Reddunz Hit 'Arder (40k)

God is an interesting topic; some create the world and its people, some embody ideas, and some are manifestations of concepts. However, one thing that is common between all gods is power. Power is a constant in the universe and has many interpretations; electrical, physical, potential, and, most humanly, social. Cicero, a Roman philosopher, believes that we all carry a spark of divinity, rationality and, in a way, that is power. So does that make us Gods? Since we have power, are we all in our own right a God, so why should we bow down to such beings? I, a pragmatist and believer of rationality, say we should not. We are Gods of our own destiny and control our own fate, and yet, how the fuck did I end up in this ungodly situation…

FEBRUARY 25, AD 20XX, EARTH, SOL SYSTEM

"What, Why?" Well, it is rather obvious why your performance is abysmal! Furthermore, your attendance is terrible, and you've taken several advance payment loans from the company and refuse to adequately meet with HR to discuss your less than adequate fulfilments. In conclusion, you're turning out to be a poor investment. "You have refused to complete your Pip on several occasions and have refused to take on any form of pip completion training. On top of this, you have been absent more than what is acceptable without reasonable excuse." This company isn't a daycare centre for those lacking social skills, it's a for-profit organisation, and you're costing us money. "That said, since you've served us for many years, I believe a voluntary resignation rather than a disciplinary dismissal would better serve both our interests." This usually works, but it seems this… Unsavoury individual is resolute to go down fighting. If only he had this determination in any of his work. "But… I've never had to do even any client visits before! How is that even considered as training!"

"It prevents your work from deteriorating by helping supervisors understand sales representatives and find ways for them to improve their managerial practices. With that in mind, we believe that you should have undergone such training. However, you have refused to take that on board, which lands you here." All in a day's work, they say. However, this does start to get tiring. The endless horde of weeping and wailing ex-employees who try to cling to us like a mutt to its master really does begin to wear down the soul. Oh, ho ho, out with the crocodile tears already? Sure, it's a valid tactic in the business world, but if you think it'll work, guess again. I've been called many things; "Heartless Monster", "Boss's Pet", and "Soulless Machine", but once you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times. One may think being jaded to such things makes you a psychopath, but all it is, is a resilience to modern-day manipulation. I have a job to do, and if you want to make it harder by pretending to be sad and defenceless, then go ahead, it just further proves your weakness. I swear if these simpletons put as much creative passion into their insults as they do into their actual work, then they might still be working with us.

I've always known I wasn't the best myself. Unable to compete with geniuses and unable to match the gifted with heart and determination alone, my personality has warped quite considerably to keep up with these so-called 'successful'. It is true, though, that I do find those who are truly benevolent to be awe-inspiring, but they are few and far between. Most of them are so heavily rooted in their own hypocrisy that it makes me scoff. Heh, even by today's standards, I am considered to be a healthy level of sincere, but even knowing that makes me scoff. Maybe modern-day Russians do have a point, with being so faithful to themselves making them come off as rude; however, it is admirable to have a whole society dedicated to cutting out the bullshit and carrying on with their lives.

Despite being self-aware about this, about how ghastly of a human I am, I still look down upon this bumbling fool wailing before me and proclaim in my heart of hearts that I am superior to him. Well, at least when measuring up to his performance, I am indeed superior. So even though restructuring departments assigned for consolidation in lay-offs is a pain, I still take it seriously as if to throw a middle finger at those that are gifted and maybe even myself. With all this in mind, my rise up the corporate ladder should have been extremely smooth sailing, and I would comfortably sit at the chair as Director of Human Resources by the end of my career. Well, should have been.

After several minutes of attempting to get the worthless reprobate out of my office and on his merry way home I simply had enough. The bag of meat and bones simply would not leave my office, anger began to well inside and a singular vein that sat upon my temple began to bulge, threatening to pop out from the side of my head. Tapping the table impatiently with an index finger I spoke up "Look, the day isn't getting any younger. Either you take this in stride or I'll call security." This seemed to startle the man who at first gave a look of surprise and then one of despair. With a quick nod the man meekly picked up his belongings and scuttled out of my office. 

Today was an exhausting one, three lay-offs in one day was tiring even for me... Pinching the bridge of my nose I let out a deep rooted sigh letting all the tension and frustration leave me body. It was time to head home... Thankfully I didn't live far, only a couple of stops away on the subway and a couple of minutes to walk and I'd be right back at my bachelor pad of dreams. Heading out of the office block I felt a sense of unease the entire way to the subways station as if something or someone was watching me. Looking around a couple of times and finding nothing, I shook my head and decided to ignore the illogical feeling and locked it down, placing it in a box much like I did with most unpleasant emotions.

It is said that we humans are political and social by nature, that we are supposed to abide by logic and follow the laws of this world. However, it is known to be untrue. Genocide, murder, r***, thievery and assault all happen hourly in any country in this world. It doesn't seem to make sense. These inhuman inconsistencies manifest as primal urges and behaviours that only the weak-willed seem to fall prey to. Yet, even the so-called academic elite and gifted often act out on their impulses. Perhaps this is why the Director specifically warned me to watch my back at the st-- WHAM!

The world seems to slow as my senses begin to work in overdrive. Something slams into me, and I'm set off falling onto tracks. I hear several screams, the panting of an enraged man and, most importantly, the screeching of a train. My head involuntarily turns to the left as a large train takes up the entirety of my vision, and in the corner of my eye, the man I gave the pink slip smiling contently as everything goes dark. The world is void, no senses, no feeling, only thought. Thought and rationality, the realm of the so-called 'Gods', if God truly existed, then there would be no need for a man- no beast to push me in front of a moving trai-

"You disgusting uncompassionate disbeliever, you're all the same." an old voice coming straight out of a classic Christmas movie bellows in my non-existent ears.

"What the hell?" What is that? The devil, perhaps?

"What a twisted personality, coming to the most baseless of conclusions." Did it just read my mind? What kind of being breaks the most basic of privacy and etiquette, no God would have the need for such petty tricks.

"I certainly did, but I gain no pleasure from reading the minds of deranged souls such as yourself."

Deranged as in plural? Well, I guess I can take solace in the fact that I'm not alone in being hated by a devil, being berated by a 'God' that's supposed to be benevolent, caring and forgiving sounds like a rather large juxtaposition.

"Pah, are you trying to send your creator to an early grave? The whole world is full of people like you, what happened to being broken from your earthly bonds and being delivered from eternal damnation?"

I mean, I don't really see an issue with how I live, nothing quite to the level of damnation anyway. Am I being tricked and scammed by the devil to pursue something that I don't even desire. Pushing one's ideals onto another is simply another set of words for brainwashing and manipulation. "So do tell almighty one, what is to come next of me? Are my sins going to be washed away as I join you in eternal heaven." While I could have made that a lot less condescending, it's not like this devil is going to punish me anymore than it seems as I already am.

"Well little one, souls as deranged as yours will be put back into the cycle of life and death until you atone and come to understand the gift that I have given you." The gift of life? How fitting, punishing me with this so called gift… Doesn't seem very smart, well on the brightside he is doing a job so to say so I can at the very least respect his dedication to his job.

"Very well in that case, go ahead and do your thing oh mighty devil." At least in this next life I will make sure to watch my back..

"I've had it!" the voice both whispered and bellowed in a strange oxymoron that left my very soul paralysed.

"Huh?" the rage of people in management are often unpredictable, those with power lashing out with no regards to logic and reason are the scariest of all.

"Can't you souls get your acts together? You humans have strayed so far from the universal laws that I have given you, is it not so simple to follow Ten basic Commandments?!"

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honour thy father and thy mother.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's property.

The Commandments berate my soul as if a tsunami ground against its walls, despite not being raised in particularly religious household I pretty much knew most of them and what they were trying to convey. "Wait a minute, although I wouldn't say I'm the most moral I can safely say that I have for the most part followed them, no intentionally but still."

"Have you not derived pleasure from the thoughts of any of these? Just because you haven't committed them does not mean you aren't free of doubt." Hey, hey, hey it's not my fault I was programmed a certain way, just because I am partial to an FPS game and garner a certain amount of enjoyment from doesn't mean that I actively go out of my way to kill, I'm definitely no more bloodthirsty than the next guy.

"That is my greatest regret." Your greatest regret is that we have free will and rationality? Doesn't that seem unfair for you to put expectations upon us when you have a flaw in the foundation of your business model. I guess even a God can't help but push blame from himself onto something else.

"If you won't repent then I'll have no choice but to impose a fitting punishment upon you."

"Hold on a second, please just wait a moment!" While no adrenaline flowed through my non-existent body my rational mind screamed out in panic.

"Shut it!" wait, isn't a God supposed to be more mature than this? If you're claiming to be the supreme being, even if you're not doing a very good job at it, aren't you at the very least supposed to be at least more rational about it?

"I'm overworked by an untold Billions of souls and hear this exact same drivel on a secondly basis. You're driven by lust, lack faith and yet you try and turn this on me? It was your kind who wanted enlightenment and when I give it to you on a silver platter you throw it back in my face. It seems like animals you must experience such strife first-hand. If it is rationality that you so covet then I shall banish you to a place without rationality.

"Wait please, can we just talk about this some mo—"

Light.