warren valero ; peacekeeper | fin

Click.

The cassette tape hums to life beneath her black tipped finger, at odds with the artificially whitened teeth she bears. The psychologist settles back into her arm chair, gesturing for Warren to the same as she fiddles with the files sitting in her lap.

"Log begun at eighteen hundred hours on the thirtieth of September. My name is Doctor Lee, conducting Officer Valero's mandatory psych eval for resumption of duties following gross insubordination."

There's practiced nonchalance to her words, no doubt a spiel she's repeated countless times. She injects melody to their monotony, onyx eyes dancing in the low light as she flips through the record of Warren's entire life now cradled in her open palms. It's an underwhelming sight, a few aging documents and and handful of yellow referral sheets shoved into a manilla folder.

"We'll start by establishing some basics, if you don't mind."

If he was in the habit of not minding, he probably wouldn't have found himself in her office. His front teeth catch on a grin when he nods, "Yes, Ma'am."

"You are Officer Warren Valero, born in District Six. You tested into our training program after your last Reaping, opting to forgo your final year of general education. Is that correct?"

"Is indeed."

"You passed your written exam with flying colors, we don't often see such high scores even out of Six. Your instructors commended your strategic approach to interpersonal communication recommending that you graduate in spite of failing the physical exam..." She pauses, eyebrows creeping up toward her gelled hairline, "six times?"

"Was that the number they decided to go with on the official documents? Kinder than I expected."

"Are you implying that your instructors knowingly submitted incorrect data?"

"I didn't say that, Ma'am."

"Then I'll remind you, Officer Valero, that our conversation today is considered public record."

"My apologies, Doctor, I'll stay on topic from now on."

"See that you do."

The conversation lulls as her eyes dart up and down the incident report. She's avoided meeting his eyes thus far, which means she's hiding something within them. Opinions, perhaps, on the man dwarfed by the quilted back of her office chair, spine pin-straight with his fingers crossed in his lap. As detached and professional as the psychologist sat across from him.

He might be able to get a read on her, if she would only look at him.

"You requested half your pay be placed into a separate, locked account. Unusual, especially for someone so young. Why make such a request?"

He flinches. The corners of her lips twitch upwards. "I fail to see how that has anything to do with disobeying orders, Doctor Lee."

"This is not a rehashing of your disciplinary hearing, Warren, it's an evaluation of your mental state. I promise all questions are necessary for me to decide whether or not I recommend you return to active duty."

He rubs his wrist, the memory of handcuffs chafing against healing skin. "And if I refuse to answer?"

"We can end the interview here, of course, but I promise you will not like the result."

Right. Loaded questions and choices which led to the same outcome - he was familiar enough with those. He'd thought enlisting meant an escape, turns out he's just been chasing his tail for four years. "It's for my little sister." He says on a resigned sigh, "When she turns eighteen. I can't send it home because my mother would take it, so I'm keeping it safe."

"That's commendable, Officer Valero, you must love your sister very much."

He doesn't bother answering, fixing her with an expression that hopefully portrays how fucking stupid he'd found that statement.

She chuckles, perhaps a bit flustered, as she runs her hand over her hair, "Right, there's tension with your mother, then? Your coworkers report you speak of Naomi often, but never of your parents."

"Tension is a good way to put it. My mother and I never got along."

"And your father?"

"I think he took me fishing for my birthday once. During the summer, I was five years old."

"Our records indicate your birthday is in November."

"Yeah." He's loathe to admit his laughter is a little fond, "He's not really in the picture."

Doctor Lee nods and scribbles some notes, parsing through the guts she'd just demand Warren spill all over her nice floor. "To speak frankly with you, Warren, you have a well-documented and ongoing aversion to authority. This latest incident is merely the most severe example of continuous disrespect you show your superiors. The Peacekeeping Force has no use for a soldier who will not follow orders."

"I've come to understand that, I promise. I'm ready to do better - I need this. I can't be discharged, they'll send me home. I can't - I can't do that." He bows his head in deference, feeling very much like he wants to crawl out of his skin as he does. In spite of the way his throat stains, his voice doesn't break and that is a little comfort.

"Now, if this is some misplaced anger toward your mother - if you are aware of that and willing to work with me weekly - I think we'd be remiss to dismiss such a promising young mind. This is your last chance, Officer Valero."

"I know, Ma'am. Thank you, Ma'am."

Click.

He breathes a sigh of relief to be free of listening ears.

Well, all but one set.

"Warren, we should talk. Off the record." Doctor Lee's eyes linger on him with a strange, unrecognizable sadness.

"That's against the rules, we just decided I wouldn't be breaking those anymore." He chides, pushing himself out of the too-soft chair. Her whole office is a poor attempt at imitating comfort with none of the warmth. It's a mockery of a room, a hollowed husk with no beating heart. "If you don't mind, I'd rather get some sleep."

"I'm recommending they station you in District Six." She says, as though she hadn't heard him at all.

"What?!" He stops, spinning on his heel to face her with barely concealed contempt - "That's my one request, Doctor. I said not to place me there. Anywhere but-"

"Trust me, Warren." It's pity, that strange look in her eyes is pity. "There have been concerning reports coming out of the District. I think you should be close to home for this upcoming probation period."

"Don't I get a say in this? I don't want to!"

"I'll submit the report, and my recommendation tomorrow morning. Thank you for you time Officer Valero."

Of course not.

"Understood, thank you Ma'am."

All roads lead home, eventually.