There was plenty of dissatisfaction regarding Sanguine’s appointment, but there was nobody to organise a protest march. The Democracy Chasers were grieving the loss of Joan and Sally. Other small activist groups were focused on bringing the Alset family to justice.
Meanwhile in Carrington City, Hadrian had arrived at Governor Ebirb’s office to make a deal.
‘Finally, come to your senses,’ remarked Ebirb as he gestured to Hadrian to take a seat.
‘I want to make a deal with you,’ said Hadrian as he sat down opposite Ebirb.
‘You better have something good to offer,’ said Ebirb smugly. ‘Ten thousand enforcers will soon be at your doorstep. You don’t even have reinforcements; they took the rap for your son.’
‘I’ll do whatever it takes for my family to be safe,’ said Hadrian.
‘Your family is guilty, and everyone knows it,’ said Ebirb as he leaned forward. ‘No amount of coin is going to change that.’
‘I’m not here to bribe you,’ said Hadrian firmly. ‘I’m here to confess.’
Ebirb sat back in his seat. He put his hands together and asked, ‘You want to confess to everything?’
‘It was all me,’ said Hadrian in a strained voice. ‘I planned the whole….’
‘Stop right there,’ interrupted Ebirb. ‘I need to record this, and I need to bring in two guards as witnesses. I need this to be legit.’
Ebirb picked up his phone and ordered two guards to come immediately to his office. A few minutes later, two guards entered his office; they stood either side of the door. He pulled out his tape recorder and pressed the play button.
‘Okay, continue,’ said Ebirb.
‘I did it. I planned and executed the collapse of the stadium,’ said Hadrian as he looked down at the desk. ‘I alone am responsible. Nobody else in the family had any idea. I wanted James Yensid to suffer. He had taken so much from my family.’
‘Great, that’ll do,’ said Ebirb as he turned off the recording device. He looked over at the guards. ‘Arrest this mass murderer.’
One guard grabbed Hadrian, while the other handcuffed him. They aggressively pulled him out of Ebirb’s office.
Ebirb picked up his phone and called Sanguine.
‘I have a full confession from Hadrian Alset,’ said Ebirb into the phone.
‘The enforcers are on their way. They will be there tomorrow,’ said Sanguine. ‘Pity, he confessed. Tiberius had a few creative ideas to get them to talk.’
‘In return, he wants his family left alone,’ said Ebirb. ‘I would also appreciate it if we could avoid any bloodshed in my district.’
‘Of course, I would not condone any unnecessary aggression,’ replied Sanguine. ‘I will forward your request to our Head Enforcer.’
Late afternoon the next day, a large convoy of enforcer vehicles arrived outside Carrington City. The first handful of vehicles looked like impressive military-style troop movers. However, the remainder of the vehicles were a hotchpotch of different coaches, which were painted black with the words ‘Enforcer’ printed onto them.
Governor Ebirb and a small entourage of guards rushed over from their vehicle to meet them. Percival and a handful of high-ranking enforcers got out of their vehicles to meet Ebirb.
‘What an impressive show of strength,’ commented Ebirb as he rushed forward to shake Percival’s hand.
‘We’re here to collect the prisoner, sir,’ replied Percival in a formal tone as he shook Ebirb’s hand.
‘Yes, absolutely,’ said Ebirb. ‘I have a signed confession, audio recordings, as well as witnesses to his statement.’
‘Splendid,’ replied Percival. ‘I’m glad you were able to quell any potential uprising.’
‘There were some initial hostilities, but I was able to reason with them,’ replied Ebirb. ‘I’ll not waste your time. Let me take you to the prisoner.’
Both groups returned to their vehicles. Ebirb led Percival and the handful of enforcers in his vehicle to the building holding Hadrian.
The enforcers waited in the courtyard as the guards brought Hadrian out.
Hadrian turned towards Percival and said, ‘Promise me you’ll leave my family alone.’
‘My job is to detain the accused, not to mete out justice,’ replied Percival in a formal tone.
The guards handed Hadrian over to the enforcers. They placed him in the back of the enforcer’s vehicle.
‘Do you have a date on when I will meet with Chief Sanguine and the Head Enforcer regarding judgement?’ asked Ebirb as he approached Percival.
‘The process for this case will be a little different,’ replied Percival. ‘The Head Enforcer will inform you on how things will proceed.’
‘I do not find that acceptable,’ said Ebirb angrily. ‘I brought him in. He’s from my district. I have a say on his fate.’
‘I’m sorry, sir,’ replied Percival. ‘I do not make the rules. I only enforce them.’
‘I’ll speak to Chief Sanguine on this,’ said Ebirb angrily. ‘Now leave.’
‘I’ll deliver the prisoner to the Capital City,’ said Percival. ‘Carrington City is under lockdown. I’m leaving two thousand enforcers here to ensure nobody leaves or breaks curfew.’
Ebirb glared angrily at Percival. Percival ignored the glare and climbed back into his vehicle.
Later that day, Ebirb and an enforcer commander briefed the Alset family on what was going to happen next.
A week passed, and the Hat Lady was still being held in the prison. She had still not been introduced to the Head Enforcer. She had grown impatient and was demanding to be released. Her demands were ignored. She tried several stunts to escape, but they all failed. One of them involved shapeshifting into a guard to fake her escape. Nothing seemed to work.
The head of the prison was well briefed by James prior to his arrest. In turn, he briefed all his guards on the types of tricks the Hat Lady was capable of performing. The Hat Lady was frequently making sections of her cell wall invisible to observe what was going on outside her cell.
Hadrian was transferred to the same prison. The guards took Hadrian to the other block of the prison to avoid any contact with the Hat Lady.
Ebirb called Sanguine to clarify how judgement was to be passed on Hadrian. Initially, the proposed process frustrated Ebirb. After he had a few days to reflect on it, he warmed to the idea.
Sanguine decided he needed to address the public. He knew he was very unpopular, and he wanted to improve his image. He thought he would be able to do that by explaining the new process around Hadrian’s and James’ judgement and sentencing.
A small stage was set up in the middle of the city square. In the centre of the stage was a small podium. A large crowd had gathered. Some were there to listen to Sanguine, and others were there to protest.
Sanguine and the Head Enforcer walked up on stage. Sanguine stood behind the podium, and the Head Enforcer stood several paces behind and to his right.
The crowd became noisy. There were chants of ‘We want Ryan’, ‘Bring back Democracy’, ‘Slaver’, and ‘Alset lover’. Sanguine patiently waited for them to quieten down.
‘Looks like I’m not the most popular here,’ said Sanguine jokingly.
‘You’re a real shit!’ shouted someone in the crowd.
‘We hate you!’ shouted someone else.
‘I just want to clarify a few things,’ said Sanguine. ‘I’m not here to take over your wonderful district. I’m only here to help while Governor Ryan mourns the loss of his amazing wife.’
‘You’re here to protect the Alset family like you have always done, asshole!’ shouted someone from the crowd.
‘This might come as a shock to most of you,’ said Sanguine as he bowed his head. ‘I have also been a victim of the Alset family.’
The crowd booed loudly.
‘The Alset guards were not hired to protect. They were hired to intimidate,’ called out Sanguine as his voice quivered. ‘The Carvaress fire was no accident. They did not fall in line with the Alset way. Therefore, they were eliminated. I feared the same would happen to my family.’
‘So you’re a coward and a traitor,’ called out someone from the crowd.
‘Yes, I was afraid,’ shouted Sanguine. ‘I could have fought them, but I have seen firsthand what war and revolution look like. As a boy, I watched my mother raped and killed. I could not risk putting my son through that same experience.’
The Head Enforcer turned his head to look at Sanguine. The crowd remained quiet this time.
‘The wrongs of the past cannot be changed,’ said Sanguine. ‘But you can shape the future. Judgement on those who committed the atrocities at the Grand Final will not sit with me or with any of the other governors. It will sit with you.’
There was a loud murmur from the crowd.
‘Twelve randomly selected Capital residents will determine the fate of Hadrian Alset, the technicians who carried out his instructions, the rest of the Alset family for covering up for them, and James Yensid for gross negligence,’ said Sanguine in a firm tone.
‘Yeah, make them pay,’ shouted someone from the crowd.
The twelve will be notified in the coming days,’ said Sanguine. ‘You’ll be known as the jurors of judgement. Your decision will be absolute and final. This is true power to the residents. This is your democracy.’
The crowd began to cheer.
Sanguine smiled broadly as he left the stage. The Head Enforcer followed behind him.
That night at the palace, Sanguine was in the lounge. He was sitting back in his chair listening to classic North music on the radio when Tiberius entered.
‘Looks like you turned the tide in your favour,’ said Tiberius as he walked towards Sanguine.
‘It gives us the necessary acceptance we need while we fill in for Ryan,’ said Sanguine.
‘Do not play your games with me,’ shouted Tiberius as he clutched his father by the throat. ‘I do not need acceptance. I’m the hero who brought both the Alset and Yensid empires to their knees.’
Tiberius released his father’s throat. Sanguine fell forward, gasping for breath.
‘You are my father and my mentor,’ whispered Tiberius into Sanguine’s ear. ‘You don’t understand how much this pains me.’
‘I’m sorry, son,’ gasped Sanguine as he pushed himself upright in his seat.
Tiberius grinned, and then he turned and left the lounge.
Sapien Loop: Frozen in Time is the sequel to the book Sapien Loop: End of an Era. Sapien Loop: End of an Era is available on Amazon, in collection series on my 
