Authors: R.W. Van Sant
The iFactor (6 page)
Chapter 10
The documents awaiting him were numerous, but not daunting. Most were follow up on his cases as cargo inspector. There was a substantial amount of official acknowledgements and disclaimer verifications concerning the details of his increased security access to cities mainframe systems. He also had to sign off that he understood the United Nations directives regarding human rights and confidentiality agreements for each corporation operating on the colony.
After looking over the workload, Matt decided to take another pill. He could look forward to several hours of computer-based training. It would be tedious beyond words and require some overtime. By the time he finished, he was seriously brain tired. Still, it felt great to be back doing the work for which he was trained.
It was between shifts when Matt stepped off the main lift in the lobby. The reception area was only slightly congested. He saw her easily, as she stood in the line before the officer on duty, the woman from the restaurant, her face bruised and a little swollen. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to get his hand on the thug who had hurt the beautiful, spirited woman.
Matt tried to look calm and professional as he approached. “Can I be of help?”
“Oh,” she looked up with tear red eyes. “As it turned out you were right about him.”
“Are you alright? Do we need to get you medical assistance?” Matt inquired.
“I'm fine, just bruised my pride.” she salvaged a tissue from her bag and wiped under her eyes. “I’m usually a good judge of character, usually. I came to get that restraining order you suggested.”
“You're going to have to file charges against him. Just tell the recorder what happened and Officer Perry and I can corroborate the incident at Say Soy.” Matt said.
“Thank you.” She said.
“It’s my job.” Matt stood with her until she reached the front. Then he turned to the officer. “I have testimony in this matter, as does Officer Perry. I'll be around, page me when you need me. Perry, I believe, is off duty.”
“Yes detective.” the officer said. “Please step forward and make your report.”
The woman looked at Matt appreciatively. “Thanks.”
Matt, already exhausted, just smiled, gave her a nod and went back to the lift. He needed more coffee, and hoped there was a pastry or two left over.
His palm chip vibrated as he poured a cup. He walked over to the wall monitor and waved across the sensor for access. A general alert notification appeared on the screen. Toby Sawyer, the rapist, had been apprehended. Matt poured some cold water into his steaming drink to cool it. It burned a bit as he chugged it down, but he wanted to be there for the interrogation, and needed the caffeine.
The documents awaiting him were numerous, but not daunting. Most were follow up on his cases as cargo inspector. There was a substantial amount of official acknowledgements and disclaimer verifications concerning the details of his increased security access to cities mainframe systems. He also had to sign off that he understood the United Nations directives regarding human rights and confidentiality agreements for each corporation operating on the colony.
After looking over the workload, Matt decided to take another pill. He could look forward to several hours of computer-based training. It would be tedious beyond words and require some overtime. By the time he finished, he was seriously brain tired. Still, it felt great to be back doing the work for which he was trained.
It was between shifts when Matt stepped off the main lift in the lobby. The reception area was only slightly congested. He saw her easily, as she stood in the line before the officer on duty, the woman from the restaurant, her face bruised and a little swollen. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to get his hand on the thug who had hurt the beautiful, spirited woman.
Matt tried to look calm and professional as he approached. “Can I be of help?”
“Oh,” she looked up with tear red eyes. “As it turned out you were right about him.”
“Are you alright? Do we need to get you medical assistance?” Matt inquired.
“I'm fine, just bruised my pride.” she salvaged a tissue from her bag and wiped under her eyes. “I’m usually a good judge of character, usually. I came to get that restraining order you suggested.”
“You're going to have to file charges against him. Just tell the recorder what happened and Officer Perry and I can corroborate the incident at Say Soy.” Matt said.
“Thank you.” She said.
“It’s my job.” Matt stood with her until she reached the front. Then he turned to the officer. “I have testimony in this matter, as does Officer Perry. I'll be around, page me when you need me. Perry, I believe, is off duty.”
“Yes detective.” the officer said. “Please step forward and make your report.”
The woman looked at Matt appreciatively. “Thanks.”
Matt, already exhausted, just smiled, gave her a nod and went back to the lift. He needed more coffee, and hoped there was a pastry or two left over.
His palm chip vibrated as he poured a cup. He walked over to the wall monitor and waved across the sensor for access. A general alert notification appeared on the screen. Toby Sawyer, the rapist, had been apprehended. Matt poured some cold water into his steaming drink to cool it. It burned a bit as he chugged it down, but he wanted to be there for the interrogation, and needed the caffeine.
The holding cells and interrogation rooms were two levels below. Until his promotion, he didn’t have the clearance to enter that section, which was no longer a problem as interrogations were part of his regular duties again. He walked into the observation room. Zimmerman and the chief were already there.
The chief appraised him. “Nice uniform. I thought you'd be gone by now.”
“I had a ton of paper work.” Matt replied.
“Well that's our perp.” the chief said. “You can take off. Your shift is over and this is going to be exceedingly routine.”
“How are you going to get him to confess?” Matt asked.
“No need. The work you two did was solid. A confession from him would only go to showing remorse for the judicial council. No, now we want him to verify that he got the drug from the bartender so we can bring that scum bag in.” The chief explained. “Go ahead, take off. You're looking a bit tired.”
“I have a deposition to give in a few moments, concerning an incident that I observed today at lunch.”
“The domestic incident?” Zimmerman asked.
“Yeah, it seems the boyfriend didn't let it go. The woman came in a few minutes ago, she'd been beaten.”
“Okay, after you give your report. I want you to go home and rest. That is an order, Dales. We'll fill you in on what we learn when you come back in for your shift. Now go and give your account.” The chief ordered. “There will plenty to do tomorrow.”
“Yes sir.” Matt considered the creep on the other side of the glass before leaving; in his opinion, the man was a waste of space. Fantasia was derived from the Hyperdrug. The man was willing to let someone go through the mind rip, just because he couldn’t get a date to say yes. If Matt had his way, everyone like that man would be shoved out an airlock into the acidic atmosphere of Sirius.
Matt took the long way around. The sight of the man angered him, and he wanted to cool off before he took the elevator back down to the intake desk.
“We've been waiting for you detective.” The officer said at his approach. “Please come with me.”
Matt followed into one of the small rooms along the hallway.
“Please have a seat, you know the routine.”
Matt smiled. He had spent many months on the other side of the desk and he was familiar with the procedure.
“Put your palm onto the identity pad.” The recording officer directed. Matt did so and a monitor on the wall lit up with his official photo and personal data. “Very good. Now If you'll just affirm that the information you are about to provide is truthful and complete.”
“I do so affirm.” Matt responded. When he had been on the other side, the answers were varied and occasionally rude.
“Good. Now tell me about the incident that occurred at Say Soy this morning.” The officer continued.
Matt described the incident as well as he could recall. Not talking about his dreams, however, felt like a lie by omission. One didn't put dreams and accounts of over arousal into official reports. Not if one wanted a future in security.
The chief appraised him. “Nice uniform. I thought you'd be gone by now.”
“I had a ton of paper work.” Matt replied.
“Well that's our perp.” the chief said. “You can take off. Your shift is over and this is going to be exceedingly routine.”
“How are you going to get him to confess?” Matt asked.
“No need. The work you two did was solid. A confession from him would only go to showing remorse for the judicial council. No, now we want him to verify that he got the drug from the bartender so we can bring that scum bag in.” The chief explained. “Go ahead, take off. You're looking a bit tired.”
“I have a deposition to give in a few moments, concerning an incident that I observed today at lunch.”
“The domestic incident?” Zimmerman asked.
“Yeah, it seems the boyfriend didn't let it go. The woman came in a few minutes ago, she'd been beaten.”
“Okay, after you give your report. I want you to go home and rest. That is an order, Dales. We'll fill you in on what we learn when you come back in for your shift. Now go and give your account.” The chief ordered. “There will plenty to do tomorrow.”
“Yes sir.” Matt considered the creep on the other side of the glass before leaving; in his opinion, the man was a waste of space. Fantasia was derived from the Hyperdrug. The man was willing to let someone go through the mind rip, just because he couldn’t get a date to say yes. If Matt had his way, everyone like that man would be shoved out an airlock into the acidic atmosphere of Sirius.
Matt took the long way around. The sight of the man angered him, and he wanted to cool off before he took the elevator back down to the intake desk.
“We've been waiting for you detective.” The officer said at his approach. “Please come with me.”
Matt followed into one of the small rooms along the hallway.
“Please have a seat, you know the routine.”
Matt smiled. He had spent many months on the other side of the desk and he was familiar with the procedure.
“Put your palm onto the identity pad.” The recording officer directed. Matt did so and a monitor on the wall lit up with his official photo and personal data. “Very good. Now If you'll just affirm that the information you are about to provide is truthful and complete.”
“I do so affirm.” Matt responded. When he had been on the other side, the answers were varied and occasionally rude.
“Good. Now tell me about the incident that occurred at Say Soy this morning.” The officer continued.
Matt described the incident as well as he could recall. Not talking about his dreams, however, felt like a lie by omission. One didn't put dreams and accounts of over arousal into official reports. Not if one wanted a future in security.
Chapter 11
It was a very long day and his next shift started in less than nine hours. All Matt wanted to do was get to his bed. But his rumbling stomach prompted him to get some food. Lunch felt like a distant memory and the pastries in the break room were gone. There was a small shop near his apartment that sold passable precooked burritos. That would do.
The woman with brown curly hair and bruised face stood staring at the door as he walked up.
“How are you doing?” Matt stopped beside her.
“It’s... I'm alright.” She said. “Look, I was stupid, foolish.
“Hey, it’s not your fault.” he said. “Sometimes people just trust people the probably shouldn't have. You couldn’t have known. The colonial authority is supposed to screen out candidates with violent tendencies before they arrive.”
“Well, I guess no system is perfect.” She said.
“If it was, I’d be outa work.”
“You don't think he's out there somewhere, waiting for me again.”
“Not if he has any kind of brain.” Matt peered out. “I don't see him. He's fairly large, hard to miss.”
“Sure,” she gulped and then looked herself.
“Do you want me to walk you to your home?”
“You won't get in trouble?” she smiled expectantly.
“No, I'm a witness, therefore, I’m involved. They will have to find another detective to investigate your case.” Matt said.
“Yeah, sure.” She stepped out cautiously scanning the environment as she moved. Matt walked out beside her.
“Which way?”
“I live in Beta quad.” She responded. He let her lead the way down the artificially lit pathway. The first sun wouldn't rise for another six hours or so, but the entire colony was well lit. People worked around the clock, and even in the middle of the night people scurried all around heading to and from their jobs.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Matt said.
“No, I just wanted to thank you, for trying to help. I mean. Most people who work for the colony are bureaucratic. They really don’t care about the people.” She said.
“Well I haven’t been here long enough to acclimate to the bureaucracy.”
“Don’t let them change you.” She faced him. “Do you mind if we walk through the park?”
“Sure, if that's what you'd like.” Matt scanned the grounds for potential threats.
“I just want to collect myself before I get back. Last time, he was waiting for me at my door.” she continued to examination the path before her and walk in a slow, almost uncertain pace. Matt matched her, not wishing to rush. “He was angry that I went out to lunch with my friend Sal instead of him. The jerk thought I was cheating on him, with Sal.” She looked at him, humor on shone on her face. “I went with Sal to cheer him up. He'd just had a big fight with his boyfriend and was afraid he was going to get dumped.”
“Ironic.”
“Tonight he accused me of having sex with you, and the other one with you. I should have seen that the man was a freak.” She sniffled.
“Sometimes loneliness can blind people to the faults of others.”
“Only his fault was a chasm.” She smiled.
“Yeah,” he responded. “Very funny. I don't think you need to worry about him any longer. The judicial council doesn't take violence lightly. At the very least, there will be a court order to keep him away. Unlike earth, an order like that can be enforced here.”
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ve heard the lecture. On Sirius no crime goes unpunished.”
“Not while I'm here.”
“Just like a Canadian Mounty.” she observed.
“Pardon?”
“A Mounty. The police force of Canada used to ride horses and were called Mounties.” she explained.
“Yes, just like that. Except no horse.”
“I can see that in you. You're definitely the always get your man type.”
“Thank you. It helps in my line of work.”
“So, you always notice crime?” She said.
“Most of the time.”
“And no crime goes unpunished in Sirius?” She continued.
“That’s the party line.”
“How about that place?” she pointed toward a small shop that was crowded with a line of people waiting to get in.
“What about it?” Matt studied the place. “Nothing wrong with a shop being popular.
“Oh, it’s more than popular.” Jill's smile faded. “It's a Fantasia den.”
“Excuse me?” He appraised the building with more interest. He had been looking for Fantasia distribution sites. They pop up suddenly under the guise of a legitimate business, or club. They take the customers money in installments so as not to attract the attention of the mainframe. The heat starts and they faded away to appear somewhere else. “How do you know?”
“I hear talk around the school. I keep track. In case I need to offer guidance to a student.” She said.
“Why didn't you report it?” Matt said. “It’s your duty to report crime.”
“I can't know for sure what goes on in there, what I know is hearsay. And as long as the dealers stay there, then I know where they are.” She walked into the park.
“Aren't you going to get them, call in a raid?” she asked.
“I'm off duty.” Still, he made a mental note of its location for later.
“I don't get those people.”
“They're just trying to make money. Unlike most of us however, they don't care how.” Matt said.
“Not the dealers. I understand them. I don't understand why someone would ever want to take the hyper drug again, even in diluted form.” She shuddered. “Even in diluted form, why force a waking dream state, I mean it’s not like they can guarantee it’s a good dream.”
“You know, I feel the same way about the drug. In fact, I would rather grow old and die on Sirius than ever take it again. The trip left much to be desired.” Matt was starting to feel apprehensive. The conversation had veered into uncomfortable territory. However, he didn't want to abandon her or forsake her company, just change the topic. “You know, I don't even know your name.”
“I know yours.” She pointed to his nametag. “You are Dales. I was told you're a detective.”
“My name is Matthew, and I've just been promoted, today is my first day.”
“You seem comfortable for the first day in a new job.”
“I was a detective before, back on Earth.”
“I'm a teacher. Hi, my name is Jill, Jill Cochetti.” She thrust her hand forward. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Matt shook her hand. Her warm skin against his made his body tingle. His heart was pounding. He felt like a sex-deprived schoolboy, and it bothered him. He was a little slower than he should have been letting go of her hand, reluctantly returning his attention to the path before them.
“Do you live nearby?” she asked.
“I live in delta quad.”
“That's nearly on the other side of the dome from me.” She stopped. “I can make it home the rest of the way.”
“It's fine,” he said. “There's a transit station near your address. It'll go right by my apartment. I’d feel better knowing you got home safe.”
“As long as you’re sure. I never had a bodyguard before.”
It was a very long day and his next shift started in less than nine hours. All Matt wanted to do was get to his bed. But his rumbling stomach prompted him to get some food. Lunch felt like a distant memory and the pastries in the break room were gone. There was a small shop near his apartment that sold passable precooked burritos. That would do.
The woman with brown curly hair and bruised face stood staring at the door as he walked up.
“How are you doing?” Matt stopped beside her.
“It’s... I'm alright.” She said. “Look, I was stupid, foolish.
“Hey, it’s not your fault.” he said. “Sometimes people just trust people the probably shouldn't have. You couldn’t have known. The colonial authority is supposed to screen out candidates with violent tendencies before they arrive.”
“Well, I guess no system is perfect.” She said.
“If it was, I’d be outa work.”
“You don't think he's out there somewhere, waiting for me again.”
“Not if he has any kind of brain.” Matt peered out. “I don't see him. He's fairly large, hard to miss.”
“Sure,” she gulped and then looked herself.
“Do you want me to walk you to your home?”
“You won't get in trouble?” she smiled expectantly.
“No, I'm a witness, therefore, I’m involved. They will have to find another detective to investigate your case.” Matt said.
“Yeah, sure.” She stepped out cautiously scanning the environment as she moved. Matt walked out beside her.
“Which way?”
“I live in Beta quad.” She responded. He let her lead the way down the artificially lit pathway. The first sun wouldn't rise for another six hours or so, but the entire colony was well lit. People worked around the clock, and even in the middle of the night people scurried all around heading to and from their jobs.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Matt said.
“No, I just wanted to thank you, for trying to help. I mean. Most people who work for the colony are bureaucratic. They really don’t care about the people.” She said.
“Well I haven’t been here long enough to acclimate to the bureaucracy.”
“Don’t let them change you.” She faced him. “Do you mind if we walk through the park?”
“Sure, if that's what you'd like.” Matt scanned the grounds for potential threats.
“I just want to collect myself before I get back. Last time, he was waiting for me at my door.” she continued to examination the path before her and walk in a slow, almost uncertain pace. Matt matched her, not wishing to rush. “He was angry that I went out to lunch with my friend Sal instead of him. The jerk thought I was cheating on him, with Sal.” She looked at him, humor on shone on her face. “I went with Sal to cheer him up. He'd just had a big fight with his boyfriend and was afraid he was going to get dumped.”
“Ironic.”
“Tonight he accused me of having sex with you, and the other one with you. I should have seen that the man was a freak.” She sniffled.
“Sometimes loneliness can blind people to the faults of others.”
“Only his fault was a chasm.” She smiled.
“Yeah,” he responded. “Very funny. I don't think you need to worry about him any longer. The judicial council doesn't take violence lightly. At the very least, there will be a court order to keep him away. Unlike earth, an order like that can be enforced here.”
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ve heard the lecture. On Sirius no crime goes unpunished.”
“Not while I'm here.”
“Just like a Canadian Mounty.” she observed.
“Pardon?”
“A Mounty. The police force of Canada used to ride horses and were called Mounties.” she explained.
“Yes, just like that. Except no horse.”
“I can see that in you. You're definitely the always get your man type.”
“Thank you. It helps in my line of work.”
“So, you always notice crime?” She said.
“Most of the time.”
“And no crime goes unpunished in Sirius?” She continued.
“That’s the party line.”
“How about that place?” she pointed toward a small shop that was crowded with a line of people waiting to get in.
“What about it?” Matt studied the place. “Nothing wrong with a shop being popular.
“Oh, it’s more than popular.” Jill's smile faded. “It's a Fantasia den.”
“Excuse me?” He appraised the building with more interest. He had been looking for Fantasia distribution sites. They pop up suddenly under the guise of a legitimate business, or club. They take the customers money in installments so as not to attract the attention of the mainframe. The heat starts and they faded away to appear somewhere else. “How do you know?”
“I hear talk around the school. I keep track. In case I need to offer guidance to a student.” She said.
“Why didn't you report it?” Matt said. “It’s your duty to report crime.”
“I can't know for sure what goes on in there, what I know is hearsay. And as long as the dealers stay there, then I know where they are.” She walked into the park.
“Aren't you going to get them, call in a raid?” she asked.
“I'm off duty.” Still, he made a mental note of its location for later.
“I don't get those people.”
“They're just trying to make money. Unlike most of us however, they don't care how.” Matt said.
“Not the dealers. I understand them. I don't understand why someone would ever want to take the hyper drug again, even in diluted form.” She shuddered. “Even in diluted form, why force a waking dream state, I mean it’s not like they can guarantee it’s a good dream.”
“You know, I feel the same way about the drug. In fact, I would rather grow old and die on Sirius than ever take it again. The trip left much to be desired.” Matt was starting to feel apprehensive. The conversation had veered into uncomfortable territory. However, he didn't want to abandon her or forsake her company, just change the topic. “You know, I don't even know your name.”
“I know yours.” She pointed to his nametag. “You are Dales. I was told you're a detective.”
“My name is Matthew, and I've just been promoted, today is my first day.”
“You seem comfortable for the first day in a new job.”
“I was a detective before, back on Earth.”
“I'm a teacher. Hi, my name is Jill, Jill Cochetti.” She thrust her hand forward. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Matt shook her hand. Her warm skin against his made his body tingle. His heart was pounding. He felt like a sex-deprived schoolboy, and it bothered him. He was a little slower than he should have been letting go of her hand, reluctantly returning his attention to the path before them.
“Do you live nearby?” she asked.
“I live in delta quad.”
“That's nearly on the other side of the dome from me.” She stopped. “I can make it home the rest of the way.”
“It's fine,” he said. “There's a transit station near your address. It'll go right by my apartment. I’d feel better knowing you got home safe.”
“As long as you’re sure. I never had a bodyguard before.”
A suggestive phrase popped into his head, but he wrestled it down and instead said, “Consider it part of the service.”
The night sky offered slight illumination through the dome high above, and what little there was came from the softer light emanating from the lamp posts dispersed evenly around the park. The city managers could easily increase the luminosity, but the human beings are creatures of habit. They like it dark at night. It keeps them grounded and provides a quiet time for the colony; even those that work one of the late shifts seem to appreciate the change in atmosphere.
The softer lighting added ambiance to moonlight strolls, and he would have enjoyed it more if his current walking partner hadn't just been assaulted. They walked quietly, looking upward at the few alien constellations that were still visible through the dome.
Matt observed a pair of shadowy forms sitting by an observation window to one of the fish pools. They took on an eerie, phantom aspect when lit up from the white water patterns of the pool.
“They're the same stars you see from earth.” Jill broke the silence.” We are just seeing them from another vantage point.”
“I never really thought about it.”
“Do you think they'll ever bring in birds?” she asked. “The trees seem so lonely without them.”
“I heard there was a petition to bring in some.” Matt regarded the tank again. The couple had vanished.
It means nothing. Not everyone is a threat.
They probably just went inside for a sexual encounter.
“I know, I signed it.” she said. “I don't think they will risk it though. Maybe if we could free all the parrots, love birds, and parakeets the execs brought in for pets.”
“Probably won’t happen.” Matt appraised the park, being as subtle as his training permitted. “You never know how the mind rip might affect a large quantity of birds. Not all of the ones brought in for pets make it through all right. They have to be euthanized.”
“I saw a movie once, when I was young. It was about a town being attacked by hundreds of birds.”
“We wouldn't want that here.” He was being paranoid, and forced himself to breathe deeply.
“Still, it would be nice to hear them chatter again.”
“Maybe you can get a petitions going to play bird noise recordings from the trees. I never noticed the birds much, but I always heard them.” Breath followed breath until apprehension subsided
“Maybe I will,” Jill smiled through painful bruises. “I live just down the lane.” She stepped off the grass. Matt made note of a nearby transit stop and followed.
“What will they do to him?” Jill asked.
“Your boyfriend?”
“Ex boyfriend.”
“Well, he's guilty of assault.” Matt said. “If he has no priors, they will probably give him some confinement time while he undergoes anger management. Then after that he'll be tracked for a time to guarantee that he stays away from you.”
“He wasn't a bad guy, really.” she said. “He just got jealous.”
“He hit you. To me, that makes him a bad guy. This colony is a contained group of people. Anyone who cannot control their temper here becomes a danger to the whole colony. If he's a hard case, then its confinement and expulsion back to earth. Crime, especially violent crime will be accepted on Sirius.” Matt used his official voice. “It goes against the company line.”
“No crime goes unpunished. That is why some of us came here. The earth is just so... well you can never feel secure there. I'd never feel safe walking through a park at night.” She pointed to the next building up. “That’s mine. I half expected him to be waiting for me.”
“I'm sure he's been apprehended by now. You'll be safe.” She moved to the main entrance. Matt watched from the walk.
“Thank you.” She said and walked in. Matt waited until he was sure that she was safely inside then started walking purposely toward the transit stop.
The night seemed a less inviting place without her. The shadows shifted and moved at the edges of his periphery. They began to play tricks on his tired mind. Matt moved briskly to the transit stop.
The night sky offered slight illumination through the dome high above, and what little there was came from the softer light emanating from the lamp posts dispersed evenly around the park. The city managers could easily increase the luminosity, but the human beings are creatures of habit. They like it dark at night. It keeps them grounded and provides a quiet time for the colony; even those that work one of the late shifts seem to appreciate the change in atmosphere.
The softer lighting added ambiance to moonlight strolls, and he would have enjoyed it more if his current walking partner hadn't just been assaulted. They walked quietly, looking upward at the few alien constellations that were still visible through the dome.
Matt observed a pair of shadowy forms sitting by an observation window to one of the fish pools. They took on an eerie, phantom aspect when lit up from the white water patterns of the pool.
“They're the same stars you see from earth.” Jill broke the silence.” We are just seeing them from another vantage point.”
“I never really thought about it.”
“Do you think they'll ever bring in birds?” she asked. “The trees seem so lonely without them.”
“I heard there was a petition to bring in some.” Matt regarded the tank again. The couple had vanished.
It means nothing. Not everyone is a threat.
They probably just went inside for a sexual encounter.
“I know, I signed it.” she said. “I don't think they will risk it though. Maybe if we could free all the parrots, love birds, and parakeets the execs brought in for pets.”
“Probably won’t happen.” Matt appraised the park, being as subtle as his training permitted. “You never know how the mind rip might affect a large quantity of birds. Not all of the ones brought in for pets make it through all right. They have to be euthanized.”
“I saw a movie once, when I was young. It was about a town being attacked by hundreds of birds.”
“We wouldn't want that here.” He was being paranoid, and forced himself to breathe deeply.
“Still, it would be nice to hear them chatter again.”
“Maybe you can get a petitions going to play bird noise recordings from the trees. I never noticed the birds much, but I always heard them.” Breath followed breath until apprehension subsided
“Maybe I will,” Jill smiled through painful bruises. “I live just down the lane.” She stepped off the grass. Matt made note of a nearby transit stop and followed.
“What will they do to him?” Jill asked.
“Your boyfriend?”
“Ex boyfriend.”
“Well, he's guilty of assault.” Matt said. “If he has no priors, they will probably give him some confinement time while he undergoes anger management. Then after that he'll be tracked for a time to guarantee that he stays away from you.”
“He wasn't a bad guy, really.” she said. “He just got jealous.”
“He hit you. To me, that makes him a bad guy. This colony is a contained group of people. Anyone who cannot control their temper here becomes a danger to the whole colony. If he's a hard case, then its confinement and expulsion back to earth. Crime, especially violent crime will be accepted on Sirius.” Matt used his official voice. “It goes against the company line.”
“No crime goes unpunished. That is why some of us came here. The earth is just so... well you can never feel secure there. I'd never feel safe walking through a park at night.” She pointed to the next building up. “That’s mine. I half expected him to be waiting for me.”
“I'm sure he's been apprehended by now. You'll be safe.” She moved to the main entrance. Matt watched from the walk.
“Thank you.” She said and walked in. Matt waited until he was sure that she was safely inside then started walking purposely toward the transit stop.
The night seemed a less inviting place without her. The shadows shifted and moved at the edges of his periphery. They began to play tricks on his tired mind. Matt moved briskly to the transit stop.
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