Kade
Something that my friend and I had an idea for while we're on tour. Not entirely sure if we'll keep going but let us know what you think.
Nucirk City, Year 2115.
For the first time in a long time, Kade Creed found himself hesitating. Something had been wrong since he had gotten that call early in the morning, his boss's voice still echoing in his head.
"My office, first thing in the morning. Report directly to me."
Short, simple phrases, yet they lacked the usual biting sarcasm that he had come to expect from Commander Bianca Gray. It made the wolf's fur bristle, knowing she was waiting for him, knowing she probably had some scheme she needed him for. Not that she was a bad person--she was probably one of the brightest that the Peacekeepers had ever known. She just rubbed him the wrong way.
A heavy sigh escaped him and he steeled himself before knocking on the door before him. It slid open with minimal noise and Kade stepped in, immediately disliking the gleam in Bianca's eyes, the smug look that pulled at her features. She might've been a lioness, but she looked as sly as any fox Kade had known, seated behind her desk with the city's skyline visible through the window behind her. She looked like any stereotypical villain.
But the presence of another fur caught his attention. Seated in one of the two seats in front of the commander's desk was a golden Labrador, dressed in the uniform of a Peacekeeper, seated straight-backed and alert, his green eyes visible behind his goggle-like glasses. Yet his uniform lacked any kind of decoration to signify rank or even accomplishment.
This Labrador was a fresh cadet.
"Reporting for duty, Commander," Kade said automatically, though he had long since dropped any formal tones he would've carried. He spoke lazily, with his arms crossed and his weight shifted slightly to his left leg.
Yet Commander Gray made no mention of his attitude or improper stance, nor his tone. She had long since become accustomed to it. "I'm glad you're here, lieutenant. I want to congratulate you on your recent arrests."
He couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic. He had done a good job, so he assumed, though not without collateral damage, he would confess.
"And all by working alone," she continued, inclining her head slightly. "Although, I must ask why your partners felt the need to be reassigned..."
"They disagreed with my methods," Kade answered simply, shrugging. "But I got the job done. What's the problem?"
"Your_methods_ are the problem."
"What'd I do? Nobody's been killed in the cases I've handled," Kade scoffed.
"Killed, no, but injured... Civilians have been injured on your watch," the commander snapped. "And I know what your methods are. All that matters to you is catching the bad guy, never mind if there are others in the way."
"Nobody's been killed," Kade repeated.
"That's not the point!" the commander shouted, rising from her chair. She exhaled sharply. "I cannot allow you to roam freely anymore. That's why I'm assigning him"--he pointed to the Labrador--"to you."
"Sorry?"
"He'll be a kind of... counter balance against your recklessness," she explained. "His record at the academy outshines any that have come before. He's quite an impressive specimen if I do say so myself. He'll be reporting directly to me about you. Should I fail to see any improvement on your part--"
"I don't need a partner, especially not a greenhorn," Kade growled, his muzzle contorting in his frustration. "I refuse."
"You don't have a choice anymore," Commander Gray said warningly. "Either you accept your new partner or you're fired. Hell, I might even have you arrested."
"For what?!"
"Unlawful entry--"
"Probable cause!"
"--assault and battery--"
"Resisting arrest!"
"--and really pissing me off."
"That's not a crime, that's just fun."
"I'm not having fun, Creed," she said, "and my mind is made up. I've got your record, your history, and so much more on you. If I wanted to, I could not only have you discharged but arrested. This is not open for discussion, Creed. This is an order--Scout Nelson is your new partner. Get over it!"
Kade bit back the retort in his mouth and snorted indignantly. The Labrador stood and turned, giving a salute to Kade. How old was this dog? Nineteen? Twenty? And his tail was wagging. Why was that annoying Kade?
"Trooper Scout Nelson. It is an honor to be your partner, Lieutenant."
"Fuck! I fucking hate you, Gray."
"I'm sure you do," she said dismissively. "Get out of my office."
Kade stalked out of the office, wishing he could slam the door behind him instead of allowing it to simply slide closed. Scout followed him out in silence clearly confused by being ignored.
"Can you shoot?" Kade asked suddenly as he started to walk down the hallway of the busy building.
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Follow me."
Kade was sure that, without guidance, Scout would've easily been lost in the maze that was a typical Peacekeeper base. Filled with technicians, officers, maintenance (and everyone else needed to keep such a busy building running), it was easy to get swept away in the hustle of it all. Yet Scout followed closely behind him as they went up two floors, down several hallways, and to one of the base's numerous training facilities--the shooting range.
"I assume we are here to train, sir?" Scout suggested.
"No, you're here for me to gauge your abilities," Kade explained. "Quite frankly, I don't know what to think of you. I've yet to see your record and haven't seen you in action. So, this'll be a way for me to get to know you in a sense. Not perfect, but it'll be something."
"Ah, I see."
The range was divided into several booths, but Kade soon found an empty one. He walked towards it, picking up the training pistol and tossing it to Scout.
"I believe it is considered improper weapon handling to throw a loaded a pistol."
"First, it's a training pistol. It'll only hurt the targets," Kade said. "Second, don't ever lecture me."
"My apologies, sir."
"And don't call me 'sir'. It's Kade."
"As you wish."
Kade fought the urge to be annoyed. Scout was so polite that he found it somewhat irritating. Rolling his eyes, he turned to the console in front of him, typing in a few commands. Soon, in their booth's range, three green orbs appeared, floating in midair. Scout approached, calmly, the pistol at the ready.
"Ready at your go, sir."
"Don't call me 'sir'."
"My apologies, Kade."
Pressing a green button on the console, the green orbs turned red and started to move erratically. Kade watched carefully, taking note of Scout's habits. He aimed with both paws. He watched closely. He was relatively quick on the draw. He fired once--a beam of violet-colored energy flew out from the pistol and into one of the orbs, which briefly turned blue before disappearing. The other orbs began to move faster now, but Scout seemed unconcerned with their speed. He fired again--another perfect shot. And a third time--the final orb disappeared and the console flashed a single phrase: COURSE COMPLETE, 1:54.
"You did fine, I suppose," Kade conceded. He had not expected Scout to have not missed a shot, nor he had he expected such a decent time.
Perhaps Scout disagreed. "I beg your pardon, but I believe I did better than 'fine'. I hit each target perfectly."
"In the time it took you to line up one shot, you would've been shot in the field."
"I did my best. Most other cadets would have taken at least twice as long, if not longer."
"True, but your timing could be better. And you took three shots."
"There were three targets."
Kade keyed in a reset on the console (the green orbs reappeared) and snatched the pistol from Scout. "Let me show you what experience can do."
Scout pressed a button to begin. The orbs turned red and began to move, but before Scout to look again, Kade had taken his shot with one paw. The beam had penetrated the first, but it did not stop there. It had gone through the other two as the lined up behind the first for that fraction of a second. Almost all at once, the orbs had turned blue and disappeared. COURSE COMPLETE, 0:28.
"That is impressive, but I believe that is more the result of luck than experience."
"Perhaps."
"If it is experience, I believe that it may be because you practice this particular course more than the others."
"Set up another one."
Scout did so. The three orbs appeared once more, moving noticeably faster and differently than before. When they turned red, Kade watched for only a moment before he took his shot. COURSE COMPLETE: 0:47.
"Most incredible," Scout breathed.
"I don't know... I think I can do better."
"Tell me, how are you able to do so well? I do not believe experience alone can lead to such precision," Scout remarked.
Kade chortled. "You're partially right. And maybe I'll explain it to you later."
"Does this have anything to do with your prosthetics?"
The question had caught Kade completely off-guard. He studied Scout closely, unsure of how to answer. How had Scout known about that? Kade did not advertise such information nor had he known anyone to have asked him about it. It took him a moment to think of a suitable reply.
"How did you know?"
"When it was told to me that I was to be partnered with you, I read your file," Scout explained. "If your file is correct, your right eye is a prosthetic."
"That's creepy, pup," Kade scoffed. "I suggest you refrain from doing that in the future. Most people don't like having their privacy invaded like that." His arms were crossed over his chest and he studied Scout with a discerning gaze. "But you're right. It's a fake eye that enhances my ability to see. It's legal."
"I have no doubts about its legality," Scout answered. "I have a prosthetic of my own." He leaned down and pulled up the left leg of his trousers. Instead of the same golden fur, Kade saw shiny metal. "I lost my leg when I was young, though I do not see it as a disadvantage. It itches slightly, but it is nothing I cannot bear."
"Hmm... Is your leg enhanced."
"No and purposely so. I take pride in my own ability, which does not come from machinery."
"Are you insulting me?"
"Of course not," Scout said, readjusting his pants. "Simply stating an observation." He stood upright. "In my experience, though it is less than yours, those who have made enhancements have come to rely very heavily on them. A cadet whom I met at the academy had become so used to his enhancements that when his prosthetics were damaged and replaced with a standard model, he was completely unable to keep up on his own merits. Just as well, I have heard of people purposely seeking enhancements simply to become stronger. They mutilate themselves simply to conform to their concept of what 'better' is."
"You sound bitter."
"I do not agree with such actions on a moral standpoint, yet as it is legal, I cannot stop it. There are those who require such prosthetics and others who simply want it."
"I don't want get into a moral debate with you right now," Kade said. "Do you want to try to improve on your time?"
Scout seemed unhappy with the abrupt brushing off of the subject. "I suppose I can, but are you not to begin patrol soon?"
Kade shrugged. "I've got time to kill and you need practice."
While practice had not done much to improve Scout's time or aim, Kade had truly not expected it to before they were to go on patrol. If he was honest with himself, it'd take more time than Kade was patient enough to wait for in order for Scout to reach his level.
Leaving the base to patrol, Kade had not argued when Scout offered to drive. He got into the passenger seat, propping his footpaws on the dashboard, something that Scout was happy to inform him was against both Peacekeeper regulations and the law.
"I know," Kade had replied, "but I'm not expecting anything else to happen. Figured I could get a nap in."
"Are you being serious?"
Kade shrugged. "So, you read my file like a creeper, so you know about me. I don't know shit about you expect that fake leg."
"What would you like to know?"
Again, Kade shrugged. "I don't know. Throw something out."
"I don't know what to say."
"Why become a Peacekeeper? What's in it for you?"
Scout paused. "I suppose it is because I believe in justice. I believe that the Peacekeepers are necessary to make a difference. I may not fully understand what criminals fight for, but I believe that the Peacekeepers fight for justice. While we may be vilified from time to time--why are you laughing."
"Because it's such a fucking cliché," Kade answered. "The Peacekeepers weren't founded for 'justice'. They were founded to keep the peace which honestly has never existed. There will never be that peace that we preach simply because it can't happen. Too many are already corrupted and in love with the chaos that comes with crime, violence and death and too many benefit from it to let it simply slip away. The Peacekeepers were founded to try to create a world where we aren't necessary. Simply the fact that the goal our founders set is impossible has guaranteed our future and our paychecks."
"That is extremely cynical, sardonic even. Do you truly view the world in such a grim way?"
"I do."
"You seem too young to have such a jaded view of the world."
"How old are you?!"
"Twenty-one."
"I'm three years older than you! You can't talk down to me!"
"There is no need to be defensive," Scout answered. "I simply made an observation."
The next few minutes passed in uncomfortable silence. Kade had almost fallen asleep when Scout had slammed on the brake suddenly, rousing his consciousness. He followed Scout's vision to the window--in an alleyway, he could see someone holding a pistol at someone else who was clearly terrified, holding her cub behind her.
Before Kade could stop him, Scout was out of the vehicle, his own weapon holstered as he flashed his badge and entered the alley.
"Dumbass!" Kade hissed as he got out of the vehicle himself.
"Halt!" Scout shouted. "You are under arrest!" The mugger, a black-furred dog with noticeably mangy fur, turned, his pistol aimed at Scout who stopped just inches into the alley. At once, he reached out, grabbing the female cat beside him, pulling her before him. "Stop! There is no need for this! Come quietly, please."
"Shut up! I swear I blow her fucking skull out!" the mugger bellowed, his voice barely understandable over the screams of his hostage and the crying of the cub.
"Do not do this," Scout pleaded. "I promise I will not harm you if you surrender peacefully."
"Don't come closer!" the mugger insisted, as he started to back away. "Keep away!"
Scout had not had time to unholster his weapon before the mugger took a shot, not at his hostage, but at Scout. The bolt of light scraped his arm and Scout yelped in pain. He attempted to unholster his own pistol but violet bolt of energy surged by him, startling him as it blasted through the mugger's upper arm, through his shoulder. At once, his hold on the cat slackened before another bolt tore through the air, ripping through the paw that held the mugger's pistol. Kade stepped into the alley beside Scout, pistol at his side as he looked unflinchingly at his handiwork.
"Get out of here," he ordered the cat, who hurriedly grabbed her offspring and dashed away, screaming a hurried thank you as she ran past her saviors. Scout watched, silent as the mugger attempted to reach his pistol. Kade took one final shot, aimed just inches away from the mugger's face. It singed the fur in a straight line and the mugger froze, his breathing hitched and ragged. "That's your only warning. You're under arrest and if you move again, the next shot I take will be through your eyes. Scout, get the first aid out of the car."
"Y-yes, sir..."
Somewhere in the back of his mind, Kade knew he would have to explain the injuries sustained by the mugger (who had given his name as "Lars Bell") to Commander Gray when he returned but as of right now, he had other concerns. Lars Bell had gone into custody, his injuries disinfected and bandaged by Scout after he was cuffed, and was now on his way to imprisonment in another Peacekeeper vehicle. In his own, Kade watched as Scout winced, wrapping his own injury with weak whines.
"Why the hell would you approach him without your gun out?" Kade asked finally. "You saw he had one of his own."
"That was excessive force you used," Scout said in clear, audible disapproval. "He very easily could have bled to death."
"But he didn't and don't change the subject. Why didn't you draw your weapon?"
"I wanted to reason with him," Scout confessed. "To diffuse the situation with words, not violence."
"Very rarely does that work and there's a reason we have professional orators and negotiators to handle situations like that. You're not qualified," Kade explained. "You're lucky I stepped in when I did. He was about to take your head off."
"Why did you not intervene earlier?"
"Because you need to learn a lesson," Kade replied. "You can't reason with those who have nothing to lose. They've already put everything on the line. Not all criminals are like that, but that one back there... Who knows? Somebody else might've been able to reason with him, but it sure as fuck wasn't you."
"I see..."
"If you want to be a Peacekeeper, you need to understand what the job requires," Kade continued. "It's a bleak job that asks for a lot. What're you going to do when you have to kill someone?"
"I hope it never comes to that."
"Eventually, it will if you keep with it long enough," Kade remarked. "I still remember what it was like... Not a day goes by that I don't regret having to do it, but I had to make a choice. Whose life means more and I've got too much I want to with my life to die right now."
"We live our lives by putting our lives on the line," Scout answered. "That is the duty of every Peacekeeper, to risk our lives for the betterment of society."
"You do a great job reciting dogma and rhetoric."
"..."
"Do you really believe the words you say?"
"I have to."
"Hmm... Does it hurt?" Kade asked.
"It is merely a minor flesh wound. Nothing that will not heal."
Kade nodded, but reached into his pocket, withdrawing a small needle. "Here. This'll numb the pain."
"... Where did you get that?"
"Do you want it or not?"
"What is it?"
"A painkiller. Do you want or not?" Kade asked again, irritable.
"... No. I do not think I should take it," Scout answered. "Tell me, is that a narcotic? Is it legal?"
"You ask too many questions. I just saved your life and you're worried about a painkiller."
"I do not mean to seem ungrateful."
"Whatever... I'm hungry, let's get something to eat."