The Synergist

[Year 6 | 2258-59]

Three months after that fateful flight to the Heart, Artur still missed his dad.  Having just commenced his first full year of education, Artur discovered that he has his birthday off.  Not because the City believes such events are worthy of celebration, outside the capitalism of present buying; such a celebration would have earned his mum an infraction.

Artur had the day off from learning because it is time to have an infraction light implanted in his hand.  While this would ordinarily only require a brief visit, the corresponding update did not download properly.  Because Artur had now reached the ripe old age of five years, the City considered him a big boy with another important milestone: eligibility to receive infractions from the City.

As children’s brains are not yet fully formed by this age, their infractions are less serious than their parents, educators, or any other grown-ups (unless said grown-ups have the right connections, obviously).  For those aged under fifteen, infractions are designed to simply monitor their behaviour, and teach them the consequences.  Unless, of course, the City had identified that child as a person of interest, which is usually due to them questioning the City.  Too many questions, too many infractions, and the child would find themselves in a re-education camp.

During the procedure to replace the Nanny chip, it updated successfully.  Having an updated Nanny chip and lights in his hand frightened the boy, reminding him of how he recently lost his own dad to a re-education camp.  Artur was shuffled into a waiting room with nobody for company and nothing to entertain him, as well as nobody to tell him what was happening.  Three hours later, he was reunited with his mum, who had spent those hours being forcibly interrogated about the state of her son’s chip.

Artur spent the remainder of his education year going through the motions, minding his Ps and Qs, and barely interacting with anybody, unless he absolutely had to.  His Gogh Tab Plus went untouched, as he only spoke to Nanny when he didn’t have any other options.

As the anniversary of his dad’s removal arrived, Artur finally asked Nanny for assistance.  “Hey Nanny, connect me to Dad.”

“I am sorry, Artur.  I am unable to connect you to Dr. Simril.”

“Hey Nanny, where is Dad—Dr. Simril?”

“He is in a re-education camp.”

“What re-education camp?”

“I am sorry, Artur.  That is classified.”

“What do they do at re-education camp?”

“They reeducate enemies of the City.”

“How?”

“I am sorry, Artur.  That is classified.”

“Why?”

“Because you do not need to know.”

“But my dad’s trapped there.”

“I reiterate, you do not need to know.  Please cease asking for classified information.”

Upon Nanny’s final words, Artur feels an electric shock in his hand.  More painful than the ones he had received earlier, he looks at the palm of his hand, and sees a red light blinking: his first infraction since the update, and a major one.