Oompa Loompa Takeover

Chapter 8

VIII

"Michael, I want you to take over the Chocolate Factory for me."

The man in the purple velvet tail coat had been silent a good while as he'd lead the young black boy and his mother through the factory to the exit. It had been a long day, full of excitement, wonder, and surprises as Mr. Wonka had given them the grand tour. But now he had stopped walking completely and spoke. He stood just ahead, his back to them.

The young boy, Michael, glanced at his mother. She looked equally confused. "What did you say Mr. Wonka?" he asked.

"Listen, Michael," said Wonka, turning to face him and leaning down so he could clasp the boy's shoulders. He looked as if he'd made up his mind on something. "I'm getting older, and I need someone to take over the business when I'm no longer able. I need someone to take care of the Oompa Loompas. I need someone to take over the title of Willy Wonka." The man's face broke into a smile. "I need you."

Michael's eyes went wide. "You...you want me to...to what? Replace you?

Wonka nodded.

"Me?"

"Mr. Wonka, he's just a child!" His mother said, looking disapproving.

"But that's just the thing!" Wonka said, grinning at them both. "He's a child! And that's what this job requires!" He looked to Michael's mother. "That's what this was all for! This whole escapade: the golden tickets, the tour, it's to find my replacement. And I choose him. You and your son would be taken care of for the rest of your lives, I guarantee that."

Michael's mother's face softened some. "Really now...?" she hummed.

"That is..." He turned back to the boy. "If you want to do it."

Michael was nervous. "But I don't know how."

"Don't worry about that Michael; we have plenty of time to teach you. I'm not just going to walk out on you. And you'll love it. It's making candy, take it from me, it's always fun." He searched the boy's eyes. "So...what do you say?"

The boy took a deep breath. The factory, the chocolate river, the glass elevator, the Oompa Loompas. All his? "I'd love to Mr. Wonka." He beamed.

"Please," the man said, once more smiling. "Call me Charlie."

***

"Are you done yet?"

"No, my hair's still kinda green."

"It said it would wash out after 3 washes, not one. Get out of the way and let me have the sink."

"But I look stupid."

"You always look stupid."

Wonka turned his head towards the washroom as he listened to the boys bicker. They were so young. Was he really going to let them help him fight the Oompa Loompas?

They're not going to leave, so I might as well make use of them. Wonka sighed as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He reached up and pulled his top hat from his head. They've got the spirit, even if they don't have the skill. He considered his top hat in his hands for a moment. But they don't know what they're getting into. He curled his fingers into the top hat's brim, crumpling it.

If they fought with him and did what he'd been planning, they'd be heading deep underground, into the very heart of the factory. Where the really dangerous O.L. presided.

The Renders.

The loyalist pack of O.L. to the leader, Gloobenstomper. They were a specially trained killing squad that had been created after the coup. Their mission? Protect Gloobenstomper from his biggest threat, Wonka himself, by obliterating Wonka once and for all. Wonka had tousled with them a few times in the last year. Every meeting had ended in another casualty for them, and another injury for Wonka that sent him back in the dark depths of the factory to recover.

The Renders were sick in the head. Had no compassion, no weakness, no fear.

And never once had he heard them sing.

"We're back." Miles announced as he and Gerald reentered the room. Wonka looked up at them. Their hair was dripping wet, and now only slightly green. Miles's skin had been scrubbed clean of orange, now revealing a bit of freckles on his face.

Gerald was back to looking like a normal human being as well, only the welts that were spreading across his neck and exposed forearms marring his pale skin. Wonka assumed the injuries were gumball slug inflicted.

"So," Miles asked, finding an empty crate to sit on."What have you got for us?"

Wonka set his top hat down beside him, relinquishing it from his fidgeting hands. "I've been trying to attack their food supply. I've been torching their goddamn cacao bean fields forever, but they just keep planting more and tightening security. What I've really been needing to do is find where they're actually storing the dried beans. One of their main weaknesses is that they're isolated. If we destroy every last bean, they'll starve. Problem is, I could never seem to find the right room."

"I thought you said you knew where everything was down here." Gerald said with impudence.

Wonka scowled. "I know where every room is, kid, not where everything is. There are thousands of rooms down here, it's taken me this long just to narrow down the search. Especially since they've moved things around."

"So...you think you've finally found the room, right?" Miles asked.

Wonka's dark eyes rose and pierced Miles. "I don't know. But there is a room that I haven't been able to get into. It used to be the room for edible marshmallow pillows. It's protected so heavily, there's got to be something in there worth destroying. And with your help," Wonka's eyes roved to look at Gerald. "We might—hey! You aren't even listening to me!"

Gerald looked up from the Playboy magazine he'd picked off the floor.

"Gimme that, you shit!" Wonka said, tearing it from his hands.

"Seriously?" Miles asked his friend.

Gerald shrugged. "What? I'm no good at planning. You guys just figure it out and then tell me what to do."

Wonka stuffed his mag into his couch. "If you get your brain working then we won't have to waste time telling you later!"

"Okay, okay...I'm listening." Gerald said, sounding bored.

"What I was saying is that the room's main entrance has been permanently blocked. All that's left is the little elevators that the O.L. use. Now obviously, I can't fit into any of those. What we do is send you guys through and into the room. Whatever the hell you find, you blow to smithereens. Got it?"

Miles was nodding. "Yeah, let's do it."

Wonka grinned. "Alright. Now let's get you guys some decent weapons."

Please bear with me, the next chap is not them picking out their guns, it jumps right to trying to get into the room and more action. I'm sorry if some parts of these last two chaps were boring, it's sometimes hard to explain all this stuff in an interesting way.