"How do you do Lady Cog." I'm greeted by the door man and escorted to the entrance to where our meeting takes place. It's a part of hollowed out part of the Graphenenium base that holds the works districts weight. It's the safest place to hold a meeting without anyone knowing and the air circulation vents are tunneled up into the pub so no one could hear anything if they tried. The poor unlucky sneak that would every once in a while get down here, would find himself in a pitch black tunnel maze that crosses and circles in on it self.
Every member of the Cogs here in the works district is made to memorize the routes and knows how to get out even in the dark. As I walk along the tunnel, I run my hands across the camouflaged marker on the wall under the fabric. Our clue to where we are. My clue that the meeting room is only a little bit farther.
I turn the corner and pull the curtain to enter the meeting room. I can see that I am not the last one to arrive, so I take a seat and wait.
After a few more people show up, council member Gray stands up. His salt and pepper hair and beard are well kept even though he's gained some weight around his waist.
In his deep and fluid voice he begins, " Good evening everyone! I'd like to start this meeting out by thanking Eric, Wellsew, Leo and Lady Cog, for completing their missions with out a hitch." Everyone gives us applause and Gray quiets them down.
"I'm also proud to say, we have our own smelter now, so that means no more worry over lost ore and our people being thrown in prison!" A roar erupted in cheers from this news. More money would be staying in the cogs to be put to good use and more tungsten ore would be used for our needs.
He continues on using the high energy of the room, "Soon, our organization will be rising again! We are now closer than ever to becoming integrated with the Gilded district! Then we shall work our way into the government and begin to change things for the better of everyone!"
More cheers erupt, some are standing and clapping, with Gray soaking it in to fuel his next part of his speech.
"We can look forward to soon, WE, our friends, neighbors, our children will no longer be ill, from lack of sunlight, good food, warm clothes! Where we can work and earn a living wage! Live in good homes! LIVE A LIFE THAT IS GOOD, FILLED WITH HOPE AND IS BRIGHTER FOR ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS!"
A louder roar comes up through us all. It's everything we have been working so hard for, a better life for all not just those that look down on us from high above.
"Thank you everyone! You should all be thanking a particular member! LADY COG is the one who is moving us up leaps and bounds!"
Everyone turns to me cheering me on and applauding as I just wave, thankful for my face hidden behind the mask.
My heart drops. Of course, I am their way into the Gilded district. I am the key.
Gray quiets everyone down and then proceeds to go on about how we must continue to work hard, stay vigilant and watch out for the Bootleggers. That they were rising in the ranks through the districts and there was a unconfirmed rumor of one Bootlegger member that had made it to the Gilded District. We were informed to avoid doing business with a list of businesses that were under Bootlegger control and refuse service when possible to known Bootleggers.
He then had one of the council members read off the accounting ledger for the money that came in and the money that went out per the various reasons, before sending everyone to their district heads and council members respectfully.
Leo collected the the contributions that everyone was to give each meeting. I placed an extra thirty thousand gold, all placed in a bag as my dedication to the cause. I got a few pats on the back and good job, over my donation, but a few faces had jealous scowls.
Seeing the scowls, I laughed, "Why the nasty faces? Maybe I should buy you each a mask and save us from your jealousy. Remember this is for the cause not a gold star on my lapels." They sneered but dropped their gazes at Leo and Gray's stern looks in their direction.
Gray walked to Leo before Leo dismissed our group, whispering to Leo something who nods to him.
"Lady Cog, follow me, let's talk." Gray comes over to me and asks, sounding like a gentleman with business prospects. I really had so much on my plate right now, I was hoping for a lighter load for a month but Gray had other ideas. With no other choice I nod and motion him to lead the way. He offers his arm, and I roll my eyes in my head and take it, obligated to do so.
We leave the meeting room and we walk along the paths strolling along and we move in directions that I normally do not go, but I am still aware where we are. Gray stops and pulls a curtain back, unlocking a door hidden behind it. We enter the room and he lights a lamp shedding light onto the pitch black area, illuminating an office.
"Take a seat, Lady Cog. How are you doing today?" He gestures to a seat as he takes one next to the other seat.
I take the seat offered and reply, "I am well. Been busy lately, business is doing well lately."
"Yes, yes. I have heard. We appreciate your rather large contribution to our organization as well. Tell me, Lady Cog, your fiance.... Do you know what kind of business he does with our government?"
'Crap... I will not take advantage of him or let them do it.'
"He works with importing off world goods. Have you ever heard of Ice Cream? It's absolutely delicious." I bring up the first thing I could think of because as far as I recall, Tungsten was the only import he does.
"No, I have not. I am intrigued though, maybe you could share some of it sometime. So what other goods does he import?"
'Damn he is not going to let it go.'
"I'm still working on finding that information out, he tends to avoid or talk in circles sometimes when I ask him. So far it's mainly food and other goods that are not of our interest that I have been made aware of." I say as if frustrated, like Bav would keep that information from me.
Gray hums in thought. "Very well. Work on getting that information best you can. Hell, you can always ask him to bring you some tungsten as a gift too..." He suggests.
"He's not stupid, Gray. He knows the laws and knows that he has to submit everything to search by the government. I have to be careful, I do not want to screw this up for us." I put it bluntly.
"US? Do you mean the Cogs or your relationship? You know what... Don't answer that. Just see what you can do. Now, I have an important mission for you while you are spending your time in the Gilded district. You heard the rumor about the Bootlegger's getting a man into the Gilded district?" He leans toward me in the chair as he speaks.
"Yes, but that is just a rumor right?" I raise an unseen brow at him.
"Well, no it's not entirely a rumor. They got a man in there, but those Bootleggers don't care about the entire population but only the men in charge of things in their gang. Apparently, the man they have in place, is able to take large sums of money, 'donated', to the poor, his name is .."
I cut him off, "Elias Thorn." My lips set into a thin line. Now I know where all that money goes instead of into the poor houses.
Surprised, Gray sits back in his chair. "Yes, Elias Thorn. From the sounds of it, you know him?"
I scoff, "No, never met him. They have these fundraisers for the poor houses that bring in millions of gold to be donated to the poor houses. I now know where all that money really goes. Oh.... I wish I could set him up for the next soiree fundraiser. He is supposed to be there." I growl out.
"Well at least we have the same thoughts in mind. I need all the information you can get, by any means necessary, so we can get the authorities to completely collapse the Bootleggers from the top down to the bottom. Think you can do that too?" Gray chuckles as he puts out his hand for me to shake.
I take it and firmly shake it back. "I'll get what we need, Gray."
"That's what I like to hear, Lady Cog."