Rehabilitation

Preface

Rehabilitation is a piece of player-created fiction written by Casiella Truza. Originally published on the blog Ecliptic Rift.

Rehabilitation

He sobs and weeps into his hands. The grief of a father can tear him apart: while he wants to give in to his pain, he tries to provide strength and reassurance for his wife.

Strong, uniformed men stand quietly in the entranceway. Finally, one speaks.

“We’ve found the young man responsible. His father has agreed to send him to a rehabilitation camp…”

Hearing this, the woman turns and runs into the back, trying uselessly to flee from the stark injustice of an uncaring world.

Wiping his hands on the side of his face, the father looks up. “A rehabilitation camp… Didn’t anyone see the images of her body, the reports on what she suffered?”

The uniformed man clears his throat and shifts on his feet. “His father, ah, serves in Fleet command, and it was decided that any distraction might impede the war effort…”

The father stares uncomprehendingly. “If only a poor boy had done this, then I’d have justice? Is that what the Republic has become?”

His visitors say nothing for a few moments. Finally, a tall woman dressed in the tribal finery of a chieftain steps in from outside. “We’re very sorry. But many families suffer worse in the Empire, and the Republic must help as many of our people as we can.”

She gestures and the squad follows her outside, leaving the family to their ashes and grief.