by Joseph H. Ficor -
Peacekeeper Major Stotter, head of Governor Bokkasa’s personal security detachment, stood at parade rest before the great black desk of the Governor.
“Thank you for coming as such a late hour, Major. I know that you had just finished your duty shift about an hour ago—around two am?”
“Yessir, I did,” replied Stotter. “You said that you wanted to discuss your pet, Enforcer Fiko.”
“Yes.” Governor Bokkasa leaned back in his chair. “I’m bored with him. The excitement of my charity is waning. I want you to take him and have him do some real work.”
“Forgive my bluntness sir, but wouldn’t it look bad for you to throw him away so easily after only one month? I’ve heard of officials planning to visit Eclectia to find even lower scum than Fiko. They want to outdo you.”
“Let them.” Bokassa waved his hand dismissively. “I’ll always be remembered as the first to have lifted a coffee ground to the level of cream.”
Stotter’s face remained expressionless. The Governor’s attempts at creative witticisms always fell short of their mark. “What do you have in mind, sir?”
The Governor immediately brought himself back to the main topic. “I want you to take Enforcer Fiko and some other expendable on a collection run to Docking Bay Five. Dear Artimus hasn’t paid his station tax in four months.”
Stotter’s expression cracked. A smirked formed across his lips. “Artimus Rawlings is a difficult man to find. He usually manages to avoid our Enforcers. We can only collect when he is overpowered and his cargo confiscated. And he said that the next time we came…”
Bokassa finished the sentence: “…to collect, he’d kill our Enforcers. I know. I know. My sources have confirmed that he is now at a Docking Bay Five. He won’t leave until tomorrow afternoon. Besides, this run will be an excellent opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“Easy. Rawlings has outlived his usefulness. He never realized that the ore that he has been smuggling out of here was my way of making a little extra profit without concerning the aristocrats on Avenir. They have enough wealth. I thought that it was time for them to share a bit more of it with us. Now Artimus needs to be eliminated.”
“And Fiko is the second bird?”
“Exactly. He has outlived his usefulness. It is time for him to go out in a blaze of glory. I’ve proven my charity. He can serve as some kind of example of hope for the dustbugs on Eclectia.”
“I’ll see to it, sir.”
“Thank you, Major. Please send Enforcer Second Class Hicks as the second expendable. He’s annoying me.”
“Yes sir. Good night, sir.”
“Yes, yes. Good night, Major.”
Stotter thought to himself after he left the Governor’s quarters. “A very unusual execution decree. And a triple besides. Very original.”
Stotter went to his quarters for a good night’s sleep.
Showing posts with label Governor Bokkasa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Governor Bokkasa. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Prize Puppy
by Joseph H. Ficor -
The Governor gave Shouhei many trivial errands to run, mostly taking things to the other aristocrats of Carlston's Cove. Everyone praised Shouhei for being so favored by the Governor. The young man's discipline was pushed to its maximum tolerances every time he heard a greater-than-thou exclaim “Here is the symbol of Bokassa's benevolence” or “Here is the epitome of rich charity.”
The other members of the security detachment chose to call him the “prize puppy.”
His “cuteness” began wearing off after a month on board the station. The Governor and other higher ups started showing disdain and boredom when he came around on official business.
Fear seized him when an Enforcer Second Class shouted at him as he passed a guard station on the Governor’s level, “Hey, prize puppy! You're going to play with the big dogs soon.”
His soul forecasted ill times ahead.
The Governor gave Shouhei many trivial errands to run, mostly taking things to the other aristocrats of Carlston's Cove. Everyone praised Shouhei for being so favored by the Governor. The young man's discipline was pushed to its maximum tolerances every time he heard a greater-than-thou exclaim “Here is the symbol of Bokassa's benevolence” or “Here is the epitome of rich charity.”
The other members of the security detachment chose to call him the “prize puppy.”
His “cuteness” began wearing off after a month on board the station. The Governor and other higher ups started showing disdain and boredom when he came around on official business.
Fear seized him when an Enforcer Second Class shouted at him as he passed a guard station on the Governor’s level, “Hey, prize puppy! You're going to play with the big dogs soon.”
His soul forecasted ill times ahead.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Charity
by Joseph H. Ficor -
The Enforcer at the checkpoint, just off the elevator, at Upper Level Six smiled after he cleared Shouhei for entry.
“We’ve been expecting you.” He said while maintaining that ominous smile.
Shouhei just said, “Thank you,” as he passed the still-smiling Enforcer.
The orders that had been printed out at the checkpoint stated that he was to proceed to Stateroom 14. He was there in five minutes.
Two guards, both Peacekeeper Level Twos, stood on either side of the door leading into the stateroom. They wore immaculate navy blue uniforms with white berets and broad white sashes extending from their left shoulders to their right waists.
Shouhei saluted and the salute was returned. The PKL2 on Shouhei’s right inserted Shouhei’s ID card into a portable reader. He showed it to the other PKL2 who just grunted and mumbled something about Shouhei being the one.
The ID card was returned to Shouhei. The door opened and Shouhei entered a large office with white walls and red carpeting. Many abstract paintings hung neatly on the wall. A large luxurious desk made of smoothed Zirconian black coral stood four meters in front of the young Enforcer.
A large man with skin as dark as the desk and wearing a robe of bright orange and red came from behind the desk and greeted Shouhei.
“Welcome,” the man bellowed, “Enforcer Third Class Fiko! I have been looking forward to meeting you for a few months now.”
Shouhei’s training brought him back to his place. He straightened and saluted, but his face betrayed his confusion at the Governor’s greeting.
The Governor just smiled. “My boy, I can see that you do not understand that I’m your benefactor.”
Shouhei’s face betrayed more confusion.
“I am your sponsor. I chose you from the dregs of Adagio to become an Enforcer. You are my act of charity.”
“I’m sorry sir. But I don’t understand. I thought that I was accepted because of my scores on the entrance exam.”
“Don’t be silly,” the Governor said, and laughed. “The test was just a formality. You were already in by my word. You see, I had a small wager with some of the members of my club that I could choose anyone from that waste on Eclectia and sponsor him through the Enforcers. They doubted me, but you proved them wrong…”
Each of Governor’s words was like the beating of a hammer driving a spike into Shouhei’s heart.
“…and my boy, you paid handsomely—two platinums. So I’ve decided as a special reward to make you a member of my personal security detachment. What do you think about that?”
Professionalism—and his faith—prevented him from expressing the words.
The Enforcer at the checkpoint, just off the elevator, at Upper Level Six smiled after he cleared Shouhei for entry.
“We’ve been expecting you.” He said while maintaining that ominous smile.
Shouhei just said, “Thank you,” as he passed the still-smiling Enforcer.
The orders that had been printed out at the checkpoint stated that he was to proceed to Stateroom 14. He was there in five minutes.
Two guards, both Peacekeeper Level Twos, stood on either side of the door leading into the stateroom. They wore immaculate navy blue uniforms with white berets and broad white sashes extending from their left shoulders to their right waists.
Shouhei saluted and the salute was returned. The PKL2 on Shouhei’s right inserted Shouhei’s ID card into a portable reader. He showed it to the other PKL2 who just grunted and mumbled something about Shouhei being the one.
The ID card was returned to Shouhei. The door opened and Shouhei entered a large office with white walls and red carpeting. Many abstract paintings hung neatly on the wall. A large luxurious desk made of smoothed Zirconian black coral stood four meters in front of the young Enforcer.
A large man with skin as dark as the desk and wearing a robe of bright orange and red came from behind the desk and greeted Shouhei.
“Welcome,” the man bellowed, “Enforcer Third Class Fiko! I have been looking forward to meeting you for a few months now.”
Shouhei’s training brought him back to his place. He straightened and saluted, but his face betrayed his confusion at the Governor’s greeting.
The Governor just smiled. “My boy, I can see that you do not understand that I’m your benefactor.”
Shouhei’s face betrayed more confusion.
“I am your sponsor. I chose you from the dregs of Adagio to become an Enforcer. You are my act of charity.”
“I’m sorry sir. But I don’t understand. I thought that I was accepted because of my scores on the entrance exam.”
“Don’t be silly,” the Governor said, and laughed. “The test was just a formality. You were already in by my word. You see, I had a small wager with some of the members of my club that I could choose anyone from that waste on Eclectia and sponsor him through the Enforcers. They doubted me, but you proved them wrong…”
Each of Governor’s words was like the beating of a hammer driving a spike into Shouhei’s heart.
“…and my boy, you paid handsomely—two platinums. So I’ve decided as a special reward to make you a member of my personal security detachment. What do you think about that?”
Professionalism—and his faith—prevented him from expressing the words.
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