The Marching Mudokons

[TheKhanzumer]

I have decided to make this topic simply so that I will have something to post in when General Discussion is boring. It will be a collection of short little pieces of literary art about Oddworld. I got the idea from Chris the Slig's short story page. It will mainly focus on Zero, a mudokon, and his adventures with Abe's Marching Mudokons. Hopefully this will be entertaining for you.


Part One:

His name is Zero. Well technically he dosn't have a legal name, just like all the other mudokon slaves, but his fellow employees took to calling him that. Zero, a nothing, never to amount to anything. And so he has lived his life for eleven years. Never being raised above his original position at the Scrab Kennels of Rupture Farms, he has lived his entire life scrubbing blood stains from the floor. But, sadly, he has grown to enjoy his work. Manaul labor is Zero's true calling in life. He dosn't have ambitions, his black-and white striped loinclothe and washrag are all he needs in order to find happiness in the sadistic realm that is Oddworld. But unbeknowest to Zero fate has decided that he is destined for great things. Destiny works in odd ways.

[oddling]

Cewl!!! Wright some more.

Oddling l:c l

[TheKhanzumer]

Part Two:

Zero looked into the sky as he delicately picked a bit of rotting flesh from the bottom of his large foot. He breifly wondered why the craters moon were shaped like his paw but this thought was dismissed as he tossed it into the trash bag hanging from his back. When he was young and unapprieciative of his great job he had once asked a slig the same question and had been answered with an insult and sever beating. Thinking only got Zero in trouble, asking questions got him in worse. He continued on to pick up a crumpled ScrabCake wrapper which had been tossed in by a passing careless intern.

[kleeng]

Man just his name is already cool

ZERO it says it all.

Two thumb's up for this fic.

[Oddsville]

Come-on, this is very good, I wanna hear more!

[oddling]

Yah me too!!!! More!!!! Hey can someone read my story Pina colada rising? It has a stupid name that i wanna change but i don't know how!!!!!! It's a comedy and uhhhh okay i'll shut up.

Oddling l:c l

[TheKhanzumer]

Wow, I'm shocked you have actually enjoyed it so far. It seems a little boring to me right now since I'm just developing his character. If you like it now wait till stuff starts happening!
By the way, if any artist out there would like to illustrate my story go ahead. I will right more soon but right now I don't have time.

[TheKhanzumer]

Part Three:

Siggs, the slig security guard looked down at the detestable scrub. He looked like all the others. Same grey-green skin (stinted red becuase of the blasted mask he was forced to wear), same bloodshot eyes, same ridiculously large hands and feet. Siggs hated mudokons. The slaves slacked off during their work and the wild ones were religious creeps. But this particular mud was different. He not only did what he was told, but he did extra. When Siggs realized that this scrub actually enjoyed his menial tasks he had jumped at the oppurtunity and had quickly made the chump his personal servant. The wuss would do anything to make others happy. What a bastich...

Siggs sighed and tossed his Lungbuster cigarette into the scrab pen. The mud hated it when he did that because he said it was harmful to the creatures in the kennel. Who cares, he thought, they are going to be eaten anyways.

Zero looked up at the slig standing on the walkway above him and to his left. He watched as the guard tossed something into the kennel he was about to clean. Zero set down his bucket of water and his mop and began his difficult task of herding the scrabs into their small, temporary pen so that he could clean up. He pulled a chunk of raw meat from a sack and tossed it at the creature.

[TheKhanzumer]

Part Four:

Zero set down the scab-prod* and finished locking the holding pen. He turned around and walked over to his bucket and mob, anxious to get to work. Suddenly it started to rain. The slig swore and ran off to the nearest shelter. Zero ignored the stinging of the acid rain and began to work. Oh well, he thought, at least the floor will get washed off sooner.

The scrab began to hop up in down in agitation. The painful rain bothered the alpha male and he began to shreek and caw. It's scarred orange skin began to take on a redish hue and it prepared for what many call it's shred power.

The rain began to let up as Zero scrubbed the dried stains of feces from under the overhang that the slig guard had been standing on. He thought he heard a faint tapping coming in his direction but dismessed, probably something dripping. Suddenly a high-pitched skreech exploded in his ears and before he had time to react a razor-sharp beak came tearing down at his face. Blood clouded his eyes and fear clouded his mind. How had the scrab gotten out? Zero crawled in a feable attempt to save himself, but the creature dove at him again, shredding off a chunk of his hand. Zero turned and looked up at the furious scrab as it stood up on its hind legs and prepared to deliver the killing blow. Suddenly the it burst into steaming bits of flesh and gore.

"Keep workin' you piece of crap, I always thought there was somethin' fishy about ya. I'll show you for tryin' ta set the scrab on me" yelled Zero's slig savior as he beat him across the back with his brand new machinegun. Between blows Zero scrubbed his own blood off of the ground. He didn't bother telling Siggs that the scrab had gotten out of it's cage by itself.


*Scrab-prods are essentially longer versions of the devices weilded by intern shock-rockers. They are used to herd scrabs at a safe distance, their ends giving a painful shock to any unruly beasts who might get too close.

[TheKhanzumer]

Part Five:

Zero rubbed the scar running across his face. It still hadn't completely healed and he knew he would get to keep it the rest of his meaningless life. His back ached from his most recent beating. Siggs still thought he had let the scrab free on purpose to kill him.

Ever since that incident, Zero had found life harder and harder. He had never disliked his job, but recently his bosses were giving him so many things to do that he rarely managed to get everything done. It made him feel bad to let down his superiors, even if they were cruel jerks. Zero found himself rushing his cleaning, his lack of time not allowing him to be as efficient as he usually was. It seemed like his life was going down the drain.

Zero finished polishing the platform above the scrab kennel and began to work on the railing. He heard a noise and gave a startled jump. Turning around, he saw a pair of big, glowing green eyes looking at him from a pool of menacing shadow.

[Oddsville]

Wow this it getting good Khanzumer, it kinda reminds me of when you first enter the Scrab Kennels in AO and you have to free that Mudokon before he gets torn apart by the Scrab. I keep picturing Zero as that Mud.

[TheKhanzumer]

... ... ...
Can you read minds Oddsville?


Part Six:

Zero quickly reached out and grabbed the rat. It squeeked in his hand and struggled for a moment before realizing it would not be harmed. When it was calm, Zero set it down beside him. The poor thing looked starved and half scared to death. Zero suddenly realized that his emaculate cleaning jobs ment less food for some of the residents of the kennels. He stroked the rats head-tail and handed it a chunk of Paramite Pie. He made himself comfortable and decided it would not hurt anyone (especially himself) to have his lunch break a little early. He finished off the rest of the pie with the rat and turned to it.

"How ya doin' little guy?" The rat stared up at him anxiously, "Sorry fella, I don't got any food left. Boss aint so generous." The rat sighed and sat down. "I think ya need a name fella, since it seems like you don' wanna leave me. I'll call ya Lorne. I used to work with a guy named Lorne til' he was accidently shot." The rat gave him a confused expression.

Zero stood up and continued working. The rat hopped besides him and began to follow him around the kennels, picking up bits of flesh that the scrub "missed".

[TheKhanzumer]

Part Seven:

It had been six weeks since Zero first met Lorne. He had proven to be a good companion, even if it ment that Zero had to give up some of his lunch occasionally.

Siggs had stopped beating him. At first Zero thought that he realized that the scrab had escaped on its own... then he found out that Siggs had accidently shot himself when he fell asleep with his finger on the trigger of his rifle. The glukkon taskmaster hadn't gotten around to posting a new guard so Zero and Lorne were on their own most of the time... if you didn't count the scrabs that still needed feeding and cleaning up after.

Zero was scrubbing the floor when an alarm sounded. He stood up startled. Looking around he wondered what was wrong. He heard, "... it's him. He's coming... blast his... he won't escape..." Escape? Was one of his fellow employees trying to escape. That was insane! Was this another suicide attempt?

The alarm got screamed louder and louder... The scrab got more and more agitated. With a skreech it began hitting the walls of it's cage. It's instincts told him to run and kill.

Zero looked around in confusion. Suddenly he felt a wieght on his shoulder! What was... it was just Lorne, startled by all the noise. Scrabs screamed in the distance. Sirens sounded. A flock of birds flew began to fly in a circle in front of him. He heard feet on the platform overhead. A strange humming. The birds began to glow. Without thinking Zero ran at the flock and dove head first towards them.

Suddenly the noise all stopped and Zero found himself standing in the forest.

[Oddsville]

I love this story Khanzumer, I just keep eagerly waiting for the next mini chapter. Keep it up I can't wait!!!

Edit: Hey I just relized this was my 500th post, yeah! (dose the moonwalk across the tile.)

[TheKhanzumer]

Thanks for the compliments Oddsville. I'm sorry to say that we won't hear more about Zero for a while... No I'm not going to stop writing, I'm just going to introduce a new character! I will spend five to ten "mini chapters" developing each member of the Marching Mudokons, who you will learn more about later. Hopefully you will find the rest of the muds as interesting as Zero.

Who do you want to learn about next? Just pick one that sounds interesting since I can write about them in any order. I will take the first request.

The choices are:
Amos (tomahawker, mudarcher)
Small Face (shaman)
Pik (blind mine worker)
Chukka (tomahawker)
Nathaniel (native)
Lamuel (mudarcher)

[Oddsville]

Hmmm...Small face sounds pretty cool. I think this is clever what your doing by the way, keep it up!

[TheKhanzumer]

Here is the next part of my fan fic, which has been titled The Marching Mudokons. If anyone finds any details which disagree with something in the games please let me know. I want this story to be as possible as.. uh, possible. I also want to remind you that any artists can illustrate this for me. I can send you better descriptions if you private message me.

And now, introducing... (drum roll)... Small Face!


Part Eight:

The mudokon native, known only as Small Face, crouched down underneath a large green fern and looked at the pack of paramites. The few beams of light which pierced the forest canopy did little to light up the clearing. Dew covered spooce shrubs reflected the small amount of light and added to the eerily peaceful scene. In a guick, yet surprisingly silent, motion he pulled his slingshot from his belt and put a smooth round stone in it. He pulled back, aimed and released. The rock shot forward and flew straight through the biggest 'mites head. Small Face focused his spooce and suddenly burst into light. Less than a second later he was in the midst of the pack which was just now realizing that one of its members was dead. He quickly nocked and fired his remaining two rocks and killed two more of the fleeing animals. Three rocks, three shots, three kills and enough meat to feed a mudokon for weeks. He picked up the dead animals and teleported back to the village.

Three year old Phil scanned the horizon. Suddenly a group of birds appeared out of literally nowhere and flew together. With a flash of light, a normal looking mudokon appeared. Well, normal looking other than the round fask mask he wore whenever on the hunt. It had been fashioned after the Bigface's, but it was much smaller to show respect to the wise shaman-of-all-shamans. Phil ran towards his older brother, eager to help him prepare their dinner.

[Oddsville]

Wow, small face is awsome! I like the idea of bursting in to light. Can't wait for the next chapter!

[TheKhanzumer]

Part Nine:

The young shaman sat down and took a sip of tea. It wasn't as good as it used to be, the ancient art of tea brewing, like so many other mudokon cultures, was being lost. If only SmallFace could find someone who new the ancient tea recipes... but that was something he didn't have time for right now. With news of the mudokon slave, Abe his name, who was freeing slaves from RuptureFarms, the shaman had more important things to worry about than his tea.

SmallFace looked across his small hut at the mask hanging from his wall. He had a feeling he would be wearing it more often than before. If this Abe guy really managed to shut down RuptureFarms, and all signs showed that he would (no matter how big of a klutz he might be) SmallFace would need to be ready to aid him.

News traveled slowly on Oddworld. It was hard to tell what was really going on in other parts of their vast planet. For all SmallFace knew, Abe had already been captured or killed. Or, if another rumor was correct, he was journeying throught the ancient temples in order to recieve power from the great shaman BigFace. If that was true, RuptureFarms didn't have a chance.

It was all very confusing. For the first time in years, mudokon slaves were standing up to their tyrannical bosses. They were beggining to remeber what the native's were trying not to forget. Their past.

SmallFace breathed in the aroma of the tea. It just wasn't what it used to be. Neither was Oddworld.

[oddling]

*SNIFF* That was so beautiful!! *Blows nose* It kinda reminds us of what our own world is coming to. We have almost completley forgoten our past exept for the Indians and shtuff so this really relates to real life. Keep it up Kahnzumer this is great!!!

Oddling l:c l

[Oddsville]

I agree with you oddling, that was *sniff* beautifull! I love this story it makes me feel like Im playing AO for the first time again! Can't wait for the next chapter!

[TheKhanzumer]

Part Nine:

SmallFace looked at the mudokons gathered in his hut. The whole tribe was here, the young and the old. Phil was the youngest, he waved at his shaman and smiled. It had been SmallFace who had saved the young one from a pack of paramite. He was mature for his age, but his curiosity still got the best of him sometimes. The oldest was a cranky old mudokon named Len. He was almost 41, quite an accomplishment for a mudokon. Some said he had traded his charm for a long life.

SmallFace concluded his meeting, "So now all of you have been forewarned of the change that will come. We must change also for we cannot run. This mudokon named Abe we must help to our best. Only when he is safe can our tribe fin'lly rest."

He saw mixed feelings on the faces of his comrades. Although all of them shared hate for the ruthless Magog Cartel, not all of them were ready to risk their lives to save some frantic slave who many had heard was incredibly clumsy. How could they risk their lives for some poor chump they didn't even know? And how could SmallFace convince them that if they didn't, they would doom their entire race to many more years of slavery and decadence.

This Abe, this Chosen One who had supposedly been granted the power of the Shrykull, could he really be the savior of the mudokon race? Could he really but an end to the glukkon's corporate empire.

Only time could tell. But SmallFace was ready to do what he had to in order to make that time come quicker.

[TheKhanzumer]

Alright, enough about SmallFace. Not much of a back story but he has always been a mysterious guy. Basically all you need to know is that he is a great hunter who dosn't socialize much accept to speak with his secluded tribe.

Who should I right about next? Amos, Pik, Chuk, Nathan or Lam? You decide.

[Oddsville]

How about Pik next? This is really great keep it up! Oh, yeah Khanzumer I just brought back my story from the dead (hence your story inspired me to finish it) I was just wondering if you could atleast read the first chapter and tell me what you think of it?

[TheKhanzumer]

Hey Oddsville, I have read most of your story and it is really good. I don't particularly like first person but you did a good job. Keep up the good work!


Part Ten:

The pale mudokon swung his pick down and broke off another chunk of stone from the wall of the mine. He wiped grime from his paw onto his loinclothe and then swung again, breaking more rock. He didn't know what it was he was digging up. He supposed it was some sort of metal; the glukkons needed something to build their factories out of. He swung again, this time breaking off an even bigger chunk. Pik listened to the clinking of other slaves working. He wondered why it was only the blind mudokons who were sent here. If the glukkons wanted their ore fast, wouldn't they want more workers? It didn't make sense. Pik swung again. It smelled terrible in the mines, everything was dirty and the work was tiring. The blind mudokon was always listening for ways to escape.

At first he thought escape would be easy, even though he was blind. There were no slig guards down where he was posted, except on the occasions when they came to collect what ever it was he had dug up. But it was hard to find his way. His incredible sense of hearing was no good in the caves because echos were so deceptive. Pik could only wait for an opportunity to present itself. Until then, he would dig.

[Oddsville]

Woo-hoo, I can't get enough of this story, it makes me feel like Im visiting Oddworld itself. *Starts drooling* More, more!!!!!

[TheKhanzumer]

Part Eleven:

Pik set down his pick and listened. All of the other mudokons had stopped working. What was going on? If they didn't start working they would all get in trouble. Didn't they know that the train had arrived? The sligs would be here any time to collect what ever it was that they were digging out of the mines.

Suddenly an electronic voice rang out in the cavern, "Get ta work ya bastiches!"

But nobody did, nobody continued digging. "Get ta work!" The slig began to beat the nearest slave. Each hit echoed in Pik's ears. Suddenly he heard a voice whisper at him from his left.

"Hello, follow me."

While the slig was occupied, Pik walked towards the voice. Whoever it was made a lot of noise walking, so it was easy to follow the mysterious person.

"I'll be back don'tcha worry" Said the voice.

Pik stayed were he was standing wondering what was going on. He listened to the mysterious person talk to the other three workers, one by one, each on sneaking away from their posts toward Pik. Suddenly the yelps stopped, the slig realized that the other workers were gone.

The slig looked around, everything was silent except for the whirring of his mechanical pants.

From Piks far right the mysterious voice yelled, "C'mere". The sligs feet clicked on the ground as it ran towards the voice. Suddenly there was a buzz and a large splatter. The mysterious mudokon must have turned the mine drill on right as the slig ran under it!

Pik listened to the mysterious savior walk up to the blind worker who had been beaten and help him up. He heard a strange chanting noise and the flaps of bird wings. Suddenly Pik realized who the mudokon was. It was Abe! It was that Abe guy who shut down Rupture Farms! Pik picked up his pick and ran towards the sound of the birds.

Suddenly the dirty stone ground under his feet became pleasant grass.

[Oddsville]

Hmmm, ineteresting. I find it very interesting to see what it be like to be rescuded by Abe from a different Mudokons point of view. More!!!

[TheKhanzumer]

This will be the last one about Pik so you know what to do.


Part Twelve:

It took a moment for the impossibly great realization to kick in. Pik had been rescued! He no longer had to work in the terrible mines! He was so happy he didn't know what to think.

"Hiya guys," a lively voice, uneffected from working all your life in the mines, "Welcome ta the Monsaic Lines. Look around, it's beatif'l aint... it..." The mudokon native paused, he was just now realizing that Pik and the other four miners were blind.

"Oh, you must be the bunch from Necrum Mines. Well, hold hands and I'll grab one a ya and you can follow me ta the sanctum. We are just about ready ta eat... ya'll like scrab?"

Piks mouth watered just thinking about it. A real meal, his first ever. Liberty was greater than he had imagined.

[Oddsville]

That was really great! Hmmm, whos next how about Amos? By the way I hope Im not rushing you on this Khanzumer?