The woman knocked on the door of a third room and entered. “I’m Dr. Solrio Nansen. I’m the investigator and mediator for this incident. You are expected to control your emotional and physical reactions during this interview. If you cannot, assistance will be provided. You will not be able to affect the results of this process in any way.”
“What are you talking about? There has been no incident.”
“Tell me your name.”
“No.” He glared at her.
“This conversation is being videorecorded. Please state your name for the record.”
“No.”
“If you cannot control your emotional and physical reactions during this interview, we will assist you in doing so. Tell me your name.”
“Haerm Bron.”
“Please tell me what prompted your visit to the medical facility.” Haerm did not respond. “Failure to comply with my request will impact the outcome of this situation. State the purpose you hoped to achieve when you approached Dr. Bonnema.” Haerm sat looking at her. He made no motion indicating what he was thinking. “For the record, would you tell me what happened?”
“Nothing happened.”
“The audio-visual record indicates an interaction between the two of you. I would like to hear what you believe happened.”
“I told him he should go live in the city.”
The mediator waited. After a long silence, she tapped the electronic pad she carried. “You refused to leave the medical facility when you were advised to go, first by Dr. Bonnema and then by the Protectorate Securit Team sent to address the situation. These are the charges against you: Threatening to terminate a child. Threatening to terminate a medical member of the Protectorate Medical System. Refusing to leave a Global Planetary Sanctuary after sufficient warning. This incident has been entered into your record. I will return with a decision regarding how to proceed.”
“You can proceed by letting me go home.”
“Excuse me,” she said and left the room. It locked behind her.
Mediator Solrio Nansen stated her findings to her colleagues. After a short discussion, the three made their recommendations. She went to an observation room and looked through a one-way window at the three individuals she’d interviewed. Dr. Bonnema sat quietly, deep in thought. Syp was reading something on the electronic pad. The mediator flipped a switch and a screen popped up. She noted the material it was reading, then closed the screen. Haerm Bron was pounding on the door of his interview room demanding to be let out. The seats and table were no longer visible, which meant that he had tried to move them around or attempted to use them for something other than sitting. The mediator revised the suggested outcome and entered it into her notes.
She pushed her communicator. “I need a security team in the hallway outside conference room one.” Four guards met her. Two entered the room with her.
“You need to transport me home!” Haerm yelled.
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“I suggest you calm down, Mr. Bron.” She paused for a moment. She listed off the charges that had been placed in his record. “After interviewing all parties, I have reached a decision. Number one, you will stay off the property surrounding the medical facility and the farmland belonging to Dr. Bonnema. Number two, you will not have any further interactions with Dr. Bonnema until the Protectorate deems an appropriate time has passed. Do not call him; do not send messages or packages to him through family members. Do not share farm or business equipment. If Dr. Bonnema is in a public place before you enter, you will avoid the area. If you need medical treatment, there are facilities in Dagmon. If there is an emergency, call the emergency number and help will be dispatched to you.”
“I don’t have a communication device.”
“In that case, your dwelling doesn’t meet specifications for human occupation. I will order an inspection of your living quarters.”
“I don’t want anyone entering my home!”
“You made the statement that you don’t have a communicator. I need to determine the truthfulness of that claim so that this situation can be fully resolved.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I do. Did you speak the truth or an untruth? Haerm, this is a prime example of the need to speak clearly and truthfully while you are here. Questionable statements will be investigated. On Zuphreon, human dwellings are required to have a communication system built into the framework. I need proof that your family can request medical attention in an emergency. Since you made this statement, the situation needs to be addressed. If you do not have a communication system, a determination will be made as to whether it is possible to have the equipment installed or if you will need to build a new dwelling.”
The mediator looked down at her list. “Number three, you will remain here in detention. You will be provided a room, clean clothes, and meals. You are expected to participate in anger management sessions. If you cooperate, you will only be detained for three days."
“Three days? I have a family to provide for!”
“Your family will be notified that you will be away. Since you have stated that you have no communicator, I will send a messenger to inform your family. The message will be delivered only to an adult from your household. That person will be given no explanation as to why you have been detained. What you choose to tell them when you return is up to you.”
“You need to get Syp out of this area! This is all her fault!” he shouted.
“You will control yourself. The child you call Syp was nowhere near you when you threatened the doctor. It has nothing to do with this situation.”
“Syp needs to leave Iragos! If she doesn’t, I’ll kill her!”
“Your opinion on that matter has no effect on my decision. The final item in the decisions that have been reached are that, as an officer of the Protectorate, I’m ordering you to cease all interactions with the child you refer to as Syp."
She went on, "This child is no longer your responsibility. It is now under the guardianship of the Protectorate. If you or any members of your household approach this child, that person will receive an immediate response from the Protectorate. We will not allow this child to be threatened or bullied in any way. It will result in disciplinary action. The Protectorate officials will ensure that the perpetrator or perpetrators are apprehended and possibly detained in this facility. Such an incident will be recorded on an adult’s records. If another child threatens or bullies Syp, the incident will go on that child’s permanent school and disciplinary records.”
“I demand that you release me.”
“Haerm, I would like to remind you that you will not be able to manipulate this process in any way. Every word spoken and every move within this facility is being recorded. You will do as you are told, or you will suffer the consequences. It’s your choice.”
“I want to speak to your supervisor!” Haerm shouted. “You need to release me!” He swung his fist at the mediator and smashed her in the chin. A guard tried to restrain him, and a second joined the effort. Haerm was pressed up against the wall and restrained.
A guard pressed his communicator. “Please prepare detention room number one at comfort level one..”
Haerm was turned to face the mediator. She was unable to speak. The guard took her electronic pad. He told Haerm, “Your disciplinary action has been adjusted to indicate that you were uncooperative and that you will be detained five days. Any similar physical demonstrations will result in a lengthened detainment.”