EPILOGUE
ooOoo
The day was almost over when the train finally decelerated. It passed through the huge open doors of the factory with an unpleasant screeching sound before coming to a teasingly slow halt in front of the platform in a sputter of carbon monoxide. As soon as it stopped, the compartment doors opened automatically and the train driver pulled the alarm signal several times with a silly little chuckle.
"Alright alright! Hold yer horses, we're coming!"
Several groups of Sligs were already bustling about on the platform and began to take out the crates without delay. The driver, having spotted the Slig who had just protested, gave him a dishonest grin behind his mask and activated the train's alarm again as he passed right by the speakers. The creature, taken by surprise, leapt into the air, screaming, and then, with one hand over his heart, brandished his fist at the driver. There followed a childish merry-go-round in which the alarm sounded several more times under many profanities until an imposing figure slammed his shoes on the platform.
"Can someone explain to me what all the fuss is about?" the Glukkon asked sternly.
Quiet was restored at once, as the Sligs affiliated with the factory immediately recognized Rupturefarm's CEO, Molluck. Even the driver refrained from continuing to play the fool, understanding instantly that he was not dealing with small fry. Molluck was a highly regarded personality who had managed his business to perfection so far, and was as much envied as respected.
"My apologies!" he improvised quickly. "The control was blocked, but it's fixed now! Ah ah... ahem!"
His insecure laughter died quickly when he noticed that the Glukkon was staring at him with an intense, evil look, his eyes squinting and his lips pursed around an expensive cigar. He couldn't explain where it came from exactly, but Molluck had a dangerous aura - or a certain charisma, perhaps - that radiated authority and presence, and made the Slig feel as if he were being pinned like a bee. The driver hastily looked away and rummaged through his papers scattered on his dashboard, cursing this day in a low voice. He finally found the document he was looking for and straightened up as best he could.
"Uh, I... Here is your order form. I ask you to please... well I mean please check if... well if you want to take the trouble to..."
"Do it" Molluck ordered coldly to one of his assistants, ignoring the driver's confused stammering.
No sooner had he finished his sentence than the order form was snatched from the pilot's hands. The Slig in charge of the verification wasted no time and rushed to check the parts of their new grinder. It was a matter of being vigilant, this equipment had cost a small fortune, derisory in comparison to the profits generated by the sales of the factory, but still. One did not joke with the Moolah, that everyone agreed on. And even less so if they were the CEO's Moolah.
Little by little, the Slig dutifully ticked off the squares, after having checked with the various groups who unpacked the packages that everything was in order and without defect. The slightest scratch had to be reported to the boss, which would give him a wonderful opportunity to demand financial compensation for the affront. But for the moment, everything was perfect.
"Hey! Wuzzat?"
Or maybe not. The Slig rushed to the car from which the exclamation of surprise just came, ready to put the first stroke on the order form. He found a very young colleague who had recently joined Rupturefarm, standing still in front of an open metal box, half bent over the contents inside.
"What's the...?"
Then a tiny hand sprang up and closed on one of the tentacles of his snout. Surprised, the Slig jumped and backed up a step, letting out a swearing, although the weak grip had probably not hurt him at all. The controller's gaze wavered for a moment between his disturbed colleague and the box, wondering if he should approach, then unhealthy curiosity won out. He was rewarded by a most unlikely sight: half-curled at the far end, a blue baby Mudokon with a sewn-up mouth was looking up at him with big, innocent and slightly fearful yellow eyes. It seemed as lost as the Slig itself.
The two security guards looked at each other at the same time.
"What do we do? We get rid of it?"
"Err... dunno. We don't have our weapons anyway."
"Pah! He might as well be a test run for the new grinder!"
"Huh... why not? Hey wait, something's 'round his neck right?"
The Slig had just noticed the cord dangling halfway down the Mudokon's frail shoulders. The baby flinched and waved his arms, not quite sure what to do when the Slig's hand reached dangerously close to him and grabbed the cord without any gentleness. He pulled on it, revealing a sign that had slipped down the baby's back, and finally removed it. The two Sligs read the message together, one tilted his big head to the side while the other scratched his forehead. Then they shared a look again.
"We bring him to the boss?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Although the controller should have walked away and resumed his task, he followed his colleague who had already lifted the container. No one necessarily paid any attention to them as they made their way up the platform towards the Glukkon.
"Boss! We found something unexpected and thought you might be interested!"
Molluck turned toward them, raising an eyebrow as the rest of his face tensed slightly. Sligs were not meant to think. In case they had bothered him for nothing, he would refresh their memories by removing their year-end bonus. In the other case... might as well not change anything. The Slig in front of him raised his arms higher to reveal the contents of the crate, while the controller tapped the order form lightly with a long fingertip to temper the beginning of his excitement. With a little luck, they might get a promotion?
When he discovered the baby Mudokon, Molluck blinked, taken by surprise. He certainly hadn't expected this. For a moment his gaze remained locked on the big eyes full of naivety, glowing with curiosity. It must have been the first time the little being had seen a Glukkon and his tiny, shy smile, held back by the stitches, spoke volumes about his ignorance. He wiggled a little and tried to straighten up by reaching out to the CEO, who was much too far away for him, before staggering awkwardly, tipping forward, and pressing his tiny hands against the metal surface.
"What's that?" Molluck's hoarse voice asked, not taking his eyes off the child.
"We don't know, boss" the controller began awkwardly. "But this came with it."
He held up the sign he had kept in his other hand and raised it high in turn. Molluck didn't even have to bend down to decipher the message.
"'Dear customer, thank you for your purchase! The Vykkers laboratories are happy to count on your fidelity and grant you an EXCEPTIONAL offer: a product guaranteed 100% silent! We are looking forward to dealing with you again very soon, blah blah blah...' Hum..."
As Molluck turned back to the baby, the Slig turned the sign over.
"There's a sequel, boss! I hadn't seen it before" he finished, mumbling under his breath.
The Glukkon swirled the smoke from his cigar in his mouth before blowing it almost gently into the metal box. Inside, the newborn twitched, shaking with spasms. He fell backwards and rolled over trying to escape the aggressive substance, big tears running down his cheeks, but only a whimper barely louder than a whisper could be heard.
"'Guaranteed 100% silent', not quite, but we are approaching it! the CEO approved with a satisfied grin. This even gives me an idea!"
The Glukkon had been looking for a satisfactory image for a sign illustrating the prohibition of talking between employees for a while. The vision of those stitched lips was appealing to him. He was even beginning to think that the little Mudokon had the potential to charm him. He let out a small chuckle, which his Sligs subordinates were quick to imitate.
"Good. So what's next on the message?" Molluck asked as the controller raised his arm high again. "'Product name: Abraham (Abe)...?' And what?" he mumbled, squinting as the last word was so hard to read, as if its author had suddenly lost the strength to write. "...'Lure?' Hmm. That's it, 'Lure'. Abraham Lure."
The Glukkon laughed disdainfully and turned back to the child.
"Well, you certainly won't be able to lure anyone, 'Stitched Lips', but at least you're not going to cause us any trouble, not a chance!"
His chuckle deepened somewhat as he gave Abe a conceited, superior look before nodding his head.
"Good, very good! We'll accept this... gift, or whatever it really is. I don't think there's any point in sending him back to the conditioning center, he might as well get used to our factory as soon as possible. You!" he suddenly barked at the Slig who was holding the crate and almost dropped it. "Your name!"
Molluck preferred to buy Sligs that had a name rather than a code, which already showed a certain quality in the soldiers. The Slig in question recomposed himself as quickly as he could and straightened his posture.
"Wildum, sir."
"Yeah right, Wildum" Molluck muttered with a sneer. "I'm putting you in charge of this little guy. Make sure he gets the basics right and gets into his role as soon as possible. Now get back to work, you are dismissed!"
With that, Molluck turned away from them completely and walked with some class toward his office. The controller grumbled as he swallowed his promotion hopes, then turned to Wildum who had frozen in astonishment. The newcomer Slig, downgraded to the rank of nanny, suddenly seemed to him much less frequentable and especially much more fun to humiliate.
"Bwahahaha loser! He burst out laughing as he walked away."
Wildum blinked and reacted a little too late, shouting several Sligs insults after him. He then noticed that the controller had joined the nearest group and, after a brief exchange with them, all the red sights turned to the crate, or rather to him. Then they broke into laughter as they all pointed at him. The unlucky Slig sighed in frustration. The whole factory was going to know about this before dinnertime. He gave the baby Mudokon a reproachful look.
"It's all your fault!" he shouted as he finally activated his legs to get out of here, away from the mocking chuckles that grew louder by the second. I should have thrown you into the nearest grinder!
Extremely displeased, Wildum marched through the factory corridors, glancing regretfully at every working meat saw as soon as he saw one. Now it was too late, he could not get rid of his burden. He had to forget about this idea and concentrate on what was next. If he was responsible for this good-for-nothing Abe, he would have to keep an eye on him at all times, so he would have to deal with him during his working hours. The young Slig was in charge of guarding the slaves in the area of the herbivorous stockyards. At least there weren't many dangerous installations and the livestock wouldn't try to chew up the baby. As for the slaves, they didn't have to react in any way unless they wanted to be beaten. Besides, he could feed him right there, he would just have to find a way to force his lips open. And with a little luck, Wildum could even find a small cage to let him sleep in, at least until he got old enough to understand how things worked here and earned the right to a cell.
Things seemed to be clearing up a bit, but the harsh reality caught up to him with every snicker he heard on his way.
"Ah, here we are" he sighed. "News travels fast, don't you think? Pfff shit."
He didn't even have the heart to get angry anymore, he just felt pathetic. It was then that he felt small hands gently resting on his tentacles. Surprised, he straightened his head slightly but did not move away. The baby Mudokon, Abraham Lure, Abe, was looking at his red lenses with his big innocent eyes. It was very strange, but Wildum really felt that he was asking him if he was okay.
That was ridiculous, and yet.
It shouldn't have affected him.
And yet...
"I just hope you won't be the death of me, loser" the Slig sighed as he disappeared into the shadows of a hallway, leading Abe to the first step of his fateful destiny.
THE END
THE BEGINNING