Conscription (Ch3) : A Short Story
Five Miles Downrange :
We have two ongoing “Business” Announcements just in time for Halloween …
We have concluded negotiations with GOODREADS for an upcoming KINDLE giveaway of Gruff Ending. Look for announcements coming closer to October.
Similarly , be on the lookout in late October for a free giveaway of Blue Summer on KINDLE through the Amazon marketplace in late October.
…and one “Reader Announcement” :
Warning. The following is rated M for Mature. As I said before, unlike Blue Summer or Gruff Ending, this is not the result of a Monster of the Week campaign or story. The contents of our campaign work could be considered mature in content (drugs, death, violence, etc.) , even though I try to leave out profanity and gloss over the details - Conscription is definitely on the mature side in action and language. Some of the following may disturb readers, so I am putting this out there for the more sensitive crowd. Contents may be considered NSFW in some locales.
Comments are welcome. Likes are appreciated. Hate, as always, is ignored…unless it’s constructive.
Without further ado…
_________________________________________________
Conscription
JES Campbell
III
Eric Joseph Stratton was pronounced dead on arrival at the Eastern County Medical Facility that morning. Toxicology reports found nothing within the system, nor were there any abnormalities found in the brain or any past psychological reporting that would account for his sudden end or the unprecedented amount of blood belonging to the two other citizens found upon his person. Evidence of a struggle was evident upon his own corpse. Aside from the flechette’s wounds, he possessed a few gashes, bruising, scratches, and punctures indicative of his alleged victim’s fight for survival. Ultimately, Stratton’s cause of death was listed by the State Coroner as cardiac arrest brought about by misfortune during his apprehension.
The confusion of Stratton’s autopsy, that there was no evidence of his misalignment physiologically that could account for his actions, led to the speculation by the scarce amount of people who claimed to know him as to why the arrest was carried out in the first place. The Media Factor, the bell curve of which Theo had validated prior to his arrival, began to fluctuate widely as the story gained bounce in the social media circles. Within five minutes after Theo pulled the flechette’s trigger, the feed from his harness was being processed globally. Within ten, the Media Factor was reaching the outlier limits of the curve Theo had observed. Within fifteen, local and national news were already reporting and speculating on the outcome of the shooting investigation. Highlight reels from the Tribal Officer’s harnesses of the arrest of Theodore P. Martin as he exited the Stratton “murder scene” with various cuts of the sequence of events, the clarity and length of which correlating directly with the purchasing power of the news outlet.
Such was the situation Theo found himself in as he was escorted from the Holland Reservation to the East County regional holding facility. His ribs hurt from where, upon exiting the residence through the extraction crew’s entrance, one of the Holland Authority’s officers had shot him with a bean bag rifle due to the fact that Theo was armed and involved with a Citizen 2A death. From there, it was disarming, removal of his harness, handcuffing and a hand-off between the Authority and the State. Two Citizens accompanied him in the state vehicle, both with harnesses of their own to record their hour-long trip for posterity.
One of his escorts was a young man, which sparked a bright pink shock of hair above his masked face. From the onset, he asked Theo a multitude of questions regarding the case, through all of which Theo wisely kept his lips sealed. It wasn’t until the last, as the car entered into the city limits proper that the guard elicited any response.
“Just getting the word in on Stratton. “ He touched the left side of his mask, the slight bulge on that side indicating its containing an external receiver. “State has declared him deceased. Did you know ?”
The mask’s eyes rotated in tandem with the man’s harness camera, obviously recording for not only evidence, but also for self-publishing on social media later. Perhaps to sell to the media for an exclusive, Theo thought. The mask, the hair, spoke to financial well being. Probably bought his way onto the call to make some additional credits.
Theo looked up from his handcuffed hands, “The State just declared him deceased ?”
“Yes.”
“Just now.”
“Yes.”
“Then how the fuck was I supposed to know ahead of this particular moment that he was deceased ?”
“I, uh...”
“What you need to do, Citizen, is shut the fuck up until I am granted legal representation.”
The other escort, a large female who had remained silent until this point, elbowed the man in the ribs.“That’s enough. He has his rights, you know. All this just muddies the process.”
He protested, “Yeah, but look. Computer, show the recent media curve. Look - this is the hottest thing out there, everyone’s talking about it. The story’s 2 points above the margin !”
The screen to Theo’s right lit up, showing the tangents and curves he was familiar with. The man was right, the curve was astronomically higher than earlier. The scope of the story seemed to be only directed at the act of his shooting Stratton, which was concerning.
“Tell me, what happened to the observer that went into the house with me ?”
“The what ?”
“Is there any word on the network about the observer...a Fair Witness ? Maybe the name Veronica ?”
The escort shook his head, “No, nothing of that sort has been reported.” The lenses rotated mystically. He reached for the receiver again, “Only thing being reported is that your wife has filed for divorce.”
Theo almost left out of his seat. “What ?”
“Yeah, there was a reporter over at your home. It seems that your wife filed for divorce pending trial deliberation. I’m sorry, Citizen.”
It would make sense. Given Stratton’s death, the fact he was 2A, the Erica’s social circle would have immediately turned their backs to her. Any local help from the other fisher’s respective partners would have been cut off. She’d be on her own, with a man that all society knew about. The kids would also suffer in their respective circles, bullied online both in class or in their private settings. Nothing illegal, per se’, but a cross they would have to bear for the rest of their lives staying in the same household.
Theo looked at the curve and saw it jump by a factor of .03 with the incoming news of his personal life. He knew the lies would come later, anything to make an extra credits that couldn’t be made from the settlement. He’d heard of such things before.
****
The car pulled around to the station, and Theo could make out a few people holding signs outside the front doors. A few State sanctioned uniformed guards, Theo could tell by their body armor and weaponry, stood watch over the facade of the building. Beside them, an orange sign informed the reader that the facility was state owned, and as Citizens, they are mandated to respect the property. Violators would be prosecuted.
A garage door opened, and the car glided quietly through, receiving a detox spray as the door shut behind it. Continuing down a short entry tunnel, they came to rest in an underground facility. Theo saw a dozen other cars parked below, some marked with the East County Department label, others of different shapes and sizes that were either of personal or more specialized nature.
The female said “Time to go.”, and grabbed Theo’s jacket sleeve, escorting him from the car. The make stayed seated as the two departed, as the lenses on his helmet rotated and swiveled, taking a long departing shot as Theo and his escort entered the building.
He was ushered up several flights of steps, the handrails worn from use and rusty in parts from neglect, to a hall lined with benches. A few fellow Citizens sat on these, some lying down. Interspersed with the benches were doors leading to various rooms, each enumerated in chipped paint. One of these was open, and a grey-suited woman stood, unmasked, gesturing to the approaching pair.
“Good morning, Citizens. This way, please. You can remove your masks, as you are beyond the positive environmental barrier.” Her voice was positive, upbeat, but professional. “We have fifteen minutes to conduct this interview, then we are on to jury within the hour. “ She looked at her e-clipboard, “I see that there are facts that are unopposed here, so there should be no need for a lie detector or psyche probe of any sort. Rules out the need of any substance application as well.”
Theo removed his mask. “Uh, excuse me ? I...”
She ignored Theo’s confusion, and indicated to the escort to put him into the room. The handcuffs were removed, only for a moment, as his provisioned jacket was removed, then they were replaced on his left wrist, the other linked to the table in front of him as he was seated in a bolted-down chair.
Outside the room, the woman was giving instructions to a short, hunched man who was pushing a cart loaded with electronics, syringes, bottles of pills, and other mechanisms used to assist in the interrogation process.
“No, Charles, none of this is needed. I see that room three mark fourteen fourteen is requiring a dosage of benzodiazepine. They have a couple of witnesses to case X14896Y which are having some stage fright. Can you help them out ?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Charles moved out of the doorframe, and Theo’s escort followed. The woman entered the room.
“Hello, Citizen Martin, I am Isma Holman and have been assigned by the State as the prosecutor. As required by the Constitution, you have the right to know your accusers and the nature of your accusations. Do you waive these rights ?”
“No. Where is my representation ? I’d like him to hear the charge.”
She tapped on her e-clipboard, and from outside he could hear a muffled announcement. Seconds later, there was a knock on the door. Another click on the e-clipboard opened the door and one of the men Theo had seen asleep on the bench outside slunk into the room. His suit was rumpled and he had an unshaven countenance of a person accustomed to living out of an overnight bag.
“This is Citizen Hatchett, attorney license MD14398I75HJK. Citizen Hatchett, please meet your new client, Citizen Martin.”
“Hi, “ he said blearily, “ glad to meet you citizen.” To Isma, he nodded. “What’s the charge ?”
“Murder. Protected Citizen class 2A.”
If Hatchett was taken back by the charge, he didn’t show it. It may have been the fact that he’d been asleep through the occurrence. He took out his own e-clipboard , “Okay, let’s see what we have for evidence.”
A black rectangle slid open on the desk where Theo was seated. Isma indicated he was to place his hand onto it. A suction feeling pulled at his fingertips, transmitting his fingerprints and a small sample of blood to a recording system deep within the law system archives.
The two lawyers began to tap back and forth on their respective boards at a feverish pace, occasionally nodding and grunting over proposed charges and counter charges being offered between them. After eight minutes, they came to an accord as Isma announced, “The State is proposing Voluntary Manslaughter.”
“Manslaughter. For protecting my own life ? The man was armed and impeding my progress in carrying out my sanctioned and authorized duties.”
“There was no evidence to support such a claim, “ Hatchett began, “as the deceased was seen in prayer, and then advanced toward your position. True, he had a weapon and it was visible. You had presented yourself in the capacity of the State, but it was evident the deceased was conducting meditation of sorts, and it is possible that he was unable to comprehend your warnings.”
“I told him to stop.”
“Yes, and by the Castle Protection Clause of MD 145X, the law rules in favor of the intent of a deceased owner since they cannot state their intent to protect their property. This clause was adapted to the Holland Reservation’s Federal Rules of Self-Governance as instituted by the Federal Government.”
Isma added in, “To be sure, there is also the bias the State can demonstrate, Manslaughter is probably the minimal that may be offered. A codicil will be attached to the charge requiring additional education.”
“Whoa, bias ?”
“Yes. The car records indicate you checked the case information against the Ellis and Media curves underway. This can be interpreted as an inherent bias against the, at the time, accused and the target of your arrest. It speaks to motivation, whether the bias is for more social media attention or to just see how far under the radar you fell to shirk your state-mandated functions.”
“Moreover, “ she continued, “unlike the deceased, there is reason to believe that you were under the influence of a narcotic during your arrest. The system is unsure of what that is, but given the speed on which these things are cooked up on the street that is not surprising. Can you, for the record, tell me of anything you have ingested and what its purpose was ?”
“I haven’t ingested any narcotics.”
Isma and Hatchett both reviewed their e-clipboards simutaneously. Their eyes met.
Hatchett said, “He certainly believes that he is telling the truth.”
Isma agreed, “It would seem so. It doesn’t detract from the charges though, but may mitigate time suggested with respect to sentencing.”
Theo’s mind whirled at the probability of being found guilty. Impending divorce aside, sentencing would result in dismissal from his State-sponsored job, housing, and rations. He’d effectively be a non-Citizen.
“Wait, what about the Fair Witness ? Veronica ? What is her status ?”
It was Hatchett who indicated that her status was not integrated into the case against Theo. “For your well-being, you see. I have to ensure the witnesses speak in your favor. A Fair Witness would undoubtedly swing the jury in favor of the State.”
Isma said, “It was part of the condition for the Manslaughter agreement that we not show her as a witness.” She showed Theo the results of
Theo considered this revelation. “What if I refuse to agree to Manslaughter ?”
Hatchett said, “I would recommend against this way forward. The full case will be brought before a jury with all witnesses both electronic and otherwise. The picture indicates bias in action. Consider this, Citizen.”
“I understand. I request trial. I have nothing to lose; I am innocent.”
Isma looked at her watch, “So be it. We are to trial in two minutes.”
_________________________________________________
www.fivemilesdownrange.net
© 2020 JES Campbell
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No portion of this short story may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact:
JES Campbell@fivemilesdownrange.net
Cover by JES Campbell
