Zap! (Part 2)
The drive across the city was all but quiet. Mira slouched herself against the car window, armed folded with a pouty lip, gazing out at the backdrop of passersby and towering metal and concrete structures pouting steam and gas from their exhaust chimneys. Out on the ground floor, shops and street vendors lined the road, selling and bartering all sorts of gadgets and gizmos from small trinkets and pocket-watches, to walking automatons and mining drills. Hard leather and tough cotton were the go-to clothes worn for the people of Steelbarrow. Burning coal and the copper dust that floated in the air meant delicate fabric stained easy. It then made it easy for Mira to pick out the foreigners from their dainty, bright-colored clothes as oozed over each contraption.
“What in the world were you thinking, Mira?” Jack said, breaking the long silence. “Going in alone like that without telling any of us.”
“What else was I supposed to do?” Mira fired back. “Wait until I get a rubber stamp while they’re making a getaway? It’s stupid rules like that that we can’t get anything done.”
“We have rules for a reason, Mira. What if you’ve gotten into more trouble than you can handle? What then? We don’t know where you are, and we don’t know what kind of threat we’re dealing with. It’s dangerous for everyone involved.”
Mira sunk herself into her seat. She had heard this talk a thousand times by now, and not just from Jack. Practically everyone at the Constabulary spouted the same lines time and time again about sticking to the rules and following orders. It was drilled into her skull since the first day she joined, and yet it never stuck for Mira. To her, it was just another technicality holding her back.
“I was this close, Jack. I could’ve solved the case, put the bad guys behind bars, and all on my own too.”
“I’m sure you would have. But not today. You went way out of your depth, and that’s not something I can tolerate. When we get back to the station, I’m putting you in for desk duty.”
Mira shot back up. “Desk duty!? You’re kicking me off the case?”
“Until you’ve had time to think about your actions.”
She scoffed. “I’ve had plenty to think about my actions. How do you think it makes me feel knowing I’m always stuck with you watching my every move?”
“I’m your Handler, not your parent. Every Custodian gets one. Even that one fellow from Three-Sec.”
“Chase doesn’t get dawdled over by his Handler.”
“Because he knows how to follow the rules. Do you think anyone in the Constabulary will let a rogue officer do as they please? We’re the symbol of order here in Steelbarrow. People look up to us as role models.”
Mira scoffed. “And sitting behind a desk is definitely setting an example…”
“I’m serious, Mira. We have no idea just how dangerous your powers are. If something goes wrong and I’m not there to stop it, who knows what will happen.”
Soon enough, they arrived at the front entrance of the Constabulary, a towering rotund structure embedded at the base of a cliff face, right at the corner of a bustling Y-shaped intersection. People of all sorts crossed through its large rotating doors: sobbing children, squabbling couples, berate suspects in handcuffs… but most dashing of all were the Steelbarrow Constables. With their half-pint shakos and their shining brass badges fixed upon the breast pocket of their tan pressed uniforms, the Constables carried with them a prestigious aura wherever they went. Even in a sea of dull, murky browns, grays, and crimson, the Constables sparkled in the high noon sun like a beacon of light.
Right at the center of the Constabulary’s entrance stood a set of much larger double-doors with a marble archway. Engraved at the top: Constabulary of Steelbarrow. A large crowd gathered behind the rope dividers to a long black carpet with gold embroidery trailing out from the double doors. A band began to play a proud, lively tune, and as soon as the double-doors opened up, young faces with steam-white uniforms marched out in pairs with wide, beaming smiles and their heads held high: graduating cadets of the Steelbarrow Justice Academy.
Mira admired the cadets as she and Jack quietly passed the crowd. All eyes fixed on the young men and women joining the constabulary’s ranks, not much older than Mira was. She never went to the Academy, but she craved the recognition and prestige. But it didn’t matter that she had solved dozens of cases, more than any of these cadets combined, or that she had extraordinary powers beyond anyone’s understanding. As far as anyone in Steelbarrow was concerned, she was just another tool. Something to be used and controlled.
“You alright?” Jack asked. Mira hadn’t realized she had stopped herself in the middle of the crowd, staring at the cadets for too long.
She shook her head. “It’s nothing.” Mira then noticed a black car rolling up along the curb nearby. A constable emerged from the driver’s side and went to open the rear passenger’s door before standing at attention.
As soon as those high heel boots hit the pavement, Jack turned to see a tall, blonde woman in a khaki coat puffing her cigarette holder as she observed the crowd congregating around the Constabulary’s entrance. A boy with a flat cap and green vest then came out from the same door behind her, no less taller or older than Mira was. The woman and the boy then made their way towards the Constabulary, but not before stopping by Jack and Mira.
“I see the little kitten has come back to her owner,” the woman said.
“Helen. A surprise to see you,” said Jack.
““We were beginning to worry when you weren’t here for our daily briefing this morning. Another one of your partner’s escapades, perhaps?”
“Some things came up at the last second that Mira and I had to look into,” said Jack.
The woman nodded, her large feathery hat bobbing up and down. “And did you find what you were after?”
“The Constabulary’s handling it. I’m sure you’ll hear more when we have our report ready this afternoon.”
“I see…” She grabbed another puff from her holder and gauged the pair from head to toe.”...then I’m sure the ruckus I’m hearing about downtown had nothing to do with you two. Chase and I happened to be passing by after visiting Dr. Firenti about his missing box.”
Mira raised her voice. “Actually, we were just…”
“We were just on our way to meet with the Chief,” said Jack. “A lot to catch up on, right Mira?”
Mira shot a stern look back at Jack, who simply ignored her.
“I’m sure Chief Folsey would love to brief you on the next case we have for you two, once the cadet ceremony is over. She does love her speeches.”
“I’m sure we all do,” Jack replied. He then ushered Mira to follow him into the constabulary. Mira looked back at Chase, who simply greeted her with a slight nod, before they broke off towards the Constabulary.
Topic: Project OCTAVIAN - A Short Stories Anthology [HIATUS] (Read 4094 times)
