I was almost afraid to take another step and see what was next, but I did it.
And just as I expected...
Rubber batons, hunting knives, all different kinds of stun guns, smoke grenades... there was a lot to look at. You could scroll through a circular display stand by pressing a large black button. Some weirdo stood there pressing it over and over again, eyes fixed on these... weapons. There was really no other word for it.
I managed to stay calm and limped on, walking past the next two machines without stopping. I had noticed the entrance to one of the spines up ahead, a residential hallway where, presumably, there would be individual living capsules. Available to all levels and races in this society, even me. Who was I? I was a goblin. But I still had the right to a capsule. I could have slept on one of the benches, of course — I had tried it already, and it wasn’t too bad. But a capsule was also an option. If they’d let me in with all this debt.
So what had I found out after all this? You could actually have a life here. Live well, even. I didn’t have to walk around shirtless and in boxer shorts all the time. But I couldn’t stay at GBL, no way. Goblins were always starving. They had a bad life. But if you did your ORL jobs, you really could live as a well-fed, satisfied orc — even save up a little money.
A surprise was waiting for me at the entrance to the nearest spine. I couldn’t get in.
It wasn’t the system that locked me out, but a big man with his arms crossed over his chest and a bored but uncompromising expression on his face. Shaved head, bulging muscles... The intimidating type. He was fairly well-dressed and equipped, by local standards at least, in a t-shirt, shorts, sneakers, and a belt with a short club on it. Everything he wore was black, and he stood lazily chewing something.
“Get lost.”
Short and to the point. I took a step back.
“Why? Or should I just get lost for no reason?”
My response earned me a closer look. The slight interest in his gaze vanished as soon as he noticed my swollen elbow. Still, he didn’t immediately tell me to get lost again, but deigned to explain himself.
“This spine is controlled by our brigade. We don’t let outsiders in. Anyways, there are no free spots here. So move along.”
“Controlled by your party?”
“Didn’t you hear what I said, or do I have to get rude with you?”
“Your party? I’m new. It’s my first day here.”
“Go ask someone else.”
“The sooner I find out, the sooner I’ll stop bugging you. Answer me. Is this spine controlled by a party?”
“A brigade, not a party. Parties are two to five people.”
“Okay... so there are more of you... and your party became a brigade?”
“After a party comes a squad, six to ten people. And then a brigade is ten to twenty people. This spine is home to the Celestial Alliance’s 7th Production Brigade.”
“Wow... Damn. Are you serious? Or am I supposed to laugh now?”
“Get lost!”
“Fine.”
“Here, take this.”
He threw something at me. I managed to catch it and took a look — I held an elongated candy wrapped in paper. I looked questioningly at the guard, who crossed arms back over his chest and grumbled:
“I was new once, too. And it didn’t go well for me. That’s some gum with caffeine and vitamin C.”
“Thanks!”
“You might find some empty capsules on the opposite side. This whole side is controlled by brigades.”
“Production brigades?” I asked instinctively, clenching my fist around the gum.
“All different ones. There are combat brigades, mixed brigades... But most are production brigades. I’ll tell you straight, though, asking to join one is pointless. No brigade’s gonna take just any random person they meet.”
“Thanks again.”
“Good luck.”
I decided not to bother checking if the guard’s words were true or not. I turned my back on him and slowly made my way to the opposite side of the huge, crowded room. My legs had been slowly warming up, and it was easier to walk now, but I knew they’d be complaining like hell in the morning...
Parties. Squads. Brigades.
They were even divided into types. Combat brigades, mixed brigades, production brigades... Did parties and squads have designations like that too? Things were a little more complicated than I had expected, but at least trying to figure it all out would be interesting.
I looked around at entrances to the spines to make sure there were no guards. A trash heap next to the wall caught my eye. Thinking of the hall like a city, I had just gone from the rich central area to the poor outskirts. The right place for me!
A capsule...
There was nothing surprising about the way they looked. Two levels of capsules with green outlines lined the walls of the spine. Stairs led to the second floor, and each capsule had a light and a line of text on the lid.
Occupied.
Vacant.
