Season 04 - Episode 17

‘end without word’

“Enforcement Officer Twelve Twelve Thirty-Six,” says the EnFo sergeant. “You have been found guilty of the following offences.”

The sergeant is reading from a script and the boredom in his voice is evident despite the heavy, electronic distortion of his helmet. Ko is wearing the young boy's uniform, now minus the helmet and rifle. His arms are held by EnFo's standing to attention at either side, black gleaming statues.

“Abandoning your post,” the sergeant is droning. “Dereliction of duty; high treason in a time of war; collaboration with The Church and or other enemies of GovCo and finally two counts of theft of GovCo property, one for the armour, one for the weapon.”

Ko stares straight ahead at one of the tarnished and dented metal plates fitted to the walls. As the words wash over him he feels nothing besides a growing impatience.

A few hours earlier, when he was saying goodbye to The Resistance and then walking to the nearest EnFo barracks to hand himself in, he'd expected to feel more. He'd assumed there would be fear and regret, that the substance of his life would finally reveal itself. As it is however, he finds he is mostly just bored.

“Do you have anything to say in your defence?” asks the sergeant.

Ko shakes his head but the sergeant has already moved on to the next line regardless.

“You will now be taken to a place of execution where sentence will be passed on you in the form of a firing squad,” says the sergeant.

The sergeant salutes vaguely at the EnFo's holding Ko and wanders off. The EnFo's suddenly come to life and without a word begin to march Ko through the barracks. As they go, Ko sees hundreds of EnFo's, some returning from or leaving for patrol, others training.

Many however are off duty and so are sitting around the place, chatting or playing cards or just staring. Some sneer or scowl or shout things as he passes, a few even throw things but most appear exhausted and traumatised and ignore him completely.

Then they are entering a long meeting hall and he is positioned with his back to the wall at one end. Without word or ceremony, the EnFo's rip off the chest plate of his armour and then march out carrying it.

Ko almost smirks as they go. The armour is designed for male bodies and Ko had to bind his breasts painfully tight to squeeze into it. The removal of the chest plate is to allow the executioners' bullets to enter his body, he knows, but right now it just brings some mild relief.

More waiting follows and Ko finds himself worrying about Ny. He knows with absolute certainty that his plan is the right thing to do. His death will keep the secret of The Resistance, for now at least and also finally give him the escape he has been seeking.

The old man's reaction had shocked him however. Once the decision had been made and the preparations began, Ny had seemed somehow broken, dried up and shrivelled inside. Ko doesn't understand why the old man should care so, especially given Ko's part in him losing his hand.

Then a dozen EnFo's and another sergeant are trooping into the room and forming up. The sight of the rifles stirs something in him and finally he feels the fear. He knows he is going to die now, actually knows it, for real and so the squirming starts.

Ko is so relieved to feel something, even abject terror, that he has to fight to compose himself and keep the smile from his lips, even as he sergeant commands the firing squad.

The EnFo's raise their rifles.

This is it.

The EnFo's aim their rifles.

It's happening now.

“Hold!” barks the sergeant, listening to his radio.

The moment stretches out unbearably until Ko thinks he will explode.

“Right!” snaps the sergeant. “You two, take the prisoner upstairs for executive interrogation. The rest of you, back on the clock.”

As Ko is marched back out of the room the sergeant stops them.

“Sorry, son,” he says to Ko. “At least this would have been quick.”

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