History Main / HiredByTheOppressor

A villain persecutes a certain group, but employs them for evil uses. These situations tend to be miserable for the minion in some way. Their boss and colleagues might still act abusive, they're likely completely cut off from their people's culture if not actively fighting it, and in general undergo conflicts that make them question their value or personhood.If the minions are acting voluntarily, they may be a form of BoomerangBigot and/or LesCollaborateurs.

* ''Literature/ArtemisFowl: The Arctic Incident'': Briar Cudgeon despises goblins, but is prepared to sell weapons to the B'wa Kell goblin triad and use them as muscle in his scheme to regain his lost prestige with plans pull YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness on them afterwards. [[spoiler:Indeed when Briar's treachery is revealed he casually reactivates the plasma cannons to knock out the Goblins, only ]]

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'': The Flame Emperor forms an alliance with Thales to destroy the Church of Seiros. Said Flame Emperor is actually [[spoiler:Edelgard von Hresvelg, who was experimented on and tortured by Thales and those who slither in the dark]]. Naturally, due to this and their other atrocities, [[spoiler:she]] makes sure the partnership doesn't last, using them as a means to an end [[spoiler:and eventually destroying them outright in the Crimson Flower route.]]

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/ExoSquad'': Once the Neosapiens take over Earth, they began employing cooperative humans as figureheads to keep the rest of their human masses in line, with Phaeton revealing he planned on killing off ALL humanity once the humans' usefulness had ended.
* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': [[spoiler:As much as [[Characters/TheOwlHouseEmperorBelos Emperor Belos]] hates witches, he has used them to form his armies, manipulating them through "the Titan's will" or promising them privileges in return for their loyalty. He has no qualms about abandoning all of them to die through the draining spell, forcing King to make a [[DealWithTheDevil deal with the Collector to save everyone.]]]]

%% (Administrivia/PartialContextExample: How did the whole thing ended? Sounds like a subversion, but there must be an end to the conflict.) * ''Literature/ArtemisFowl: The Arctic Incident'': Briar Cudgeon despises goblins, but is prepared to sell weapons to the B'wa Kell goblin triad and use them as muscle in his scheme to regain his lost prestige... though he also plans to pull YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness on them afterwards.

-> ''"The Hyperion Corporation wishes to extend an olive branch, murderer. Should you considerably lower this world's bandit population, Hyperion is willing to reward you with a unique gun crafted just for you."''
-->-- '''Overlook Bounty Board on the mission [[https://borderlands.fandom.com/wiki/Hyperion_Contract_873 "Hyperion Contract #873"]]''', ''VideoGame/Borderlands2''

A form of EnemyMine where the bad guys require the help of the good guys, [[HiredGuns and are willing to pay them in exchange for their services]], [[TeethClenchedTeamwork despite their mutual hatred]]. [[OnlyInItForTheMoney And the good guys accept the mission]].

There are many reasons why this temporary alliance can take place. The party of the good guys may not have enough money or resources to take on the oppressors, and are willing to take missions from them. The oppressors, on the other hand, may not have the adequate resources to take on the mission on their own, or they value the resources they have, and see an opportunity to either see the mission completed [[PragmaticVillainy (witnessing the capabilities of the good guys party despite their opinion about them)]] and/or get rid of the pesky faction that's being a pain in their rears. Either way, the oppressors see [[RecruitingTheCriminal this situation]] as [[XanatosGambit win-win]], while the party may be wondering [[DidntThinkThisThrough if accepting the mission was a good idea after all]].

Of course, most of the time, the good guys succeed in said mission, forcing the oppressors to reward them. Usually handsomely. And the resources allow the party to actually improve their situation and, in the long run, take down their oppressors.

In short, in order for an example to qualify:
* There must be a [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters rebel party]] and an oppressive faction (an evil government, TheEmpire, a MegaCorp or NGOSuperpower with the power of a government body...).
* The oppressive faction must [[OnlyInItForTheMoney hire]] the rebel party, ''and'' the party must accept the offer out of their own volition, which means that ForcedIntoEvil or {{Brainwashing}} situations don't count.
* '''There must be a conclusion to the whole thing''': If the oppressive faction rewards the rebel party as accorded, it's a straight example. Otherwise (i.e. YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness), it's a subverted example.

Differs from RewardedAsATraitorDeserves in that they won't switch sides just because they accepted the mission. Differs from YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness in that the party and the bad guys don't betray each other's trust when all is said and done. Differs from ForcedIntoEvil in that the good guys willingly accept the mission, if only for the reward. Differs from VillainRespect with the bad guys still seeing the good guys as inferior despite the mission's requirements and the outcome. Differs from HunterOfHisOwnKind in that, while the oppressor faction may hire members of the oppressed faction, these members don't do the deed out of hatred for their kind, but rather because [[OnlyInItForTheMoney they're paid to do so]]. Differs from LeonineContract in that said contract is AnOfferYouCantRefuse, and the bargain between the oppressor and the rebels can be called off if the rebels wish to do so.

Subtrope of EnemyMine. If the party is acting voluntarily and without any kind of pay in the middle, they may be a form of BoomerangBigot, LesCollaborateurs and/or TheQuisling. Can overlap with TeethClenchedTeamwork, where both parties agree on going with the mission while still keeping their mutual hatred. Compare BigBrotherIsEmployingYou, where the party is not necessarily opposed to the oppressor faction and has been working as their minion on a long-term basis. Contrast with EqualOpportunityEvil, where the oppressors don't bother hiring the party because they see them as inferiors, like everyone else on their point of view.

%% (Administrivia/PartialContextExample: Is he still part of the "good faction"?) ** Goldberg also works for the Nazis as an enforcer, both for the money and for survival.

* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar'': Winter Assault: Lord Crull hates needing to use stealth units like cultists (as a follower of the Blood God Khorne, anything more subtle than AttackAttackAttack gets his disapproval) but even he recognizes the need for battlefield intelligence and scouts.

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': As much as [[Characters/TheOwlHouseEmperorBelos Emperor Belos]] hates witches, he has used them to form his armies, manipulating them through "the Titan's will" or promising them privileges in return for their loyalty. [[spoiler:He has no qualms about abandoning all of them to die through the draining spell, forcing King to make a [[DealWithTheDevil deal with the Collector to save everyone.]]]]

* ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' has the Combine as the oppressive party, who took over Earth in an event known as the "Seven Years War", and still hired humans such as Wallace Breen as their admin and the members of [[LesCollaborateurs the so-called Civil Protection guard]] who keep getting in the way of Gordon Freeman. One of the members of Civil Protection is Gordon's Black Mesa security co-worker Barney Calhoun who, unbeknownst to them, is actually a mole of LaResistance and eventually quits playing for the Combine after the destruction of Nova Prospekt. It's implied that this is the highest level a non-transhuman creature can attain within the Combine; afterwards they must undergo transhuman surgery in order to get into higher levels.

* Frieza from the ''Manga/DragonBallZ'' series sees the Saiyans [[EqualOpportunityEvil as inferior as every other race]], with a tendency for SparingTheAces. However, Frieza isn't picky about who gets into the Frieza Force, and didn't mind the Saiyans being part of it, so long as they proved loyal and effective, despite how much he secretly feared their boundless potential and debased them as inferior "monkeys" in private. It's why he kept Nappa and Vegeta under his command for quite a long time.

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': As much as Emperor Belos hates witches, he has used them to form his armies, manipulating them through "the Titan's will" or promising them privileges in return for their loyalty. [[spoiler:He has no qualms about abandoning all of them to die through the draining spell, forcing King to make a [[DealWithTheDevil deal with the Collector to save everyone.]]]]
* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': Although the Horde fight the Etherian princesses, it has two -- Scorpia and Entrapta -- among them. Hordak himself shows no prejudice against the princesses at their service (differently from his right arm Shadow Weaver, who treats them with open contempt), going as far as accepting Entrapta's help in his portal experiments.

* The Imperial Order from the ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'' series makes extensive use of magic users despite their dedication to exterminate all magic.

* ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'': In "[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWho005TheFearmonger The Fearmonger]]", the far-right New Britannia party is opposed by the far-left terrorist group United Front, led by the immigrant Alexsandr Karadjic - a direct victim of Sherilyn Harper's bigoted rhetoric. In the climax, however, the Doctor triggers an EngineeredPublicConfession revealing that the United Front were funded by New Britannia as straw opposition to justify Harper's policies and [[VillainWithGoodPublicity make her look good in the media]], with Karadjic having accepted the funding solely to lash out against New Britannia. Suffice it to say that this confession destroys New Britannia's election prospects and leaves Harper [[HoistByHisOwnPetard facing down the same angry mob she accidentally unleashed on London's immigrants]].

* ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'': In the "Valley Forge" arc, the generals-- already established as {{Desk Jockey}}s with zero combat experience or morals (introduced as having thought up a plan to unleash their own terrorists-in-airliners on other countries)-- are also shown to be racist by barely hiding their contempt for the black Colonel Howe they're using to capture Frank (and then not hiding it at all when he mentions Frank got away). It's part of the reason [[spoiler:Howe lets Frank go free and kill the generals]].

[[folder:Film - Animated]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]

* ''Series/HellOnWheels'': [[TeethClenchedTeamwork Having to work with people they hate]] is a very common theme as Union Pacific and Central Pacific ruthlessly exploit cheap labor in extremely dangerous work conditions as they angle to fleece the US Government for every penny possible.
** '''The Freedmen Workers'''- Recently freed slaves who are paid half the rate of a white worker live in a segregated part of the camp, and are not allowed to patronize the saloon, the picture show tent, or the brothel. The first episode centers around Cullen Bohannon, former slaveholder who fought for the Confederate Army and has never worked on the railroad, being assigned as their "walking boss", a position very similar to a plantation overseer.
** '''The Comfort Women'''- While it is accepted that men have needs, the brothel whores are treated with clear and obvious disdain for stooping so low as to meet those needs, particularly for money. It is not a crime to beat a brothel whore, to interact with her so roughly that she needs medical attention afterwards, and when a whore is killed, the leaders of the town aren't particularly interested in investigating. When the town receives word that an attack from the native tribes is imminent, the brothel whores aren't even allowed on the train that evacuates the women and children. But when it's time to move to the next town, the brothel women are expected to come along.

* ''WebVideo/PopCrossStudios'': In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrHvvQxq5z0&list=PLItBjti8LwWEKlNx5b61vakEKcO4xWS7h&index=21 "Multiverse Tales: Battle for the Beast World P1"]], the BigBad, Ulitus, is an Overseer- [[PhysicalGod an entity with power comparable to that of a god]]- who hates humans and wants to [[KillAllHumans kill all the ones in his dimension]], but in spite of that, he hires three human characters- Alexis Jones, Sterling Engeal, and Heath "Hurricane" Reynolds- to help capture his enemies, rival Overseer Astra and Mikayla "Kayla" Masiel, a human girl bonded with a [[MechanicalLifeform Biomech]]. This is because Alexis, Sterling and Heath are not from Ulitus' dimension, and don't know about the atrocities he's carried out on his world's humans, whereas he is [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating them]] into working for him by showing them the [[NiceJobBreakingItHero bad things Astra has done]] through her irresponsible nature. That said, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzDpuQZZpz0&list=PLItBjti8LwWEKlNx5b61vakEKcO4xWS7h&index=22 by the next episode]], once Kayla reveals to them the true extent of Ulitus' evil, the heroes, who were already [[WrongSideAllAlong feeling uneasy serving him]], [[HeelFaceTurn promptly betray him]].

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': As much as Emperor Belos hates witches, he has used them to form his armies, manipulating them through "the Titan's will" or promising them privileges in return for their loyalty. [[spoiler: He has no qualms about abandoning all of them to die through the draining spell, forcing King to make a [[DealWithTheDevil deal with the Collector to save everyone.]]]]
* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': Although the Horde fight the Etherian princesses, it has two - Scorpia and Entrapta - among them. Hordak himself shows no prejudice against the princesses at their service (differently from his right arm Shadow Weaver, who treats them with open contempt), going as far as accepting Entrapta's help in his portal experiments.

Subtrope of EnemyMine. If the party is acting voluntarily and without any kind of pay in the middle, they may be a form of BoomerangBigot, LesCollaborateurs and/or TheQuisling. Can overlap with TeethClenchedTeamwork, where both parties agree on going with the mission while still keeping their mutual hatred. Compare BigBrotherIsEmployingYou, where the party works as a minion of the oppressor faction from the beginning and as a common employee rather than a {{hired gun|s}}. Contrast with EqualOpportunityEvil, where the oppressors don't bother hiring the party because they see them as inferiors, like everyone else on their point of view.

* ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'': Already established as {{Desk Jockey}}s with zero combat experience or morals (introduced as having thought up a plan to unleash their own terrorists-in-airliners on other countries), the generals are also shown to be racist by barely hiding their contempt for the black Colonel Howe they're using to capture Frank (and then not hiding it at all when he mentions Frank got away). It's part of the reason [[spoiler:Howe lets Frank go free and kill the generals]].

* ''VideoGame/MasterDetectiveArchivesRainCode'': The CEO of [[EvilInc Amaterasu Corporation]] requires the help of the titular detectives as part of his plan to "fix" Kanai Ward by removing the corrupt Peacekeepers, [[spoiler:something of which he, Makoto, tells Yuma at the beginning of Chapter 3]]. Later on, in the final chapter, the meaning of this turns out to be much more twisted, as the ''real'' truth behind this is that [[spoiler:they were actually pawns for his plan to outright usurp Yomi so he can permanently keep Kanai Ward a secret from the world, using his power as a clone of Number One of the World Detective Organization, but they never realize this.]]

* ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'': Already established as {{Armchair General}}s with zero combat experience or morals (introduced as having thought up a plan to unleash their own terrorists-in-airliners on other countries), the generals are also shown to be racist by barely hiding their contempt for the black Colonel Howe they're using to capture Frank (and then not hiding it at all when he mentions Frank got away). It's part of the reason [[spoiler:Howe lets Frank go free and kill the generals]].

- Goldberg also works for the Nazis as an enforcer, both for the money and for survival.

* At the end of the conflict, if the oppressive faction rewards the rebel party as accorded, it's a straight example. Otherwise (i.e. YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness), it's a subverted example. '''And there must be a conclusion to the whole thing'''.

There are many reasons why this temporary alliance can take place. The party of the good guys may not have enough money or resources to take on the oppressors, and are willing to take missions from them. The oppressors, on the other hand, may not have the adequate resources to take on the mission on their own, or they value the resources they have, and see an opportunity to either see the mission completed [[PragmaticVillainy (witnessing the capabilities of the good guys party despite their opinion about them)]] and/or get rid of the pesky faction that's being a pain in their rears. Either way, the oppressors see [[RecruitingTheCriminal this situation]] as [[XanatosGambit win-win]], while the party may be wondering if [[WasItReallyWorthIt accepting the mission was a good idea after all]].

-->''"I never thought hyenas essential. They're crude, and unspeakably plain. But maybe they've a glimmer of potential, if allied to my vision and brain..."''