NUMBER 15:
THE SLIG WHO HATED KILLING

by Miss Odd

Chapter 1

I know all Sligs are totally bad and everybody hates them for killing Mudokons and stuff like that… But did you ever consider that they don't have a choice?

This particular story is a Slig's story. By reading this story may change your total opinion of Sligs. If not, I don't know what to think of you…


Monday January 1st

I am a Slig. I don't know my name, as I don't get one. We are called numbers as in, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. My number is 15, which is really strange as this is my lucky number. I don't have any friends as they all think I am really weird, I don't like killing…

It just comes over me as a lightening bullet; I can't bring myself to kill things. It's just too hard! Whenever training is on I fake that I have a cold or I have lost my pants or something like that. One time I nearly got killed for that. My teacher got fed up with me, now I think he expects me to show up…

We are the slaves I think, not the Mudokons… But why did the Glukkons have to enslave all of us. Really Mudokons and Sligs are the same, both enslaved, both not knowing one-day after another…

Beep, beep, beep, beep…CRASH!! That's another alarm clock smashed on the floor, must go to the market square and get another one after work. It's 4:00am time to get up, shower and put on my pants and get ready for work. I just stand around all day, with a gun in my hands and pretend to look urgent to kill, and walk up and down in circles all day. I look out my window of my little chamber and mutter to myself, "Why am I doing this?" I thought that was a stupid question, I even knew the answer, because I have to, after all I am a Slig.

"Hey! Sligs get over here NOW! Stop laying around doin' nothin' and get over to the reporting room!!!!" The Glukkon says over the loud speaker, the words enter my mind, but don't really bring any hope at all, actually none at all. As I get ready I hope when I report to duty, I look on the notice board and nothings there, and hopefully NO training sessions, (Then I have to fake a broken leg…) I approach the notice board… My heart jumps with joy! There are no training sessions for the rest of the month… But what's this? A Wanted sign… This has never happened before! A Slig approaches me, and says something to me; he looks young, like me?

"Hi there!" He says timidly. 

"Hello, what's your name? Mine is 15!" I say to him.

"Ummm, I'm 14! I must have been born before you. I don't remember my birth day, do you?" He says. 

"I think it was the 14th of December, I don't really know, but I suppose it doesn't really matter." I finish.

"Oh." He sounded a bit disappointed after that.

Changing the subject, I said, "What's this sign up here, the wanted sign. Nothing like this has ever happened before!" I finished.

"Yeah. I wonder what…" 14 was cut off by the horrible hissing of the Glukkons horrible voice…

"Hey! Sligs I told you to report 15 minutes ago! If you are not here, death."

"We better hurry now 14!!" I started running, gripping 14's arm as I went. He ran quickly and soon we were there. 

General Dripik stood on a large platform, a stage really. He looked very important, (obviously!). 

"I have an announcement to make Sligs." He said shortly. What could it be? Is someone getting a promotion? I know that 110 has been working hard for a promotion? But I don't think he would have called a big meeting just for that…?

"As you all have probably seen, a wanted sign on the notice board. A Mudokon has escaped. A floor cleaner in fact." He stopped there. Ooooo's and Aaaahhhh's filled the room. Dripik looked pleased. But secretly to myself I thought, "Good on you Mudokon, come and rescue me, please…" I knew it couldn't come true but there was still hope in me…

"This little Mudokon should be captured soon, his name is "Abe" and any Slig the captures him will get a promotion, and $1000000 reward. So get killing Sligs. Impress me!" He went away.
14 shivered.

"Are you cold?" I asked.

"No." He answered shortly.

"Well then what's wrong?" I asked concerned.

"Nothing." He said.

"Are you sure?" I said. 

I was trying to get something out of him, even though he didn't want to tell me…

"Well, O.K. I'll tell you!" He said.

He sounded annoyed…

"Well, please don't kill me, but I don't like killing…" 14 whispered.

"Really??? I'm the same!" I said.

"Cool, someone id finally like me!" 14 said.

From then on, it just happened. 14 & 15 were always together.

Chapter 2

Monday 14th of January

It has been 2 weeks and still no Abe. It's strange; none of the bosses has said anything? But they have raised the capture prize. We still get a promotion, but now it's $2000000 instead of $1000000. They must have a lot of money up their sleeves! 14 and I have become very close. We are best friends! Since I have never had one before, it's pretty cool! It's lunchtime at the moment and I'm sitting with 14.

"When do you think this Abe Mudokon will be captured?" I said to 14.
No one else was at this table… And I hoped no one would come. I was a peaceful Lunch, nothing different, coffee. I know it's not very healthy, but here you get what you're given… (Cigarette and coffee!) 

"I don't know." 14 said

"Maybe never." I said gazing out the dark pathetically small window.

"You know what I heard today?"14 said

"No what?" I said

"15 Sligs went missing today. The Vykkers say that they were possessed, and then went "kasplat!" If you know what I mean." 14 finished.

"Yuck." I said

"Where are you positioned today?" I asked 14

"SoulStorm" 14 said

"Oh I'm in Bonewerkz today…" I said.

'Beep beep beep! All Sligs report to duty now…' The Glukkons voice filled the room with shivers and squeals of fear.

"See you soon, I hope!" I said to 14 as I farewelled him.

I walked on to Bonewerkz, a bit excited, as I had never been there before. Still the idea was not too appealing… By the story 14 told me… I was a bit afraid that it would happen to me.

I was there. It was nothing special. A whole lot of work for me to do. Don't ask what I have to do, you don't want to know.

I approached a cart. I could get in and roll around, but I couldn't be bothered. I would just march up and down, and do that all afternoon. I walked around the corner; I heard footsteps. I looked around; there was nothing there. Just the cart and bombs, just like there was before.

That was the last thing 15 wrote in his journal. I will continue for you to see why.

15 heard one explosion after the other. He started running. Whoever was in the cart wanted him gone for good. It was gaining speed on him. He was dead, Abe, who was that murderer in the cart had killed him. The only good soul in the world of Sligs, was gone.

Sligs don't have funerals, so 14 could only wonder where 15 had gone. He didn't even know he was dead.

Did that story touch you? Or make you cry? I hope from now on when you think of Sligs, you will think of 15, and how much he cared for the Mudokons…