves over to a set of machines. John input a code and the machines began to buzz to life.

"This machine will record your identity and characteristics in the Corporation's database. Just place your hand on the scanner and the process will be over in a few seconds."

John gestured at the metal surface while he detailed the process. The slaves began to line up in front of the machines. Kole placed his hand on the device and looked at his description that came up on the monitor.

Name: Kole

System: Evolution

Rank: 1

Species: Bipedal Scavenger

Abilities: Poison resistance, Acid resistance, Acidic stomach

"Eh?"

A confused sound leaked out of Kole's mouth. For some reason the words on the screen were familiar to him, though he couldn't figure out why.

"Ah, that's right, you Don't know what systems are."

John remarked at Kole's behaviour as he realized s9mething he had ignored.

"Every living being has something called a 'system'. Depending on where you are born or where you originate from you will have a certain system upon being born. For example, the planet you were just on has a 'magic' system that lets them manipulate energy to create certain phenomena. You, however, have an evolution system, so your family may be from an evolution being that came to this planet. Evolution systems accelerate and augment the evolution process."

Kole gazed in confusion at John who had begun lecturing him on stuff that he barely understood. Oblivious to Kole's confusion John proceeded with his lecture.

"It's rather rare to find a slave who has gained first rank though. Normally they lack the energy necessary to operate the system. Seeing as you were in a mine, did you ingest a glowing rock?"

Kole recognized the words 'glowing rock and nodded. Seeing confirmation John continued with his lecture.

"That rock was probably a type with concentrated energy in it. The energy would have been enough to operate your system. Normally ingesting energy like that would have killed a person, you are quite lucky."

Seemingly finish up his lecture John wandered off back the way he came. As he reached the doorway he stopped and turned back to Kole.

"Long story short, if you want to get into the corporation, you'll need to improve yourself a lot."

Leaving a final piece of advice John disappeared back down the hallway.

Kole stood in the room as he gazed at the hallway John had left through.

'I am weak, I must get stronger.'

The simple message that he'd understood from the lecture. Strength was valued above all else. If he wanted to get anywhere he must improve himself, probably through the 'system'.

After the ship docked at the branch site, all of the slaves were organized and prepared to be sent off. Kole however had gone to the application center where he applied for the corporation.

Kole was brought into a room filled with people. The people all varied in age but most of them were young adults. Some of them were wearing luxurious clothes, others were wearing rags similar to Kole, and others looked like regular people.

Kole scanned the room as he took in the sight of all the different people. The people with the expensive clothes and jewellery sneered as they mocked Kole amongst themselves. The group was made up of various royal figures and nobles from the same planet. Although they had strength they were much to haughty and would probably irritate the Corporation.

Kole dismissed them and focused on the people in rags. Although they looked better than the slaves he knew, they still looked like they were struggling to survive. Joining the Yin Corporation was a last resort for them. However, the ones who caught Kole's eyes was the normal people. They looked like they could survive without the job, and they didn't share the haughty feeling the nobles had. These people were probably the ones most likely to get hired.

As Kole settled down against the back wall a woman came in through the door at the front. The woman scanned the room briefly before clearing her throat.

"Welcome, applicants. Before the selection process begins, please note that you will be unable to gain any form of outside help, and that you will all be treated the same. Also, should you take any action against the corporation in any and all conceivable ways, you will be processed accordingly."

As the woman outlined the basic principles of the selection process one of the people began making a ruckus. The person, one of the royal looking people, angrily made her way up to the lady.

"Stop with all of this bullshit. How dare you treat me in such a disrespectful manner. I am the first royal princess of the Em Tegrof empire! Your entire company should be groveling at my feet you ungrateful sow!"

The woman simply smiled as she looked at the princess.

"I believe I made myself quite clear. All actions against the company shall be processed accordingly."

The lady simply waved her hand and the princess was rendered into a pool of blood and flesh. The royal looking people began to shiver in fear as they fell over with the remains of the princess splattered all over them.

"Now then, are there any more questions?"