Sir, There's Talk of a Revolution

No Longer a Problem

The Assist swiftly rushed out of the main room, where everyone knew another brawl was about to commence. She, horrified at the last she was witness to, swore to never do so again. The animalistic moans and rage they possessed, unchaining themselves of such atrocious traits, would crawl out of them in that moment. Dogs, wolves, bears - she could understand. Human beings? She could not.

She leaned against a door, the shouts and screams audible, and squeezed her eyes shut. Someone coughed.

She opened an eye to see the Assigner. The Assist suppressed a sigh. She moved away from the door, facing him, and waiting for him to talk.

"You need to tell Captain that the Fixer needs to be dealt with, I demand it. And so does Supply," his tone was definitive.

The Assist scoffed, "You don't like Fixer, fine. But thi-"

"Supply and I know that he has something to do with the missing supplies. He must be stealing them, no, he is stealing them."

Her eyebrows raised in disbelief, "Missing supplies? Is that your excuse?," she raised her hand dismissively,"No, no I am not doing that."

"We have proof, evidence. Real evidence," he stated in his characteristic monotone voice.

The Assist instantly asked,"Proof? Proof that the Fixer stole supplies?" She turned around, her hands on her hips as she thought it over, "Wait, hold on, I thought there was no missing supplies. You thought, for whatever reason, that Mother V was coming early and assigned according to that. The issue should have been fixed when I told you the truth."

The Assigner swore under his breath,"Are you saying that no one has told you that supplies were missing? Really? Are you going to stand there and tell me that food, medicine, water - all of that - was missing and nobody said a word? On this ship?"

"I know exactly what you're doing. Trying to get me to be part of this sick plan of yours."

The Assist watched as the anger rose in the Assigner, pacing from wall to wall, shaking his arms and legs, quietly laughing to himself every now and then. He stopped, glaring at her.

"Are you lying to me?"

The Assist's heart skipped a beat. Twice, now, she had been asked. Maybe, she thought, it was happening. Maybe now, she was the next target, maybe they suspected her.

"There was this Assist once," the Assigner went on,"Habitual liar. Wouldn't - couldn't - stop. When it comes to the supplies of this ship, you don't lie, ever. Otherwise, you'll end up like that poor bastard; beaten, sliced and thrown."

The Assist rubbed her forehead,"The only time I heard something was missing was when," she whispered as her heart dropped,"Fixer..."

Without another word, the Assigner left.

The Assist knew what was coming. Words were never a secret on the ship. It would get around, and by the end of the day, it would be well-known knowledge, true or not. As Assist, she felt a responsibility. Fuelled too by the fear of being weak, especially as she was considered partially responsible, she decided that Fixer would have to explain himself to her.

Offence and disbelief. Honest and genuine, she believed. That is what she saw on his face as she asked. Utter offence and disbelief at the accusation of stealing supplies that would be assigned to him anyway.

"How does that make sene?" He asked. "Why would I steal my own supplies?"

It didn't make much sense to the Assist either.

"Being Fixer, it's all I've ver done. It's all I'm known for. There's nothing else I would rather do, I mean, I don't wish to be you. Or Assigner or Supply, for that matter. I'm not ambitious, not in that way anyway," he professed.