Season 01 - Episode 15

‘tasked to prevent’

“Sorry, Ste,” says Syl. “Can we run through that again?”

She's standing before the vidscreen in her office. Ste's image is larger than life. It emphasises his wrinkles and makes him look even older and more tired than he is.

“What exactly is the problem, Syl?” he sighs.

“Well, for one thing,” Syl begins, reasonably. “The policy is called 'Time Limited Measures to Facilitate a Temporary Increase in GovCo Revenue and Powers'.”

“Yes,” says Ste wearily. “Your point being?”

“There's no mention of timescales,” says Syl, exasperation rising. “Anywhere. It reads as if the changes are permanent.”

“No, no, no,” says Ste, shaking his head. “It's all temporary. It says so in the title, Syl.”

“I can see it's in the title, Ste,” Syl agrees, slowly, as if talking to a child. “It's just not anywhere else. These policies completely dismantle existing systems and permanently replace them with new measures.”

“It's all temporary,” Ste repeats. “GovCo will remove them again in time.”

“But when, Ste?” Syl asks.

“When the time is right,” says Ste.

“Alright, alright,” says Syl, picking a different battle. “The measures themselves though, they're going to be catastrophic for a lot of people. We're doubling or even tripling rents and maintenance charges overnight! And some of these new regulations will effectively criminalise people just for existing!”

“GovCo revenues are stagnating, Syl,” says Ste sagely. “It's the duty of Corporate Servants to deliver GovCo's policies and ensure continually increasing profits.”

“I'm aware of my duties,” says Syl through gritted teeth. She takes a breath and tries again. “These measures are going to push everyone down a notch, including pushing many out onto The Scapes. It's a gift to the cults, Ste. They'll be recruiting by the hundred.”

“Now that mustn't happen!” huffs Ste. “That's exactly what you're being tasked to prevent.”

“But that's my point, Ste,” says Syl. “You've got to meet me half way. If I sell these measures as time limited, the first thing people will ask is what's the time limit? You want me to sell loyalty to GovCo to people while GovCo is literally taking food out of their children's mouths and locking up their friends.”

“Let's not be overly dramatic,” says Ste, disapproving.

“I'm serious!” says Syl. “What is going on here? This is madness. We push these policies and there'll be violence in the corridors within weeks. Where's the profit in that? If I just understood what we're trying to achieve Ste...”

“Not this again,” says Ste.

“Yes, this again,” Syl retorts.

“Ok, listen,” says Ste, lowering his voice and leaning closer to the camera. “The cults have something planned for The Levels, Syl. I can't say more than that, I don't know any more than that! Honestly. All I know is, I've been told by people who know more than me, people I trust, that these measures are going to become necessary very soon.”

“What does that mean?” says Syl, incredulous.

“I don't know!” snaps Ste desperately. “I know it's not easy but you don't get paid to do the easy things. You get paid to do the hard but necessary things. Just remember, the cults are the enemy, alright? That's the line. The cults are ruining The Levels and can only be stopped by honest, decent, hard working, ordinary citizens putting their faith in GovCo. So please! Just do your job, Syl.”

“Ok, Ste,” says Syl, taken aback by the actual tears in the old man's eyes. “Alright. I'll make it work, somehow. Leave it with me.”

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