[alf's brother's mate]

Hey everyone. Here is my first attempt to write an oddworld fan-fic, so please be gentle!
Structured critiscism welcome.


Chapter 1


Mulch had been loading brew venders for so long now, he felt like his hands were on the verge of either bleeding or snapping off. The green brew machine towered over him, nearly as much as the boxes piled high around him, filled with new packets of shimmering brew.
He sighed as a train whipped along the tracks above him, screeching along the rusted rails. The squeals and whines of the Feeco. depot would have made many flinch, but with four years of experience packed under his belt, the high pitched sounds of the railway tracks were just old news to mulch. He finished the penultimate row, then stacked up the empty boxes around him, before loading them into the back of a small transport cart.
Mulch was a factory born mudokon, and had been working as a vending loader since he had come of working age. The winding terminals and tunnels of the depot were now printed into his memory, as were most of the train times around middle mudos. Mulch had always worked hard, even though slavery was a misery for anyone, he was not too badly affected by it. He worked along terminal seven usually, so not many passers by or slig guards to come and beat him to a pulp (one of the reasons he did not envy his friend mikey, who even though worked on terminal one, where most interesting things happen, a broken arm and a fractured finger was not Mulchs' idea of working).
He finished the final box quicker than he was expecting, and with a long, heavy sigh of relief, he slammed the vender door, and twisted the snap lock on the side. The machine lit up, the display telling him that the machine was completley full, giving mulch a clear mind, knowing that no slig would beat him up for not filling the machine.
One would probably beat him up anyway, so he was more mindfull as to stay clear.
A second mudokon approached Mulch, slowly pushing a cart, loaded with brew bottles, and, to mulchs' great dissapointment, ANOTHER brew vender.
"Mulch, this needs moving to terminal six, aslik wants it taking to the barracks this evening."
Said the mudokon. Mulch frowned.
"Here mikey, i'll take it from here." He said calmly. Mikey gave a small twitch from the corner of his mouth which was effectivley a slave's smile. Mulch took the vender from him and pushed it slowly down the platform towards the door leading to terminal six. The wheels groaned under the weight of the vender and all of the brew loaded into the boxes packed into the cart. Mulch pushed it with all his might, moving the cart slowly down the tunnel lane towards terminal six.

The door of the vender swung open for mulch, and not for the first time in his four years, he began to pack up the vender, pushing the bottles further and further in untill no more would fit onto a certain line, then moving onto the next. Another train sailed across, headed, or returning from the brewery, due to the large sprayed emblem on the train head. Mulch looked at the vender, which was still pretty much empty. He held up a bottle to the light, and saw bubbles rising slowly to the top, making a little whisp of froth at the neck.
He stared into the green bottle for a few more seconds, invisioning its flavour. He shook his head quickly and returned to work, as a slig walked past, stopping only to clout Mulch on the back of the head. He fell to the floor, dizzy and weary. The slig laughed to itself, in its horrible mechanical cackle.
What happened next was most definatley the most important part of Mulch's life so far. He was suddenly consumed by anger, hatred and rage. Forgetting everything in the world for a split second, he turned and lashed the bottle at the slig, the meat of the glass catching him just on the side of the head. The glass smashed in half, but the initial blow had knocked the slig off balance, making him drop his gun. Mulch, snatched up the gun and smashed the slig repeatedly over the head with it, smacking and whipping the butt of the weapon across its face. It shouted only once, a loud curse which rung through Mulch's ears. He continued to strike the guard over and over, untill the slig was silent.
Mulch looked down at the slig, blood slowly spreading from a deep crack in its head. Glass was scattered across the floor, and the brew was seeping down the hallway. Mulchs' heart was beating like a native drum, and he was panting heavily.
The slig still didnt move.
Realisation of what he done hit him like a train, as Mulch slowly came to his senses, taking in his surroundings.
The slig made a low moaning sound, and began to pull itself sluggishly across the floor.
"I have to get out." Mulch said aloud suddenly. "I have to escape."
"Help!" Screamed the slig suddenly. "Help!" The noise was surprisingly loud, and Mulch knew that any minute now, security would be on their way. The slig went for a small red button rasied upon a metal platform, before bringing his hand heavily down onto it. A small bulb next to the button glowed red, and Mulch realised that it was too late, the slig had set off the alarm. Mulch looked around quickly, before dropping the gun and starting to run towards the main terminal.
"I have to escape!" He muttered to himself, "I have to escape..."