You should use doublespacing. It's the correct format and it's much easier to read, especially with dialogue. Singlespace is just annoying./end rant
Hubert's thoughts are awkward. Clearly there's info in there you want to convey, but no one would think that way. Subconciously you've put the narrator into his thoughts and it shows plainly. You could limit his thoughts to a line or two of suggestive material that leaves the reader with an idea of what you want to tell us. Or better yet you could use his actions along with spurts of thoughts to "show" us what you want us to know.
"The machinery that, currently, has his best friend strapped firmly into its mechanical grasp. He turned and stared, wide eyed and face pale, as the machine started to hum to life."
Change has his to had his. Wide eyed and pale or he paled and stared wide eyed.
Awesome ending to that scene. Aside from the issues above, I quite liked it. Your prose is much improved over the last chapter. Congrats.
"This one did nothing, he knew, but it was all for the show of things." -It's from his POV, we don't need he knew. We know because he knows...ya know?
"was hinged" is passive...lose the was and keep the rest.
The second part of the scene needs revision as some words are misspelled or over used (ex. realize). Also, it's a little disjoineted...having said that...I liked it and its keeping up the semi comic undertone while serious matters are occurring.
The Jobber scene is interesting, but in desperate need of revision. You have multiple tense changes, again overuse of similar words, and a bad habit of using two descriptors that mean the same thing for an action. I like the thick accent of the thicker man. Some might not like the accents, but I was able to read it and get a sense of his speech.
Good ending. THis chapter, IMO is leaps and bounds above the previous one. It still needs a lot of revision and I'm not sure how you're able to slip into present tense and Third Person Omniscient so easily, but outside of that it was well done.
Oh, and while I don't mind you might want to put an 'L' for use of the 'c' word.
