Waking up, Ameira poured a bowl of cereal slop and flicked through the morning news.

"The results of last week's Kitty Kat Kompetition...

"In the yearly poll, there has been a notable amount of support for the Port ...

"Coming live, we have a reporter on scene with the Port Police Unit as they suppress the last remaining elements of the Surface Transgressor terrorist group."

Interesting. This could be the next big story I need to finally be promoted away from Cleo once and for all.

"What's going on there, Cassie?" The man on screen was replaced with Cassie, who was crouching behind a police van, clutching a microphone in her white-knuckled hand. Explosions and gunfire were very audible.

"As you can see, the terrorist group calling themselves Surface Transgressors are currently engaged with the PPU as they are pushed back on Marshall Street. There is nowhere for them to run or hide and their chief, Miranda, has informed me that they are expected to surrender within the hour. We still don't know what their goals were, but we expect to find out after questioning them."

"Thank you, Cassie. And remember if you or anyone you know have been affected by the Surface Transgressors, the Port has support services at 3385 727 098 or you can contact them at this address. That's all we have time for this morning. Stay safe and we'll see you tomorrow." Ameira turned off the tv and thew her clothes on, running out the door. She waved at an expectant taxi outside her door and jumped in.

"Thanks Heidi. I need you to take me to Marshall Street."

"Good story there?"

"Those Surface Transgressor terrorists are about to be caught and I'm going to try to interview a few."

"Whoa, calm down. I ain't going too close to a firefight. I'll drop you at Hawaii Avenue, but I'm not driving into a fight."

"That's fine. I don't have a death wish either."

"I just don't want to lose my drink buddy and best customer."

"I'm sober, I swear. Do I look hungover to you?"

They bickered back and forth until they arrived.

"Don't get killed, Ameira."

"Don't crash the taxi, Heidi." She got out and started running towards the sound of gunfire. Pulling out her reporter badge, the police let her past into the fight. She grabbed a bulletproof vest from the officer who offered her one. More safety meant more chance of getting a better story without dying. Grabbing her trusty camera out of her pocket, she moved behind a giant fallen concrete pillar.

"This is your last chance to surrender!" yelled Miranda. The rest of the group threw down their weapons and put their hands in the air. She ran over to handcuff the surrendering terrorists with her unit. Ameira got a great photo of her tackling one of the runners and obtained permission to interview one of the ringleaders in a few hours, after work.

That'll show Cleo. I can't wait to rub this in her face.

Ameira walked the rest of the way to the office. It smelt like marzipan and almonds.

Did someone put in an air freshener? God, we sure needed one. Sure smells weird though.

Her foot squished on the section of carpet that the man was working on yesterday.

Ugh, it's like we don't have enough problems.

The elevator was thankfully operational, and the closed door cut off the odd smell. When she arrived at her floor, instead of heading to her office, Ameira took a detour to Cleo's office.

She opened the door.

"Hey, guess who got permission to interview those Surface Transgressor peop-

BOOM

A tremor rocked the building