Cognitive Deviance

7. Redemption Therapy

March 25, 2045 - 11:15 AM

Now that Margo had learned how to swim, Psychwatch finally threw her into the deep end. Following five Empath sessions with harmless adolescents, Commissioner Mason assigned her to a Threat Level 3 dragged directly out of the organization's psych ward. This individual came not from a cold-hearted fortress where broken men would be broken even further for what they've done, but from a modernized sanatorium that would take in broken people and do what they could to piece them back together.

Traversing down another corridor once more, Margo was escorted by Mason and a girl no older than eighteen. She wore glasses and carried a set of what looked like notecards in her hands. Much like Mason, she was African-American and was regarded for having great intelligence at such a young age. However, given her lack of a hologram name tag, instead replaced by her name emblazoned in dark letters on a gold tab, she couldn't have been an official part of the organization.

"Sandoval," Mason declared. "This young lady beside you is Nikki Atkinson. She's been working as an intern here for the last five months. Once she graduates from high school and completes her major in psychology and law enforcement, she'll be in the same position as you are."

The girl quickly glanced over at Margo before returning her gaze to the hallway in front of her, the doors only dozens of feet away. "Nice to meet you," she said monotonously.

"Hello, Nikki," Margo smiled. "How are you gonna assist us today?"

"M-M-Mason asked me to bring along some Rorschach inkblot cards for the patient's psychological evaluation. She also wanted me to remind you to remember where your Fatemaker is."

Margo's smile disappeared as she glared over at her Fatemaker resting in her blazer's inner pocket. "Why would I need it as an Empath?" she asked Mason. "Aren't we working with people?"

Mason remained silent for a few seconds before coldly responding, "Most of the time, yes."

"How is this one any different?"

"Atkinson, would you kindly inform her of her next patient?"

Nikki cleared her throat. "I've never met this guy before in person," she explained, "but Mason says he's practically a lost cause. Anytime he looks like he's made an improvement, it's all just a facade. He takes these sessions as if they were a script for a movie, like another role he'll pretend to be."

Margo shrugged. "Can't be that bad if he's only a Level 3."

"He's only Level 3 because he's undergoing redemption therapy. The things he's done are equivalent of a Level 5."

Once again, Margo was dumbfounded. "Redemption therapy? You mean he's—"

"A colleague of ours," Mason finished the sentence as they approached the door. "He's dangerous, but he's reliable enough to be let out of the cage."

The doors slid open, and they were greeted by the sight of Jack Holloway planted down in a chair at a silver table. There was a SanityScan hanging from each corner of the room, all of them setting their sights on Holloway like a sniper. He sat at the table with a look of utter boredom.

Both Margo and Nikki quickly got a glimpse into his psyche using their ThoughtControl:

Psychwatch Societal Stability System (P3S) Data Results:

Name: Jack Jeffrey Holloway

Age: 25

Sex: Male

Status: Diagnosed (Antisocial personality disorder influenced through childhood trauma)

Threat Level 3 (Easily provoked. Frequent violent thoughts. Guilty of reckless behavior in the past. Permanent setting due to redemption therapy treatment)