The Industrialist

Water trickled down his spine as the shower head burst to his scalp. He felt the coolness of the water, destressing his body and refreshing his mind in the process.

He adjusted the shower knob to high pressure and the showerhead burst again, whistling, profusely this time that he felt a massaging weight from scalp to nape.

It was so refreshing. Even in the cabin, daily showering was a luxury pleasured by a few.

He craned his head, his face facing the showerhead, and the sensation of a gently massaging force experienced the pressure against his forehead, then to his cheeks.

Opening his mouth to just gargle a little bit of bath water was a bad idea. He then remembered that even in showers, the water was recycled through an in-house filtration system.

Luckily, a scientist, it was an Electric Tier as far he could remember, patented a mobile filtration system compatible with homes to recycle shower water.

This was better than using the water from WWMDs, Lance thought. Appalling to even step in the shower room just the thought of wastewater being used in dishwashing and bathrooms. But not everyone knew it, especially about the drinking water.

Grebert told him, "20% of wastewater goes into Potable tanks, filtered again. Series of chambers, filtration pads, and more. Hard to maintain." Lance remembered.

However, the residences that installed the filtration systems had to pay additional power fees for the consumption of electricity for the filtration.

The project was called ShowerSmart.

It was a brilliant feat. ShowerSmart contributed great help to reduce volume consumption from the WWMDs for residential use of water. The Awards Committee had known the predicament, discreetly and, hence, expedited the project to its full fruition.

Factory production was expedited. Design patent processing, expedited. Marketing to the masses, expedited.

High-Echelons had their reservations already even though factories were still procuring raw materials for production. It flooded the internet like wildfire, however failed to reach the commoner sectors.

They don’t understand why and showering was not a necessity to them anymore. It wastes resources and increases water bills. Despite that, Lance installed his ShowerSmart, months after it was released.

He wondered how many units the inventor earned. Only a couple of thousand units maybe, despite the millions earned by the Corporation and the Government.

It was unfair to the inventor. An invention prototype was the key to a newfound discovery. Unfortunately, the Media blinded the inventor with fame. However, fattening the pockets more to the wealthy and politicians.

The Government and the Corporation were earning millions, even Lance could not imagine.

His mind raced as his head was cooled by the shower. He felt different every time he was bathed with water. His mind always shifted to a state, even though relaxed, however to its optimal function. A cognitive overhaul perhaps. His invention ideas would come permeating his thoughts even unsolvable predicaments during the progress of his projects would materialize during this state.

Astoundingly, all this was just for a shower.

Therefore, it was the main reason that he showered every day, disregarding the incremental power bills.

It must be the nerve endings of the scalp that triggered an optimal brain function during the shower, he thought. Such study of psychology was lost together with the Lost Engineers.

RoFlo, his Robotic Floating Pollution Collector, came to his mind. He squinted through the transparent glass that squared his shower room, to the room adjacent to the dining table, his invention space.

A fish tank with his Roflo on top of the water captured his vision.

Depending on how the Awards Committee would see it during his project defense, he could earn about 2000 units at most. His Water dispenser Bioscanner awarded him 1200 units.

It was not as impactful as the ShowerSmart but his RoFlo was a game-changer.

Since his first patented invention did not have much impact on the hidden predicaments of the Corporation, it only prevented the pilferage of stored drinking water in residences, thus it was not expedited and did not touch the mainstream Media.

They cared less about the Citizens, especially the low-lifers.

’This could be big,’ Lance smiled upon the thought of his RoFlo invention but was apprehensive at the same time.

If he could amend the by-laws created by the GLDs for the Awards Committee, it would serve best the inventors and less the business owners that exploited the brains that created the invention.

As he saw it, the Corporation was more driven to fill its pockets with currency rather than motivating Scientists to augment themselves and motivate innovations.

He turned off the shower.

The ideas did not come, this time. It was remorse. It’s been like this for a few days, or weeks, he can’t remember. However, he was happy to at least accomplish his second invention.

’I had to prepare my defense. This could help the water supply,’ Lance thought.

A lot of Commoners died of thirst last year because of the shortage. Majorly, what contributed to the water shortage was the inefficiency of WWMD wastewater filtration.

His Tyllrium came in handy with the predicament. But it won’t save another shortage in the future. It could probably delay as he estimated. But with the current system, death by thirst would be inevitable.

Lance cursed in his mind.

His Roflo could be the key.

He pressed a button and nozzles from corners of the shower room hissed dispensing high-pressured air this time. Along with the scented powder he just refilled the scent chambers.

Today, I will become a Scrapper 2." He told himself.

"Today is the day, Jasper!" Lance said as he put on his clothes.

"Your Scrapper 2 registration, Master?" Jasper clarified. Sometimes the AI would be confused about their schedules as Lance always amended them. "Or was it the first Zelkian pick-up by Jonaz Enterprises?"

"Hmm. Registration." He filled his knapsack with his Cloud Archive, a tablet where one could access all legitimate documents, identifications, and other pertaining documents of his citizenship, most importantly his approved invention patent - bioscanner.

For one to be promoted to a higher Scientist Level, the Scientist should provide one patented invention. The Cloud Archive not only would store the required documents, it would also restrict the storage of fake documents.

"What about your, Laser Bladed Knife?" Jasper asked as Lance was ready to head out of the Cabin.

"I think the Mafia would leave me be for this time, Jasper. Remember, we will have our first-ever Zelkian delivery tomorrow." Lance responded.

***

’Science Aspirants Registration Service’ Lance read the embossed golden signboard at the side of the colossal-sized door. ’SARS’

It was the third time he visited the place, KroMagnon Sector, adjacent to Bloomforge Enclave. First, he visited SARS because he wanted to be educated on how to register himself to become a Scientist.

There were free courses, lucky for Lance. He had no Units to enroll in any significant courses. But the free courses were just for lowlifers like him. He had to choose amongst the three;

Industrial Technology 101

Basics of Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronic Components.

Waste Management 101

At his first glance upon the choices, they seemed to elevate oneself to the next level of society, to be called ’Educated’. To be among the Mid-classers and High-classers.

But he was greatly mistaken.

These courses were so basic that passing them would be compatible for a Factory worker, Scrapper Scientist, or WWMDs Operators in wastewater facilities.

However, Lance took them all. Even though he was only required one course to apply for a Scientist Scrapper 1.

His second visit was when he registered himself as Scrapper 1 as soon as he finished the three courses.

Then, his third visit was his intent to register to become a Scrapper 2.

’This is the day!

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