The Good Citizen

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Here's another one that sprang fully-formed into my head. I don't think I'm going to be able to do anything more with it as a piece of fiction but I thought it would make a good RPG seed. Let me know what you think.


Marco moved quickly but calmly through the intersection of Victory and Absolute. He picked up a latté at the corner kiosk and sipped it as he nodded to those he passed. He knew more people than he didn't in this part of town. Some of them wished him luck. Others just touched their forheads briefly. He was warmed by such an outpouring of emotion. Thus, he was smiling as he opened the doors to Magnum, Inc.

After a brief wait, which Marco took as a good sign, he was called into the office of Altus Magnum himself. The spartan furnishings and modest size of the room were diametrically opposed to the image of the office Marco figured the Great Man should have. Altus moved forward in a kind of gliding motion and extended a hand towards Marco who shook it firmly.

"Sit down," said Altus heading for a seat in front of the desk.

Marco sat in the not-too-hard-not-too-comfortable chair and took a deep, cleansing breath to calm himself.

Altus smiled as he took his own seat, "Academy training."

Marco nodded, "Yes, sir. That's why I'm here."

Altus' smile continued, "Indeed." He relaxed his broad shoulders and ran a hand casually through his thick, black hair. "Your instructors speak very highly of your skills and of your potential."

Marco cleared his throat. 'Potential' was instructor-speak for 'lousy grades but excellent ratings'. Marco opened his mouth to explain some of the specifics of his first couple of semesters but Altus raised a hand to cut him off.

"No one cares about your academic performance, son. We're more interested in your extracurricular activities."

Marco's brows raised but he remained silent.

"How much do you know about the Scouts?" Altus asked.

"Next to nothing," Marco answered.

Altus nodded, "Good. First off, the Scouts are exempt from the Laws." Altus paused while that sank in then continued, "They are also rewarded for their service by a complete expunging of all former offenses against the Public Good."

Marco, despite his training, leaned forward, eyes wide.

"The City is planning a breakthrough and the Council has narrowed the coordinates down to four candidates. You will slip through to each of these and file a report from which will come our final decision."

"But, no one can slip that often," Marco said. "They'd die."

"The Scouts are exempt from a lot of things, son," Magnum replied. "Do you think you're up for this?"





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