Burgso, Ironbridge Province, Katzian Republic
June 14, 1942
At the industrial city of Burgso, chimney smoke from factories pollute the sky while the wealth gap between the Inner city and the suburbs continued became more polarized. Yet, work continued as usual. Despite the economic tensions in the city, it was a miracle that this place still stands strong.
The sun rose slowly, businesses began opening up for the day. People hopped on buses, trains and trams to commute to work. The clear blue sky is laced with the smoke and ash, making it hard to breath.
Most people in the Inner City are not born here. Almost 70% of the city's inner industrial population are not from here. Because the Inner City is not a place to raise a family. It's not a place to settle. It's not a place to marry. It's a brutal Industrial Conglomerate hellhole that sought to exploit the Proletariat. You only come into the Inner City if you're looking for work, which is abundant with the hundreds of factories, or you're a suicidal maniac.
Jan Kallavan is a mix of both. He came here at the age of 21, four years ago, to look for a stable job, lacking from his rural hometown.
He was eventually employed at Harner's Steel Company, which used to be an independent business before being bought out by a conglomerate. The schedule is brutal. Long hours, poor working condition, constant salary cuts, dangerous tasks, and safety regulation is merely a suggestion. More than 25% of the company's workforce end up heavily injured, handicapped, mentally unstable, or just dead.
Competition is very high. Hence why working hours are long and tasks are often rushed to consistently compete with other Steel Mills. It's not just that. It's also labor. If you were poorly performing in your tasks or showing signs of inefficiency, the Company will not hesitate to replace you with a foreigner who will work the same hours for half the wage.
As for now, he is a senior member of the crew, but he still has unpaid overtime, along with trauma from seeing all the gore and deaths around him.
Jan currently lives in a cramped apartment in the Industrial District. It was cheap, filthy, tight, and there are only four rooms: A bathroom, two bedroom, and a living room. That's it. But in order to cover the cost since his salary is not enough to pay it alone, he lives with a roommate who agrees to cover 45% of the rent.
Jan returned home from work to his Apartment complex. He opened the door, oily sweat dripping from his clothes after another grueling overnight shift at the steel mill. He panted like crazy, grabbing a table cloth to wipe his forehead and taking off his jacket.
A lean lanky man with short curly hair walked in the living room. His hair was messy, his voice hoarse, and his posture relaxed. He yawned," Another overnight shift, Jan?"
"Yeah," Jan answered nonchalantly, taking off his shirt before tossing them into the laundry basket.
Greg smirked, "You tired?"
Jan groaned" Well what does it look like? Of course I'm fucking tired."
Greg chuckled" Sorry, I was just messing with you."
Jan slumped on the couch and took a deep breath. His eyes were sore. His back hurts like hell and his entire body feels like it's going to collapse at any moment. " Well it ain't funny."
Greg sat down beside him and slid a letter at the table" This is a letter from your sister Grendel."
" What does it say?" He sighed, not wanting to read it.
" Well uhhh.." Greg opened the letter and began reading it out loud to him" Alright. It says here ' Dear Jan, it's been a while since we last talked in person. I know it's been months and our relationship has not really been the best, but can you please send some money back home? Our Mother is ill.' "
Jan's eyebrows frowned, he rubbed his forehead and let off an annoyed groan" Ahhh..why ask for money now?" He muttered.
" You don't have any money left?" Greg folded the letter to set it aside the table.
Jan calmed down, saying" It's not that. It's just that she asked for money at the worst timing. There's a minor recession going on, my salary has been slashed, working hours increased, and I'm barely getting any sleep. "
Greg chuckles," Well isn't your job also very dangerous?"
" Dangerous is an understatement. If you work at a Steel Mill, it's life or death over there. The heat is unbearable. The manager is a dickhead. Deadlines are rushed. If you mess up, you'll get replaced. " Jan ranted.
" Wait, wait, wait- what do you even do at the Steel Mill? " Greg inquired.
" Really? You've been my roommate for the past 7 months, and you don't even know what I do?" Jan stared at him in disbelief.
" I know you work at a steel mill, alright? I know that. But I don't know what you DO in it. You get what I mean?" Greg dictated.
Jan responded" I manage the furnace, that thing is very hot. You'll get burned if you're not careful."
Greg laughed before his face turned serious," Back to the money issue, tell me-
Do you really have any money left? Be honest with me."
Jan's face turned blank. He zoned out, deep in his thoughts. Money? Does he have any left? How much? He asked himself. His salary has been slashed, so his usual 2,500 marks a month salary as a furnace operator is now 1,875 marks. He has to cover rent, which is usually 670. But he also has to pay bills, groceries, taxes, and now has to send money back home.
As for now, he only has 780 marks left in his bank account. But even that's not enough.
" Hey- you alright?" Greg waved his palm at Jan's face.
" Yeah, I'm alright." Jan snapped out of it.
" You have none left, don't you?" Greg concluded.
" Yeah." Jan admitted.
Greg grabbed his wallet and handed him 400 marks. " Here. This will help you out. "
Jan declined" No. I don't wanna be indebted to you. "
" Stop being so stubborn. You don't owe me anything. This is just me helping a friend out." Greg insisted, placing the money at Jan's greasy pockets.
" Well thank you, Greg. " Jan cracked a slight smile.
Greg stood up and stretched his arms" No need to thank me. It's basically pocket change for an accountant. It's not much- but the minor recession is hitting me too."
Jan's face twitched with slight resentment before nodding and forcing a smile" Yeah.."
Greg yawned, the soft wooded floor squeaking as he walks to the bathroom" I'm leaving in about an hour. There's some boiled potatoes at the pot if you ever get hungry."
" Of course."
Jan went to his room and slumped his back on the mattress. He fell asleep immediately.
(Later)
After taking a quick nap, he took a shower and put on some new clothes. He thought about opening the window to let in some fresh air- but he remembered that he lives in Burgso so he kept it closed.
Jan glanced at his watch, it's now 10:24 AM. He has to go back in the factory by 12 so he has two hours to spare.
But being the first comer that he is, he wants to arrive an hour early than most of his co-workers. Why? Well he has to inspect the new machines and negotiate with his boss regarding the issue with his salary.
Jan walked out the apartment building, still feeling tired. He hopped on a bus, paid his fare, and sat by the front.
As the bus moved, Jan watched from his view the endless smoke pouring into the sky. It was gray. Not a single white cloud was visible.
" I can't wait to go home." Jan said, missing the countryside.
When he arrived at the factory, he did his task as usual. He greeted coworkers, had a few banter, before heading straight to work. Jan operated and handled the furnace. The heat is killing him. It feels like he's going to incinerate at any moment if he makes a single mistake.
The work is excruciating and brutal. As if it wasn't enough- he also needs to be efficient as possible since orders have been rushed to meet deadlines.
He unloaded an absurd amount of raw materials into the furnace. Sparks emerged from the molten iron, and the iron ore melted. The heat only intensified.
" Shit- I'm gonna fucking burn here or something." Jan cursed under his breath, steering the machine and increasing the temperature to melt the ore faster.
" Be careful, Kallavan. You'll get fried if you're not careful. " His manager said.
After doing his job, he was then called to the Boss's office to discuss the issue with his salary.
Jan walked the stairs heavily panting. Greasy and dirty after hours of hard work, he felt like he's going to die. His heart started pumping like crazy. He feels like he can't he breath, yet he continued walking upstairs.
He entered the office of the Boss. It was clean, air-conditioned, corporate-looking settinh. He saw a balding fat man sitting behind the desk. It is Roger Sern. Founder and CEO of Harner's Steel Company.
" Mr. Kallavan, take a seat." Sern sternly commanded.
" Yes sir," Jan sat down.
" Now regarding the issue with your salary," Sern crossed his arms" I hope you understand that we did this out of practicality. The company needs to cut wages so that it could survive and that hundreds of workers wouldn't go unemployed. You're a valued member to our company, we appreciate your contributions as an operator. We express our deepest apologies and we hope that you'll understand the dire circumstances we are under."
Jan held his scoff. It's all fake. Sern is just another greedy cow like all the other Industrialists. That polished apology is not gonna work on him. But the anger in his mind is just too much for the man to handle.
Jan clenched his jaw, nodding his head and forcing a smile" I understand, Mr. Sern. I thank you for your transparency . "
Sern's face turned smug"Well it's good that we've come to an understanding. I am just grateful that you're not a union thug."
Jan's smile broke," What do you mean by a union thug, Mr. Sern?"
There was an amused look in Sern's face, almost as if he's intentionally provoking him.
" Oh, not much. You know how unions are? They are a bunch of lazy entitled brats that disrupt operations." Sern smugly told.
When Jan heard that...he wanted to murder Sern.
But he couldn't bring himself to do it. His mother didn't raise him this way. Yet something in his mind is encouraging this hidden murderous intent, the urge to eliminate conglomerates like Sern was tempting for him to do. He has a knife in his pocket. So why not do it now?
Jan let out an awkward laugh" Yeah..I agree.."
(Kill him..kill him)
Something twitched on his frontal lobe. His face went pale. Hazy images appeared on what will happen if he slashed the knife thru Sern's throat. The bastard dying and bleeding on the floor. Military Police arresting him. Him being placed on trial. A Firing squad executing him.
Killing Sern would result in his execution. Murdering a high-ranking industrialist like Sern will certainly put him in the Death Penalty.
"Mr. Kallavan, young man?" Sern looked confused" Is something wrong? You seem to be deep in thought." He questioned, his voice laced with fake concern.
" Nothing, sir. " Jan shook his head.
Sern sighed" Well I'm glad". He glanced at the clock " Well it's past one in the afternoon. You should go back to work now Mr. Kallavan."
" Yes, sir." Jan bowed before exiting out the office.
When he shut that door closed, all he felt was humiliation. He doesn't like it when that smug parasite talks down to him like he's less than human. That fake gratitude and polished apology is as real as his wallet- nonexistent. He can't handle being treated like this anymore. He has to do something. He wants someone to save him from his miserable situation.
***
After another grueling shift, he walked his way home. While crossing a pedestrian lane, he saw a massive political poster that was plastered in front of a crumbling building.
Politics..all of them are the same. No matter who is elected, they'll still keep the old system in power, the same ones that screwed over working-class people like him. He has no business in the Political world so he just scoffed and walked passed it.
Until he read the contents.
There was a dark red sphere in the middle of it, with a text that says" POWER TO YOU!" on top of a massive Cogwheel. A picture of a stern-faced man was present in the poster, standing on a Pub's platform in what appears to be the man giving a fiery speech while hundreds of Blue-collared folks applaud him.
(THE COGWHEEL PARTY IS YOUR PARTY: WE SHALL SEIZE THE INDUSTRIES!)
At first he reacted with skepticism. That sounds like Socialist language to him. He ain't no socialist. But the language was too tempting.
Seize the factories?... He would've scoff at the idea years ago, but now, after all he's been thru, that rhetoric was his saving grace to prevent him from descending into insanity.
As he continued reading, he heard footsteps behind him.
" Young man, are you an exploited proletariat?"
A voice emerged from behind.
When he turned around, his eyes widened in shock. It can't be..it really is him!