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I had to work last Sunday. Bummer. The Powers-That-Be had decided that it was high time for the company’s annual electrical power shutdown.

My company operates on a tight 24/7 schedule. Last Sunday was the only day in the year where the production lines stopped churning out the goods and everybody got to stay home. Well, almost everybody. You only got the day off if you are a production staff. Being one of the auxiliary staffs, I didn’t have such luxury. Instead, I had to spend half a day babysitting the IT infrastructure through this maintenance exercise. Quality time in pitch black darkness.

The facilities staffs carries out preventive maintenance of the factory’s electrical system every year. To prevent anyone from being involuntarily electrocuted while they are working, the electrical mains was switched off. The lack of electricity and lights gave the factory an eerie atmosphere. The whole place was dead silent without the usual hustle and bustle of workplace activities. I was glad to have my torchlight with me when venturing out on the factory floor. You’ll never know what is lurking in the shadows.

Walking alone through the dimly lit corridors reminds me of playing those first-person shooter games. Except that this was real life and I wasn’t armed. All I had to defend myself with was a lousy torchlight.

Where’s a double-barrel shotgun when you need it?