Brewing Hatred

[Zynth]

Carson roamed the streets of New York, trying his best to find work. Not many would want to employ a haggard looking man with tattered clothes. He spent most of his time begging and searching through trash in an attempt to survive. People could barely recognize him as the owner of one of Liberty's most loved breweries, those who did gave him sustenance to survive.

While spending his time as a beggar, rummaging through trash, he discovered the beacon of hope for the poor of Liberty. The many food halls that offered food to the poor and destitute in the slums that dot the many planets of Liberty. Originally, he thought that his plight was unique to him, mingling amongst the people that patronize the food halls, he learnt of many similar people who went through similar cases. Locals being displaced by foreigners, thrown out by rigged lawsuits or by force, people who had been double crossed and people who have suffered because of the outside influences. Birds of a feather flock together, he soon made friends with the rest of them who shared stories of their own downfall. CEOs of small corporation, simple workers who were cut for foreign labour, displaced members of the middle class who could not get jobs, these are just a few of the people he met.

It was in these food halls that he soon began to think for himself, the problem with Liberty, the cancer that caused the suffering of so many innocent Libertonians. The disease that came from abroad, the influx of greedy foreign corporations and the equally greedy upper classes of society. His sense of hopelessness was replaced by drive, the drive to continue living and to fight. To protect the interests of his society, to protect Liberty from itself. He began to save up money, hopefully to return to Planet Denver to get in touch with his contacts, his townfolks. He scrimped on food and rummaged for valuables to sell to the local underground market.

However, his daily earnings was far from what was required to buy a one way ticket back to Denver. It was an impossible task. If he didn't eat, he couldn't find the strength to scavenge. If he ate, he couldn't save up his money. His situation seemed almost inescapable, he felt that he was swallowed by a dark abyss of which he could never reach the light. But one fateful day, his outlook changed. The day he heard over the loudspeakers of the Salvation Food Hall.

"We are the Xenos, we are out here, and we have not forgotten you".

-----

Asking around his friends, they finally got him in contact with a local Xeno recruiter, Andrew Evanz.

Their first meeting was a pleasant one, they met at the Salvation Food Hall and shared stories about their life. Carson beamed the moment Andrew mentioned how he loved Greenwich's "Old No. 8" whiskey.

Carson revealed his plan, to find a way back to Planet Denver and round up whatever aid he could get from his contacts. From then on, he would purchase a ship and perhaps even get some for his newfound friends down on Manhattan, all to start up a small gang of pirates to terrorize foreign shipping. However, after being enlightened about the Xeno movement, his new goal was to get to Denver, wrap up whatever he could and join the ranks of the Xenos.

Andrew, being a Xeno recruiter, pointed him in the direction of Ames. Originally, he wanted to transport him directly to Ames, but Carson refused. He wanted to return to his home Planet, Denver to meet up with his contacts one final time before becoming a criminal of Liberty. Andrew reluctantly agreed, Carson was to meet at the Manhattan, Abbey district spaceport next week to be picked up by a freighter and transported to Denver. The rest of the passengers would be transported to Ames.

Carson agreed to the plan and was very much excited. He knew he wasn't alone in his plight nor was his alone in his ideals. He could join a group that shared his viewpoints, a group that could sympathize with him, a group that could take care of him. Finally, he was no longer just a poor beggar with an idea, he would become a freedom fighter with a purpose.

-----

1 week later, Planet Manhattan, Abbey district spaceport.

Carson boarded the civilian freighter. Alongside side him was Andrew and a few of his good friends he had made along the way. A certain Mr. Robert Fender, once CEO of a small construction industry, now thrown out after a hostile takeover from a Kusarian firm, a Ms. Alice West, an office worker displaced by cheap foreign labour and a Mr. Leonard McDowell, a graduate from Manhattan University who struggled to live despite having qualifications due to being from a poor background, coupled with the exorbitant prices of living. Carson was relieved knowing that he had like-minded friends with him even if he chose to go down this path.

The cheerful four of them talked throughout the ride through Manhattan space. When the ship finally touched down in South Denver spaceport, he bid them farewell and hoped to see them soon.

Now Carson is back on his home planet, he travels with whatever means he could find, passing through many towns during his travels. Alfland Gulch, Remington County, Sparrow County and finally, Silverstone Plains.

-----

South Denver, Silverstone Plains, in front of "Greenwich Brewery Co."

Carson stood before his old home. The old sign was taken down and in its place, the words "Royal Knight, Castell Co.". It swayed in the wind and made a creaking sound, as if disappointed with Carson's decision back in prison.

The brewery was mutilated, gutted. The original wooden brewery building was replaced by a towering metallic obelisk, a mass production plant. The old mansion, filled with family heirlooms was torn down and replaced by a concrete and steel tower.

Every aspect of the old brewery was changed. Every aspect served to mock him and his family name, to mock the work of several generations. As if saying "All your hard work was in vain."

Carson stood there for a minute, stunned and saddened of what his establishment has become. He let the image of the new brewery burn into his mind. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. He shook his head, he would not cry. The new brewery is not to be mourned after, it is a monument to the evils and greed of the corrupt government, it was a monument to the foreigners' invasion of Libertonian turf. It has become a symbol of his struggle against the corruption of Liberty and the evils of foreign influence, a symbol of what he believes he will aid in destroying if he joined the Xeno movement.

With that, he turned around and walked off into the sunset. Tomorrow, he will embark on his journey towards Ames.

"They may have taken away my work, my home, everything that is close to me. But they will never break me, nor will they discourage me. The Xenos will rise, Liberty will be free."

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