Bad Thoughts

            The Siren sounded in a flash of noise. He opened his eyes and bolted up with out hesitation. When he shot down the teleportation elevator, all other units followed in step. Without a thought or pause, they all strapped on the magna-armor, laser-blades, and automatic plasmachine-guns in silence.

            “Ding,” a red sign blinked on saying to turn on thought wefts over which, Sergeant 225 said, “Testing, testing. Magna-troops 216 through 224 calling in, over.”

            “Troop 216 present.”

            “Troop 217 present.”

            “…Oh, troop 218, here”

            While the others took role call, troop 218 scolded himself. He knew he should have practiced responding on the second.

            “Mission briefing will be further carried out on the transport,” droned the sergeant. “And watch it, 18. Another mistake like that could cost you your position in my squadron. You wouldn’t want to be a Janitor, would you?”

***

            “This subject was just spotted at 0324 hours by our satellite network, 10 minutes ago. He is guilty of spreading his own opinion. He will be captured alive and tried in court today. Use standard formation delta-alpha. Set lasers to incapacitate, swords on steal-baton. 218…no, 219 takes point. Approaching landing zone in 120 seconds.”

            As the clock ran down to 0, trooper 218 was thinking. He is being charged for teaching his opinion. What horrible things could he have taught, and to whom? All of a sudden, he forgot that his thought weft was on and his thoughts were transferred through all other headsets. He shrugged as all his initiates including Sgt. 225 glared at him.

            “The answer to your question is that he was teaching children that our whole government system was obsolete,” he said. “He said that after everyone had grown up and had kids, the man would immediately find them guilty of something and burn them, decapitate them, or hang them. He’s obviously wrong. We don’t hang people anymore; we dunk them in an acidic vat, but children don’t need to know that. That is why he must be executed.”

            “Troopers 216 and 217, prepare the laser-net,” said the sergeant. “Troopers 220 and 221, smoke grenade the place. Troopers 222, 223, and 224 clear all entrances and exits. Trooper 218, follow me, and don’t screw this one up.”

            “I’ll try not to sir,” he said, sighing.

***

            “We are starting the case now,” boomed the judge. “This court finds you guilty of all your charges. I hereby sentence you to death by beheading.” He pounded his gavel and waved them away.

            “’18, you take our prisoner to the beamattine,” said the sergeant. “If you succeed, I boot you to private.”

            “Yes sir,” he replied. “I won’t let you down. Let’s go, Steve 319.”

            As they marched out of the large metallic room, Steve said, “You’re seriously going to behead me? I don’t believe you even think that this is very fair, yourself. You truly believe that I deserve to die because I expressed my own thoughts.”

            “No questions will be answered by me. Yet, I will tell you that your punishment was…it was…you’re right. It isn’t fair. If I let you go though, I will be behead--”

            “You aren’t supposed to be talking to the condemned 218!” Yelled the sergeant while igniting he sword. “You are to die now!”

            Then, in one slash, the trooper’s head fell to the floor and his body fell back.

            “Now I will bring you to your death!”