Why were you arrested? /"I severely overworked my employee to the point of collapse while not seeing to their needs."
Wait... I thought you were self employed and had no employees. /"You're right, I don't."
So which employee did you overwork if you don't have any working for you? /"I guess I was the employee."
Okay... that's odd. /"Yeah, I don't belong here." -- The New Guy
[AN: This prompt had to be adjusted for line brevity]
The Galactic Alliance didn't believe in punitive reform systems. Punishment did not often improve things. In its stead, the citzen creating harm was removed from causing more harm to the society around them. Then, once safely isolated, various therapeutic tactics were employed and enforced until the offender learned better. In extreme cases only, the offender was resettled. Placed in a new occupation and area where their destructive predilections could do society a greater good.
The Cogniscent Rights Committee only sounded like a soft and slow organisation. Those who misunderstood it thought it was full of meek-voiced therapists determined to get everyone in touch with their feelings.
They were wrong. The CRC had teeth. Only one of those fangs was Pax Humanis.
Mangaka Oz had found this out after failing to answer the door to his local Aunty two days in a row. He was too busy to get up and do it and he had thought that answering by intercom with enough.
It wasn't.
Security had to literally pull him away from his desk and Aunty Vir had to sedate him. This was added to Oz's charges.
Like all minor criminals, Oz wound up in the local mandatory therapy centre. Each inmate got their own basic habitat, and had no way to avoid simple routines like regular, nutritious meals, basic hygiene, and essential social activity. The last of that list manifested in group therapy, organised social game time, and encouraged socialisation during green garden time.
They all had to face an assigned therapist. Or more accurately, a personal tutor. Their job was to teach the penitent how to be a better person.
Every single one of them had to disassemble the everyday statement, "I don't belong here."
Therapist Par consulted the record. "It says here that you are sentenced for employee abuse."
"I'm self-employed," said Oz. "I have no employees to abuse."
"A technicality. As your own boss, you are responsible for the health and wellbeing of your sole employee. Your medical report is part of your legal record, and you were showing clear signs of ill health, malnutrition, and neglect when you were admitted."
"I didn't have time to fuss around with those things. I had issues to create!"
"So you admit prioritising output over the health and welfare of your employee. That's against the charter of Cogniscent Rights and Responsibilities."
"I waived those rights," argued Oz.
"That's also a criminal activity," said Par. "Waiving or dismissing cogniscent rights under your control is a criminal offense in the Galactic Alliance."
"I know. I know. I just... I wanted to do more than what I could if I wasted time on... on meat suit maintenance."
Par made more notes. "So... how much time do you think you're wasting now?"
He had to admit, she had a point.
[Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash]
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