Chapter 6
Jaka 4
Gaige
The hunters had headed out, and the three left behind set out to go to the factory, which was set up in its own district. As they walked along the nearly empty streets, Gaige couldn't help but feel ill at ease.
"Seems a bit too quiet." she muttered
"Hush, there are some things we do not say, no matter how true they may be. It's bad luck." Wainwright chastised her, his good eye sweeping the surroundings.
"Didn't figure you to be the superstitious type."
"First off, I'm from Eden 6, we have Witches and Warlocks adhering to THE PACT, and second, it's not superstition, not when it guarantees something will happen."
"Yeah, that's called superstition. I don't believe in that stuff anymore, I'm not a kid."
"Your age doesn't have nothin to do with it, it's common sense."
"Jeez, you sound like Artemis."
"How so?"
"Well, not so much sound, but, well whenever I say something like that, she gets this strange look, like she wants to say something but doesn't know how or if she should or something."
"She seems, odd, but you two seem good together."
"I mean, I like hanging with her, but I'm not sure."
"Not sure of what? How you feel about her, or maybe what you feel?"
"What? No, I mean, yes. I don't know. All my life I've liked who and what I like, but she makes me feel, uncomfortable? No that's not right, unsure, that's it. And that makes me feel uncomfortable."
"What don't you feel sure of, if you don't mind me prying."
"Everything. I mean, I don't think she's a stalker or anything, but she knows who I was as a kid, and I think she still sees me that way. And I don't know, it's like I'm disappointing her, and that makes me feel like I'm in the wrong, but I'm not. I mean I am who I am, right?"
"Maybe, but are you sure that you are who you think you are?"
"Of course I am, why?"
"Well it's just that when me and Alistair were just getting together, I questioned myself too. Such as, other than a Jakobs, who was I? I mean, I knew who I was. Least I thought I did. I was the man who never stood up for himself, the man who let his dad and his legacy dictate who I was to be. Even after we got together, even after fighting to retake my company, I was plagued by indecision, right up to the wedding, well at least until I got possessed. I mean Alistair is a man of action, a man of adventure, and I find that I am not. I debated if I should change, should I try and be more like him, even though I knew at best, I would be just pretending. And if I didn't, how could I see him off on each of his adventures? Why would he come back to me, to this stick in the swamp with one good eye and no adventures to offer him.
"In the end do you know what settled my mind? It wasn't that I got over the worry of seeing him off. It wasn't that I suddenly gained the confidence to be a different man. In fact it was the opposite. I realized that for all my faults and worries I had forgotten the most important thing. Alistair had fallen in love with the man I was, not the man I wanted to be for him. I realized that he had the same worries as me, the same desire to try and be the man I wanted. So we came to an understanding, we wouldn't change the other, we would be the person that we were and the man that the other had fallen in love with. He would go on his adventures, I would run my business. Where we could, we would work together, where we couldn't we would let the other do what they needed. It's not like we stopped worrying, I mean you heard us today, but what it does mean is that we have faith in each other. I trust him to come home and he trusts that I'll be there. It's as simple and as hard as that."
"That's touching and all, but I don't love her."
Wainwright stopped and turned to her "First I never said love, I was talking about trust. Trust and faith. Second, friendship is much the same as what I was talking about and you two seemed pretty good together, comfortable, and that might just be the necessity of your common goals, but I think you have faith in her either way. The truth is, a friend should be like that, not trying to change you into something you're not, but to try and help you see yourself for whom you really are. That and I do believe you have the same worry about her that I have about Alistair. But I could be wrong."
"You're not. I mean you are wrong about us, I mean there is no way she sees me like that anyway, as anything more than a friend, but I mean, I understand what you mean about them going off to hunt. It's like, you want nothing more than to go with them, but you don't want to get in their way, to ruin their fun. To make them hate you."
Wainwright could see that Gaige was struggling with something so he took pity on her and started walking again.
"Besides," She said, keeping up "I like older men."
"Like Eista?"
"Uhg, please let me forget about that, I was drunk, and he like, eats balls. Literally. Besides he only likes huge buff women."
"I do apologize, but I was using him as an example of a bad choice in men."
"I got ya, but that seems to be the way of things with me, either their gay, married, or not interested, and the ones that are are disgusting sleazes. It's just, I'm getting kinda tired of being alone."
"Urargu"
"Sorry, you knew what I meant, just the two of us."
"Now I ain't no expert, but mayhaps you've been trying to either find men who won't reciprocate your feelings, someone who's safe for you to, as you might say 'crush on' or you might be looking for someone to fill in the empty spot where your dad is missing from your life, which is not entirely a different thing. Again, I do apologize if I am overstepping."
"Um, ew."
"I wasn't meanin that you want to be with your dad physically. Only that, in going after older, mature men you are trying to fill the void left by having to leave your father, a man whom you had great respect and filial love for. And given that you subconsciously are going for men whom would not desire a physical relationship, but would care for you as a father would, it does lend some credence to the theory."
"That's messed up, you really think all that of me, I mean where do you even get this crap?"
"I will have you know that I have taken extensive courses in interpersonal interactions as part of my preparing to be the head of the company, these include but are not limited to conflict mediation and relationship counseling, though I must admit to not having finished all the courses at this time, and that most of the mediation is in which gun to use in which situation."
"So you're learning how to psychoanalyze people to help with running a company? Why can't you just be like Mr. Torgue and scream about EXPLOSIONS and stuff?"
"If I thought that I could make it work, I'd at least be willing to try, but that just isn't me."
"I was kidding, the thought of you screaming EXPLOSIONS or going Meedly-MeedlyMow, man, I still suck at that, I should grow up and quit trying, but anyway the thought of you doing a Mr. Torgue, that would be funny, but no, totally not you."
"And with that we are here." Wainwright drawled.
Gaige looked around, they had passed through a wooden gate and the buildings had changed. What had been tall wooden buildings were now replaced with stone frames for the first story, with larger wooden houses bulging out over them, reminding her of a fat man's gut hanging over his belt. At the end of the street was a large clearing with a tall solid metal fence, a thick gate standing in the middle.
It wasn't to this gate they went, but the smaller door set next to it.
Wainwright knocked on the door, and after a wait, the slot slid open revealing a pair of distrustful eyes.
"We're closed." The man on the other side of the door growled and started to slide the slot closed.
"I am Wainwright Jakobs, and I demand to know why this factory is not operating."
Gaige sighed, so much for subterfuge.
The man eyed them suspiciously, before he growled "One moment while I get the foreman." and slammed the slot shut.
Wainwright leaned back arms crossed while Gaige leaned in "Why'd you do that?"
"Do what? I merely announced myself. Admittedly, usually you have your manservant do it, but he has the day off."
"No, why did you tell him who you were? You could have just asked why it was closed, or psychoanalyzed him or something. Now they know who's here, and if, just if, something is wrong, you just told them the big man himself is here. Like perfect hostage material, if they're in for that."
"Nonsense, the Jakobs corporation is a family, and family doesn't lie to one another."
"Aren't you married to Alistair? Didn't his sister try to kill him and take your company? Don't you remember Katagawa? He killed all his siblings, well except what's her name, but he killed them for his company. Family can betray you."
"Those were different, they weren't Jakobs family. You'll see."
Just then the door opened revealing a burly man with a sour face.
"Are you the one claimin to be the head of the company?" He said. Something about his voice and look made Gaige think his breath must be as foul as his manners.
"That I am, though it's not a claim, it's the truth. Are you the foreman?"
"No. Foreman's busy, I'm to take you to his office, where you'll wait." he looked over at Gaige
with a leer "Oo's this, your secretary? Bit on the scrawny side, but I bet she's got it where it counts.
Am I right?"
"What's your name?" Wainwright said, eyes narrowing.
"Names Stander, why?"
"So that I can put you on notice mister Stander. We of the Jakobs corporation do not tolerate that kind of behavior. I expect you to either have a written apology in by the end of the day, or your resignation slip, either one will be fine."
Gaige groaned to herself, Wainwright didn't seem to understand, that was something you didn't tell the person, especially if you didn't know what was happening within the factory yet, and what part he played in it.
"Whatever you say, boss." Stander said with a sickening smile "This way."
They followed him in but when Deathtrap floated through the door, they let out a shout of warning.
"That thing can't come in here!" the doorman yelled "It's against policy."
"Military bots and outside loaders are forbidden" Stander agreed "We can't run the risk of it recording company secrets, after all."
"As the head of the company, I vouch for the integrity of both this unit as well as his mistress." Wainwright flatly informed them leaving no room for discussion. "Now, proceed."
The other two men looked at each other nervously, the doorman shook his head, but Stander shrugged before he turned and started leading them into the interior of the grounds.
Gaige shot Deathtrap a look telling him to be on guard and he gave a subtle nod in response.
The inside of the fence was covered in crushed gravel all the way to the main factory, which in contrast to the rest of the planet's buildings was covered in metal. Tall stacks stabbed out of the main building, though nothing was emerging from them at the moment. Other side buildings grew off the main ones like boils. Nothing about the place made Gaige at ease.
They were led around to a side staircase, the metal grates and rails had a rusty grunge to them, and creaked and groaned as they ascended them. Through the door at the top, which screeched in protest as it open, they emerged in a grubby hallway, yellowing posters lined the walls with such inane slogans as 'Don't Treat Your Life Like A Tediore, Practice Safety' and 'You Don't Work For Jack, Report Unsafe Practices' that rather than anything, gave the place a hopeless feel.
They were led to a wooden door and told to wait inside. Much like the rest of this area of the building, the office was dismal. Dominated by a massive metal desk piled high with papers, its chair looked worn, with a cracked fake leather cushion. In front of it stood two molded plastic chairs in a nauseating tannish yellow. One wall was covered in metal shelving stuffed with cheap binders, the other was glass so oily and dirty that only wan light made it through. In front of it there was a cheap table, with a disgustingly stained coffee pot, a few oily looking mugs with the logos smeared to illegibility, and a valiantly dying plastic plant.
After a suggestive wink that sent shivers up Gaiges' spine, Stander left them with a "The boss will be right with you."
Gaige listened as the creeks and thuds of his footsteps receded before turning back to Wainwright, who was inspecting one of the chairs with a look of disgust.
He looked up "I must assure you that this in no way represents the usual Jakobs office. Where is the wood paneling, the decanters of twelve year aged single malt, the proper office chairs with minimal two-inch leather cushions, and the desk is nowhere near the three inch required mahogany? This is an outrage."
"I don't think this is the real main office." Gaige said, stepping over to where Deathtrap was indicating and swept a finger across the surface of the desk, leaving a clear mark in the accumulated dust.
"What are you suggesting?"
"That Artemis is going to rub my face in it, well no she won't, I'd almost prefer it if she would, but she will give me a severely disappointed look. In other words, this is a trap."
"A trap you say? For what possible purpose?"
"Don't know, better leverage at bargaining?"
"Ururag"
"No you're right, if they wanted to bargain they would have probably tried that first. I am not entirely sure."
"Urar"
"Hmm, you have a point babe," She turned to Wainwright "Do you know anyone who works here? I mean actually know them? By sight?"
"Well I was introduced to the head of operations a few years ago when he attended a soiree that my father was hosting, I believe his name was Brandibarry."
"I see, and generally speaking, was he the kind of man who would use an office like this?" She said walking over to the shelves of binders.
"Certainly not, as I recall him, he was the kind of man who knew his scotch and bragged about his extensive collection of fish, all of which he had caught."
"I thought as much. That and these binders being filled with useless crap leads me to think that this entire wing we are in is nothing but a fake." she said shoving the binder back.
"Now why would they have that?'
"Well I don't mean that it is a fake hallway, just that this is probably an unused wing, and that whoever is leading us around here is dumping us here to keep us out of the way until they can figure out what to do with us."
"Whom."
"What?"
"It is whomever."
"Whatever. Is this really the time to be correcting my speech?"
"It is always time to fix one's grammar."
"Ugg, fine. But we need to get out of here and find out what's really going on."
"It is time like these that I envy Alistair. He always seems to be able to move quietly and I find every squeaky board in the place."
"I could leave Deathtrap here with you?"
"Urrarg"
"I know babe but we gotta keep him safe, or Hammerlock is gonna hate me, so please. For me?"
"Urru"
"You know I do get a say in this? And I am more than capable of looking out for myself."
"All right, what do you want to do?"
"I agree with your plan, I just wanted a say is all. But do be careful, I would hate to have Alistair and Artemis cross with me should anything happen to you."
"Fine, whatever you got your say, now Deathtrap stays behind and I'll go scouting."
She moved to the door "Babe?"
Deathtrap cocked his head before looking at her and shaking it, having detected nothing. Gaige carefully gripped the knob and with a turn pulled the door open. Looking both ways down the hall she found it empty. Slipping out she headed further into the building.
The hall was lined with stacks of boxes, some of which were blocking doors, and when she peered into the unblocked rooms she found them to be similar to the office they had been left in, only stuffed with more boxes and miscellaneous crap. Piles of broken furniture filled one, another was nothing but rusting lockers tossed in haphazardly.
Moving toward the end of the hall she stopped at a poster and stared in amused disbelief, it featured
a picture of an ultrasound with the caption 'Have Your Accidents In The Bedroom, Not At Work'. Looking both ways she undid the pins holding it up and folded it along the creases before slipping it into her pocket.
'Artemis is going to love this' she thought before coming to a stop. 'Wait, when did I get to the point of wanting to share random things like this with her?' she thought. Was Wainwright right? Or had their conversation just affected her thoughts? "Now's not the time for this" She muttered to herself, shaking her head and trying to clear her mind to focus on the task at hand.
The door at the end of the hall was the heavy blast kind and was set into a concrete wall in addition to being locked. Gaige put her hand to her chin and thought about it before heading back to the last room that was open. Slipping inside she made her way over the boxes and junk to the windows. While the opening mechanism had long since rusted out, a bar that had once been a chair leg provided the necessary leverage to persuade it to open.
Poking her head out, she was relieved that her memory had served her, and slipped out onto the sloping roof. Holding firm to the eave over her head, she carefully made her way across the corrugated steel to the main building. She gently slid down the roof till she reached the vent work and shimmied herself onto it, setting out to climb her way up till she could get in.
Sweating and grousing to herself, she made her way up, praying that none of the guards or employees would look up, but no one did by the time she made it to a spot where she could slip back inside.
Finding herself on a narrow catwalk high above the factory floor, she spotted several men milling about. With the foundry cold, the room was dark, which worked to Gaige's advantage as she tried her best to stealthily work her way down.
Eventually she got close enough to listen in just as a familiar face showed up. "Hay Stander, why'd you let those outsiders in anyway?" one of the men asked as the sleaze walked up.
"And I hear you let them keep their guns."
"Yeah" Another added "And I heard one of them had some kind of a combat bot."
"Shut it you morons" Stander growled "'It wasn't just anybody, he was the head of the Jakobs company. It would have been a lot more suspicious if I had turned them away. Use your head once
in a while."
"What'd Brion have to say?" One of the more evil looking ones asked.
"He said we should keep them there a while longer before apologizing that the boss had to leave on personal business, and that they should try back in a few days. And if that don't work, shoot them."
"What a waste to just kill them."
Stander smirked "Well he didn't say we should shoot them right away, now did he."
While most of them joined in on the sick laughter, the evil looking brute interjected "I was thinking that it would be better to use Jakobs to get the workers in line. Long as we have him, they won't rebel."
"Now that is a better option isn't it Mr. Stander." A low, gravelly voice drifted in "If it comes to that, kill the bot, if you have to, kill the girl. But only kill Mr. Jakobs if you absolutely must."
Gaige could only see the man's ratty slacks clad legs and scuffed shoes as he stood in the doorway, but even from where she was, she could tell he was the boss.
Realizing that time was of the essence, now more than ever, she slipped away as quietly as she could. As she lamented the fact that the cavernous room's equipment was still and silent, she wished she had the skills of Artemis in times like these. That girl could move across gravel without making a sound, much like Hammerlock. Must be a hunter thing, she thought as she arrived back at the grate she had slipped in from. She slid out before realizing that she had made it this far without any loud noises, and realizing that she shouldn't even think those things lest she trigger something.
She sighed quietly to herself 'Now I'm starting to think like that' she groaned inwardly, while scoping out the area to make sure no one was watching and then shimmying back down the duct work. She knew she was in a hurry and could have jumped, but she was sure that she would have at best made enough noise that she would have alerted the guards, and at worst went right through the roof. No better to take it slightly slower and not make a mess of things.
Moving quickly across the roof, she slid back through the window and after a quick peek to make sure it was unoccupied, down the hall to where Deathtrap and Wainwright were waiting. She knocked on the door and waited "Whom may I ask is there?" came the surly reply from Wainwright.
"It's me, let me in." Gaige whispered as loud as she could.
The door opened a sliver, revealing Wainwright with his shotgun aimed in the door's direction, before he stepped back letting it open all the way.
"And what did you find?"
"This is bad." Gaige told him in a rapid fire "There were a bunch of guys with guns, real skeezy looking, not bandits, but close, and they're coming this way, want to do unspeakable things to my poor delicate body and or kill me, and they want to kill my best bud, oh and they want to take you to make the workers not rebel, and your workers are probably still alive, and I was able to sneak around like Artemis or Zero or Hammerlock which was cool, but we need to get out of here, like now and"
"What you need is to slow down. Now if I got the gist of what you were sayin, it sounds like someone unknown has taken over my factory, got the workers hostage somewhere and wants to use us to motivate them, and they are coming here now to do just that?"
"Whew, that's what I just said. So as I see it we have like three options. One, we wait here and let them do what they want with us. Me? I reject this one, so that's out. Two, we wait here and ambush them. Course then we would be trapped here while all of them could surround us or burn us out or whatever, so also rejected. Three, we could get out of here now, get outside and wait for Artemis
and Hammerlock to return, though they know we're here and would probably come searching for
us. Or four, we get out of here now, find your workers and fight off whoever, sorry, whomever these punks are."
"Well when you put it like that, number four does sound the most appealing, I, for one, am tired of these interlopers thinkin they can take my company, though I do not know how well I'll do with all that scurrying around."
"Well, either we could find a place for you to hide, or Deathtrap could carry you for parts, wouldn't be the first time he had to, would it?"
"I do not remember that, nor do I want to" he said fingering his ring "But if it comes to that we shall proceed accordingly. Lead on."
Gaige hurried to the door, peered out to make sure the coast was clear before signaling to Wainwright and Deathtrap to follow. They hurried down the hall and slipped into the room with the open window, closing the door just as they heard the stairs groan.
They slipped outside, though Deathtrap had to pull the window out of its frame to get out, and managed to do so without making too much noise. Gaige could tell they wouldn't make it before being spotted so she turned to the other two "Babe, take Wainwright and get him to the back of the building, I'll get in through my way, we'll meet up later. I know, I'm not happy about it either. And you, keep my buddy safe" she finished to Wainwright.
Deathtrap grabbed Wainwright and flew off with him as Gaige ran for the ducts again, muttering as she did "If I die here, Artemis is never gonna let me live it down."