[dripik]

RG-49 reacted to Krik's words with slightly inclining his head. "Killing Arnie? That is very unlikely. First, this factory provides the largest percentage of Mudos' meat products. This fact is more significant from an Industrial point of view, since the Native population is generally herbivorous. Magog authorities don't usually remove their head figures and replace them with unexperienced Glukkons. If this place was left without a boss, production would surely cease and the Industrial population would be left without their much-prefered meat products." he said.

His fingers were twitching near his rifle's trigger when Krik suggested that he should dispose Gappiqu. "Very tempting idea, but I can't deactivate the life functions of workers without permisson." he said. "But I'm afraid I must take the Slig organic to the Executives. At the same time, I will try to talk to them about their methods of management." All the distraction and trouble from the past few hours was rather disturbing for him.

But he couldn't get to the 'capturing the Slig organic' part, because Gappiqu gave Krik a punch in the face and ran away from them. "All right, I was wondering if you would choose the hard way." he said, raising his rifle. He aimed at Gappiqu's pants while he was running, and pulled the trigger repeatedly.

Rick, who was coming out from his hiding place, retreated back to avoid a running Gappiqu and the bullets coming after him.


--------------------------------------

Arnie looked at the new Mudokon who looked rather excited to be there. "Of course, you can work here. I didn't get your name, though." He turned to Otto. "How come that every single worker forgets to introduce himself?"

"Must be the stories they heard about you." said Otto. Arnie raised an eyebrow. Otto continued. "They must be afraid you're not even real, being tolerant to the workers and all. I guess they are not used to that."

Arnie shook his head and turned back to the Mudokon. "So, got any special skills you can use here?"

He saw Slap typing again. "Uh, just one moment." he said to the Mudokon. He read what Slap has written. "Hey, you're the one with the 'reforming-Slig-attitude-with-philosophical-methods' idea, after all. What's this got to do with me? Do you think any of my employees is planning to kill me?" he said a bit angrily. Then he turned to Otto. "And I think you're the one who should listen to complaints and personal thoughts and what not. I made you Flak Clerk of this place, remember?"

"Oh, so you think I should wear a tattoo on my forehead with the text 'Glukkon Promoted To Listen To Your Problems', right?" asked Otto heatedly.

"I'm just saying that you should do your job!" replied Arnie.

"Seeing as you're the hardest-working Glukkon on the continent, right?" retorted Otto.

"I'm definately doing more for the factory than you!"

"Yeah, making a ComPhone call a day and watching the workers handle the rest must be really exhausting for you!" said Otto sarcastically.

#7 Slig was watching this like a Fuzzleball match, but he tried to interrupt. "Well, I don't want to be rude here..." he said uncertainly, seeing the Glukkons' faces. "...But I think you're both... uh, just... hanging around... yeah."

There was silence for a moment. #7 Slig prepared for the explosion, looking around for possible escape routes. Then, Arnie spoke. "I... Maybe you're right, #7." he said.

"I am?" asked #7 Slig, quite surprised.

"We should show more support for the workers than this." he said to Otto. "They must see us around themselves. No wonder they are not doing anything while we are sitting in our offices."

Otto was short on what to say, but he got the general picture. "I s'pose that could work."