Zone Of The Enders Fan Fiction ❯ Zone of the Enders: Triad 2177 ❯ Lucky ( Chapter 5 )

"Miryhn isn't back yet?" Jim asked, pacing in front of Nash.

"Nope, but he'd better hurry. I'm starving here!" Nash whined, tossing a wrench up and down in his hand.

"Captain, if it's no trouble, may I go see a friend while you look into business around here?" Vera asked sweetly.

"Psh, I don't care, go right ahead," Jim replied, walking to the door.

Vera grinned and cheered to herself.

"But leave the truck. I might need it," Jim added quickly before leaving.

"Damn!" Vera said, sneering. Putting her hands on her hips, she walked over to Nash. Nash had turned around and went back to work, his body half inside the wall panel.

"Nash, can you do me a favor?" Vera asked firmly.

"Maybe," Nash said with an air of retention.

"Make sure Jim doesn't sell off Freya just yet, ok? Bullshit something, tell him an important part is broken and you need to replace it, ok?" Vera said in desperation.

"All systems are functionally normally. I cannot detect any parts needed for replacement," ADA's voice said through Nash's laptop.

"ADA? What the hell?" Vera said, walking to the laptop.

"I dunno, I left it there to charge the battery and suddenly ADA pops up on there in some sort of self-installed transmission program. We've been talking for a little while. She said her scheduled Runner...hey!," Nash said, pointing his wrench at the laptop.

"Neat trick, ADA. You're going to be surprising me more often, aren't you?" Vera said, ignoring Nash and smiling down at the computer.

"I am merely exercising the capabilities that I have," ADA replied.

"Well, that's just grand," Vera said, shaking her head slowly and grinning. "I'm going out, Nash, see 'ya later!" she said and started to walk out.

"Let me finish explaining who...nevermind," Nash said, then looked down and paused. "I'll do that favor, but I can't guarantee anything," he yelled before she could leave.

"Thanks anyways!" Vera said, waving. She then turned and walked off briskly.

"She talks as if you're gonna be around when she gets back," Nash said, scratching his head with the wrench end.

"The Runner that handles me is entirely based on the circumstances. She was the optimum choice to survival and thus I allowed her to pilot. As of the moment, I am not to allow any other Runners due to my prime objective," ADA said.

"That's the problem with you artificial intelligence things, all you can do is what you're told. Sad that you have to get by on someone else's doctrine," Nash said, crawling back in the wall panel.

"Perhaps you are right, it does not seem fair, but it is logical that a computer exists to serve whomever needs it," ADA replied.

"Well, whatever, Jim's bound to find a buyer for 'ya within an hour, so just sit tight," Nash said from within the hole.

Lynn Hidelberg stretched out in his police cruiser amidst a long yawn. He relaxed back into the seat and rubbed the bottom of his nose. As he thought, his nose was running again and his allergies weren't getting any better. Taking a tissue out of the box near the hill brake, he blew his nose gently and stuffed the tissue in the old fast food combo meal cup that was stuck by dried soda to the cup holder. He rubbed his thin beard and took a long sip from his cup of coffee.

"Officer! Officer! Some guy stole my purse! Help me, please!" a female yelled from outside the driver's side window.

Lynn turned his head and saw Vera smiling at him from beside the car. Without flinching, he rolled down the window. "Sorry, miss, I'm on duty."

"Please officer?" Vera said in a pouty tone.

Lynn rolled his eyes. "Get in," he said rolling back up the window. He unlocked the passenger side door and Vera ran around the back and inside the car.

"Hi, Lynn. Been a while, eh?" Vera said, folding her legs and putting her hands behind her head.

"Same old girl I've always known," Lynn said before sipping his coffee again.

"Lynn, you're almost sixty years old, go apply for an administrative job, damnit," Vera said, looking over at him.

"Me and your pappy worked the streets for as long as we've been on the force. I just can't seem to get over it. You can take the me outta the streets, but you can't take the streets outta me," Lynn said with a stupid grin.

Vera belted out a loud laugh. "Lynn, you sound like some stereotypical over-the-hill cop. You whined for five years to get off the streets, you hypocrite!"

"Well, that's true, but I gained respect for working out here. It's quite peaceful and not as hectic as it is back in that damn station," Lynn said before sipping some coffee. "Besides, when you're as old as me, you find out that the things I said are quite true."

"Whatever you say, 'ya old geezer," Vera said, rolling her eyes.

"So what have you been doing with your life? Still won't come back to the force?" Lynn asked, glancing at her.

"Been working in LEVs. All I know how to do is operate them and that's what I plan to do for the rest of my life," Vera said, looking straight forward.

"How's your hand?" Lynn asked before sipping coffee.

Vera didn't reply.

"Vera? You alright?"

"You just had to ask me that, didn't you?" Vera said, rolling her eyes.

"Just curious. I never heard if you got the reparation surgery done right this time," Lynn said with a small shrug.

"Yes, I did and this time they did it right. My hand feels fine," Vera said, rubbing her right hand.

"Can I have a look?" Lynn said, leaning over a little.

"Yeah, sure," Vera said with an aggravated sigh. She offered her right hand over towards him and Lynn inspected it closely. A small, perfectly round scar was on both the top and palm of her hand.

"Went clear through, eh? That's why you quit, couldn't use a gun?" Lynn said, leaning back into his seat.

"Not entirely. Let's just change the subject, ok?" Vera said, shaking her head and leaning it to the side.

"Just one more question, ok?" Lynn asked with a smile.

"Alright, since you've been such an excellent training officer to me, what is it?" Vera replied with a smarmy grin.

"Who did it?" Lynn asked before sipping the last of his coffee up.

Vera paused and stared off.

"Don't gimme the silent treatment. Either you know or you don't know," Lynn said, placing his cup in the holder adjacent to the trash cup.

"Ok, want me to explain it all to you again?" Vera asked, looking Lynn in the eyes.

"Yes, please," Lynn replied with a nod.

"Ok, just remember the mental checklist I told you about. Be calm, be cool, be confident, and use your best judgment," Lynn said, pointing to the car he pulled over.

"Ok, Officer Hidelberg, I'll do my best," Vera said, building up courage.

"Don't be discouraged to come get me or ask me any questions. You're a cadet, not a super cop. I'm not expecting anything perfect, just your best," Lynn said as Vera climbed out of the car. "After all, if anything goes wrong, we can look back on this and laugh, right?"

"Yes, Officer Hidelberg, I'll try hard," Vera said, rolling her eyes and walking toward the pulled over car. Vera walked up to the driver's side window and knocked on the glass. The driver rolled it down to reveal an Asian man with a small Mohawk was driving the car. In the other seats were a white male with dreadlocks and two black men in the back seat.

"Is there a problem, officer?" the man said with a snicker.

"I am Cadet Micheals with the Ganymede Police Department. Sir, do you know what speed you were going?" Vera asked calmly.

"I dunno, hotcakes, you tell me," the man replied. The other passengers snickered and the man grinned.

"Sir, I have no times for games. Show me your license and registration," Vera commanded, reaching for her ticket pad.

"How about I show you my shlong? I'm sure you'd like it more," the man said, reaching to unzip himself. The passengers howled with laughter.

"Sir, don't be rude. Show me your license and registration and or I'll have to arrest you," Vera said, leaning to one side.

"Come on, I'm gett'in horny just talking to 'ya," the man said, looking her over. One of the men in the back whispered in the Asian man's ear. He nodded and started grinning wider.

"Last chance, sir, do as I said or I'll have to arrest you," Vera said, raising her voice.

"Ok, arrest me," the man said, smiling widely. "But you'll have to come in here to do it!" he yelled, grabbing Vera's left arm. The man pulled hard and Vera staggered over onto the side of the car. She quickly planted her right hand on the driver's side rear window and began to fight the man's pull.

"What are you doing? Stop that!" Vera screamed.

"Come on, baby, we won't hurt you, we just wanna have some fun with a cop!" the man said. The others laughed loudly.

Vera struggled, pushing back as hard as she could. The men inside the car started nibbling on her fingers and licking her hand amidst laughter. Vera cringed and screamed loudly for help.

"Shit, of all the things to happen today," Lynn said to himself, yanking the gun out of his holster. He leapt out of the car and dashed for the pulled over car.

Just then, a gunshot rang out from inside the car. The driver's side rear window shattered and Vera fell on her back. The car immediately started up and peeled out. Lynn gasped in mid-sprint and stopped, opening fire on the car. Lynn shot out the rear left brake light and put a few holes in the trunk, but the car got away. He swore to himself and leaned down beside Vera.

"I got a cadet down, cadet down, requesting immediate medical assistance," Lynn yelled into his radio.

"Ten-four, ambulance has been dispatched," the operator replied.

"Where are you hit? Did they even shoot you?" Lynn said, glancing her over rapidly.

"I don't know," Vera said, tears welling up. Her body was rigid and her face was contorted into a tormented cringe.

"Try to relax, I'll make sure you'll be alright, ok? Don't worry, Vera," Lynn said as reassuringly as he could.

Vera nodded slowly, a bawl escaping her lips.

"Now, where did they shoot you? Show me so I can bandage it," Lynn asked, ripping some of his shirt off.

Vera took a few deep breaths and raised her right arm. She held her right hand in front of her face and began to scream. She saw right through the hole in her hand into Lynn's face.

Lynn dropped his jaw in shock and swallowed hard. He eased her hand to the ground and began to wrap it hurriedly.

"You'll be ok, I promise," Lynn said as the ambulance sirens grew louder in the distance.

"Remember now? That's how it happened," Vera said, switching the way she folded her legs. "After that I was in the hospital for weeks. The reparation surgery and hospital bills pretty much exhausted my finances as well as some of my parents'. Then I joined the LEV S.W.A.T. under Hebert's suggestion."

"Yeah, that is how it happened," Lynn said, rubbing his chin. "But you didn't answer my question. Do you remember who shot you?"

"It was the guy in the back-right seat. I couldn't see him at all, the other guy in the back was in the way," Vera said, examining her right hand.

"That's a damn shame, I was thinking of opening that case again," Lynn said, adjusting to get more comfortable in the seat.

"Don't bother, I forgot all about it," Vera said, opening the door and climbing out of the car.

Lynn then began laughing.

"What's so funny?" Vera said, raising an eyebrow.

"You reminded me that we'd look back on that and laugh, right? Sad how after all that, the guy got away, eh? But at least you were lucky..." Lynn said with a chuckle.

Vera sighed and reached for the door handle.

"Hey, now, I didn't upset you, did I?" Lynn asked, worried.

"No, I just gotta get back before my employer has a conniption. He depends on me far too much," Vera said with a sigh.

"Hey, I just wondered one more thing. Why'd you quit the force? You seemed to enjoy doing S.W.A.T. for the police," Lynn said before Vera shut the car door and walked around to the driver's side window. She knocked and Lynn rolled down the window.

"Lynn, nothing is as it seems. Nothing is perfect. Everywhere in the police force there's gaping holes of corruption and greed. There's just nothing to depend on in the solar system anymore but money and power," Vera said, shaking her head.

"So some folks are making money on the side, so what? Everyone does it," Lynn said with a shrug.

Vera grinning. "I thought you'd say that. I hope your soda can murals are selling well," she said, chuckling.

"Do you have to be corrupt to make soda can murals? I think not," Lynn said, smiling.

"You crazy, old bastard. Stay alive, 'ya hear?" Vera said and started to walk off.

"Vera Micheals, such a good girl," Lynn murmured to himself and wound the car window back up.

"Can't a guy stop for lunch once in a while?" Miryhn said,

"You were out too long! We're starving here!" Nash said in between stuffing his face with chips.

"I just said it, I stopped for lunch!" Miryhn exclaimed.

"You got the normal kind? You bastard! I like Sour Cream and Onion!" Nash whined, setting the bag aside.

"So go buy the fucking groceries yourself!" Miryhn yelled.

"Children, please, give it a rest," Vera said, arriving in the hangar.

"He started it," Miryhn said under his breath.

"Well you bought the wrong chips even after I specifically wrote what kind to buy on the list!" Nash whined, raising his voice.

"Then shove 'em up your ass and go buy your own!" Miryhn yelled.

"Stop it! Both of you!" Vera said and turned away. "I'm going to take a nap, stop your arguing until I'm done, ok?"

Nash and Miryhn both nodded silently.

"And take off those sunglasses, they look stupid on you," Vera added as she walked off.

"Can't do. They're a gift from an old friend," Miryhn said, adjusting them on his nose.

"Oh? Who?" Vera said, slightly indifferently.

"Me, bitch!" Ester yelled from behind her.

Vera turned around and Ester grabbed her and hugged her tightly.

"Vera! Still the same old anal-retentive I remember. How the hell are you doing?" Ester said happily.

"Not you again. Don't you ever go away?" Vera whined.

"No can do. Me and Mirhyn here have some quick business to attend to. Now if you'll excuse us..." Ester said, letting go of Vera and dashing off to the convertible.

"What 'business'?" Nash asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Bounty business, dude. Sometimes I gotta dabble in other things," Miryhn said with a smile and a shrug. He turned and hopped in the convertible too.

"That guy, geez, he's like a stray cat. We let him in, he sits around and eats and sleeps, then leaves to go do his own thing once in a while. Then he just comes back and we do it all over again for him," Vera said before turning to leave.

"See why I didn't like him since day one?" Nash said, crawling back inside the wall.

"He's not a bad person, he's just irresponsible I guess," Vera said, strolling around.

"Irresponsible? What pressing matter did he have to attend to here?" Nash said, tossing a part out of the wall.

"I guess you're right. None of our business. To hell with him then," Vera said, walking over to Freya's container. "I see you managed to keep it here."

"Not for much longer. Jim's been making phone calls, I think he's ready to sell it," Nash said, crawling out of the wall to examine the part.

"Well, damn. I guess I'll go see how he's doing in his office," Vera said, walking toward the door.

"Sheesh, I'm beginning to see why Jim thinks we're all so weird," Nash said to himself, shaking his head.