I could always tell when the guards approached. Barely noticeable vibrations reverberated through the floor, followed by the faint rhythmic sound of the approaching guards, their steps always perfectly synchronized. Only the clang of the door leading into the cell block interrupted their progress. Unconsciously, I held my breath as the heavy boots approached. A shiver ran down my spine when they stopped outside my cell door and the echos of their steps faded into the distance.

I fixed my eyes on the door and leaned forward in anticipation. As if on command, the magnetic lock released, and the door slid open. Captain Newmann, the guard in charge of security, stepped through the door dressed in black from boot to helmet. A laser rifle hung across his chest, one hand resting comfortably on top of the weapon as he stepped into the cell.

"On your feet," Newmann barked.

Newmann stepped to the side as I rose. A man dressed in a black suit stepped into the cell. His hair was black and combed towards the back of his head, shiny from too much hair product. A pair of old-fashioned glasses rested on his pointy nose, and a thin mustache lined his upper lip. He held up a handheld tablet, cleared his throat and started reading, his eyes flickering between me and his script.

"As mandated by Article 54, Section B, paragraph four and the judgment issued by the High Court, the sentence of subject Andrew Harlow will hereby be executed in order to satisfy the law and the High Court."

I closed my eyes and resisted the urge to shake my head in protest. I knew it was pointless. My crime had been to disagree. I had seen the swift movement of justice in order to protect the fragile society that existed, to keep the population in line. Truth was an inconvenience. I clenched my fists to prevent them from shaking, and I took a deep breath as I looked into the eyes of the sleazy executioner.

"Do you have any last words?" the man said and looked at me.

"Would it make a difference?"

The man smirked and made a note on his tablet. "Captain, please carry out the sentence as required."

"Yes sir," the Captain said and motioned towards his men. A pair of guards entered the cell and shackled my arms behind my back.

"Good luck," the man said with a grin and a shallow bow, then stepped to the side as they led me through the doorway and escorted out of the cell block.

We took the elevator down to the lower levels of the orbital station, then marched through a series of corridors and down several sets of stairs until we arrived at our final destination: the pod chamber.

Ten yards in diameter, the circular room was nondescript. A circular light fixture light up the gray walls and the open hatch on the far side of the room.

"You know the drill, Harlow," the Newmann said behind me. "I don't want any problems today, ok?"

I nodded and entered the capsule through the open hatch and sat in the waiting seat. The two guards strapped me in, then left the room as Newmann approached.

"I'm sorry it came to this, kid, I really am."

I glared at the man that once had been my mentor. "If you say so, sir."

Newmann sighed and shook his head, then glanced over his shoulder. He pulled a gun out of his jacket and slid it into a pocket on the side of my chair.

"What's that for?" I asked.

"Hopefully it'll increase your chances a bit. It's the least I can do." He took a step back and saluted, then tapped the button to close the hatch.

The pod shook briefly. I took a deep breath and prepared for the drop. A soothing voice somewhere above me informed me of what would happen next.

"The pod will disconnect momentarily. Please prepare for a brief moment of acceleration, followed by the descent into the atmosphere." As if on cue, the pod shook briefly as its tethers to its docking station were severed. "You will experience moments of discomfort and possibly unconsciousness. Do not be alarmed."

The restraints dug into my body as the pod launched and I fought the darkness encroaching on my vision, the unconsciousness I desperately wanted to avoid. A few seconds later, I felt a moment of weightlessness as the pod prepared to accelerate towards the planet surface and the darkness retreated.

I braced myself as best as I could as the pod entered the atmosphere; the vibrations increased, and I saw a faint orange glow through the porthole of the hatch. The vibrations increased in intensity as the glow grew brighter, interrupted only when the parachute deployed, yanking the pod back and forth as it slowed the descent of the pod to prepare for landing.

Even though I expected the landing, the actual splash into the ocean wasn't at all what I had expected. The pod disappeared under the surface for a few moments, then bobbed on the surface for a few minutes until it settled down. Only then did the restraints of the chair release and I was free to move around.

I jabbed the button to open the hatch and took the weapon Newmann had left, holding it tight in my right hand. The salty ocean air rushed into the pod as the seal broke and the sound of the waves lapping against the pod broke the silence of the insulated pod cabin. Somewhere in the distance, a seagull greeted me.

I took a step onto the threshold of the hatch and look around as inhaled deeply. The water stretched in all directions, with the faint outline of land visible in the distance. A craft approached at high speed, the roar of its engine barely audible. I tightened my grip on the weapon as my heartbeat quickened.

"Landing sequence complete," the announcer said softly. "Welcome to Earth."

~~~

977 Words, written for the @ScienceFiction April 2021 Challenge. Thoughts?