Chapter 25 – The Return of Blanser
*NOTE – Hello, everybody! It's been about a fortnight since the last chapter was posted. But don't worry, 'Oddworld: Al's Oddysee' is back, and with only a few chapters remaining. So read on and enjoy, in the 25th installment of the story. THANK YOU!*
The auction room looked incredibly large from down on the floor, considerably more so than it looked from the balcony at the top. I went to the buffet stand and grabbed some food. I couldn't remember eating since the final night Dave and I spent by the Mongo River, and that must have been at least two days ago. So I scooped up a couple of Scrab Cakes and tore through them in seconds. Dave seemed reluctant to eat the food, as it was mostly from Rupture Farms, but I managed to persuade him that he had to eat something.
After I'd swallowed some more Scrab Cakes, the click of a lock came from the back of the room. I knew instantly that we had to hide. Anyone could come through those enormous doors; A Glukkon, a Vykker, an Intern. I signaled to Dave to stay completely silent, then crouched down and crawled below one of the buffet tables. Luckily, the table cloths draped so far over the edge of the tables that they touched the floor, so there was little chance of us being seen.
The doors burst open with a mighty crash, and I could hear the sound of legs walking into the auction hall. Mechanical legs. A Slig. But, that wasn't all. There was a low growling sound as well. The Slig wasn't alone. He had a Slog.
I froze with fear, knowing that the Slog could easily sniff out Dave and I. I heard the Slig and his companion walk the entire length of the auction hall. When they were at the very far end of the room, I stuck one arm out from under the buffet table. I reached up and felt about on top of the table until I got a grip on a Scrab Cake. I pulled it down under the table, then lifted the table cloth and threw it across the room. I heard the Slog bark and run towards the Scrab Cake. It started to chew the little cake to pieces. Then the Slig came over and tried to pull it out of the Slog's mouth. I tapped Dave on the shoulder, then, taking the opportunity, we crept out of the room whilst the guard and his 'pet' were distracted.
We slid out of the room and to the right of the door. Dave pointed out a sign that detailed the directions to one of the ship's docking stations. If we could board an airship, we could get back down to the ground. Without any further hesitation, we ran for the sign, and turned in the direction of the arrow. Then, there was a long corridor which we sprinted down. That was when I realised. We were totally exposed. If someone appeared now, we were toast. The corridor had perfectly smooth walls, with not a single nook or cranny, and was at least 200 metres long. Luckily, there didn't seem to be anybody around.
At the other end of the corridor, we found the docking station. However, the door to the dock itself was shut. Searching around, Dave managed to find a button. He pressed it, and the whir of machinery and grinding cogs filled the corridor. The door slowly slid upwards. When it was about a foot away from the ground, it stopped. I pressed the button that Dave had just pressed, but to no avail. The door simply would not open any further.
"Well, we're done for." Dave said.
"Not yet, Dave," I assured him, "We'll just have to go back and find another docking station." I turned and started to walk back down the long, dull corridor. Dave followed, and soon we were outside the auction room again.
"So?" Dave asked.
"So what?" I replied, unsure what point Dave was actually trying to make.
"What do we do now?" He sighed, as if I was stupid for not understanding him. I was just about to reply, when I heard the sound of laughter in the distance. It was definitely the deep chuckle of a Glukkon. I lead Dave to the door of the auction room and peered through. There, in the middle of the hall, were 3 Glukkons. I watched silently as the Glukkons spoke to each other, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. Suddenly, one of them glanced over at me. I tried to move out of sight behind the door, but it was too late.
"Hey, you there!" The Glukkon bellowed. "What are you doing back there, huh?"
I turned to Dave. "Stay here." I told him. And with that, I walked into the huge room.
"Oh, a Slig." One of the Glukkons said. I walked towards them and spoke.
"Yes, sir." I tried to think as quickly as I could. "I'm from… Security. You need to vacate the room. The Glukkons remained silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Well, Slig," One Glukkon said, "We just got told by that other Slig that we could stay in this room as long as we like. What do you say to that, eh?"
"I, uh…" I was lost for words. I didn't know what to say. My cover would surely be blown at any moment.
"Now then, Slig." The final Glukkon laughed, "Best be on your way." I turned to leave, but stopped when I realised. I had heard that Glukkon's voice before. I turned around, and then realised I'd seen that Glukkon before as well. It was Blanser. The Glukkon who'd forced me to shoot 5 Mudokons, right back at the Feeco Depot. And to think, I really did it, for the sake of 5 Moolah. Now, it seemed we met again.
I walked back up to the 3 Glukkons and asked quite plainly, "Junior Executive Blanser, isn't it?" The Glukkon looked startled, but then replied.
"Yeah, that's me. Why do you ask?"
"Don't remember me?" I questioned a puzzled-looking Blanser.
"Not that I recall." He assured me.
"Oh, OK." I said. "Don't remember the Slig that shot 5 Mudokons for you?" I could tell then that Blanser remembered. He chuckled and muttered something to his partners, then turned once again to me.
"Sure, Slig." Blanser said, "I remember you. What do you want?"
"Oh, nothing." I replied. I wanted to punch him. I wanted to KILL him. But I tried so hard to remain calm. "I'll just be leaving now." I said. I turned and walked out of the room. Anger balled up inside me. I just wanted to run up to Blanser and beat him to the ground. I wanted to make him pay for what he made me do that day. But I couldn't. I just couldn't take that risk.
I rejoined Dave outside the room and lead him away to somewhere quiet. Then, I explained what had happened to me. I told him about how I'd first met Blanser, about how he'd forced me to do what I did. He seemed shocked, but understanding.
"So this Blanser guy forced you to kill 5 Mudokons?" He enquired, once I had finished my story.
"Yes, he did." I replied solemnly. "But I promise you Dave, I would never do it again. I could never bring myself to kill another innocent Mudokon."
"I believe you, Alan." He said. "It's just…"
"Just what?" I asked him. I could sense the shakiness in his voice as he spoke.
"You know that I'm going to… die?" He enquired. Then, I fully understood what he was getting at.
"Yes, Dave." I replied. I already knew what he was going to say next. I'd been thinking the same thing myself. But I didn't want to admit it. Then, Dave admitted it for me. What he said next was what upset me most. I knew inside though, it was a possibility. He said:
"I think you're going to kill me, Alan."
*NOTE - Well, well. Shocking revelations here, folks. The next chapter'll be up in about a fortnight, so until then, you'll just have to wonder what's going to happen next. Until then, goodbye. This has been 'Oddworld: Al's Oddysee'. THANK YOU!*