The badges were heavier than the standard issue, engraved with an intricate design of a locked gate.
"Even though you are in a period of extreme supervision and surveillance—confined to the Outer Vault—you are still part of us. These are your new credentials."
Thomas took his badge, feeling the cold weight of the metal. He saw through Mr E's tactic immediately: the "Wolf" was balancing the carrot and the stick. He gave them the prestige of the badge while simultaneously reminding them that they were being watched like prisoners.
Trial period, Thomas thought, pinning the badge to his chest.
Thomas weighed the badge in his hand. It was a five-pointed golden star, polished to a mirror finish, remarkably similar to the sheriff badges from the Old West films on Earth.
Accompanying it was an identification scroll, penned in thick, elegant calligraphy and stamped with a heavy wax seal of the same shimmering gold.
