RELEASED.
#7 of Stephan Glazer
COLLEGE DAYS.
Day Five.
RELEASED.
By
Stephan Glazer and Sunrise.
The smoke billowed from the cottage as the flames ate the interior, Stephan stood horrified as both Cherrypaw and Sylvia was consumed by the fire, their beautiful fur ablaze and their screams etched into his memory for life. He was held back by one of the neighbours, an elder foxtaur vixen, other foxtaurs were scurrying back and forth, carrying buckets of water, trying to put out the fire.
Tears streamed down Stephan's young cheek as he saw Illumanati's parents die in front of him, their bodies writhing in agony and the lifeless orbs that were their eyes popped from the heat. He turned his head and buried his face in the foxtaurs chest, unable to watch any more. Then, he heard a voice, a child's voice crying and screaming, from close by. Breaking the hold of the elder foxtaur, he ran to the rear of the cottage, and saw the outer cellar door. Padlocked from the outside.
"help me" cried the voice again, and then it coughed loudly.
It came from behind the door, which had smoke seeping from the cracks. Grabbing a nearby axe from the old stump, 13yo Stephan swung and hit the door, then he swung it again and hit true. The padlock sprung free and he quickly opened the door. Smoke and heat hit him, but he held his breath and went down the stairs. He couldn't see very far, but as the smoke left the cellar, it started to thin. Crouching down, Stephan crawled further inside and spotted a small taur form, huddled in a corner.
Reaching hir, he shook hir shoulder. Shi didn't move, checking hir pulse, he felt a weak beat. Sighing with relief, he picked hir up and crawled back to the doorway. It was just then he heard the groan and the crack from above, looking up at the doorway into the cottage, Stephan saw the door imploded and the fire sweeping through and igniting the fuel for the generator...
30thDecember 2318
8:38am
Waking with a start, Stephan sat up right, coughing and shivering, and then he realized that a furry body was curled up next to him.
Smiling, he reached over and started stroking the fur.
"Hmm Morning Sunrise." He said, and then stopped stroking the fur as he realized that it was grey and coarse. Stephan quickly moved away and apologized to the female wolftaur.
"It's alright sweety, I enjoyed the attention." She said, stretching her limbs.
"Was it bad?" asked the skunktaur, who was leaning against the wolftaur.
"What?" asked Stephan.
"The nightmare, you were whimpering and thrashing about." He said, laying a hand on Stephan's shoulder.
"Yes, bad enough." He said, shivering at the memory.
"So, my name's Stephan, what's your name?" he asked the 2 taurs.
"My name's Gwen." Answered the wolftaur, smiling.
"And my name is Anton, please to meet you."
"Like wise." Stephan said, shaking each paw. "Listen, I don't mean to be intrusive, but, what are you 2 in here for, If you don't mind me asking?"
"None at all." Gwen said, "I'm guilty of fur slaughter." She said, her ears flat on her skull and a sorrow in her voice.
"Ohh" Stephan said, "are you innocent like me?"
Gwen shook her head in sorrow, and looked down on the cell floor. "Sadly, no. I deserve to be here.." she said, and started to sob.
"Apparently, she was drunk and passed out, while her cubs were playing outside unsupervised, and they drowned in the nearby lake of her home. She's accepted her guilt and is now waiting her punishment from the judge." The skunktaur replied, rubbing her backs softly as she quietly wept.
"And you?" Stephan asked, feeling sorry for the wolftaur.
"Pre-meditated murder." Hy said, smiling, which un-nerved Stephan.
"What? How can you smile at something so horrible?" he asked, slightly worried.
"Easy, the human that I killed, will end up being the most feared serial killer of our time, humans and furs will fall victim to him. I had no choice but to stop him." Hy replied.
"But how do you know that he would be a killer?"
"Because I saw it, when I accidently touched him one time, images and sounds of the victims yet to die by his own hand. They were so real and vivid, I know that it was going to happen, because previous visions have come true." Hy said, showing a red paw pattern on hys right chest. It was the sign that hy had telepathy.
"I discovered that I had telepathy, very strong telepathy, when I was young, but also premonition as well. The ability to see events of individuals in the future. But it doesn't happen all the time. Like, I couldn't see what happens to you or Gwen, but I did get images of future friends and families."
"Really? Wow." Stephan said, now a little more relaxed.
Just then, footsteps came from the door leading out of the holding cells, it opened, and Constable Joshua walked in and unlocked the cell door.
"Mr Stephan Glazer, please step this way sir." He said, with a tone of authority, but a voice of professionalism.
Getting up slowly, Stephan walked out of the cell, with his head low and his hands to his sides. The officer firmly but gently handcuffed him again.
"Follow me sir." He said, closing the cell door again.
"Oh Stephan." Called Anton.
Stephan looked up at him.
"Give my best to your kits." hy said, with a grin.
Stephan looked at hym in surprise before he was firmly guided out of the holding cells and into the corridor, which contained the interrogation rooms. His heart sank as the constable opened one and told him to go inside. Stepping through, he saw only one other fur waiting, a large male tiger striped feline morph.
Stephan hadn't seen any before, but he had heard of them. Rakshani, from the distant planet of Raksha. They were suppose to be aggressive and honourable species. Their height ranges from 7 feet to 7'8" tall.
The Rakshani turned and regarded Stephan with cold hard eyes, but his mouth was smiling in away that it showed his teeth.
Oh Great, I'm dead. Stephan thought, seeing the claws and muscles and teeth.
The Rakshani moved behind Stephan and released the cuffs and took them away.
"Please have a seat Mr Glazer." The large feline morph said, in a stern but gentle manner.
Taking the seat, Stephan eyed the new interrogator with care, waiting for some abuse or insult. Rubbing his hands and wrist, he subconsciously touched his swollen eye, which the Rakshani noticed and sighed.
"Derrick." He called, to no-one in the room.
Just then, the intercom buzzed.
"Yes Sergeant?" replied the squirrel officer.
"Please send in the nurse, as well as a glass of water for Mr Glazer." He said, opening a large folder that had photos and other pieces of paper.
"Right away sir." Spoke the constable over the PA system.
"Now, lets talk." Said the Rakshani, smiling at Stephan.
10:55am
Constable Maverick walked through the doors of the precinct, eager to start the interrogator again on Stephan.
"Ah, Phillip, please have some-one escort Stephan Glazer to interrogation room 13." He asked, when he signed in at the desk.
"I don't think so, sir." The fox morph replied.
Maverick looked at him with an icy look.
The desk sergeant looked at him with a cold stare of his own.
"What?" the equine taur replied, grinding his teeth.
"The head sergeant wants to see you, immediately." He replied, arms crossed.
Constable Maverick looked at Phillip for a minute before making his way up the stairs to the offices on the second floor.
On the way, he could sense the cold and hostile glances of his work comrades. It looked like someone dobbed him in for something he had done.
Arriving at the sergeants door, he knocked on it, and then straightening his uniform top.
"Come in." replied the head sergeant.
Constable Maverick walked in and stopped once he saw Stephan sitting on one of the couch in the room. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of the human in the Sergeants office. Once he got over the shock, he noticed the other occupants.
Sitting on the floor, flanking Stephan, were foxtaurs, one male and one female, correction, one herm, as he saw the sheath on hir arctic fur belly.
Sitting on the couch opposite to Stephan and the foxtaurs was a white human male and a female Caitian. Sitting on the floor next to the Sergeant, tail twitching and hir eyes filled with fury as shi was glaring at him was the same chakat which he had met at the airport and in Stephan's apartment.
"Constable Maverick, Attention." The Rakshani ordered.
The equine taur stood still and straight and saluted once he had stood in front of the desk. His looked at the sergeant with fear in his eyes, but a firm stance.
"All I want from you, are Yes and No answers, understand?" he asked.
"Yes sir." He replied.
"Did Stephan Glazer tell you that he was in the hospital at the time of the robbery?"
"Yes Sir." Maverick replied.
"Did you allow him one phone call after his arrest?"
"No Sir." Maverick said, still looking at the sergeant, but his eyes showed emptiness because of the apparent outcome of the interview.
"Did he ask you for legal counsel?"
"Yes Sir."
"Did Stephan Glazer suffer any injuries by you and any other officers under your command?" The Rakshani asked, letting out a low growl during the question.
Maverick remained silent, as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"CONSTABLE?" the Sergeant snarled.
"yes sir." He said, softly.
"Did you investigate any other Black Humans in the city?"
"No Sir."
"Did you investigate Stephan's claims of being in the hospital?"
"No Sir."
The questions continued with nothing but Yes Sir or No Sir from the equine taur, and each response made his situation worst and worst. His career was definitely over.
Finally, the sergeant looked at the equine taur with distaste.
"Constable Maverick, to my right is Dr Kevin Nando, who has just succeeded in creating nano medical operation, which Stephan glazer was one of his successful patients. He was in the operating theatre at the time of the robbery."
Maverick gulped and looked the human.
"Sitting next to him is Tracey Vanderfield, she is the police stations top civil lawyer in Civil Lawsuits. She's gunning to have you sued."
Maverick's face said it all, complete defeat and misery.
"To my left is Stephan's father, and a personal friend of the mayor of Melbourne. Sitting next to Stephan is his foster sister, and from what I can gather, his future betrothed. Shi wants you to return the heart shape medallion that you took from him."
Slowly, Maverick reached into his jacket pocket and removed the pendant and slowly returned it to Stephan, who took it with a snatch, and connected it with the matching pendant around hir neck.
"Constable Maverick, Attention." The Rakshani growled, standing up.
"Yes sir." He said, saluting again.
"As from this moment forth, you are officially suspended without pay or benefits until the IA has concluded their investigations into your transgressions." He said, staring at the horse with a cold stern glare.
"Your conduct may have jeopardized past cases that you have conducted, remember that. Also, If you so much as threaten Stephan, Sunrise or their immediate family, I will PERSONALLY transport you to the nearest Glue Factory, understand?" he snarled.
"Yes sir." Maverick whimpered, head downcast.
"Fine, hand in your gun and your badge and clean out your locker, then get the fuck out of my sight."
Maverick did just that, and left the room, closing the door behind him. As he was leaving, Constable Joshua got up from the chair outside and knocked on the door.
"Come In Constable Joshua." Replied the sergeant.
5 minutes later, Joshua exited the room, minus his badge and gun, but a smile on his face. He was suspended, but only for a month. As he left the building, Maverick was waiting for him.
"Can you believe that bullshit?" Maverick growled as the bear approached. "That fucking nigger is... erk!!" he gasped, as the bear grabbed his neck and pulled him down, slamming his head to the ground.
"Speak that way again about anyone else, and the sergeant won't have anything to transport to the factory, got it?" he snarled, baring his teeth.
"Got it..." Maverick whimpered.
Back in the office, Stephan shook hands with the Sergeant as they were about to leave.
"Once again, I wish to thank you Sergeant Firemane, for all your help and understanding." He said, as Illumanati gripped him around his waist, along with Sunrise, both nuzzling and murring and purring with pleasure.
"Not at all, I just hope this incident hasn't put you off calling police in the future." He said, smiling at the human and his affectionate herm followers.
"No, it's just that now we have a large mess to clean up back at home."
"Once again, I wish to apologize, and someone else wishes to make a formal apology as well, you may come in now." He called to the door.
It opened to reveal the rabbit constable who had conducted the search of the apartment. She came in, saluted the sergeant then bowed her head to Stephan and Sunrise.
"Mr Stephan Glazer and Shire Sunrise, My name is Cindy McEntire, and I wish to offer my sincere apologies to you both for destroying your home and contents. I guess the state my mind made me see red with anger, and needed someone to lash out at."
"What ever do you mean? The state of your mind?" he asked, puzzled.
Cindy fished in her pocket and withdraw a wallet, she opened it up and showed him the photograph within. Stephan looked at it and gasped with shock.
29thDecember 2318
1:45am
Cindy McEntire was finishing her lunch, when her personal mobile buzzed, looking at the caller, she smiled and pressed the receive button.
"Hiya little sis, what's....." her eyes just widened with horror, as her little sister weakly said that she was stabbed, in her store, and by a black human male.
"Oh, I am so terribly sorry, is she alright." he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Thankfully yes, she's in a stable condition and recovering just fine." Cindy replied, smiling, then she looked at the doctor. "Can you do anything Dr Nando? I heard what you did for Stephan here, can you fix my sweet little sister? She's all the family I have, ever since our parents died, I promised that I would look out for her.. Please?" she pleaded, tears in her eyes.
The doctor nodded and smiled.
"Absolutely, and the cost will be waivered, just this once." He said, rubbing her long ears and making her murr with pleasure.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you." She cried, hugging and kissing the doctor on the face over and over again, until she remembered that the sergeant was looking at her, and she stopped and blushed with embarrassment.
"Well, considering that we have a long ride and a flight to catch back home," Stephan's father said, "I guess we have to leave, but before we do, let me shout lunch for all of us." He said, hugging both Sunrise, Stephan and Nati.
"Yay." Stephan said, as his stomach growled.
"You bet." Sunrise agreed.
<Anything but horse meat, I've had enough of horse, unless it's a piece of that fucker Maverick.> shi growled.
"NATI, language." Blacktail said, glowering at his daughter.
Illumanati just poke hir tongue out.
The lunch was filled with laughter and stories and delicious food, all paid for by the police department, at the Sergeants request, as a way to say sorry.
Afterwards, Stephan and Sunrise bid farewell to Blacktail and Illumanati, with hugs and kisslicks for both. Nati said something private to Sunrise, who nodded. Blacktail handed his son a parcel. Opening it up revealed 2 new state of the art communicators, with unlimited range on Terra as well as a free connection online service.
"Call us anytime anywhere, both of you. We wanna hear from you, no matter what, ok?" his father said, smiling.
"Sure dad, and give mom my love when you see her, ok?"
"Ok, she misses you terribly." He said, hugging his son and the chakat once more.
Illumanati handed him a small box, opening it, he saw the pendant and new chain within. Smiling, he placed it around his neck and clasped it on.
Waving as they boarded the jet, Blacktail and Illumanati disappeared as Stephan and Sunrise bid goodbye and watched the jet taxied and fly off back to Perth.
Taking the PTV back to their apartment, both Stephan and Sunrise cuddled and held each other, just as the first drops of rain fell from the dark overcast sky and pattered the windscreen.
Once they arrived, Stephan went to pay using his cred-stick, but the machine spat out an invalid message. Frustrated, he pressed the button marked Enquiry. The machine printed out a slip of paper that read [Account frozen by the MPD.]
"Damn." Stephan snarled.
"What?" Sunrise asked, concerned.
"The police have frozen my account, I can't pay for the ride."
"Ahh yes, Sergeant Firemane told me about that, it'll be sorted in the morning, here, I'll pay this time." Shi said, inserting hir own credstick, which was accepted.
Getting out, they ran to get out of the rain and made their way to the apartment, and stopped suddenly when they saw their suitcases on the front lawn, soaked and full of their clothing.
"What the hell?" Stephan said, going up and trying to open the door, only to find the key wouldn't work. He then stormed off to find the landlord Kovine.
He soon returned, his mood darker than normal.
"What? What is it?" shi asked, sensing his foul mood.
"That fucking wolf went and evicted us from our apartment, he refunded half the rent money and all of the gas and electricity money." He snarled, grinding his teeth as the rain turned into a cascade, thoroughly drenching them both, they both huddled under the small over crop of the apartment.
"He can't do that." Shi said, feeling upset and distressed as well as anger.
"Well, according to contract that I signed, he can, something about police action against tenants, wether found guilty or not, voids the agreement and is grounds for immediate eviction." Stephan said, feeling totally cold and miserable.
Sunrise was about to say something, when the sound of a PTV horn blaring caught hir attention. Walking down to the curb, they both stopped and stared at the stretched PTV, 3 times the length of a regular PTV. The rear door opened and a bear morph got out, indicating to them to get inside.
It was Joshua, the police officer who had assaulted Stephan and stun-shocked Sunrise.
To Be Continued.....