The Chief Editor decided I should investigate Slavery Games. This is the result. I suggest not to let children read this article, and those of you, dear readers, that are against the new slavery laws should read the "How to brew my own beer" article in this edition of our newspaper, instead of this one.
First off, I met Patrick Saint Andrew, the Slavery Games CEO.
"Hi, Mister Saint Andrew, could you explain to us what Slavery Games Ltd (SGL) is?"
"Err, Bridgett, can I call you Bridgett?"
"Well, I suppose you can."
"You can call me Patrick. Well, Bridgett, I would begin by explaining what SGL is not; if you permit it. SGL is not a Registered Slaver company."
"That means you cannot enslave people?"
"Well I don't like the 'enslave' word, but that's the idea. The Registered Slaver companies (RSCs) are the only ones the authorities allow to make a slave out of somebody. And we are not one of them. We work for them. Our job is to make volunteer-slavery popular."
"Perhaps we should explain the difference between 'volunteer' and 'legal' slavery, Mister Saint Andrew, shouldn't we?"
"Of course, and please call me Patrick. Legal slavery is when a courthouse decides somebody would be a slave. This person is then assigned to a Registered Slaver Company, which trains it to become a slave. It concerns homelessness and bankruptcy, mainly. At the opposite, with volunteer slavery, the future slave chooses its Registered Slaver Company. It chooses when it becomes a slave."
"But you cannot choose how long you will be a slave?" I interrupted.
"Not yet. I hope the law will change because most volunteers ask for it. Nowadays, this choice is definitive."
"Why do Registered Slaver Companies want you to make volunteer-slavery popular?"
"Oh, volunteer slaves are easier to train. Legal ones are in denial period and fight against their training. Volunteers have passed that step."
"But why would someone volunteer to become a slave?" I asked.
"You have never wondered yourself?" Patrick launched. I recognised I blushed a little. I'm glad temporary slavery doesn't exist otherwise our beloved Chief Editor would have asked me to test it!
"No matter" he continued, "First of all, there are some that are about to become legal slaves. Becoming a volunteer slave would allow them some choices that legal slavery denies them. But there are also a lot of people for which freedom is boredom. In fact, they would prefer to have someone else decide for them. They would prefer not to be 'in charge'. But it is difficult to say, difficult to realize. Our society promotes being 'in charge'. Our games allow them to play at being a slave, and perhaps to choose to become one" Patrick explained. I was surprised to hear this.
"They choose to become a slave, or they lose?" I asked.
"It's the same! Losing is a way to choose to become a slave without having to say it!" I was shocked to hear that.
"The game you propose tomorrow is a crucifixion. Isn't that cruel?" I asked.
"Crucifixion has been a cruel death sentence. In our case, it is a game. First off, a doctor will be monitoring the players throughout the game. If their life is endangered, they are to be brought down. Second, all our gamers volunteered." He said playfully. From his face, I could tell he was enjoying the show in advance. Perhaps he was enjoying his benefice also.
"Do you think I could meet these people before the game?" I asked. How could someone volunteer for such a game? If he refused my request, I would be sure that the players did not volunteer.
"Of course, tomorrow's participants are in some of the cells below. You can meet them now. Of course, they may be scared, but you'll see that none of them has been forced to participate and perhaps they will convince you, or your readers, to book for the next time!" He said in a smile.
"How many of them?"
"6, 3 men, and 3 women. The games will be played simultaneously, but each gender is a category in itself." He began. I looked at him for more information.
"The first of each gender to be brought down will be a slave, the last of each gender will be the winner and will get 10% off the slave sales." He smiled.
"Is that enough compared to the risk of becoming a slave?" I asked.
"But they are not here for the money. They want the thrill of having to fight. They want the risk of becoming a slave." He explained. I shivered at that thought. I found it exciting for the first time. I thought again 'losing is a way to become a slave without having to ask for it.'
"Technically they are not slaves already. But they are locked to feel like they were" He explained.
"And imagine tomorrow when they will be led to the place naked" He continued. I thought of myself being forced to walk naked in a crowd. I crossed my legs. I had to concentrate on this article!
"What happens to the middle person, the second to be brought down?" I asked.
"It depends on the delay between the people being brought down. You understand, otherwise once the first one would have given up, the others would have followed." He explained. I thought about the misery of waiting on the cross, to avoid being enslaved.
"What about meeting the participant girls?" I asked.
"Here we go!" he said, "Do you want to stay alone with each of them?"
I couldn't hope for such a proposition, and as we were walking down the stairs I asked: "What will you do with the collar? It has to be engraved with the slaves name and number?"
"The collars the slaves will be fitted with will be fake ones, they will get their true ones after the show is over." he explained.
"It will be the new ones, one-inch wide steel band. They are to be welded around the slave's neck and have a nearly impossible to cut inside-frame. The only way to cut them is with a saw, but the steel temperature wouldn't be bearable. They also have RFID that station and airport would scan to find any escaped slaves," he explained. I have seen these collars, and I could say they are impressive, but I haven't worn one myself, and I'm glad for it.
"Here is Stephanie's cell!" he announced.
The cell itself seemed antiquated and the naked girl looked frightened inside it. As the door opened, she used her hand to shield her breast and pubic area. She was a little brunette with copper skin.
