After a few weeks of silence (which was caused mainly by the exams and my vacation last week), here's chapter 3. Loads of dialogues in this one.
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Chapter 3 – Gearing Up For Work
Logger suddenly woke up. He didn’t know what time it was. The room was dark, but that wasn’t a surprise, since there were no windows. He was still lying in his bunk, his laptop at his left. He looked around in the darkness – his visors allowed him to do that efficiently – but he couldn’t see anyone else there. So Smokey was still out, his bunk still empty.
Before he fell asleep, Logger wondered if he could fall asleep with all the rumbling coming from the lower levels. The metal walls transmitted the noise to every part of the factory. Work hours must have been long for the Mudokons, and therefore for the Sligs who supervised the laborers. Then Logger remembered that he got into bunk relatively early, so it wasn’t a big wonder that there was so much activity.
He heard a noise from the workshop which sounded like metal sliding over metal. Then voices, some coughing and finally the same noise from the room’s door – it slid open, revealing a Slig. He wore a single-eyepieced visor mask instead of the two-eyepieced version most Sligs, like Logger used. He was carrying a battered gun, which hit his ancient-looking pants as he made his way into the room, after closing the door behind him.
Logger pretended to be sleeping. He was sure that Phyl told Smokey that he was in the room, but still, he didn’t feel like jumping at an unsuspecting yet armed Slig from his bunk. Instead, he watched Smokey’s progress. The Slig – as Phyl pointed out earlier – was rather old, but he didn’t look too skinny or weak. Surely, the years must have made him tough. He was one of the oldest Sligs Logger has ever seen, including some of the officers at training. His pace was rather slow. Logger couldn’t tell if that was on purpose, because of the aging pants or just him being old.
Smokey leant his gun against the wall, next to a container. He walked to the sink, grabbed a cup and and filled it with water. After a violent set of coughs, he gulped the water at one go. He replaced the cup on its tray and set off to bed. Smokey got out of his pants and crawled into his bunk. After some more coughing, he settled down, turning around to face his pants.
Logger could only see his back now. The old Slig seemed to be sleeping in a few seconds, breathing steadily. Logger wondered how long has Smokey been working in Rupture Farms. He hoped he won’t have to spend his whole life in a meat plant, though he didn’t know much of the place then. Thinking about the guard duty he must fulfil the next day, he slowly fell asleep.
The next day, Logger was waken by some sort of knocking coming from his right. He opened his eyes and looked there, seeing the end of a gun on the floor. Smokey was standing next to him, with a cup in his hand and his gun in the other. „Drink this, then get working.” said Smokey, placing the cup on the floor and made his way towards the door.
„Hey, wait!” called Logger after him, scrambling out from his bunk. „Can I ask you some…” But Smokey was already gone. Logger stood there for a second. He expected the experienced Slig to tell him about the everyday life in the factory, the different areas, the workforce, even some of the Executives… Then he remembered that he was supposed to get to the Cafeteria on level 2. He reached towards the cup on the floor. It was hot to the touch, and it seemed to be some coffee-like substance. He drank it and placed the empty cup in the sink. The coffee brought him to his senses, ready to start the day. He walked out from the room.
The workshop looked much like yesterday. Phyl was sitting on the same chair, reading some papers while drinking a cup of coffee. When he heard Logger coming, he looked up. „Morning, Logger. I hope you could get some sleep.”
„Yeah, it was better than I expected.” said Logger. Phyl grinned.
„Good. Now, Smokey already left, I don’t know if he gave you some details of what to do.”
„No, not really. Ain’t I supposed to have a gun or something?”
„Yeah, getting a gun is a good start, especially when you’re a guard. Check the Armory at the end of the corridor, you can get one there.”
„I’ll do that. Thanks, Phyl.” said Logger.
„Later then.” Said Phyl, returning to his papers.
Logger left the workshop and closed the door behind him. The corridor was the same as yesterday, except that there were some people around. An unarmed Slig was pushing a trolley along the corridor to the right, passing a few cups into each room. He must have been the one who brought their coffee. Logger turned left and saw a door at the end of the hallway. He made his way towards it, occasionaly looking throught some of the open doors. Sligs were getting ready to work, carrying guns and backpacks, adjusting their masks and pants, drinking their coffee or smoking. These rooms were very much like the workshop: tools and machinery everywhere, accompanied by junk and spare parts.
Logger met a Slig coming out from one of the rooms. He approached him. „Morning. That room at the end is the Armory, right?”
The Slig stopped, looked at the door and answered. „Yup. Guns, gear, ammunition… Anything you need. For a certain price, of course.” he added.
Logger swallowed hard when he heard this. The Slig must have noticed this and laughed. „Short on cash, yes? It happens, fella. You shouldn’t put gambling before gear.”
„Uh, it’s nothing to do with gambling. This is my first job, you see.” said Logger.
„Oh. Well, the guys at Security are not stupid. They know that a guard without a gun might as well join the cleaning crew. They will find you a gun you can pay for. The Armory has a good selection of firearms. You can try bargaining, but it only works when you’re buying something they want to get rid of.”
„I see. Thanks for the help.” said Logger.
„No problem. And, as a word of advice, some Sligs here don’t take new guys too well. You know what I mean, right?” said the Slig, lowering his voice.
„Only too well.” sighed Logger, and glanced at the opening with the catwalk he crossed yesterday.
The Slig noticed this. „You met Mockle out there, at the catwalk? Well, he’s a good example of what I mean. You better not show that you’re new here.”
„Good idea. I won’t keep you now. Later.” Said Logger, heading to the Armory.
„See ya.” Said the Slig, joining some others who were going in the opposite direction.
Logger arrived to the end of the corridor. It was less littered, but he still saw a few empty cartridges and ammo clips on the ground. At least it proved that he was at the right place. He opened the door and entered the Armory. It gave the impression of a well-kept storeroom, with multiple rows of shelves, each holding all kinds of weapons, Slig gear and other devices. There were two Sligs in the room. The first was sitting behind a metal desk in the corner to the right. He was wearing good quality pants and mask, showing that he was leading the place. The Slig was looking at the screen of his computer on the table, then he noticed Logger. He beckoned him to come over.
„What do you want, kid?” His voice told Logger that he’s speaking with an older Slig, though not as old as Smokey.
„Hey there. I’d like to get some kind of gun.” said Logger.
„Sure thing. ID number?” asked the Slig, turning to his screen again.
„1008-0065.” said Logger. The Slig pressed a few keys, read a few lines on the screen, then turned back to Logger, getting out of his seat. „Allright then, come this way.”
They approached the metal shelves, which were lit by built-in lamps. They stopped at the middle of the aisle they were in. The Slig clapped his hands together. „So, what would it be? Shotgun? Carbine? Assault rifle?” He pointed at the different guns stored on the shelves. „The cost might be high for these, but it’s worth it, let me tell you.” He reminded Logger of the businessmen he saw previously. When it comes to selling, they immediately move into action.
„Well, actually, I’m looking for something under the price of…” Logger broke off for a moment when he saw the cost of an expensive long rifle next to him. „…One hundred Moolah.”
„One hundred?!” asked the Slig disbelievingly, then pushed Logger out of the way, making his way back towards his desk. „Talk to my assistant, I don’t have time for small deals.”
„Thanks.” Logger called after him scornfully. He looked around, trying to figure out where the mentioned assistant was. He walked to the end of the aisle, and looked down on the neighbouring ones, but he didn’t see anyone.
„Logger?” a voice asked from behind. Logger span around and saw a Slig standing there, with a thin cleaning instrument in his hand.
„Uh, yeah. How do you know my name?”
„Me Spatch, remember?” said the Slig.
„Oh, sorry. I didn’t recognise you.” said Logger. „You’re looking for a gun, too?”
„Gun to wield, no. Gun to clean, yes. I’m assistant here, helping Barge with business.”
„I see.” Said Logger. He figured that Spatch’s only duty was to clean the guns, and not to take part in the business itself. „Anyways, your boss told me to look for you. I’d like a cheap gun, preferably under one hundred.”
„Barge likes no small cred, cares for good deals only, he said. Come, I show some guns for you.”
Logger followed Spatch among the shelves until they arrived to a corner where some low class shotguns and pistols were stored. Most of them were a bit rusty and battered.
„This place deals with used guns too, then?” asked Logger.
„There some used weapons, yes. But not all. Barge proud of good guns, he thinks them as trophies, things to collect. That why prices high for them.” said Logger, picking up a pistol from the shelf and started cleaning it. „Check guns, take to Barge what you like, you pay there.”
„OK. Thanks, Spatch.” Said Logger, checking the weapons on the shelves. He examined some of them, picking them up and aiming at different points in the room. He decided to buy a pistol in the end, since he needed ammo too, which would also cost him some Moolah. He picked up two ammo clips for the pistol and walked back to Barge’s desk. The Slig watched him as Logger placed the items on the metal desk. Barge checked the pistol. „A Mergson-80 automatic pistol, used, 73 Moolah. And two clips, 8 Moolah each. That’s 89 Moolah.”
Logger opened a compartment on his pants, and pulled out a few bills and coins. He gave the money to Barge, then recovered his new pistol and the clips from the table. Barge put the Moolah in a metal box which was on the shelf behind him. Logger left the room without saying anything to Barge. The business Slig did the same.
Outside, Logger loaded one of the ammo clips into the pistol, pulled the slideback of the gun and put the other clip into a holding compartment of his pants. He looked at the pistol again. The name ’Mergson’ was indeed imprinted on the handle. It looked a bit old, but it seemed to function. Of course, he will find that out the first time he shot with the pistol. With that, he set off to his guard post.
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