Season 01 - Episode 10

‘nothing has changed’

Syl knocks and waits. The corridor is quiet. Only a dozen or so of her colleagues pass by before the door opens. A very tall man with very dark hair emerges. He ignores Syl completely as she watches him leave. Then a voice from within calls for her to enter. She steps inside and approaches her elderly boss's desk.

“Hi, Ste,” she says brightly, taking a seat.

“Mmm,” says Ste, staring down at a mess of reports.

“Everything ok?” asks Syl.

“Just had the Chief Executive Minister's Private Secretary on the screen,” says Ste, finally looking up.

“Wow,” says Syl, impressed. Ste is a senior GovCo official but not that senior.

“Mmm,” Ste repeats. “Bit of pressure on this new project.”

“Sounds like it,” says Syl. “That's also what I wanted to talk to you about actually.”

“Oh yes,” says Ste. “You're new role. How's it going?”

“Ok,” says Syl. “Just been getting up to speed.”

“And what do you have?” asked Ste.

“Well,” says Syl, drawing breath to begin. “Across GovCo's territory we now have several hundred distinct cults. That's a four fold increase from last year. Most are pretty small and typically worship a central figure, real or imagined. They have distinctive forms of dress and many have initiation rituals involving body modification.”

“Good, good,” nods Ste. “And activity?”

“Historically they've kept to themselves, surviving on charitable donations. Recently however, there's been a surge in recruitment activity. Some cults are now also attempting to establish authority over their local neighbourhoods, in some cases quite successfully.”

“Mmm,” says Ste, returning to his anxious frown.

“What I was really after today though,” says Syl. “Was a steer on the messaging around yesterday's raid?”

“I don't know what you mean,” says Ste quickly.

“Yesterday,” says Syl. “A whole platoon of Enforcement Officers entered The Scapes down in The Sixth. They apprehended groups from two cults that were causing a disturbance.”

“No they didn't,” says Ste, even more quickly.

“What?” Syl asks, confused. “I saw the footage. It's all the cults are talking about. I just wanted to ask what our line was. When I approach them they're going to challenge me on it.”

“Don't approach them,” says Ste.

“What?” Syl asks again. “I don't understand. I thought I was meant to be GovCo liaison to the cults instead of the church. That's what I was told last week. What's changed?”

“Nothing has changed!” Ste snaps. “Security matters are out of scope of this project that's all. We shouldn't be speculating about raids that may or may not have happened.”

“Well it did happen, Ste,” says Syl firmly. “And if I'm not talking to the cults, what am I doing?”

Ste rubs his face with his hands and sighs.

“Listen,” he begins, suddenly sounding very tired. “There are some difficult times ahead, for all of us. It's only going to be temporary but GovCo is going to be cutting back on services and asking people to tighten their belts. Meanwhile, the cults are becoming dangerous, Syl. If we let them, they'll exploit the situation and cause real civil unrest. We need to get ahead of that. That means you convincing the public to stay loyal to GovCo and resist the cults.”

“You're not telling me everything, Ste,” says Syl seriously. “What's going on?”

“I've told you everything you need to know, Syl,” says Ste, his expression hardening. “Now go and do your job or I'll find someone else who will.”

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