Season 04 - Episode 01

‘interrupts the great’

“Syl!” the man gushes. “Please, come in, sit down!”

Syl closes the door behind her and enters the room fully. Even with thick metal plating on the walls, floor and ceiling, the office feels huge compared to her own.

The man grinning at her from behind an enormous desk is several years her junior. His dark skin is perfectly smooth, his nails perfectly trimmed, his hair and suit immaculate. As she sits, Syl can't help but think of the wretched deprivation surrounding them on all sides and how it hasn't managed to touch him.

“I'm Fu and I'm the Chief Executive Minster's Private Sec. Now first off,” he continues, giddy. “I just have to say what an honour it is to meet The Heroine of The Detention Centre.”

Syl cringes at the title and nods stiffly.

“Sure,” she says. “Thanks.”

“No!” he exclaims. “I mean it! The woman who fought off an entire order of The Church single handed. I mean, wow! Just wow!”

“Hardly,” says Syl, shifting in her seat. “Dozens of EnFo's gave their lives in that battle. I just hid in the back.”

“Pff!” says Fu, dismissing her words with a wave of his hand. “That's what they're there for, but you?! A corporate servant? Out on the front line? Slaying wave after wave of GovCo's most fearsome enemies with her bare hands?!”

“It was just one enemy actually,” says Syl. “And to be honest I'd rather not discuss it.”

“Of course, of course,” he says, suddenly solemn. “I understand completely. Now, to business. Over the last few months, since The Great Expulsion, I understand that you've...”

“The what, sorry?” Syl interrupts.

“The Great Expulsion,” he repeats. “That's what we're calling it. GovCo's total victory over The Church. In the end we simply overwhelmed them and so they fled in terror.”

“Really?” says Syl. “With hindsight it seems more like an armed robbery than a retreat. Didn't they walk out of here with most of our weapons and armour?”

Fu stiffens and his expression cools dramatically.

When he speaks again his tone is hard and tight.

“That's certainly not how the Chief Executive Minister would describe it,” he says.

Syl realises she has overstepped and lowers her eyes.

“But!” Fu goes on, suddenly bright again. “If you're saying that The Church were thieves as well as murderers then I can't imagine anyone could disagree with that.”

“Right,” says Syl, nodding. “Yes, of course. That's what I meant.”

“Excellent,” says Fu. ”So, as I was saying, over the last few months, since The Great Expulsion, you've been acting up to cover your manager's duties, is that right?”

“Yes,” says Syl. “About that, I was hoping you could tell me what's happened to Ste and if he's alright. I haven't seen him since the... well... The Great Expulsion.”

“Ah,” says Fu, suddenly grave once more. “Yes. I'm sorry to say that it turns out Ste was actually an agent of The Church.”

“What?!” Syl cries, wide eyed and open mouthed. “Surely not.”

“I'm afraid so,” Fu continues. “He revealed himself when he began asking all sorts of inappropriate questions about GovCo resources. Clearly a spy and quite a clumsy one to boot.”

Shame burns inside Syl. She remembers the contempt she felt for Ste when he said he would investigate her concerns, how convinced she'd been that he was fobbing her off. Then the burn becomes a chill as she wonders why she's been summoned here.

Do they know?

“Anyway,” Fu goes on. “I just wanted to let you know that as of today we'd like to formalise the current arrangements and invite you to take up Ste's role permanently. We'll backdate your pay to when you started acting up of course.”

“Oh!” says Syl, shocked and shamed all over again. Ste must have protected her to the very end. “Well... I mean... ok, yes.”

“Fantastic!” cries Fu, actually clapping his hands. “Now then, your main priority is going to be rooting out the sleeper cells The Church have left behind...”

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