BLACK HOLE PUB
DAL SYSTEM

 I watched with admiration as FullMetal Basilisk, a fellow Brutor corp member, guzzled back another pint. The man might’ve even been able to hold more liquor than me. I glanced down at my NeoCom once again, still shocked at the latest corporate mail in my inbox.

Unfortunately I will be leaving the corporation, effective tomorrow. There have been many issues, some of them solved, but some of them which have not been. During my time in Freeform Industries I have been part of some epic adventures and I’ve met some amazing people, some which I still hold in the highest regard.

I have made friends; I have made enemies, but most of all I have gained respect for each and everyone I have met in their own way.

I hope that you will still have me in our public comm channel so I can still remain in communication with you all, and still participate in certain endeavours. I will always try to assist all the friends I have made here whatever happens. So if you need help – do call on me.

Apologies that this seems rather sudden, and I will miss serving with you as part of the same corp.

This is my last communique as Freeform’s Recruitment Officer.

Good luck, and fly safe.

Fullmetal Basilisk

I realized that I must’ve been living in my own little blissful fantasy. I hadn’t experienced any types of issues within the corp, but to be honest, I was often away on military assignments, and wasn’t very involved in our corporate activities even when I was around. I was based out of Dal, and while the corp kept a steady supply of frigates and ammunition available at our office there, we were primarily based elsewhere, engaged in mining and industrial operations. It was never my forte, and I guess Cytral was understanding of my position on that. I had never received a monthly dividend payout which was fair, as I had never contributed to the corporation’s growing wealth. The arrangement worked fine for me, but apparently left me out of the loop on a great many things.

“So what’s going on, Metal?” I asked, lifting my glass to my mouth. Metal and I had never been close, but had a pretty good understanding of each other; Brutors were pretty simple that way. Our intense focus was often misunderstood for aloofness or stupidity, but that was far from the truth. We simply spent a lot of time in our minds.

“Isshh nuffin. I has got nuffins bad to say bout anyones.” He slurred, and I realized my earlier assessment of his alcohol abilities may have been overrated.

“Jussst tired of bullshits. I’m the bleedin recruitment ossifer!” Metal began to raise his voice.

“You know the rook. Loyal sumbitch. He workss all every days, giving more than hundred millions to the corp every day, but he’s only getting paid twenty million for hiss takes! Is just wrong to me.” Metal’s words were getting hard to follow.

I knew the rook well. I refused to call him by his real name; which was common for me with many of our newer recruits. This one had stood out. He was brazen, having often engaged in banter with me in our public channel, making jokes at my expense. Sometimes he made my skin seethe, but he had balls, at least until I cut them off eventually. Still, the rook was dedicated and tireless, working diligently building our coroporate coffers.

My assumption was he had an understanding with Cytral. If he didn’t like it, he should address it directly. Of course, Metal was our recruitment officer and probably responsible for bringing most of these recent recruits to Freeform, so it would make sense if some of them were having issues that they would talk to Metal about it directly.

“I commed the Directors,” Metal continued. “Repeatedly. No resluts. Their attitude is ‘If he’s not lickin it, he’s free to leave the corp.’ Bullslits! We’re not a dictatorshit, we’re a goddammed corp!” 

He slammed his glass heavily against the table, sloshing his beer around and gathering the attention of nearby patrons. If Metal was anything like me, he was probably looking for a fight, then a woman or two.

“What can I do, Metal?” I asked. I had never experienced corporate drama before. It made me a little sick to be honest. I had no time in my life then or now for petty games, or pissing matches to establish who the alpha male was. 

“Nuffin to be done, friend.” Metal retorted. “Peoples talkin behind me backs, saying shits about me. Can’t fights what I can’t sees.”

I understood completely. Rumours, hearsay, gossip, those were things that could destroy empires much less small corporations. Still, I wasn’t satisifed with Metal giving up; it had never been his style.

“Try once more.” I said, trying to get Metal to focus on me. “Talk to them once more. Be blunt. Be direct. Lay it out there. What have you got to lose really?”

Metal swayed a little in his seat, and I knew he was thinking on my words. Finally, he barked out his familiar laughter, startling more customers around us, but I didn’t care.

“Yura good man, kernel. I’ll try once mores.” Metal said.

With that, he lifted his glass, and I returned the salute, both us consuming our drinks.

“Alright then.” I said. “That’s settled. Now let’s go somewhere and start a fight, then get us some whores, eh?”

Metal slapped his hands on the table. “Now you’re talkin the good shits!”

And with that, we left the pub seeking adventure.