schi-fi-book-2020/gardening.md

# A tale of two people

Both people are rich and have prestigious positions in their companies.

## Person A

John lives in a penthouse. He as all the money he has ever wanted. He has people and robots to do his every bidding. When he sees the call for the need of people to travel to the stars he scoffs. I don't need to go. My life here is perfect and I'll never want for anything.

## Person B

Steve lives in a penthouse. He is a company man. He answers to an executive. He's in-charge of production. Steve likes to think he is in a position of power. He leads the entire company's microchip physical production line after all.

One day Steve's boss pulls him in and asks him to move to an asteroid where the company is setting up a mining headquarters. "Why do you need me there?" asks Steve.

"Because I need someone I can trust to run the mine." replies his boss. Even though this is not the real reason for the reassignment.

"Okay" was all Steve could say.

Steve began looking for a new job that very afternoon. There was no way he was going to leave his beautiful penthouse or position of political power.

Steve's boss calls him on the phone, "I see from your internet searches you've looked for available positions in our competitor's production. You do remember that all your devices traffic flow through the company's servers right? Why didn't you tell me you were upset about your new opportunity in the asteroid belt?"

Steve kicked himself for forgetting that the company had tabs on all its employee's internet searches.

"Uh... I uh... Well sir. I don't want to leave. My life here is good. And if there is any way for me to stay and still be employed I'd take that opportunity over the asteroid belt." Steve found himself replying. He didn't realize what he just committed too.

"Well Steve that is disappointing. I thought I could trust you. You seemed like you were a company man. Well, I took the opportunity to reassign your penthouse to the new head of production. She'll be taking your place once you leave... or once you accept reassignment. You do remember that penthouse was provided to you by the company don't you? The title was never in your name." Steve's boss spoke matter-of-factly as if he wasn't delivering the news that Steve's life had just ben yanked away from him.

Steve reeled.

"Wait, sir. I've been kicked out of the penthouse?" Steve asked.

"Why yes. Your things have been put into a storage pod where they will be preserved during the crossing to the asteroid belt." came the reply.

Steve realized that he had been kicked out of his home without a day's warning. He wasn't being sent to an asteroid because he was trusted by his boss. His boss was getting rid of an inconvenient employee. How could he do this to him? This is outrageous. There has to be something illegal about this.

"Just in case you are wondering if I have the authority to do this Steve. I have the company's lawyers on the line. Don't worry they will protect you if there comes a need." Steve's boss tried to reassure him.

Well that is just great. The company's lawyers couldn't possibly have Steve's best interests at heart. What could he do? He has no home and no where to go. His things are being sent billions of miles away... literally. He's out on the streets with nothing. Would going to the asteroid be as bad as staying? If there was a position offered him that would let him stay, there was no way it was as cushy as what he was used to. Well, it couldn't be as bad as going to space to live in a mine.

"Do you have any thing I can do here sir?", Steve asked his boss.

"Sure! We can put you to work on the assembly line. The pay wouldn't be enough to cover all the costs you've incurred the company to date. So you'd likely have to find some outside help to cover your living expenses. But I'm sure you'd be happy sticking around." The sarcasm was practically dripping out of Steve's boss's mouth.

"What is the job in the asteroid belt?" Steve was beginning to think maybe moving wouldn't be so bad... Maybe.

"I'm glad you asked. You'll be the magistrate of a tiny asteroid. You'll be expected to meet your quota and get your team in shape." Steve's boss seemed pleased to hear Steve ask about his original plan.

Steve, being the not-so-humble person he was really liked the idea that he might have his own team to control on his own mini-planet... er... asteroid. This has to be a stepping stone to executive leadership. Aren't all executives forced to solve problems on their own in order to learn the great leadership skills? This was Steve's opportunity to go to 'executive school' as it were.

"I'll take the job. When do I ship out?" Steve said confident in his future, completely forgetting just how trapped he was a moment ago.

"Well that was a quick turn around Steve. You and your things leave tonight and should arrive at your asteroid in one and a half year's time. We will add your living expenses to your balance with the company. Good luck Steve." The phone disconnected.

Steve didn't know how to feel. Could he really be going to learn how to be an executive? Was his gaff of searching for new positions forgotten so easily? Why did his boss only find lame jobs here? Didn't he appreciate his genius work? What was this asteroid he was going to? How big was his team going to be? How was he ever going to get out of debt to the company for all the living expenses for this entire trip? How long will the trip be?

Little did Steve know that his pay will never cover the living and travel expenses of this trip to the asteroid. His team is a army of little robots built for mining. Supplies for him will only keep coming if he is meeting his quota. Steve's boss was kicking him out because he became inconvenient politically and needed to be replaced by a woman in order to please the lawyers, the lobbyists and the share holders. Steve will never get the executive training he was hoping for.