Chapter 10 – Stranger Things Have Happened
*NOTE – OK everybody, I'm sorry about the wait, I do try to update as soon as possible, but I've been quite busy. Anyway, with the release of 'Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty' on the way, I'm hoping to get into the really good stuff here and give you more and more exciting chapters before the release. Don't worry, though, the story WON'T end before the game is released. Oh no, it's going to be a long one, and it could be a while before we get towards the end. So for now, just enjoy reading. Thank You!*
For what seemed like hours we walked, slowly trudging across the hot desert, until we started to get into the hills, where nature and civilization abound. I was particularly excited to see for the first time, with my own eyes, the splendor of Western Mudos. I'd seen it before, of course, in 'Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath', but to see it up close would be so much better.
After a while, we stopped. Fope gestured to me to get behind cover, which was not difficult considering there were now rocks and boulders everywhere, being in the hills and whatnot. She walked out of sight behind a large rock, and came back with a sullen look upon her face. I was about to ask what was wrong, when I was interrupted by a round of raucous laughter. I followed Fope to a gap in the rocks and peered through into a clearing. Oh dear. Wolvarks.
For those of you who don't know, the Wolvarks are the minions of Sekto, an Oktigi who eventually turned out to be a possessed steef, the host body to his Oktigi possessor. Sekto hired the likes of the Wolvarks to maintain his facilities along the Mongo River. They were a surly bunch, and would be difficult to get around, which was clearly why we'd bought the slegs and slogs. We had no alternative but to overthrow them. Or so I thought.
"Alan, you're up." Fope whispered enthusiastically.
"What, why me?" I replied, in an equally hushed tone.
"The plan's simple, Alan. You head through, pretending to be an ordinary slig guard with his slog. Then, you tell the Wolvarks that you've found an infiltrator downriver. They follow you to find said infiltrator, and I cross the clearing while you're gone. Simple."
"What about me? How am I supposed to get back?"
"Again, perfectly simple. You will tell them that the trespasser must've left, and they come back here with you. You then carry on walking to the other side of the clearing, to meet up with me, continuing as if you're just and ordinary slig guard." It sounded like a weak plan. I doubted it from the start. Nevertheless, it would have to suffice. So without further ado, I set foot into the clearing.
A few steps into the clearing was all it took. The Wolvarks all came towards me as soon as I was seen.
"Hey, you!" yelled one of them. "What do you think you're doing? You can't just trespass like this!"
"Please, my friends." I began, nervously. "I am just like you, an oppressed security worker with a dreary part-time job. I am from Rupture Farms, and I have been assigned to, uh… check on our sales round this part of Mudos."
"Now why would a security worker be doin' that?" asked one of the Wolvarks. Well, he had a point.
"I-I saw a, uh… few Grubbs downriver, I thought you might want to know."
"What? Well why didn't you stay with them? You'd better show us where they were. C'mon, guys. Bill, Ted, stay here and guard this area." Oh, dear. It appeared that my distraction would not be enough to move all of the Wolvarks. I had to improvise. I grasped at my chest, falling to the floor and pretending to be unconscious. The Wolvarks all gathered around as I writhed in pain on the floor. "Come on, Fope", I thought to myself, hoping that she would see what I was doing. Then, sure enough, I saw Fope and the pack of slegs silently crossing the clearing. Suddenly, one of them started whining, and then barking loudly. I sat up and grasped my arm, yelling at the top of my voice to cover the noise. Fope dragged the slegs to the other side of the clearing, and I stopped.
Getting to my feet, the Wolvarks all left, as if nothing had happened. I carried on to the other side of the clearing, and regrouped with Fope and the slegs. Oh, no. My slog. I'd left him behind with the Wolvarks. Fope tried to drag me back, but I ran back into the clearing to get him. One of the slegs followed me, and suddenly, all of the Wolvarks turned to see me, with an entire pack of slegs behind me.
"Get 'em!" Yelled one of the Wolvarks, and they all surrounded me. Without warning, Fope ran out into the clearing, screaming a blood-curdling battle cry. She launched a spear at one of the Wolvarks, and threw another towards me.
"C'mon, Alan. Let's finish these guys!" She screeched at me, and I dove towards the pack of Wolvarks. I thrust the spear at one, who raised his gun and shot at me. The bullets went straight over my head and hit another Wolvark behind me. Another shot me directly in the left arm, and I fell to the floor. As Fope came to get me to my feet, one of them ran towards her, to push her into the river. I shoved her out of the way and grabbed him, forcing him into the river. Then, all hell broke loose.
The faint noise of hooves began to resonate through the hills, and a magnificent steef ran into the clearing. Stranger. He fired off a couple of fuzzles at the few remaining Wolvarks, followed by a couple of bolamites. He came towards me, lifting me onto my feet, and then Fope, as well.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, and gasped when he glanced upon Fope. "What are YOU doing here?"
"Calm down, Stranger." Fope said, calmly, but Stranger refused to accept any of it.
"When are you going to let him go?" He demanded, leaning in close to her face.
"Fope, what's he talking about?" I asked.
"The steef, the one back at the farm. Ol' Stranger here doesn't think it's right to keep him in captivity like that."
"Of course I don't!" Stranger exclaimed. "It's barbaric! It's exactly what I'm fighting against, FOPE! If that is your real name!"
"Wait, what? What's he talking about Fope?" I asked, trying to make sense of the last few minutes.
"He's just got his horns in a twist over his little friend!" Fope replied, her face red with anger.
"I've heard enough!" Stranger bellowed, slowly lifting his crossbow towards Fope.
"No, you can't do that!" I screeched. "Why don't we all just CALM DOWN?!" It had became apparent that Stranger and Fope were not exactly the best of friends. Stranger pulled back his crossbow, ready to fire. I gulped, and closed my eyes. I couldn't watch this. But it was about to happen. Fope was about to die.