Chapter 88 - Same Old Routine

<---Chapter 87 - Revolution|Table of Contents|Chapter 89 - The Mole--->

The week went past in a blur for Culo, as the factory began an even tighter and stricter production strategy while setting up new assembly lines. While the hours had been reduced, and there were far less fatalities than before, he still couldn't shake the feeling that they were now worse off than before.

"Weren't we fighting for a better work-life balance and what not?" His team member remarked to him as they etched what seemed to be the umpteenth rifle barrel, following the grooves of the guide like second nature. "Why do I feel like I'm working harder than ever, and it's not like we're getting paid more too!"

Culo had nothing to rebut with, glancing over to the new assembly lines where there were a significant majority of workers who had missing hands and feet, unable to do their task as efficiently as the others. Many fumbled with the etcher clumsily, some even resorting to crudely implemented contraptions that strapped the etcher to their stubbed arm in a desperate attempt to remain relevant. Many of them could not find another job within the factory, especially given their low educational level and lack of understanding.

It would be wrong of him to think lowly of them - they had fought as hard as he did for the union. Culo shrugged in response to his team member's words, focusing on his works, the tight deadline and finances looming over his head more than ever Am I even more stressed now?

"At least the council is living up to their expectations." The team member grunted. "Not like those fuckers taking up perfectly fine jobs that could be given to others... have they not seen how many migrants are out there queuing for a job like we had in the past?"

"Hey, they sacrificed their body and soul to get our brothers out of the prison." Culo retorted.

However, he instead earned a nudge from another team member beside him. "Hey, uhh, you know it was mostly other thugs and criminals in those prisons right?"

"So what? We're all working towards the same goals."

"See for yourself, mate." The team member pointed towards a corner of the assembly line, where a freed thug was clearly snoring soundly, skiving off his job. In fact, as Culo took a closer look, he started to notice the thugs acting like they were working hard, but in effect doing nothing, earning a paycheck for free.

"What the fuck?" Culo slammed his etcher down onto the table, storming over to the sleeping thug and smacking him awake. "How the fuck are you sleeping on the job? We got deadlines to meet! Were you not listening during the morning briefing?!"

"Huh? Who the fuck are you?!" The thug clutched his bruised cheeks, glancing around before realizing it was just a scrawny young man in front of him. "Oh, you're the kid on the council. What, gonna boss me around?"

"I'm not bossing you around, I'm telling you, if you wanna hold a job, you better work for it!"

"Fine, fine, geez. Got a goblin up your arse or something? What a loser." The thug dug his ears in irritation, returning back to his work reluctantly and etching haphazardly, without using the guiding sample. Even Culo was able to see that it would not past any form of quality test. "There, you happy now? Or if you wanna pick a fight, me and my bois will be more than willing to oblige."

Culo clenched his fist, but returned to his position without causing additional fuss. He bottled up his emotions, the team members next to him keeping their heads low to avoid the thug's gaze. His council position was utterly useless if the new workers themselves did not truly believe in the union. "Leeches, the lot of them." He muttered under his breath as he continued his etching.

"Damn right, now we're working extra to make up for their shoddy work. Why the fuck can't we just fire them?" Another worker whispered to his buddy.

"Idiot, they are part of the union now too! What would it look like if we tried to fire one of our own?"

"He's clearly jeopardizing the production targets, that should be grounds to get him out!"

"Only the council can do it, but judging from how Culo was treated, I got a feeling it won't be that easy."

Culo ignored the whispers around him, his eyes focused on the etching right in front of him. Dream job my ass. Now I'm a babysitter who is not even respected. The rest of the workers watched as the thugs and other prisoners joked and laughed. And while no one had any other outburst of rage like Culo did, the writing on the wall was clear as day: nobody liked getting paid unequally.

What was even worse was the finances of the factory made public by the council. Any worker who walked past the entrance or changing room were met with multiple copies of the weekly production targets required of them in order to maintain their job. No one wanted to lose what they had fought so hard to earn, yet the baggage that they were now forced to drag along out of moral goodwill was beginning to strain relationships among the workers.

A council meeting was naturally called to address the issue, but it was scheduled at night, after the day shift was completed. At the end of his day shift, Culo's body fatigued as ever before, dreading the meeting as his mind tried to resolve the conflict within. He lumbered back home, towards the housing complex, completely out of energy . I still got to meet with the council later before I can sleep, and I need the team to produce 50% faster over the next week. This is just fucking... huh?

As he approached his shared apartment, two familiar workers counting a wad of rakels brushed past his shoulder violently, clearly having just left his room with a wide grin on their faces. Culo rubbed his shoulder while observing their backs, before noticing they had a very familiar looking ring in their hands. "HEY! What the fuck are you doing with my ring?!"

"Huh? You talking to us?"

"Yea, I'm talking to you. Who let you into my room? Give it back!"

"Who else? Your roommate. He sold this ring to us, said it was his."

"Well it's not. You better give it back or -" As soon as Culo spoke those words, his wrist was grabbed, his body thrown against the ugly concrete walls of the dim hallway forcibly, pinned.

"Or what?" The worker fiddled with the ring in his hand while his partner rained blow after blow on Culo, Culo blocking with his arm as best as he could, searching for a way out. With a swift motion, Culo kicked out, slamming his shin into the shin of the partner, sending him stumbling backwards as Culo propped himself up against the wall unsteadily, only to face the barrel of a handgun.

"Aight, kid. You got punk. Say, aren't you that young council guy?"

"And you guys are fellow union workers. Give back the damn ring!" Culo gritted his teeth, raising his hands into a fighting posture.

"Like hell I'm going to leave without getting paid!" The worker aimed the handgun right at Culo's forehead, but Culo was unintimidate, his resolve steeled.

"Don't you know this whole complex is guarded by the Seven Snakes?" Culo tried to reason. "If you start a fight, you'll be imprisoned by them!"

The worker and his partner glanced at each other, before breaking out into raucous laughter. "Oh, he's so cute! I wish I could put him in my pocket. Thank god the council is naive as fuck."

"What the hell are you two laughing about? I'm serious?"

"You really believe the Seven Snakes guards are coming to help you? Idiot, the doubling of wages to the factory forced them to reduce the amount of guards here in the complex! I even heard they all got sent far away for some reason. It's a free for all now - we might as well rule this place. I could shoot you right now and stuff your body away hidden for two weeks before the stench calls someone over." The worker chortled. "But you're a good guy, I'll prefer if it not comes to that."

"You-"

"Don't test me, I will shoot. You won't be the first."

Culo was frozen on the spot, his eyes locked on the ring as he weighed whether his life was really worth risking for it. Flashes of his brother and village back in Ocra clouded his vision, eventually forcing him to relent and relax his posture.

"Good kid. Seeing as you're council, you'll probably have us fired from the factory tomorrow. But hey, see if I give a shit, I can pawn this ring for ten days' wages and make even more selling the new stuff!" The worker and his partner laughed as they retreated back down the stairwell, leaving a raging Culo behind who instantly stormed into the room, finding a ravaged and messy room unlike how he had left it this morning. His personal belongings were strewn all over the floor, each and every valuable piece laid for all to see.

"Hyul, what the fuck are you doing?! You sold my ring? Are you fucking out of your mind?" Culo was about to give his roommate a piece of his mind, but his roommate was unresponsive, a dreamy smile plastered unnaturally on his face while an empty potion flask was still gripped tightly in his hand. The clearly drugged roommate's eyes wandered the walls, grinning at each and every speck of dust that seemed to come to life.

Of course, to the sober Culo, all this was simply insane. "Hyul? Hey?"

Culo glanced at the empty potion flask, the smell instantly recognizable. Fuck, it's that new mindtwister that's been going around! He grabbed his roommate by the collar, shaking him violently and slapping him twice to no avail. It was this very moment that Culo felt entirely helpless, the precious ring that his parents had left him as a reminder now pawned off to an unknown fate.

Whatever lingered of his naive view of the union was slowly breaking down when he packed his things into the same small briefcase he had when he first arrived and shifted out. It was far too dangerous for him to remain here, especially with a addicted roommate. As he descended the floors, he could see fights and drugs dealt all over the housing complex coupled with prostitute girls staring him down, showing no oversight at all from any guards or enforcers.

Culo watched helplessly as other union workers leveraged their position to rob or drug other union workers, stealing anything of value. Instead of the union uniting the workers, they had instead bandied into small thug groups, relishing in the power vacuum by the retreat of the Seven Snakes. Soon, Culo found a lone Seven Snakes patrol squad, idling near the entrance of the housing complex. "Hey, hey! I need help, I just got robbed!"

"Huh?" The cobra leading the squad stared vacantly at Culo running up to him.

"Yea, two big guys, one bald and missing his front two tooth along with a hand, the other having a grey beard with a scar on his left eye."

"Right... like that narrows it down. Are they union workers?"

"Well, yes, but what does that matte-"

"Orders from above are to not mess with the union. Don't want to risk another general strike fucking over the whole district, you know? Better to stay out of the way, else I'll get transferred to the boonies to god knows what shitty slave factory."

"But-"

"You guys chose this, don't blame us. We ain't your babysitters. And aren't you a council member? Sort your own shit out instead of running to us."

Culo was left standing alone on the crowded street just outside the complex, bustling with activity, yet he never felt so alone before, not even when he first arrived to Raktor. The sad reality of the union was beginning to crack his dreams while he lugged his briefcase along, thinking of where to move to. I could move to one of the union hideout, at least I'm safer there... or am I? Both his roommate and the worker who stole his ring was union too, diminishing his belief in the unity of the union.

As he wandered aimlessly down the street, a slightly familiar face noticed him and waved at him. Culo couldn't recall his name, but knew he was an old hand from the previous factory before the refurbishment, one of the original foreman.

"Hey, Culo, right?"

"Yea?" Culo stared warily as he clutched the handle of briefcase even tighter, ready to fight at a moment's notice.

"Yea, wanted to ask if- hold on, what got you so tense? What's with all the baggage? You moving house?"

"What's it to you?"

"Hey, hey, hey, calm down, I ain't out to hurt you or anything! What happened?" The genuine look of concern on the foreman's face soften Culo's stance a little.

"Nothing, just, looking for a place to stay. My roommate just sold one of my family heirlooms for a fucking drug."

"Shit...that bad, huh?" The foreman scratched his head awkwardly, glancing around. "Say, uhh wanna move to my place? I don't have a lot myself, but I got a spare bed you can crash on for the night while you figure things out."

"What are you aiming at?"

"Nothing, just offering. Well, if you don't want it, I'll just be on my way, then. Hope you find a place, I'll just ask my question tomorrow."

"Just shoot, I'm listening."

"Right... I wanted to ask you what the council was going to do about the lazy bums in the new assembly lines. I'm their foreman, but I can't get to move or budge or do a single thing properly! Half of the gear produced is shoddy and needs to be reworked. I don't wanna look bad to the council and have my job cut, so I was hoping if you could speak up for me."

"I will, I understand what you're saying perfectly."

"Great, thank you, I really need that job, I got a wife and kid to feed, you know, usual stuff. Thanks again!" The foreman shook Culo's hand vigorously, before making his way home.

"Say, that bed still up for grabs?" Culo called out after the foreman, opening up a bit.

"Sure thing, anything for a council member!" The foreman nodded, motioning for Culo to follow him. The duo walked through the crowded street under the street lights, watching as bits and pieces of lawlessness that Culo had never seen before slowly creep into the district. Roaming thug gangs were already starting to assert territory, claiming protection money from frightened store owners under the guise of the union.

He could already hear the angry mutterings of bystanders as they watched yet another store owner have his display smashed to bits. "I don't like to say this, but at least the Seven Snakes had the best interest of the district at heart. Look at this mess, I much rather they come back than have the union in control!" A lady murmured to her friend as they walked hurriedly by, acting like they never saw a thing.

"The Seven Snakes are still here, but they are only protecting their businesses. They are afraid of antagonizing the union anymore - spineless, if you ask me."

"Can you blame them? They did try to wipe out the union, but it backfired heavily. If I were them I wouldn't risk a fight, especially not when they have their own armed force. The union is basically a new gang in itself!"

Culo couldn't disagree, not with everything he had witnessed so far. However, he no longer tried to intervene, instead keeping his mouth shut and trudging along silently with the foreman, who also gazed at the sight with a hopeless expression. They soon reached his house, a quaint little apartment right at the end of Thresher Street, above a erotica bookstore that had eerie moaning sounds wafting through the mouldy holes of the wooden plank floor.

"I thought you said you have a wife and kids?" Culo questioned as he was greeted with a clearly messy house, full of bottles of alcohol lingering about and an unkept couch.

"I do. They are just.... uh... not staying here at the moment."

"Disagreement?"

"Very much so. Well, then, make yourself at home."

Culo smiled, but shifted his collar nervously. "Sorry, you're doing so much for me but I seemed to have forgotten your name."

"Ah, I'm Karl. Long timer of the factory. How could you forget my name when I was the one who trained you?!"

"Sorry, sorry, its just been a crazy two months." Culo put down his briefcase, collapsing into the couch, uncaring about the obvious stench of beer and whiskey permeating the air. "I thought we won the world last week, but it seems like such things are always too good to be true."

"You know it. I've been working in this line for a few decades now, seen my fair share of societies, guilds, unions and what not. People at the top always claim that they are doing this for the good of the people, but humans? They act more like monkeys than civilized beings." Karl grunted in agreement as he poured out a glass of whiskey for each of them, both sipping it in an angry silence.

"It's only a few bad apples..." Culo tried to console himself, but Karl laughed.

"A few bad apples? Looks like an entire orchard to me! I saw how they treated you today on the factory floor. No respect, no deference for the council that fought for their wages. They don't appreciate the sacrifice that we've put in to get to where we are today!"

"No, they do. Some even suffered at the hands of the Seven Snakes, experimented on."

"Yet I don't see any of them doing badly now? No one died during the prison escape, as far as I can tell. Both you and I know that prison was more of thugs and petty criminals than valiant union workers who fought for the cause. All they are doing is riding our goodwill and tearing our reputation to shreds!"

"Maybe... but-"

"Culo, look. You're a great council member, a real standup guy, but are you really getting the respect you deserve? What did you come to Raktor for? I know you're a migrant, though I never really got the full story."

"I'm just here to earn money for my brother and village back home in Ocra, that's all."

"So am I, here just to earn money for my kid to have a better future, whether or not he's here with me or not. You and I, we're in the same boat here. Now tell me, is what you're doing now for your brother? Is being treated like trash and slaving away for other skivers to get the same paycheck as you really working out as you expected?"

"It's not, but as a council member, I have to uphold the morals of the union-"

"The union is made up of people first and foremost. If no one respect the morals, what value does it have over anyone?" Karl gestured frantically, agitated. "I tell you this for your own sake, I know exactly what you're thinking deep down. You might be afraid to say it, but I'm not - the reason why you are angry, is because you're putting in the same, if not more work than others, YET they are getting paid the same. What happened to fairness? Equality? Unity?"

Culo had nothing to say, Karl having hit the nail right on the head. He thought about his brother again, wondering what the fuck was he playing at again. He was supposed to earn money, not act like a shepard for clearly reluctant workers. "You're fucking right, no one respects me at all. What the fuck am I even doing with my life?"

"You fought for an ideal, a dream. That's great and all, and you achieved it. But it's clear that the same dream and ideal isn't shared by others. Are you sure that the council is even aligned on the same dream when they aren't even lifting a finger to stop this madness?"

Culo was far too infuriated to speak any longer, angry at both himself and the circumstances as he poured himself two additional shots of whiskey, downing them in quick succession. Karl did the same, drinking along with him quietly before breaking the silence a minute later. "Now, if you want respect, you want to really see where the real wealth lies, I may have a friend who knows a guy who knows a guy." Karl twirled a rakel coin between his fingers.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm talking a night out - at the pubs and casinos! If those damn fuckers are going to play about, you and I both deserve some good rest and relaxation."

Culo wondered when was the last time he really took a break. First it was the harrowing hours, then it was the non-stop late night planning for the union and heist, then it was the neverending council duties that seemed to go on forever, one problem after the other. That coupled with the loss of his family heirloom finally broke him. "You know what? You're right. But wouldn't the Seven Snakes stop us from going in? We're union."

"Ah, like I said. I'm an old timer around here - I was around when the Seven Snakes rose to power myself, may have even witnesses a few fights in person. I know my way around town."

"You're not going to do anything to me, are you?"

"What, you think I'm going to drug and kidnap a council member at the Seven Snakes, just when the tensions between the union and them have yet to fully subside? I must have a death wish."

"Fine, but I got no rakels on me. I sent most of it back home."

Karl slung his arms around Culo, clearly a little tipsy. "Don't worry, I'll cover you. My friend who knows a guy who knows a guy? He's a real one, he'll foot the bill for us if we ask nicely."

"I still got a council meeting later to attend... I-"

"Fuck. Them. What they going to talk about? You've spent your entire time here in Raktor worrying about others. It's time for you to relax."

Culo had his doubts, still wary from his ring being stolen, but the alcohol he had just drank was starting to creep in, giving him a false sense of confidence. "Alright, lead the way."

"Hell yes, lets party! Let me call a wagon real quick."

"Call a wagon? You're that rich?"

"I live alone, and frankly, child support ain't that expensive." Karl grinned as he tuned the arctech radio, speaking quickly while Culo poured himself another one.

The wagon came fast to the house, a luxurious wagon with the emblem of the Seven Snakes plastered all over it, the driver getting out of the cab to open the door for them. Culo felt like an imposter, never having been met with such treatment before, though Karl seemed to take everything in stride. "Come on, I got VIP treatment."

"But why? You're just a foreman!"

"Lets just say it's clear where I spent most of my money." Karl winked as Culo hopped on, instantly greeted by plush velvet and a neatly arranged set of glasses, already prefilled with sparkling wine. Karl didn't hesitate, immediately toasting Culo as the wagon moved off, speeding through the nightlife.

Soon, they arrived at their destination, somewhere Culo never expected to be: the basement of the shopping arcade. Arctech neon lights and carpeted floors made him and his shabby outfit feel out of place, while the atmosphere were filled with violent shouting and drinking games, Seven Snakes recruits cheering each other on to get wasted.

The bouncer at the door took a glance at Culo and Karl, immediately bowing and allowing them to enter without any fuss at all. "What the hell was that?"

"I'm a longtime customer - they better treat me right." Karl adjusted his collar, grinning widely as he led Culo towards a VIP area, far away from the rowdy crowd in a nice little circular room, complete with a ambient glowing table along with the softest cushion and silk Culo had ever felt before. However, the decor was not what surprised him. Instead, it was the two other council members who were also there at the VIP table, already drinking happily away.

"What are you two doing here?! Aren't you supposed to be at the meeting?" Culo exclaimed.

"Speak for yourself, you're here too." The other two laughed and toasted each other, clearly drunk. "What's with the long face? Come on, let's drink!"

Culo felt the entire scenario was weird, wondering what kind of trap he had fallen into himself, only to finally notice the man sitting at the very center of the VIP room. He spun around, grabbing Karl by the collar and glaring at him. "You! You're working with them! You set me up?!"

"Hey, everything I'm doing is for you - you know that! Nobody is going to hurt you, just hear them out."

"Yes, Culo Demitri. Sit down." The man motioned to a nearby space, intimidating Culo as his legs began to shiver, knowing just how powerful the man was. Culo glanced over to the two other council members, who seemed to not care at all about who the man was.

"I got nothing to say to a slaver who has no regard for human life."

"And who is the one paying you double wages now? Me? Or the council? Because from what I'm hearing, I'm not the one screwing up your work now."

"You experimented on people!"

"The very same people who are currently wreaking havoc on your very room. I know, Culo. I know exactly how they are."

"Because you're no different."

"Am I now? Last I checked, the district was better off under me than you and your union. Your friends here clearly agree with me."

"What did you do to them?" Culo squinted.

"HEY!" A drunk council member wagged his fingers at Culo angrily. "We can make our own decisions, thank you very much."

"I simply made them an offer they couldn't refuse. Now sit down, before I change my approach."

Culo glanced to the side, noticing a few Seven Snakes members already eyeing the entrance to the VIP room. He knew if he tried to leave now, he wouldn't make it out alive, so he resigned himself to his fate, sitting down next to the man. "And what could the boss of the Seven Snakes want with me? I'm just a factory worker."

"You're not just a factory worker. You're leaders of men, but it is clear to all of us that the men are falling short of expectations. Despite the freedom and leisure that you have afforded them, you have obtained none of that. No one listens to you at all, but I can change that."

Culo wasn't dumb, knowing what Kyle was getting it. "You want me to betray them, work for you in the union."

"Not work for me. Work with me. And I think you seem to be mixing up who is betraying who."

"Don't try to twist my words, I know exactly what is happening now."

"Do you now? And do you know why Gunther was suddenly so adamant about maintaining production? About making sure everything stays on track?"

"To keep his job. And ours. It's obvious. I know what you're doing, you're trying to turn me against him."

"And what has he done for you? Your work isn't any better, your stress is through the roof, and you're compensating the same wages as those leeches slacking out of sight."

"You were the one who made the job intolerable in the first place!"

"Would you not have done the same in my position, when faced with such a tall order? Don't lie to me, I know you three are clearly angry at those who are not pulling their weight. If they fail to deliver, you lose your job. Simple as that."

"We're not the ones losing money."

"Of course not, I am the one losing money. See? I'm here to support the union. I gave in to every demand you had without so much as a complaint, despite all your protesting and violence."

Culo tried to retort, but couldn't deny that Kyle did acquiesce to all of their requests wholeheartedly. It was the workers who failed him, not the Seven Snakes themselves. There was no one else to blame when they had managerial control of the factory now.

"I hear you're in dire need of money. You have a brother and village to feed back home." Kyle scribbled a number on a piece of paper, handing it to Culo. "Work with me, and you get this percent for every rifle and armour you sell from the factory. The same offer as those two. "

Culo snatched the piece of paper, his eyes bulging at the number. He was not too intelligent, but the basic math he quickly hashed out made the money he could potentially earn beyond his wildest dreams. If I have this money, the village, they would be secure for generations to come! "But the union..."

"Karl, if you would." Kyle snapped his fingers, prompting Karl to bring forward a prepared handheld light-thrower. "Have you ever wondered where Gunther disappears to during the day? How he and his other men are always gathering around the loading bay?"

"It's to make sure that the weapons and armour are properly stored away to deliver to Count Leon. We were warned that the Seven Snakes would try to steal them."

"Well then, see for yourself." Kyle smirked as he leaned back into the couch, enjoying his drink slowly while Culo stared in horror at what was playing out, watching Gunther personally transfer the crates to a Red Lion member in another district.

"Gunther! No! This can't be real, this is fake! You fabricated this!"

"Just like how he fabricated all the executions."

"Those were real!" Culo asserted, causing Kyle to laugh.

"Since you're so adamant about me being a slaver who experiments on others, what makes you think I would kill my own residents so wantonly?! I have much more use for their lives than to string their corpses around publicly. Don't you see? Your union leader is the one stringing you along!"

The other two council members were already sobering up after watching Gunther and his men delivering the crates day after day, the equipment they had worked so hard to produce now sold to a gang. "If he's giving them away to the Red Lions, there is no chance in hell we'll meet the deadline!"

Culo slumped into the couch, defeated. In just a single week, everything he thought to be true and ideal was smashed to pieces. Not even the union leader that he had trusted so much lived up to the dream that he had in his mind.

Kyle leaned over, staring Culo down: "Respect. Money. Power. All of it can be yours. I'm not here to crush the union, I'm here to help you. Now, are you with me? Or against me?"

<---Chapter 87 - Revolution|Table of Contents|Chapter 89 - The Mole--->