good morning Alex my name is Kim I'm
here to make your job reassignment as
painless as possible
let's get your file up
wow you're an old pro this is your
seventh reassignment unlucky seems more
like it
nonsense let's see what wonderful new
job the list has for you today
sorry Alex the system is a little slow
today
you're a C2 male at the moment, right?
fucking robots
sorry uh I I didn't mean you you're not
a robot
it's just I I really liked my old job
you're not alone mechanization is
causing disturbances right across the
labor markets. But you'll be perfect for this
next job role, I guarantee
this is system today
you think they'd sort out the bugs
with so many people depending on it
I can assure you Alex your next job
won't be under any threat from robots
definitely placement for 15 years -  at least
I'm sure you'll make a wonderful mother
you can proceed to stage two of the
terminal
have a good day Alex
equality... equality... equality...
number 47 report to your jobcentre  officer
good morning my name is Kim I'm here to
meet your job reassignment as quick
as possible
Female, male, tall, small...
Any job can be done by anyone
with the Terminal, we are all truly equal!
I'm sure you'll make a wonderful mother
but you didn't actually say that?
I had to -  he looked so lost
It's not funny!
Well sometimes the fairest system in the
world can seem pretty unfair
you're wondering if it wouldn't kill
them to be a bit more flexible right?
Careful
Jay!
What there's no one watching us
it's why we come here it's just you and me
did you know the name is place after
some Roman god?
Terminus
the god of boundaries
hilarious
yeah I said the same thing to
my friend who told me that little nugget
of trivia
I guess the gods don't compromise
well, it's the slippery slope.
one minute you're changing an assignment
and the next there's misogyny in the
streets!
you're just too nice
I...
WE were engineered that way
empathetic
women make the best job center officers
and were you engineered to cover for the
people who fell behind in your last job
no I guess that helped with productivity
on the assembly line
designed for teamwork!
we all are kiddo
But you're more than that.
Not this "personality" crap again
you just haven't been
through as many changes to understand.
I'm the same no matter how smart dumb tall
or even male I am
I can't imagine you as
a guy
Here
some people thought me handsome
well one person did
Vik
are all these of you and Vik?
no way
you look so cute
you're kind of perfect together
did you keep in touch
they tell us that all the old human ties
relationships, family... were cut for a reason
that they lead to catastrophe
that's a lie
I know it's against the rules but
straight, gay, lesbian
we've been together over 30 years
I suppose I should get rid of the
pictures
screw that
keep them
I don't think there's anything wrong
with what those images show
Vik is the reason why I believe in
essential personalities
every time we
have a reassignment we'd both worry that
something might be different
But the spark was still there?
Look at me, making fool of myself
this isn't your problem
Go on!
you're the one who said I was proper nice
not...
engineered
something went wrong with Vik's last 
reassignment
Vik's only got a few days left
some sort of cell rejection the doctors said
they sent Vik straight to the hospice
that's the best care...
shit
they won't let you into the hospice will they
our faithfulness shows a distinct lack of
equality
you're joking?
someone actually told you that?
they're just repeating what they believe
well I don't believe it
you should be allowed to be with the
person you love when they're dying the
equality be damned
I was hoping you'd say that
this is a clone of the jobs list
don't ask me where I got it
I don't want to go there again but
on it I'm resigned as a nurse
in Vik's hospice
the job just came up
like a sign or something
Do you have
any idea what would happen to you if someone found-
we'd end up in the nerve bank I expect
you might be mad enough to spend a
couple of months... YEARS even as a
bundle of nerves in a tank...
but I certainly am NOT
it won't happen
honestly Kim
you can't know that
what ever you're planning
I won't tell anyone, but
I can't
you're the only who can without raising
suspicion
Sam will just think all
prayers have been answered
oh no
I'm not interested in Sam -  icebergs couldn't be less encouraging
Sam's in charge of the job server
he carries
the job list around on a shard just like this
look i'd do it myself if I thought Sam would
let me close enough but my being there
would just trigger suspicion
is this a sting?
do you honestly think i'd be picked for
loyalty checks
I might say those things
when I'm angry and I've had a bad day
but I am 100% behind the Terminal
this isn't
a test Kim
we are all truly equal!
no we're not!
humans don't know how to be
equal
it's not in our nature
easy, isn't it?
for you, maybe
I don't know how. how do I-
Sam's a B3
his wrists here
are very...
responsive
I should know
look I can't bear it- I'll fake being a
nurse
I'll breaking in- I'll set fire to the whole
fucking system! I'll do anything to be
with Vik
look
we're friends, aren't we?
proper friends
I don't trust anyone else
end of lunch
you're scheduled to see Sam before you
start this afternoon
I trust you to make the right decision
I'd do it for you in a heartbeat
job assignment officer 5 report
for daily debrief
I repeat job of assignment officer 5
report for daily debrief
before the Terminal, humanity was divided
divided by gender
divided by class
divided by nation and race
war
famine
strife
fear
the 21st century tore itself apart
countries fell
London fell...
Alex?
someone looks a lot happier
you were right I think I will make a
wonderful mother
who we to question the terminal
yeah
exactly
with the Terminal we are all truly equal!
come on in Kim
hiya Sam how's your day been
everything's just Peachy in equality's
paradise and we're keeping my eye on all
of you
I haven't been doing anything to
make you need to watch me how about
no
you're a model employee Kim
unfortunately the same can't be said
about everyone around here
have a seat
and we'll talk about the hold up on 46
46?
you mentioned the system running slow
twice in that last session
yes well it
was going slowly
I was monitoring the
system the whole time and I didn't
notice anything out of order
maybe I was
just using it wrong
hmm
it's not your
fault
you're only engineered to be a friendly
face
maybe you could log for an
improvement in the next job Center
offices
maybe
do you want to show me how you've been
using the system
well that all looks pretty good
what did
I say
a model employee
who knows
in the next assignment you might have my job
you could be just like me
I'm not sure I
have it in me to be just like you
it  would be
too hard an act to follow
maybe
there have been so many reassignments
and the nerve banks pretty full too and
the ones that they spits back out at us
or a bit broken not that you'd expect
more they've been a bundle of feeling
and thinking nerve endings for two years
if I were that judge to given that
dissident a much longer sentence and
now they're starting to affect my
productivity figures
they don't make your
job easier do they
don't they understand
how important we are
we keep the Terminal running
it's enough to give you
a headache
I'm sorry to hear that
thank you Kim
that means a lot
let's try it...
with the updated jobs list
speaking of efficiency this job
only appeared this morning
snd by tomorrow someone would have already
filled the role
the system is truly
beautiful
but heads will roll
whoever did the brain chem probably
Oh?
the
previous job owner killed themselves
one of the other job centre officers found
the body
Jay I think...
I'll do anything to be with Vik
they saw something odd
hanging out the window of a nurse's
house apparently
good job Jay was there
who knows how long they have been
hanging there
legs twitching
you don't
think the previous nurse killed
themselves because they were in love
with some-
love?
there's no such thing is there
you're pretty close to Jay right
they said anything to you?
no
no we're not that
close really
good
because between you and me
they're on thin ice
there's talk of deviant behaviour
you don't know anything do you?
of anything deviant?
with Jay?
no
I haven't noticed anything wrong with their behaviour
I thought I'd find you here
I don't know how to thank you
there's no need
was it that bad
No
not really
compared to the alternative
would you have killed me too?
what are you talking about sweetie are
you coming down with something
when you
said that you'd do anything
I didn't realize you meant murder
what are you going to do
nothing
well
If tell anyone I'll be punished alongside
you for substituting the job list won't I?
plus...
I'm not entirely sure I did the wrong
thing
if there had been another way without
killing that poor person would you have
taken it
if there had been a system in
place but people like you-
cheat the gods
clearly I chose wisely
and your plan worked out perfectly
you ever want to follow through on that offer
put that in your wristband
we're not the only ones who can see
through all this
you'd better go to Vik
we won't see each other again will we
no
I don't think so
I'll contact them
I want to help
if I can
number 36 report to your job centre
officer, please
you
