Oppressed

Timing: shortly after the Joneses arrive at the Sydney Mini-'Dome
Setting: Marshal's office, Sydney Mini-'Dome
""Hey, Dad?""
"Titles, Officer."
Telly huffs. ""/Marshal, Cadet Jones is here with his escort to see you.""
Thomas closes his eyes for a five-count, then, "Send Cadet Jones in, please."
Jones the Younger saunters in, sits—
"Remain standing, Cadet."
—blinks a few times and frowns, but stays upright.
Thomas folds his hands on his desk blotter.
Jones rocks on his heels, hands tucked behind his back.
"Tell me the conditions under which you are allowed off the grounds."
Jones suppresses an eye roll, rocks back to center. "I need a day pass signed by my commanding officer and an escort from Security."
Thomas frowns.
"Sir," adds Jones.
"And what are you to do before you leave the grounds?"
"I am to ensure my appearance is 'photo-friendly' as I will likely encounter members of media and fans outside the base, sir."
"And how are you to behave once you are outside the base?"
"I am to act with decorum, respect social norms, and avoid drawing negative attention to myself or the Corps. Sir."
"Very good, Cadet." Thomas picks up his tablet, wakes it. "Now, let's review this afternoon's events, for both of our edification." Clears his throat. "According to the report compiled by Central Monitoring and Security, you first swapped your clothing for your brother's—he's claiming complete ignorance, for the record—"
"'course he is," Jones mutters.
"—then left the Shatterdome via the north entrance and exited the grounds at the front gate. You at no point informed your commanding officer /or Security of your plans." Thomas waits for a response.
"Yes, sir."
Thomas continues, "You then proceeded on foot to Tsing Yi Station and entered the Tung Chung Line train."
"Yes, sir."
"You disembarked at Lai King, apparently in order to transfer to the Tsuen Wan Line, and were met on the platform there by a waiting Security team."
"Yes, sir."
"The Security team then escorted you back to Tsing Yi on the next train and from the station directly to my office."
"Yes, sir."
"You dispute none of this?"
"No, sir. That's what happened."
"Very good." Thomas swipes to the 'Notes' section of the report. "Now, explain why, when approached by the Security team, you, in the words of Officer Lee, 'began shrieking 'Help! Help! I'm being oppressed!' in Cantonese with the most god-awful British accent I've ever heard' and continued to do so until Officer Castro offered to deploy CS spray?" Thomas sets the tablet aside, folds his hands.
"I really can't explain, sir."
"'Can't' or 'won't', Cadet?"
"'Can't', sir." Jones shrugs. "It just seemed like the thing to do."
Thomas' eyelid twitches.
Jones remains neutral—though that /might be a tiny gleam in his eye.
"Cadet Jones you will be confined to quarters for the next seven days. If you even /try sneaking out again, I'll have a tracking chip implanted under your spine. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"You will also report to the Public Relations office at oh-six-hundred tomorrow for a refresher course in personal appearance management."
Jones goggles, almost-whines, "You're sending me for a /makeover?"
"Yes, Cadet, I am. You're dismissed."
"But—"
"You're dismissed, Cadet."
Jones bows—a little too shallowly—and plods out.
Thomas waits until the far door closes, then pinches his the bridge of his nose.
""That went well?"" offers Telly.
"It's not over until I deal the complaints from PR about his behaviour tomorrow."
Category:Ficlet
Category:Nguyen
Category:Nguyen's POV
Category:Nguyen (ficlet)
Category:Chantell
Category:Chantell (ficlet)
Category:Logan
Category:Logan (ficlet)
Category:Sydney Mini 'Dome (setting)
Category:Monty Python (reference)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Logan vs GLITTER
Category:Logan has problems with authority