Activation Day

"Did you hear?"  One of the Electricals whispered, bringing a hand up to the thick monitor that sat between their shoulders.  As absurd as it sounds, it looked almost like it were a human whispering to their companion, especially given that their vocal box seemed to drop down in volume.  Their comrade was taller, more masculine in appearance, with it's shoulders and microphone-like head turned to face their peer. "About?"  It 'whispered' back, though louder. "Activation Day's coming up.  Sounds like there's gunna be five new ones."  The tone in the monitor-head's voice seemed oddly distressed, as did the microphone-head's posture.  Or it would have, if either of them were capable of emotions.  Obviously they weren't, especially if they couldn't tell that they were supposed to be happy.  Activation Day meant more of their kind littering the streets, after all.

History

The celebrations of the Electrical's Activation Day is a fairly recent development in Skyline, starting within the last fifty to eighty years.  Before its conception by Speaker's Council, the creation and activation of new Electricals was a generally unceremonious affair, where they were simply turned on and sent to their designated housing.  It was Nathaniel Prescott, one of the then highest ranking members of the City Planning Committee, who first rallied for the Electricals to have their Activation Day documented, and treated almost like a real human's birthday.  When it was finally implemented, it was decided that instead of activating the city's servants as they were ready, they would be activated in batches on the 10th day of the month, once enough of them had been made to justify the 'celebration'.

Execution

In the early morning of a designated Activation Day, all of soon to be activated Electricals are brought to a stage in the middle of the Electrical District of the Outer Ring.  There they are placed in a standing position while members of the City Planning Committee finish any necessary testing and preparations.  During this time, all Electricals who are not assigned work at the time of the celebration are expected to gather, as well as the members of the CPC.  While the rest of the human residents from the three Rings of the city are invited to witness the event as well, it's rare that any more than a handful will make an appearance.
Near the beginning of the second work shift of the day, the CPC members will finally start the activation process.  While the new Electricals are booting up, the highest ranking member of the CPC will step forward to give a speech.  While each one is different, depending on the circumstances, number of Electricals being activated, and the Planner himself, several key points are always brought up: reminding the newly activated additions to the city that this is their home, the expectations put on them to work for their home and to protect it, and a reminder that as humanoid as they may be, they are still a gift to the actual human residents of Skyline, and to tread with as much caution as they have been programmed with.
After the speech is a small 'naming ceremony', where each new Electrical is brought up to the front of the stage so those in attendance can see them, their Batch Number and designated purpose is announced, and a 'humanized name' is given to them to make them more 'likable' to the humans.  Once this has been completed, it is expected that the previously activated Electricals will cheer on the newest additions to their numbers, and they are whisked off to be assigned an apartment and roommates as quickly as possible.

Participants

The City Planning Committee - As the makers of the Electricals, it is their job to organize the celebration, as well as prepare the new creations for their introduction into the world at large.  They are tasked with ensuring that there will be no issues during the activation process, as well as making sure that as many Electricals as possible are in attendance.
The Head Engineer - Officially the highest ranking member of the City Planning Committee, it is his responsibility to move the celebration along at a steady pace, so that it interferes with everyone else's work day as little as possible.  He is also the one designated to make the welcome speech.
Electricals - Robot-like artificial servants of Skyline, they are the ones being treated to a celebration of their activation, as well as the ones expected to fill the audience.

Primary Related Location

Skyline