Well, after the longest break since I revived my fic, I bring you a new chapter. The ball's rolling now though, so expect the regular updates again. But for now, Chapter 23 in the story, a chapter that I have known what would be in it ever since I began the story, a chapter where it all starts on that final sprint towards the end hurdle.
Chapter 23: The End?
Metal crashed against metal, the echo resounding around the small cuboid room. Closed eyes slid open, a slumped head rolled up. More cangs as artificial feet trudged across filthy flooring. The scrape of a chair being pulled back, the soft thud of a body entering it.
Trevor looked across at the Slig who had sat down in front of him. The Slig lit up a cigar and took a deep drag, before blowing the smoke in Trevor’s face. With his hands shackled behind his back to the seat, Trevor was unable to cover his eyes, and got both an eye and lung full of the foul smoke. He was not too proud to cough and splutter.
“Mud, have you heard of me?”
Trevor regarded the cigar-puffing obscenity in front of him. “I don’t know your name yet, so how can I have heard of you?”
That remark earned him a hard slap round the head, and he yelped in pain.
“Don’t get cheeky, ya fucker. My name’s Merrick. I’m head o’ security, an generally thought of as quite a nice guy. Heard of me now?”
Trevor’s brain flashed a warning signal, the name was indeed familiar.
‘Gotta tread careful here. This guy’s a shark.’ he nodded respectfully “Yeah, I’ve heard of you sir.”
Another blow around the noggin. “Ha! You’re a mutineer, not an employee anymore! I ain’t sir now, I ain’t yer boss dumbass.”
Trevor’s mind was telling him to be quiet, but at the same time, he figured the more he could aggravate the Slig, the less likely he would force anything out of Trevor. “So why are you interrogating me if you have no authority not?”
A third strike, which did indeed almost put Trevor out. “Enough cheek! Like I said, I’m a nice guy. I’ll accept yer mouth, an I’ll just smack ya in it when ya get cocky. But….well, there’s other Sligs as would ram a rifle down yer gullet an’ pull the trigger fer that. But they ain’t here, I tell ‘em what to do, an’ they only come when I say. They don’ have the brains ta understand delicate matters. Want me ta bring em in?”
Trevor just remained silent and tight lipped.
“Heh, I thought not. So then, if ya still want it nice, there’s just a coupla matters we have ya here for. We know that the guy you claim ta ‘ave possessed is a repeat offender named Larry. We know all the details about yer little plan, we know that the little production line riot was your doin, so we ain’t takin’ strict punishment against none of the muds except the one what was in on it. We just need ta know 2 things, the names of yer 2 other buddies. The one that caused the riot, and the fourth guy.”
Trevor’s mind was reeling in shock.
‘How do they know? Who told them?!’ “How do you know all about it?”
Merrick cracked a grin, took another drag from his cigarette, and blew the smoke out before speaking “Well, one of yer pals was a bit free-speakin’ with his uh, information on yer plan. We figure that that guy was one of the ones in on it, but we need the name. As fer the riot, well, it was too convenient ta be coincidence, an’ nobody ever said that my Sligs can’t even put 2 an’ 2 together. It’s just bigger numbers they have trouble with. The boss got told straight away, he’s got a few ideas cooked up fer you.”
Trevor sighed, and closed his eyes, thinking deeply.
‘They don’t know it was Max and Jeff. If this was Larry, I bet he’d blame Roy and Stan, just so we had some outside guys. And it is almost appealing, but the thought of Max and Jeff organising breakouts sounds worse. They’d be able to find out the names sooner or later, asking round or checking cameras would let them know who I stick with.’
“Suppose I don’t tell you. What then?”
Merrick grinned again “We check stuff an' ask around. We’ll find em. But in the short term, I introduce you ta the nasty bunch. You’d be beggin fer the execution ta be put forward when they’re done.”
Trevor nodded inwardly.
‘Figured as much.’ “Suppose I do tell you? What then?”
Merrick ground his cigar stub into the flat of the table in between prisoner and interrogator. “They go inta solitary. We question them, find out more from them. They won’t get executed, at least, not if yer story gets corroborated. If it don’t, well, you all get the death sentence.”
Trevor gulped.
‘Shit. We never arranged a worst case backup. I hope to Odd they keep quiet.'
“Well them, it that case I may as well give you their names. Max and Jeff. Max is the big and often angry guy who started the riot. Jeff was just an accessory, a buddy we roped in to just wheel stuff about. Not really integral to the plan, just someone we could trust.”
Merrick nodded “Surprised ya didn’t say he was the fall guy. I would’ve. Still, if you can’t keep yer stories straight, he’ll get the chop in public anyway.”
Trevor jolted in confusion “Public? But the executions are kept out of the way for morale! For factory efficiency too.”
Merrick nodded menacingly “Indeed they were. But a lil Slig came ta me earlier today an’ explained that a former friend of yours had put in the word for it to be public an classic style, ta save on Slig labour an’ ta make an example. I thought it were a good idea, so I tol’ the boss, an’ he agreed.”
Trevor’s eyes widened more “Who was it? Was it Stan? Roy?”
Merrick looked offput “I have no idea who them too bastards are. It was a guy who’s been getting’ quite a bit of attention lately. From what I can tell, his name’s Arthur.” A predatory grin spread across his visage like blood through water, and both were equal indicators that a shark, or at least would soon be present.
“What? Arthur? What?!” The incarcerated figure of Trevor was unsure what to say.
Merrick stood up. “But now that I have what I came for, I’ll leave yer ta contemplate yer fate. Here’s a partin’ gift.” Merrick flicked the cigarette stub into Trevor’s lap, before swinging the butt of his truncheon into the Shaman’s jaw. The force toppled the chair over, and Trevor lay stuck manacled to the chair; fallen to the floor. Merrick laughed, and slammed the bleak door shut, plunging Trevor back into loneliness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arthur walked through the Barracks, his usual world weariness absent. Though the lunch hour was not yet over for Sligs, the Barracks were surprisingly empty. A couple of Sligs here and there, a circle round a table playing poker, a pair in the corner mumbling and glancing at the door every so often; exchanging Moolah for some paraphernalia resembling a certain medical instrument.
Arthur sighed and walked through, before a recently-made-familiar face bounced in front of him.
“Ah! Arthur!”
“Oh. Hi Neal.”
Neal grinned a mystifying, inquisitive smirk. “Yer old buddy Lak wants ta see ya. Says it’s important, about a chat ya had this mornin’.”
Arthur nodded, recognising something wrong about this. “Alright. Where’s the tosser wanna meet me?”
Neal laughed “Ha! Tosser indeed. He wants ta talk ta ya over on the upper corridor of Zulag 3, by the storage sector. Quite why, I dunno. But he says ta go alone.”
Arthur nodded “He does, does he? I trust he’ll be alone too then. His shoeshinin’ cronies won’t be there?”
Neal’s smirk remained affixed “Nah. They’re stuffin theyselves in the Cafeteria. Ye’ll be all alone. No uh, secret you’re keepin in yer closet that ya wanna tell me, is there?”
Arthur walked past him “Shut the hell up, Neal. Thanks fer tellin’ me.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Minutes later
Arthur walked onto the deserted corridor. Lunch was still ongoing, and there was nobody around. He had passed barely 3 Sligs, and a single Intern heading back to the medical area, on his way to the Zulag. Once he arrived, he saw Lak was already waiting for him, and looking nervous. Lak was staring out of a large, nearly wall-high tinted window overlooking a section of the factory, specifically the stockyards that the 2 had inhabited hours earlier. Lak turned upon Arthur’s arrival.
“So I see ya got the message. Good.”
Arthur nodded, stepping closer to Lak. “We arranged fer you ta find me after lunch. Zulag 6 I said. You deaf or just got a crap memory?”
Lak shook his head nervously “Nah I, um, I figured. Since it’s lunch, an I got it all done already, I might as well inform yer now, save doin it later.”
“Why did ya wanna meet here anyway?” Arthur inquired, not having quite shook the unease.
Lak smiled tensely “Well, apart from it beein’ a nice neutral ground, away from anybody, this is one of the only places without cameras. We don’ want any of the bosses thinkin’ we’re plottin anything like they did with you an Mikey, eh?”
Arthur sighed, and rubbed his chin. “Make it quick Lak. I want ta go back ta the Barracks fer a drink before lunch is over.”
Another worried nod from Lak, who was looking apprehensive and jittery.
‘Most unlike him. I musta given him the shits.’ Arthur thought.
“Yeah, ok. I’ve done what ya said. I’ve tol’ Merrick an’ a couple others that well, you’re a decent Slig an it musta been a mistake what happened with Mikey. I’ve put in the word about public executions rather than us havin’ ta do it too, mentionin’ it were on your behalf.” Lak stepped closer, within arm’s reach of Arthur.
“But there’s uh, one thing I ain’t got round ta doin’ yet. Puttin in a transfer request ta Rasputin. I was thinkin’” Suddenly, all the fear evaporated from Lak’s demeanour faster than a thunderbolt, and he slunk an arm round Arthur’s shoulders, both of them looking out through the window. “Maybe you could uh, go along with me. Help me explain my cause. Fill in any blanks, in case I ferget ta say summat, ya know?”
Arthur looked at Lak, eyes meeting “Heh, well, I dunno. You’ve never had a bad memory before have ya?”
Lak smiled, half-dementedly, half with genuine mirth “Nah, but being around ya lately has seem ta have done that ta me. I think I need ya ta come with me, or my brain might wander!”
Arthur grinned openly, the amusement in his eyes dancing a merry jig, masking the menace “Haha! Yeah! That way you can backtrack an’ wheedle an’ connive an’ try ta betray me again like ya were going to this mornin’!”
Lak started laughing openly “Hehehaha! I know! Great isn’t it? So I think you should come along with me then, Arthur!” The arm around Arthur’s shoulders tensed, applying a it more force.
Arthur broke into cackles too, and slipped an arm to Lak’s waist and lower back, almost hugging the other Slig in a friendly embrace. “Ha! That sounds like it could be interesting! Heheh! But unfortunately, it’s not fer me. You go on yer own, I’ll just stick around the Barracks an, heehee, ya can tell me how it went after!”
Lak continued laughing “Well, haha, I don’t really feel like goin’ on my own. You’ve got more experience of speakin’ ta those guys the way you’ve, heheheh, been lately! So I’d feel happier with your company!”
Arthur patted Lak forcefully with the arm wrapped round him, before reapplying the grip. “Haha! Well, on one hand I’d like to come Lak, but I do have ta get back ta work soon. So it’s really not possible fer me ta take that journey with ya. Heheh, I’m sure you can make that trip just fine though.”
Arthur smiled broadly, at an equally cheery Lak. “Goodbye Lak.”
As Lak’s arm tensed again, Arthur ducked down low, forcing Lak’s arm up over Arthur’s shoulders and in front of him. With an arm still around Lak, Arthur drove forwards, forcing the other Slig forwards and through the window. A cry of astonished terror mingled with the shatter of glass, and the cry was quickly cut off as the body it emanated from fell past the point of hearing.
Arthur had already turned on his heel before Lak had fallen from view.
‘Must think I’m stupid, with that camera stuff. Nothin’ more than a dumb little bully, an now he’s even less than that.'
Arthur walked briskly from the corridor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Larry looked around, wide eyed, ready to leap and run, before Max and Jeff entered his field of view. He sat up. “What in Odd’s name happened?”
Max looked uneasy, Jeff equally unsettled. It was the latter who spoke first “We were betrayed, somehow, I think. No way could they have known what we were planning.”
Larry nodded, a recollection flitting back into his mind “The Sligs that came in called out mine and Trevor’s names, so they must-“
He paused “Trevor!!”
Larry jumped up, only to be borne against the wall by Max, subduing him.
“Larry! Larry! Stop!”
“Where’s Trevor! I’ve gotta help him! It’s my fault he got into that mess!!”
“Larry, STOP! You can’t help Trevor!!”
Larry ceased his struggles, and looked at Max. “What do you mean?”
Jeff sighed, and walked forward. The usually carefree and oblivious soul was surprisingly informed, almost unnervingly so considering his normal state. “Trevor must have knocked you out. They’ve locked him up, awaiting execution. He’s done himself in to keep you out.”
Larry shook his head, before grasping his skull with both hands and sliding down the wall, hysterical in despair “No! That’s not what I wanted to happen! Why’ve they got him and not me!?”
Max knelt down. He was also uncharacteristically calm, no rage present. “We…overheard the patrol that brought him out of the train. We heard them saying that Trevor claimed he’d….overpowered his suppressive chains ages back….and that for all your escape attempts, he’s been possessing you.”
The green mutineer couldn’t take it in. “What? They bought that?! And why would he say that?”
Another sigh came from Jeff “He said it to save ya, Larry. And we think they believed it, yes.”
Larry was still frantic in his shock. “But-but why didn’t they arrest me too?”
An ominous look crossed Max’s face, a look of sheer lack of knowledge. “We have no idea. They brought you out and were gonna take you, but then their leader paused, listening to something on his mask radio. Then he told them to chuck you in here. We don’t get it.”
Larry, much as the other 2, wracked his brains for an answer, a hint, a clue, anything. But as he did so, some of his friends’ earliest words upon him regaining consciousness came back to him. “Who betrayed us?”
The 2 of them again looked queasy. Max and Jeff exchanged glances.
“Tell me! Who betrayed us!!?”
As he spoke, the door to the mud chambers opened behind Max. 6 of the masked guard-force strode in and over to the 3 friends. 2 clamped arms on each of the mudokons, hauling them up and marching them out. A Slig muttered “Yer off ta solitary. A certain special someone wants ta speak ta each of ya.”
But the words fell on deaf ears, as Larry frantically looked across to Jeff and Max. “Who betrayed us!?” But they both wore pained expressions, and were unwilling to shout the answer Larry craved across a crowded room ,before the security.
“WHO BETRAYED US!!!??”
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Well, at last a part that's been waiting for 3 years has fallen into place. Read, reply, review, criticize, encourage, correct, comment, do whatever. Just don't ignore it!
keep it up!
I miss nice-Arthur!
this story is now one of my favorite fanfictions at this forum (together with 2 others)
...so much for "criticism" 
