10 Minute Tales

Mar 12

Alyssa looked around nervously. Every camera somehow felt like an enemy, every person with an augmentation a suspect. She hated distrusting everybody, but... she sighed softly.

"I don't need to be this nervous." she muttered. "It's Queenson that the president is after..."

"Ah, miss Alyssa." Sentinel's voice echoed from her watch. She yelped in surprise, flinching away from it. Something so basic, and she had forgotten it...! "Welcome back from Sinis. You had located a landing site?"

"Um... y-yeah, it..." she gulped nervously. "It wasn't too far off..."

"I shall have a scouting team analyse the area in question. Where are you travelling to?"

"Back to... back to Crisp Hospital." she said quietly, practically muttering. "I need to rest some more..."

"Understood. Where is Investigator Queenson?"

"He had business to see to, he left me to go back alone."

"Curious... his schedule suggests no urgent business requiring his attention at this time."

"Maybe something came up?" she replied quickly. Her pace sped up, showing her nervous nature.

"Possibly so. Would you care for a transport to Crisp Hospital? If you are as weakened as you suggest, I am certain two space flights would not be good for your help."

"Yeah, I'd love that." she nodded, slowing and stopping, taking a breather. Did Sentinel not suspect her motive?

"Of course. A vehicle is on its way. Please wait here." Alyssa nodded, catching her breath.

"Thanks, Sentinel."

"It is my mission to protect and serve all humans." Sentinel's voice reassured.

     Queenson was blindfolded as soon as they reached the undercrystal, and he was forcefully guided through its squalor.

"Those who have to make their living down here are the ones I intend to protect." Abe commented. "I do what I can to help, of course, but there are those that insist on keeping their honour from above. Sentinel does not care for those down here."

"You're saying it like honour's dead down here."

"It may as well be. Honour would not permit theft, blackmail, murder, and yet those are as common as breathing. Where does one draw the line between morality and necessity?"

"Ain't mine to answer." he shrugged. "I stay out of here for a reason, y'know."

"Indeed, but you do not aid any truly innocent resident that is cast down here either." Abe's voice grew a little colder. "They typically die within a month."

"Then I'm not doing my job enough up there. If I was, they wouldn't even be down here, would they?"

"... an interesting perspective." Abe's voice had relaxed a little. They turned left. "So tell me, Inspector, why do you fail?"

"Because there are rules that dictate how I have to protect others, when I'm going against people that - by definition - broke the same rules. I'm not saying I'm above the law, I'm just saying that there have to be some liberties when this sort of thing comes up."

"Then what of those that seek power for their own gain? Would they not abuse the system?"

"Yeah, they would. I ain't saying my answer's perfect..."

"It is a wise man that knows their shortcomings, and a brave one that accepts them." Abe nodded. "The question is, what will you do about it?"

"I guess I'll have to find out." Queenson replied. "Let's deal with the issue at hand, first."

"Very astute." Abe nodded in agreement. "We agree on that, at least." They walked on, Queenson stumbling over something abandoned on the street. He didn't want to know what it was.