act10mini

In an open area in the Infected community, a large crowd of the Infected are gathered.

A blue-blooded Member of the Council wanting to chat with them. Now there's something new.

With looks of both curiosity and doubt, they gaze at the tidily dressed girl before them.

Didn't they say that Councilor man was coming today?

Look, see what I told you? None of those old codgers would come themselves. They hardly want to get up close with us.

Fact remains they sent someone at all, though. What are they up to?

Ahem...

Not a worry, everyone, say whatever you want to say. I'll pass on all the issues you raise to Councilor Angst.

(Whisper) You first.

(Whisper) Why me? Why not you?

We'll start with the man over there, then.

Eh? Me?

Yes, how long do you reckon you've been working here?

Not more than half a year.

...Can't remember it now.

So, whereabouts did you come from?

Kazimierz.

Ursus...?

Compared to before, how do you feel life is now? Is your daily workload too much?

I don't have to risk my life down in the underground arenas, at least... Yeah, I can get by and scrape up a living. It's okay.

They said being at this event would still count as work, and we'd still get paid. Is that true?

That, I can assure you. After the event's over, we'll reimburse you all.

So, have you ever had your pay docked before, or not come on time?

You can tell me, it's alright! I wouldn't let your information slip!

I see how it is, then... I'd like to ask, your family lives about...

Just right in this neighborhood. We're all in one bed, and they provided us bedding for the first day's wages. It's a bit thin, but we all squeeze up in the winter, so it's not that cold.

Several people in one household, I see... So are there any elderly here?

Factory won't take them on. They can't take the physical labor.

The ones who have kids might be let in here to live, but it's hard to say. The ones without... maybe there'll be work fit for old people, and they'll accept, but that's not easy either.

Then can you tell me about your meals and pay here? Including if anyone's ever had their wages deducted?

We eat straight in the factory. I get to eat a half-decent amount, at least. Better than working on an empty tank.

And pay, well... hahah...

Thing about pay is, times are, the supervisor...

He tells us the Originium on us rubs onto the goods, and now the product's contaminated and they can't sell it, so they won't pay us.

Those people, honestly... They do one thing and say another...

It's always like that. And they said recently our factory's had bad results so they won't raise our wages. And they'll drag a whole lot out at once whenever they please, hire new ones after a bit, and they get paid even less...

We've got no room for a say. The council won't even let us in, and not one of them listens.

Mm, that much I've noted...

Normally, now and then we'd head to a pub close by, kick our feet up once we're off work... but this morning, they had a fire break out.

Bloody right. There's just been no end to it lately.

A fire? The... 'Green Spark' pub?

When did it happen? Just this morning?

How? What about the girl running the place? Is she alright?

Ah, that we're not too sure of ourselves. The regulars there said they've been searching for her all this time, but they haven't the faintest where she's run to...

What's happening?

*cough* *cough* *cough*... What's going on?!

Left side, right side, by the plan! Grab them all! Go!

(An explosion? This is the scent of Originium explosives...)

Let go of me, let go of me! What the hell are you lot doing?!

Wh-Who the hell are you all—

Keep it down! Stuff their mouths!

(Infected? Why?)

(Four, six, eight, ten... this is odd, where did they all come from? Where are all the guards?)

(...What are they taking the workers for? What is it they want?)

(No, hold on... they're tying them up right in the street, no hesitation. They were clearly ready for this...)

(I need to see what this bunch intend on doing.)

Take that girl away as well.

You behave.

Let go of me. I can walk by myself.

Hurry it up, move! Into the van, is that everyone? Go, take them all to the factory!

Got them all, boss!

Shut the door! Go, go, go!

(It's been a twenty-minute journey, and they've taken turn after turns along the way. These people are on the watchout.)

(These ties are practically insulting, using material as regular as this. I could burn these to nothing in a heartbeat.)

(Now we're at... the factory? It's barren! Where are all the facilities?)

(Strange...)

Why are you taking us?!

L-Let us go! We—I-I've got a family waiting for me to send money back! For Pete's sakes, let us go...!

Shh, settle down! Now stay there!

I'm telling you, someone'll have the police on you, kidnapping all these people in the street!

The sooner you let us go, the gentler they might be on you when the time comes...

You're pulling my leg, the police? You think that scares us?

Now shut your yaps and behave, the lot of you!

Y—You're all Infected too! What kind of business is this?!

You'll be done for in the end if you carry on like this!

You can zip it.

Ugh—

We said be-bloody-have! Okay? Keep prattling and you're done for right now!

I'm warning you lot, don't try anything funny with us. If I find a single one of you even thinking of any Originium Arts, I'll cave your head in, understand?

Now be still!

(These people, honestly... This is the least creative villainy.)

(...I won't let them off easily, soon enough.)

(But just what are they up to...?)

What about that councilor? Where's he? Weren't we nabbing an old man? Why've we got a little miss instead?

Same difference. Old boy, young girl, it's fine as long as we have them.

(So they were coming after Councilor Angst.)

So what now?

We're waiting for the signal from the rest. Just get ready for now.

Did everything end up here?

We only took half.

Then remember, when you head back, drop past the shot building by the old border part of the city. Do away with all the bomb stuff and the chemicals. It's dangerous leaving it there. Don't let it bite us in the arse.

Right! The safehouse and all that. I almost forgot.

And the stuff the Danton brothers hid for getting out of the city. Make sure that's ready to go too.

That's money, clothes, false IDs, and the essential weapons! Don't forget any of it!

Oi, oi, take it easy, they're all listening!

What's the matter? They're dead before they'll get to talk.

Plonk those explosives in place, move it.

You lot watch these Infected, we're off to work.

Righto.

(...Are those all bombs?)