Season 03 - Episode 25

‘a box pusher’

Ny and his comrades are standing around the table in the gloomy room, looking at a collection of maps. More tables have been added along one wall where Mo is directing a small production line of eager-to-learn youngsters.

“Why are they doing this?!” cries Es. “There's no reason to it!”

“There'll be a reason,” says Clo darkly. “That Pho, she has a reason for everything.”

“It doesn't matter right now,” says Ny, seriously. “The fact is they're doing it, killing everyone they can find. We've got to bring the plan forward, start moving people now.”

“But the holographic projectors aren't finished,” says Es. “We don't have enough.”

“We'll just have to go with what we've got,” says Ny, leaning over the maps to point. “If we place them here and here we can hopefully convince both sides there's been a collapse here. That way we can get people from these neighbourhoods out through here.”

“What if they find the projectors?” asks Clo.

“If either side find even one of these,” says Ny. “We're in trouble. No, we use them for as little time as we can get away with then take them back and hope our luck holds.”

“Alright,” says Es. “So how many do we...”

The door to Ny's room slides open so that light and commotion spill inside. Everyone freezes, cringes and turns to see Si dragging a man into the room. The man has a shaved head and is dressed like The Order of The Disciples though he still has both eyes. His face is bruised and his nose is bleeding.

“Si!” cries Clo. “What are you doing?”

“This guy,” Si snarls, shoving the man forward so that he falls before them. “Has been asking people all over the neighbourhood about you, Ny. Even came to your door! He knows.”

“But why bring him here?” cries Es, horrified. “Now he knows about this place too!”

“It doesn't matter,” snaps Si. “We're not letting him go!”

“So what,” says Ny. “You're going to hold him prisoner? Forever?”

“Nope,” says Si grimly.

“No!” says Ny, suddenly grim too. “We don't do that. We don't kill.”

“Then what do you...” Si begins, but is interrupted.

“Hang on,” says Es, moving to stand over the man on the floor, bending to look at him. “I know this one. He was there! He's one of the ones who... Ny. Your hand.”

The room fills with a thick, suffocating silence. The man on the floor staggers to his feet to stand before Ny. He wipes the blood from his nose then swallows and looks Ny in the eye.

“My name is Wa,” says Ko. “I've been looking for you.”

Ny says nothing, his face grey.

“What they did to you...” Ko begins but then falters. “What I did to you, it was wrong. I should have stopped it, should have done... something but I didn't. I'm sorry.”

“We don't care if you're...” Es snaps but stops when Ny raises his hand.

“This isn't me,” Ko continues, his voice thick. “Not really. Wa's not even my real name. My name's Ko. I used to be a box pusher. Then The Collapse happened.”

Ny continues to stare at Ko, his face blank while his friends bristle around them.

“I was so unhappy!” Ko cries, the words suddenly tumbling out of him. “I'm a man! But I have this woman's body that isn't me so I stole my neighbour's name when he died but then I didn't know where to go and then The Disciples took me in but they did terrible things and I've done terrible things and I wish I hadn't but I can't undo them so I brought you this.”

Ko reaches into his pocket, takes out a simple ring bearing a single gemstone and offers it to Ny. Ny's mouth falls open, his throat suddenly dry, his eyes suddenly wet. He takes the ring with his real hand and stares at it for several seconds.

“Ko, is it?” he says then.

Ko nods, wiping away tears.

“I forgive you,” says Ny.

“Ny!” cry Es and Si, aghast as one.

“I forgive you,” says Ny again, more firmly. “And what's more, you are safe here, I promise. You are safe and welcome to be yourself.”

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