Chapter Six: Part One
Winter falls and Summer springs
Can you see what the next year brings
To the future point your head
keep yourself from past's dread
It’s surprising how lonely you can be with two travelling companions. Once we got past the back end of the fence surrounding Dahmer's Barracks, we were back in the desert. As we travelled I told the Intern, and the Fuzzle if it understood, about myself. "My name is Ugai. I come from a small Meep ranch in a desolate part of central Mudos. One day a Mudokon I barely knew sacrificed himself to save my life. Ever since then I have I have recurring nightmares everyday... The nightmares urge me to seek a certain Mudokon, hopefully that will end the dreams."
The Intern nodded to sow me he was listening, the Fuzzle on the other hand hopped across the barren sand, chasing a bug. The Intern untied a necklace from his neck and handed it to me. At the necklace’s end was a black slog tag that in green text read: Venom
"Is your name Venom?" I asked.
Rather then answer, Venom grabbed his necklace putting it back on. The ex-slave cranked up the music on his Opod, the music coming out of his blue headphones was so loud I could easily hear every beat. Apparently that was the end of the conversation.
As the sun came back up we reached the end of the desert. The ground immediately changed from ever expanding sand to healthy green grass, with plants, trees, and moss covered rocks as far as the eye could see. We were entering a plains land, there was few hills and the land remained mostly flat. I couldn't help but stare at a near by Opple tree, it had been ages since I had eaten anything but spooce. Venom wasn't as intrigued as I was, but appeared to want different food as well. Darn Fuzzle at a different bug everyday, be it Meetle larvae or a sharp needle covered Hedgebug. Walking over to the tree, I got out of my pants and climbed up. I made sure to grip tightly with my yellow hands, a fall out of my pants could hurt. Even worse Venom would surely laugh at me for hours. Climbing over to the branches, I started prying off opples, watching as they fell to the ground with soft thuds. I climbed back down and into my pants. I grabbed an opple and was about to eat it when I noticed Venom staring at me.
"What?" I inquired.
Venom said nothing. I suppose I was the first Slig he had ever seen pant less. I was attempting to bite the opple again when suddenly I felt a sharp pain on the top of my head. I instinctively dropped the opple and grabbed my blunderbuss of my belt. A slight distance away a Mudokon not quite at his full grown height yelled, "Best ta leave that tree alone you filthy Industrials!" The Mudokon was armed with a slingshot and from the looks of it he knew how to use it. The Mudokon was obviously a native from the colorful red feathers and red cloth bracers he wore, especially the stylish orange loin cloth. Hoping to placate him I yelled back, "Were not harming the tree, just collecting opples!"
"Pffft, and Meeps fly."
I heard a loud whizzing sound as the young Mudokon barely missed shooting my head. I didn't want to shoot back, but I couldn't wait till the Mudokon killed me either. During my indecision the Mudokon shot at Venom, hitting the Intern's foot. The Intern let out a muffled scream while the Fuzzle laughed maleficently. Oddly the Mudokon started to run off, looking over his shoulder now and then to see if we were chasing him. Venom started running first, when I looked into his eyes I saw hatred so palpable I felt sorry for the Mudokon if he got caught. The Fuzzle and I ran after Venom, slowly catching up. The young Mudokon was faster then us, I never realized how nimble those Mudokons could be. I was giving it my all to catch up when Venom stepped onto some odd looking grass and spontaneously disappeared. I realized it was a trap hole that had been covered as I tumbled down it landing on top of Venom who moaned in pain.
"Sorry."
I stood up alongside Venom, there was no room for manoeuvring we were in a tight hole. The young Mudokon's head appeared as he peeked down the hole that was just deep enough to stop Venom from climbing out.
"This is what you Industrial punks deserve." The young Mudokon said. He spit on us and walked off.
"That kid has some real nerves don't you think?" I asked Venom. The Intern just closed his eyes not saying anything.
For hours I tried to to get out, but to no avail. I asked Venom to assist me but he just completely ignored me. After falling for the umpteenth time I saw a Fuzzle peek down at us. The Fuzzle disappeared as quickly as it had appeared then suddenly a new Mudokon was there. "Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah were okay, can you help us get out?"
"Sure."
A muscley green arm grabbed onto Venom's outstretched hand, picking him up first. I was pulled up second.
Finally free of the hole I got a good look of my saviour. He had a dark green complexion and was nicely muscled, he wore the average brown cloth around his waist but it was adorned with black feathers. The tall Mudokon offered his hand and said, "The name is Berathen, speaker of the Mudegasi tribe."
I shook his hand, which had a strong but gentle feel, "Ugai. The Intern's name is Venom and uh... not sure about the Fuzzle."
Berathen smiled warmly, "His name is Woulfgang, he found me just outside my village and begged for my help. He must really like you."
I looked at the Fuzzle... err, Woulfgang who was smiling widely, showing off his lethal teeth.
With his deep yet charismatic voice Berathen said, "I'm sorry about the Mudokon you met earlier... he doesn't get along with Industrials. Let me make it up to you; please follow me to the village. It’s not much but its home."
Venom looked as if he didn't trust the Mudokon, but I could just feel that Berathen was genuine. I nodded my head and we were off.
Berathen gave us a little back-story to the village as we walked, "Mudegasi village is the home of the once proud Mudegasi tribe. We with the assistance of our Elum friends were the best hunters of all Mudos... but that was before the Industrials came. It was either fight or surrender to their will; we are not a waring tribe. Now we are not even a shadow of our former selves... I do what I can for the village but I can't save the villagers from their own mistakes. Ever since we were introduced to the addictive substances by the nearby Clakker town, Eggboro, we have been forced by our addictions to work for them."
As we arrived at the village I immediately noticed how run down it was. Trash was littered everywhere, tents were filthy and uncared for, and all the nearby trees and plants were dying or dead. Worst of all in the centre of the town was a Brew vendor surrounded by a group of drunk, sick looking Mudokons and countless empty bottles. As we walked past them their loud moaning became unbearable. One of the sick Mudokons grabbed onto my legs, with a dizzy look he stared into my eyes.
"Hey friend," he exclaimed happily, "Got any moolah? I just need one more drink. Just one more!"
The Mudokon started shaking me violently as he chanted, "Just one more!"
I had a great urge to bash his face in, but with that nameless Mudokon on my mind I couldn't help but pity him. "Sorry, I don't have any moolah."
"Just one more!"
Berathen, embarrassed, ran over to me and forcibly removed the drunk from me. Looking down at the drunk with a sour expression on his face, Berathen said harshly unlike his normal kind self, "Rhzao! You know better then this!"
The drunken Rhzao looking at the ground replied, "Sorry Berathen..."
Berathen said nothing more to Rhzao, but lead us to his hut. It was small, barely fitting the three of us (four if you count Woulfgang). The only object in the hut was a rug made of many vibrant colors. We sat down when Berathen made a gesture to do so and we waited for what he had to say.
"Well you see," Berathen started seriously, "The Mudokon you met earlier is not a Mudegasi. His name is Doe and he may be the last free Mudanchee alive today." Berathen paused for a second closing his eyes so as to see the events in his mind, "On one of my many enlightening travels across Mudos I came across a battle scarred land, what I saw there haunts me to this day. Innumerable bodies littered the wet crimson ground. They were mostly Sligs, but I saw no Mudokon survivors either. Or so I thought. Just off to the side of the war torn ground was a Mudokon, far too young for battle, covered from head to toe in blood. The youngling was fervently digging graves for what looked like his entire tribe. I tried to stop him, but there was nothing that would surmount his over zealous feelings for his dead family. Instead I helped him dig graves for nearly three days, he never stopped to eat or rest. When he finally finished his duty the poor guy passed out. I took him to my village, before it was Industrialised, and cared for him. Sadly, the youngling was in a coma for two weeks before he awoke. Two years passed before he started to speak. He was traumatised as a child and was never able to cope with Industrials after that. I'm not asking you to forgive him, but please understand what he has gone through. Let me talk to him."
Venom shrugged nonchalantly as if none of this concerned him. Woulfgang looked as if he was about to erupt into tears. Sigh... sometimes I forget how cruel my race is.
I looked up to Berathen, "Don't worry, we understand."
Berathen smiled taking a more cheerful tone, "Thank you Ugai, Venom. I'll go speak with Doe now."
We all left the hut going our separate ways; Venom to Eggboro, Woulfgang chasing a glowing bug, and I decided to explore the village a bit longer. As I walked around I came across a long line of Mudokons starting from a small shack. "What’s going on?" I asked.
"Duh, the line is always like this on payday." A Mudokon near me answered. Hoping to get a better answer I walked over to the modest wooden shack. I watched as the Mudokon at the front of the line walked away with a small box of cigarettes. The Mudokon was shaking harshly as he put a cigarette on his lips trying to success to light it. Feeling bad for the guy, I walked over to him and asked "Need help?"
The shaking Mudokon eyed me untrustingly for a second, but his cravings over came his mistrust and he handed me his lighter. With ease I lighted the cig and handed back the lighter. As the Mudokon inhaled he immediately stopped shaking, but then the Mudokon started coughing loudly. He continued to cough as he fell to the ground holding himself up with both arms.
Startled I asked, "Are you ok?"
"Never better." He replied in a deep pained voice. Still coughing, he walked off. As I watched the Mudokon leave I heard, "Hey, Slig dude! C'mere, wanna make some easy moolah?"
I turned around to see a Mudokon behind the shack's counter beckoning for me. I walked to him and he led me behind the counter and to the strange room. "So whats up?" I asked.
The Mudokon answered, "It gets kind of crazy on pay day, these guys want these products so bad they are willing to fight just to move a few spots forward."
As the Mudokon talked I noticed the various products: Paramite Pies, Scrab cakes, Blitzpacker Brew, Glake-Gola, Lungbuster cigarettes and many other things.
"Why dont you crazily buy these things like the do?" I asked.
"I have yet to try any of it, I know that once I do I'll be addicted. However I have to be grateful for my race's addictive personalities. Anyways are you interested in the job?"
Slightly disgusted by this Mudokon, I passed up the job. "No thanks."
"Suit yourself."
I left the shack and started to head to Berathen's hut when I heard, "Hey buddy, you can’t just cut me like that!" I turned around to see the angry Mudokon pushing another.
The other replied, "I've been here the whole time, I don't know what your talking about."
"Oh don't play me. You best ta move, you got till three!"
"I don’t want any trouble."
"One... two..."
The angry Mudokon never got to three, but instead smacked the other Mudokon so hard he was knocked to the ground head first. The angry Mudokon began kicking the fallen one in the gut.
"Steal my spot will you!" He yelled.
Unable to sit by and wath another Mudokon get beat, I ran over to the angry one and tackled him down.
"Get off of me!" He yelled.
Physically stronger than me, he pushed me off of himself and got back up. The angry Mudokon kicked my face, hitting my mask. Though weakened, the kick still hurt, sending pain throughout my head. The enraged Mudokon was about to kick me again when someone got in his way.
"Get out of my.." He started to yell.
I looked up to see the Mdokon helping me was Berathen. Berathen just glared at the angry Mudokon who started to say, "Bera- then..Im sor.."
"Go." Berathen said calmly, yet sternly, pointing towards somewhere in the village. The previously angry Mudokon was about to say something but decided against it. Instead he needed Berathen and left. Berathen lowered himself over me, concern on his face and asked, "Ugai, are you okay?"
"Yes. I’m fine." I said, somewhat embarrassed that a Mudokon had just kicked my butt.
"What about you?" Berathen asked the beaten Mudokon.
"Thanks to him, I'm fine." He said, pointing to me.
Berathen sighed deeply, "How the Mudegasi have fallen... Ugai, if you need anything please ask me. However, there is something that needs my attention. Be careful, friend."
Berethen left and the fallen Mudokon and I got up.
"You have a gun. Why didn’t you shoot him?" The Mudokon asked.
"Did he really deserve to die?" I replied.
The Mudokon shook his head. "No." Then suddenly he smiled and offered his hand, saying, "Thanks for the help. You know you live in a crazy time when Mudokons are beating Mudokons and getting saved by Sligs. Anyways, I’m Doe's best friend, you're not as bad as he thinks. The name's Nat."
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