March City: Land of the Gifted [Book 1 | Fantasy/Sci-fi | Complete]

Chapter 13: The All-Seeing Dancer

"Yes." Lira scanned him with her grey-green eyes: a short boy, probably one that wouldn't have made it as a Peacekeeper through the traditional route of intense training and filtering. But his role wasn't as a traditional Peacekeeper; no, he was part of her own group of Peacekeepers who obeyed her and only her. He carried out tasks without questions and was relentless in his pursuit of the goal. That was why he was hired. She didn't want him to know he'd revealed too much, not when this could play in their favour. This dispute and unease from the terrorists would soon end once Lira had enough information and allowed them to play long enough.

"I believe she's lying." Quel's face coloured; the muscles along his jaw tightened. "There's no way she hadn't been there if her DNA was found, and the Transformer was known for breaking the city rules and being in restricted place at inappropriate hours. It's about time she gets punished justly for all the times she's flouted the laws—"

"I don't have the time to listen to some unvented grudge you have against the Transformer."

Quel flushed even further at the snub.

"N-no. Of course not." He swallowed audibly. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No. My Investigators will take it from here."

"Oh." His shoulders sagged in disappointment. Lira turned her back on him. Did he really expect a lowly Peacekeeper would be privy to high-security information and counter-terrorism tactics? How frivolous. He, too, would lie, although with this new promotion, he should have no motivation to be deceitful at the moment. She paused, and turned back round.

"Wait... there is something you can do for me."

He lifted his head, his face bright and hopeful.

"What's the name of that Peacekeeper friend the Transformer has? The one who has never pursued punishment when she uses her powers out of bounds."

"Shon."

"I'm transferring him to Area Three to overlook reconstruction of the examination domes. I can't have him muddying the water and twisting the laws in the Transformer's favour. Can you arrange the paperwork for me?"

"Of course. A-and he's to be punished?"

This is a sadistic one, mused Lira, noticing the gleam in those dull eyes. He found pleasure in the punishment of others. He reminded her of Cryo. Perhaps this was vengeful thinking from his pre-Peacekeeper days. That sense of justice would be in her favour, however.

"In due time. Until then, I need him closely monitored. Anything out of place I want that reported to my Investigators. Can you do that for me?"

"Absolutely, Lira," he said her name like it was liquid gold. Lira fought back a shudder. What a sycophant.

"You're dismissed."

Quel bowed deeply and shuffled out. Lira waited until he was far down the corridor before waving at the computer screens, which switched on again. Tapping on the virtual keyboard that popped up on her desk, she summoned the judicial program. It wouldn't do for an average citizen to realise how the judgment worked in March City.

She pressed her palm against the reader that slid out and then entered the passcodes when prompted. The room dimmed. A database opened, showing all the recent criminal entries she'd made, most of them regarding the terrorist attacks. A few were related to failed exams and one was a break-in and theft in Area Seven. The sentences had passed, awaiting processing by the Investigator who made the entry to carry out the punishment. Credit deductions for failed exams, with about a third of them repeating the academic year. The break-in merited full credit deduction for a month and Peacekeeper monitoring and extended curfew for that period, meaning extracurricular activities and work reduced to a minimum. Perhaps harsher than Lira herself would have sentenced, but she would never doubt Central Administration's justice system.

Lira remembered the girl who'd begged during the trial, which was videoed and analysed by the main system. She'd claimed bullying by a boy who resided in Area Seven, whose flat she'd broken into. She claimed it was because he stole the project she'd worked on for months. Lira had been present at the trial, and her senses at the time told her the girl wasn't lying. She had quite a convincing account of the events leading up to the break-in, and the boy, the 'victim' did not. In fact, with his fidgety presence, avoidance of gazes, and defensive outbursts Lira was sure he was guilty of something. Nevertheless, the girl committed a crime, and she was punished. The boy's punishment was still pending review, although unrelated to that trial, and so she didn't access the files.

The system would have its reasons for such punishment. It was faultless.

Lira entered the information she'd gained on Ari during the interrogation and linked the video excerpts purporting to her role in the terrorist attacks. Pausing, she then added her own suspicions for the system's consideration. When the details were complete, she submitted it. With a beep, the file lined up beneath the pending section, awaiting the system to weigh the pros and cons and ultimately decide on an outcome.

The system was perfect. It had access to all the information ever generated in March City: all the scores, monitoring cameras, purchases, credits earned – everything. It kept all the Users in line and ensured everyone was a productive member of society, who earned their places with no infringement of rights. Lira was proud to be trusted with use of this system, created by the first Users of the city to keep the place peaceful and functional – and in order to do that, the pestilent must be removed.

Remember to vote!