It was my third day at work as soon I walked into the firehouse and heard Lieutenant Valkyrie and Carter tear each other apart. But they stopped when I entered.
I just got my turnout gear from the side room and put it on the Rescue Engine behind the officer seat. But as I walked into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee the fire bell went off for a smoke investigation at the Little Bird Federal Reserve building in Downtown Empire. So we got to the Federal Reserve. It’s an independent regional reserve bank but the building is a three story building with the main entrance being on the second floor due to the stairs but we went by the columns.
But when we first got there Lieutenant Valkyrie ordered me to grab the two and one quarter inch high-rise pack. We checked in with a guard at the front desk and said that the fire alarm is tripped in the basement where they store money and destroy money that’s been taken out of circulation.
“Could it be due to the flue not being cleaned?” I asked.
The male guard replied, “I don’t think so. We switched over to Oil back in ‘64 because it maintains a more consistent flame. But once a week we clean the flue to prevent the build up of soot so it doesn’t clog up. But we evacuated the basement of a few guards.”
As we were walking down the stairs we could hear some fire crackling.
“That ain’t the incinerator we have,” the guard said.
Lieutenant Valkyrie replied, “Hook us up to a standpipe! Come on hustle!”
I followed another guard in a white collared shirt, black tie, silver police badge, black trousers to a standpipe in the Federal Reserve.
I tried to open it but it was stuck.
“How about it Probie!” I heard Lieutenant Valkyrie's voice echoing.
I shouted back, “Coming!”
I was able to get the standpipe to open and hooked up the hose and I ran back to the group but I shouted for the guard to turn open the standpipe so it could charge the attack line. We then entered the basement where I turned on the high-rise attack line in which I was able to contain the fire until a second Engine Company and a Truck Company got there to fully knock down the fire. But since we Squad 525 are a Special Operations Company we could leave after knocking down the fire and do a quick once over to make sure the fire was fully out and checked for any hotspots that we would douse with water.
***
Back at the firehouse.
“What’s for brunch Probie?” asked Carter.
I replied, “I plan on making my dad’s cheeseburger recipe but just for you I’ll cut off your dick and balls and fry them and make them for you while the rest of us will eat mouthwatering cheeseburgers with cheese inside them as well with bacon. So don’t talk to me in a tone that has you think you’re superior to me because of your gender because I’ll gladly knock you down several pegs.”
I then went into the kitchen and for brunch I made my dad’s cheeseburger recipe that involves both cheese being inside of the burger and another slide of cheese on the outside and topped off each patty with two slices of hardwood bacon.
After we got done with lunch we then went back out into the apparatus bay and that was when four police cars and three unmarked black Hornet Vigilante’s and two Wasp Rural (1981-91 Chevy Suburban) came with a lot of police officers and Elite Operations Detachment Agents who came unannounced and started to tear the firehouse from top to bottom but separated us as well.
“Can I ask what this is about?” I asked.
An EOD Agent replied, “Missing money. This company went to a fire at the Federal Reserve this morning and money there is missing. Y’all were the first ones there and the first ones to leave.”
I was about to say something.
“We already searched Firehouse 23 and interrogated them but they came up empty,” the same agent said.
***
In the briefing room of the firehouse.
“So tell us step by step what you did during the fire at the Federal Reserve?” an Agent asked.
I replied, “When we got there I was told by my Lieutenant to grab the high-rise pack and we made our way in. We walked in but I kept the high-rise pack over my shoulder and when we got to the stairwell we could hear fire crackling so my Lieutenant ordered me to find a standpipe so I ran to one while being led by a guard, hooked up the high rise attack line, and I ran back to the company I’m in and yelled for the guard to turn it on. I was able to help contain the fire until a second due Engine company got on the scene to assist in fighting the fire and put it out.”
What I said matched with what happened but soon another agent came in and pulled the other two out of the briefing room for a minute until they came back in. But while they were out talking to the other agent I opened a pack of gum I had and put in the bubblegum-flavored gum into my mouth.
When they came in they told me that I was under arrest for robbery and robbing a government building even though I had nothing to do with it but I had a feeling that Carter gave them a fake motive and a fake reason to throw me under the bus for a crime I didn’t do. But I couldn’t prove that because I can’t just say that he doesn’t like me and I don’t like him.
***
EOD Empire HQ.
Two Agents came into the interrogation room I was in. I looked at the walls and looked at the window behind me but it’s a one way window where I couldn’t see out of it.
“Can we get you something to drink?” asked one of the agents.
I replied, “Latte with extra whipped cream and chocolate shavings.”
The other agent sat down across from me wearing black suit pants with a white collared shirt, a black sweater vest and a gold badge around his neck.
***
(Special Agent in Charge Mackenzie Smith-Ryan POV)
I investigated the Westlake Bank, a single-story structure equipped with heavy rear doors, roof access, and a security system managed from a locked room. The bank typically employs three to four security personnel, and tellers are trained to activate shutters during a robbery.
Upon entering the bank, I navigated to the office area where several bankers were engaged in conversations with clients. I approached a female banker who had just finished assisting a couple.
“May I assist you, Ma’am?” she inquired.
I responded, “I’m investigating a robbery. I need information about your client, Ms. Waterson, Mackenzie.”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am, but I can’t disclose personal client information without a court order or if they’re implicated in a major crime,” she replied.
“She’s been accused of robbing the Empire Branch of the Federal Reserve. I need to verify if she made any large cash deposits or withdrawals recently,” I explained.
“According to our records, she receives a monthly payment of $8909 from the Navy and an additional $480 from her job. She typically withdraws $1000 each month, donates $100 to charities, and takes out another $180. Her transactions are generally consistent. Last week, she withdrew $8 for reasons we didn’t inquire about. The largest withdrawal she made was a few months ago when she insisted on withdrawing cash to purchase a car, despite our suggestion to use a cashier’s check,” she detailed.
“Do you know where she spent the cash?” I asked.
“Yes, it was at a dealership located on Aurora and Valle Streets,” she answered.
After thanking her for her assistance, I returned to my vehicle and radioed my team to search Waterson’s car while I proceeded to the dealership. Upon arrival, I questioned the dealer about his interaction with Macaroni. He described her as fit, thin, hourglass-shaped, and attractive, matching the description in her mugshot.
Next, my team and I proceeded to the apartment of Claire Johnson, Macaroni’s girlfriend. We requested the assistance of a Special Weapons and Emergency Service Unit, suspecting that Macaroni might be using the apartment as a hideout. However, the apartment was unoccupied. We found no trace of the stolen money, so I dispatched two agents to interview Macaroni again. She provided them with the address and apartment number of her new residence.
At the new location, I assigned one agent to interview the building owner while the rest of the team and I interviewed Macaroni’s neighbors and searched her apartment. Despite a thorough search, we found no trace of the stolen money. We did, however, notice that Macaroni had recently purchased new furniture.
The rest of my team reported back that Macaroni had moved in a few days ago and was generally quiet and respectful. The building owner confirmed that she had paid her rent in cash and signed a two-year lease. He also mentioned that he had received no complaints about her, which was unusual among his tenants. A few of Macaroni’s neighbors expressed dislike for her tomboyish style, which included flannel shirts, tattered blue jeans, and black loafers.
During the course of my investigation, one of my agents discovered that Mackenzie "Macaroni" Waterson is the registered owner of several firearms, all of which retained their original serial numbers. The firearms, consisting of two handguns and a shotgun, were secured by two of my agents for further examination. After approximately forty-five minutes, my team reported that the firearms had been purchased from a local gun store a few months prior.
I proceeded to the gun store to gather additional information. The store clerk recognized Waterson from her mugshot and provided me access to the store's ledger. The ledger, a rectangular book with columns for names, dates, orders, addresses, and signatures, confirmed Waterson's purchases.
The clerk informed me that Waterson had adhered to the mandatory waiting periods for the firearms - five days for the handguns and ten days for the shotgun. She had paid in cash for all the items: $122.99 for the first handgun, $149.99 for the second, and $399.99 for the shotgun. An additional $12 was spent on ammunition for all three weapons. When queried about her intended use for the firearms, Waterson had stated that she engaged in recreational shooting.
Following this lead, I instructed my team to investigate all local shooting ranges, a task that would likely take several hours. It's worth noting that the ammunition Waterson purchased is typically used for recreational shooting, not hunting.
Upon returning to the Elite Operations Detachment building, I requested a comprehensive background check on Waterson from the U.S. Department of Justice via my mother's proxy. The report revealed that Waterson's only criminal record was a speeding violation from 2004, when she was 20 years old. She had been cited for driving twenty miles over the speed limit by an Alabama Highway Patrol Officer. Rather than contest the ticket in court, Waterson had chosen to pay the fine promptly.
In the course of my investigation, I interviewed Macaroni and she told me where she goes recreational shooting.
I went to a downtown gun store equipped with an indoor range. The staff there confirmed that Waterson is a rule-abiding patron who ensures her firearms are unloaded before leaving the premises, in compliance with the range's safety regulations.
Macaroni declined any offer of firearms training, asserting her expertise in handling firearms. Upon further inquiry by one of my agents, Macaroni revealed that she has been practicing shooting since the age of four, initially under the guidance of her father in Fort Liberty, North Carolina. They continued this practice even after relocating to Killen, Alabama in 1992. Waterson expressed a particular fondness for her grand uncle's United States Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm, M14, a preference likely influenced by her father's service as a Designated Marksman in the United States 82nd Airborne from 1981 to 1992. She also mentioned that her uncle owns a Springfield Armory M1A rifle and a sawed-off shotgun.
A comprehensive background check conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Little Bird Bureau of Law, and the Elite Operations Detachment revealed that Macaroni served one tour in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Bunker Hill, a guided missile cruiser. The only criminal record associated with Waterson is a speeding violation from 2004, which she promptly resolved by paying the fine.
After reviewing Mackenzie "Macaroni" Waterson's background at the Elite Operations Detachment (EOD) building in downtown Empire, I discovered that she completed her elementary, middle, and high school education in Florence County, Alabama. She graduated from public school in 2001, moved to Empire in 2005, and completed two years at Arcane University. She also worked as a waitress, earning a substantial amount in tips.
I dispatched two members of my team to Macaroni’s old home in Alabama, to gather more information. They were required to surrender their firearms and badges to American Federal Agents, who conducted the interviews while my team members collected the information.
During this time, I reflected on the lessons my mother taught me about the difficult choices a Federal Agent must make. She once faced a situation where she had to choose between saving a killer who was a victim or a grieving parent who was the perpetrator and didn't want to be saved. She chose the latter.
I had several interactions with Macaroni, during which she maintained eye contact. My mother's teachings about interrogations came to mind. Truthful individuals are generally cooperative and knowledgeable, while those hiding something may hesitate or provide minimal detail. Liars often exhibit shifty eyes, smirks, scoffs, or laughter. More adept liars may show subtle signs like quick eye twitches or fidgeting. Macaroni, however, consistently repeated her story.
According to Macaroni, that today before the fire at the Federal Reserve, she left her apartment at 7:10 AM, arrived at a nearby coffee shop at 7:15 AM, left the coffee shop at 7:20 AM, and arrived at Squad 525 Firehouse ten minutes later. The call for a smoke investigation at the Federal Reserve came in at 8:24 AM, Squad 525 arrived at 8:37 AM, and they left the Federal Reserve at 10:22 AM, returning to their firehouse at 10:35 AM. Her alibi fits her timeline, but it cannot be confirmed due to the lack of surveillance cameras along the route to the standpipe and the main stairwell, where they were supposed to descend into the basement to combat the small fire. The female Federal Reserve guard who led Waterson to the standpipe is missing and cannot be located. Despite efforts by my cousin-in-law, Captain Asyling Ryan of the 9th Precinct, to monitor the guard's residence, there has been no sign of her, and her car remains parked at the Federal Reserve.
Macaroni then ceased her cooperation, stating she would only continue if provided with lunch. She requested either a jumbo hot dog and a root beer or a cheeseburger with fries and a root beer float.
***
Several hours later
As the sun set in Empire, operating on Central Pacific Time, I found myself at my desk examining Mackenzie "Macaroni" Waterson's American and Little Birden-issued Driver's Licenses. One peculiar observation was her smiling face in the license photos, a rarity in such documents.
My team members, who had been dispatched to Alabama, reported back. Waterson was well-liked in her hometown, particularly by male customers who found her attractive. They even likened her to the type of woman whose image would be painted on planes by World War II pilots. Waterson appeared to have no enemies, and her family, spread across New York State, Virginia, and North Carolina, was next on the interview list for the American Federal Agents.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Despite these insights, the mystery of the missing 1.5 million dollars remained unsolved. The residences of the firehouse twenty-three personnel had been searched with their consent, their alibis verified, and all were cleared. This included all members of Squad 525. However, a firefighter named Carter accused Macaroni of taking the money, labeling her as a kleptomaniac.
Macaroni, on the other hand, maintained her innocence. She provided receipts for her recent furniture and gun purchases. She even admitted to a minor theft from her past - a pencil stolen in fifth grade due to a dislike for her teacher, which she returned the next day. The investigation continues, with each piece of information painting a more detailed picture of Macaroni.
***
(Macaroni’s POV)
I tapped my fingers on the stainless steel table in the interrogation room. I wish I could see out the one way plate glass window but soon Mackenzie came back with another jumbo hotdog and a glass soda bottle of ice cold root beer. And like before it was a nice and juicy hot dog which I ate.
“So while your story checks out we’re still trying to confirm your side of what happened,” Mackenzie said. “So we can’t just kick you out until after 24 hours is up.”
I replied, “I’m pretty sure Carter did it. Because for the past two days he has been a stick up my ass with his misogynistic views and remarks to me. There’s been a few times I’ve been ready to kick him in the nuts so he couldn’t have children. Go knock on his door and break down his door with one of those armored machines with the battering ram. Give me a piece of paper so I give it to Carter.”
Special Agent Mackenzie gave me a piece of paper so I wrote:
To suffer woes which Hope thinks infinite to forgive wrongs darker than death or night. To defy power which seems omnipotent to love and bear to Hope creates from it own wreck the thing it contemplates neither to change nor falter nor repent this like thy glory Titan is to be Good, great and joyous, beautiful and free.This alone Life, Joy, Empire and Victory.
“What does it mean?” asked Mackenzie.
I replied, “Prometheus Unbound is a four-act lyrical drama by Percy Bysshe Shelley, first published in 1820. It is concerned with the torments of the Greek mythological figure Prometheus, who defies the gods and gives fire to humanity, for which he is subjected to eternal punishment and suffering at the hands of Zeus.”
Then I wrote on the bottom half of the paper before tearing it in half.
“To suffer woes which Hope thinks infinite”: This refers to enduring hardships that seem endless and insurmountable.
“To forgive wrongs darker than death or night”: This speaks to the power of forgiveness, even in the face of the gravest injustices.
“To defy Power, which seems omnipotent”: This is about standing up to seemingly invincible authority or power.
“To love, and bear; to hope till Hope creates From its own wreck the thing it contemplates”: This suggests the transformative power of hope and love, even in the most dire circumstances.
“Neither to change, nor falter, nor repent”: This speaks to the idea of remaining steadfast and unyielding in one’s convictions.
“This, like thy glory, Titan, is to be Good, great and joyous, beautiful and free”: Here, Shelley is drawing a parallel between the glory of the Titan (Prometheus) and the virtues of being good, great, joyous, beautiful, and free.
“This is alone Life, Joy, Empire, and Victory”: This line encapsulates the essence of life, joy, dominion, and triumph as perceived by Shelley.
“Your dad must’ve forked out a lot of money for your intelligence,” Mackenzie said.
I replied, “It’s either be smart or be a drug addict fiend living on my back and taking advantage of my girlfriend and guilt trip her children so she doesn’t throw me out. I’m speaking from experience because my mom is a drug addict fiend who used to guilt trip me as a child. Even though she should’ve gotten the boot even said that she didn’t even want me and I would starve but she would eat like a queen. So either become a well educated woman or be a freeloading drug addict bitch. So yes I paid attention in school, kept my nose clean, and worked hard. Okay from time to time I’ll hit the bottle a few times because it’s somewhat family of taking a shot or bottle of whiskey or scotch.”
Special Agent Mackenzie noticed that whenever I talked to her or one of her agents I had constant eye contact, a lack of fidgeting, and had a straight facial expression. She even told me that I was either telling the truth or lying but she explained that she seen people lie but their facial expression and body expression was or would be nervousness, shifty glances around the room, avoiding direct eye contact, and unusual body gestures or have shifty eyes, possibly a smirk, or will be scoffing or laughing.
Some more adept liars may show much more subtle signs, such as quick eye twitches or fidgeting. But Mackenzie had people who tried to lie to her but she just said “The only people who can lie and keep a straight face are people born to be politicians” and how since the President, Military Congressmen/women, Congressmen/women, Mayors, Lieutenant Mayors, and City/Town Councilman/women only can be elected in office if they done military service and how since Little Bird has both a Professional Armed Forces and a Military that has conscription but men are required for the military service while women can join the military but they volunteer unless in times of war then women are like the men and can be drafted in the war.
But since the 1930s a lot of women had to take over men’s job so a lot of teenage and young adult women had to break traditional norms to take over their father’s and older brother jobs because of their fathers or older brother’s dying in World War One so they had to do jobs like technicians, mechanics, carpenters, electricians, electrical fitters, metal working, architects, aircraft pilots/flight engineers, cops, firefighters, and farmers to replace the men who once done them but didn’t return due to dying in the First World War and it wasn’t until 1937 when President Abigail Orange readvised the Little Bird 1910 Integration Act which allows women join male dominated careers but in a administrative role. While the 1937 readvised one prohibits the military from banning women from joining combative units in the military due to she argued how a lot of tomboy country gals could shoot better than a fully trained Little Bird Army Sharpshooters at the time and while yes the Army was skeptical at the time but she had a challenge for the Little Bird Military in 1937 that ten country girls armed with hunting rifles from the farms they’re from compete against ten Army and Marine Corps Sharpshooters who were veterans from the First World War and said women beaten the Army and Marine Sharpshooters and Marksmen at the time.
After a grueling day, I was finally released. My alibi had held up under scrutiny, and the folks at the reserve could vouch for my whereabouts. But there was a lingering question about a female guard I’d mentioned - a certain “Kelso C” Special Agent Mackenize’s team scoured the records, only to find that the Empire Branch of the Federal Reserve had no “Kelso C.” Instead, they found a “Kelsey C,” who had mysteriously vanished after activating the wet standpipe and leaving the building.
Once the 24-hour mark passed, Special Agent Mackenzie had no choice but to let me go. I hadn’t committed any crime, but the open case meant I was still a person of interest. I was barred from returning to work until my name was cleared. They advised me not to leave the city, warning that it would look like I was fleeing to avoid prosecution or re-arrest.
To top it all off, I heard Mackenzie had circulated my license plate number. I was free to drive around the city, but the moment I crossed the city lines, it would be grounds for arrest. So here I am, stuck in limbo, waiting for the day my name is finally cleared.
But I decided to go back to my apartment and went over to my bookshelf and just read a book but turned on the TV to a music channel to listen to classic rock music while I read. But the few times I did go out which was for a bite to eat or go shopping I noticed a black car following me a few car lengths back but if I ate at a restaurant or diner then two people would’ve given me slack to think I wasn’t being followed but I noticed but didn’t call them out on it.
But I did buy a few clothes but I just mostly got size ten jeans due to my waist being 30.5’’ and my hips being 40.’’ I got a few undershirts in my size of ten as well even a few flannel shirts as well because it fits my tomboy personality. Like normal to have more different clothing I got a few C7 size sports bra for me for two reasons, the first being my tomboy personality and the second of them being better for physical activities which is a requirement for my job of it being physical.
But while I was out shopping I stopped at a store and got some hair dye. I went back to my apartment and dyed my hair from dark brown to a bright cherry red to match bright cherry red colored fire but just on the news it’s just repeat about how someone robbed the Empire branch of the Federal Reserve making off with one and a half million bucks but how it was done is still a mystery but after a few days while still at home but I decided to go to over to Squad Company 141 quarters.
***
Squad 141 firehouse.
“That’s high up,” I said, seeing Ladder Co 141 100 ft stainless steel ladder in the air fully extended.
I walked through Squad 141 firehouse to the tower they have around back in which I found my girlfriend Lusty on the tower and demonstrated one way to open a door in a room that possibly has a backdraft. She took a 10ft pike pole and hid around the corner where she used the pike pole to open the door and a backdraft did come out and spread out but nothing caught on fire due to its reinforced steel with nothing flammable but didn’t come out like a fireball but came out and spread out as well.
I thought it was interesting that I saw Lusty, Dynamite, Avalanche and the rest of Squad 141 in their black turnout gear with yellow and white striping (FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPIRE lettering on the back) and a black helmet (numbered 141). The turnout gear includes a lantern, while the helmet features a flashlight and door chocks. Beside my girlfriend her helmet just has a flashlight not door chocks.
I then heard my girlfriend order Dynamite, Avalanche, and Edwards to knock down the fire inside of the tower with the 2 ½ and 1 ¾ inch attack lines.
But when Lusty saw me she started to descend the tower.
“Hey there Macaroni” said Lusty, “What ya doing here?”
I replied, “I’m fine just thinking about why I’m being pinned for a scapegoat but I been accused of stealing the money from the Federal Reserve but I believe Carter was behind it and threw me under the bus blaming me because I’m a woman and thinks I’m a kleptomaniac. But I’m playing my hand the right way.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Lusty said, “A misogynistic pig like him wants you to play your hand right into his trap. He could’ve done it but threw you under the bus so it would be better to let the EOD handle it. How I see it is that you can play right into his hand which makes your case look bad to bring police attention back to you.
"So just fly under the radar and don’t do anything that’ll bring the cops back to your door because the last thing you need is it being in the middle of the night and either the city Special Weapons And Emergency Service Unit or the EOD version of the SWAESU coming to your apartment and breaking down the door with a battering ram while you’re asleep and be dragged down to the station.”
I replied, “Even though I’ll be unable to work until the case gets solved or someone over at the EOD takes me off of the Person of Interest lists. Until then I’m suspended until further notice and this can take weeks, months or years. Not a movie where a case is solved within the hour and minute runtime that takes over the course of one or two, maybe three or four days.”
“To change the subject I highly doubt that you joined the fire department to be like me,” Lusty said. “So out of all of the jobs why join this job and come here?”
I replied, “I came back here to be with you. The main reason was when I was thirteen I went to my niece's 5th birthday and we were at a restaurant at a hotel but an arsonist was trying to get a VIP staying there but the fire spread rapidly. My niece was very young but her parents and my dad were trying to get her to calm down but a fire broke out and the fire spread quickly and it was a matter of moments before my cousin disappeared where last time we saw her she had seen us and was trying to come to us… but…we couldn’t get to her where she was still far away and blocked by fire. But I promised that if I became a firefighter then I would try my hardest to save those and not let them become victims of fire.”
Lusty didn’t respond but if I had to guess then it was a good enough reason for what I said to join of it not being the original and not repeated of wanting to give back to the community. But from Lusty’s eyes I could see that my reason was good enough to try to prevent people from going through what I went through and what she went through of losing someone. For me I lost my cousin and my girlfriend it was her parents.
“You know you have to not be imaginative because on my first and second day I was saying to myself that I could save everyone but that was not true because on my first day we were canceled from a pinned construction worker because Rescue 18 became available and took over but our next call on day one my second emergency was that missing members at a hardware store fire and over the radio was reporting of a explosion with a few members missing and the IC of the hardware store fire reported a few members missing and requesting a fourth alarm, a 3-10-66, and a 10-60. A 10-60 is a major emergency which will already bring in 5 Engine Companies, 5 Ladder Companies. All 3 Battalion Chiefs and the three Safety Battalion Chiefs,1 Deputy Chief, 1 FAST Unit, 1 Rescue Task Force - which includes 1 Rescue Co., 1 Collapse Rescue, 1 Squad Co, 1 SOC Support Ladder, 1 Haz-Tac Officer, 1 Rescue Paramedic Unit, 1 Additional Rescue Co., Rescue Battalion, Safety Battalion, 1 Tactical Support Unit, SOC Logistics Support Unit, SOC Compressor Unit,Haz-Mat Battalion, Haz-Mat Company #32 or #33, Haz-Mat Technician Engine Company, Communication Unit, Field Communications Unit, Recuperation and Care (RAC) Unit, Public Information Officer. But since it was a 10-60 Code 2 it was upgraded to bring in another: 5 Additional Engine companies,5 Additional Ladder Companies. 2 Additional Safety Battalion chiefs, 1 Additional Deputy Chief, 1 Additional Rescue Task Force, 1 Air Recon Chief, 1 Satellite Unit, 1 SOC Dewatering Unit
Mobile Command Center, 1 EMS Division Chief, 1 EMS Deputy Chief, 2 EMS Conditions Officers, 1 Response Physician, 1 Haz-Tac Officer, 1 ALS Ambulance, 2 BLS Ambulances, 1 Rescue Paramedic Unit, 1 Major Emergency Response Vehicle, and 1 Mobile Respiratory Treatment Unit.”
I replied, “What’s your second day like?”
“We went to a gas station to fill up our rig and over the radio heard that firehouse forty seven responded to a fire in the tenement building I lived in with my parents and radioed they needed special gear to cut through the steel bars on the windows to make it a big easier if members had to make an egress easier. Well Marcus radioed Dispatch saying that we would also take in the call but Dispatch canceled Squad 525 but I ran into the tenement building to get my parents out. I was able to get them out but it was all for nought because they died later that day in the hospital due to severe smoke inhalation. To me I wish I was there one second sooner, Of course this was when we were given steel toed ¾ boots, black rubber jacket with yellow stripes and an Aluminum helmet. It wasn’t until 1997-98 when we started to get helmets made of composite helmets constructed of lightweight thermoplastic, polymers and other plastics. Before that it was Aluminum but we stopped using Aluminum because Aluminum being metal and metal conducts electricity. Also got Nomex and Kevlar trousers/w suspenders, and a jacket made of Kevlar and Nomex. Unless you're Dave who still wears the obsolete turnout gear but uses the modern helmet or unless you're some of the guys who have been on the job since the early half of the 1970s who wore the same boots and helmet but wore a canvas jacket.”
I could see in Lusty’s eyes that she’s still beating herself up over losing her parents and wished she could’ve gotten to her parents a second sooner so they could still be alive. Lusty wishes her parents could’ve seen her children/her parents grandchildren and she’s still blaming herself and beating herself up still over something that happened thirteen years ago. But I sympathize with her because trauma and stuff like that doesn’t go away and how since she was there she tried to save them and thought she did but in the end it was all for nothing.
We couldn’t really stop to doubt ourselves of wanting to play what if scenarios in our heads of wishing if we could beat the clock because Lusty once worked with a few who wanted to beat the clock. Or thought they had more time than they really did and either gotten badly hurt or killed because they wanted to think they had more time than they really had.
“But that's because of having better training and experience and to do technical rescues aka vehicle extrication, confined space rescue, rope rescue, trench rescue, structural collapse rescue, wilderness search and rescue, ice rescue, swift water rescue, underwater rescue and cave rescue. Well a Squad Company is a mix of a Engine, Ladder and Rescue Companies,” said Lusty. “But all the training we got it’s from all the previous generations because there've been thousands of guys who’ve done this job and passed their knowledge to the next generation and so on and so forth. There’s almost eight hundred guys and gals who died doing this job from either of trying to beat the clock, an act of God even though I’m Agnostic and an Atheist or just something out of control because in my experience the moment you get comfortable or think you get a grasp on things the job throws a curveball. But this job is where everyone next to you really counts because of teamwork and no one in this job can’t do the job without teamwork.”
I replied, “I can still see that y’all still have the sign the citizens of this neighborhood gave y’all the ‘Riverview Firehouse’ when they spent weeks protesting the city and said people gotten themselves educated to challenge city hall because the city government abhors well off educated people who can challenge them and call them out for their bullshit. Like how they closed your firehouse but the city approved multiple construction contracts that cost three times as much to keep every single firehouse opened but closed y’alls to save money. Or my gut told me that the thing is a whole scam like normal of it being falsed up to keep foremen and the workers paid but having the entire thing all fake to keep people employed to get money for projects that’ll go nowhere just to keep people employed so they can just sit at home to do nothing and earn a paycheck for nothing.”
A few weeks had passed and I was finally cleared, removed from the Person of Interest list. This allowed me to return to work, although it happened during the week both A and B shifts had off. Still, it allowed me to keep myself busy. I found solace at the gun range, shooting at moving targets.
Despite being followed by government agents, I understood they were just doing their job - ensuring I didn’t leave the city or engage in any criminal activities. My frequent visits to the gun range were not just a pastime, but also an exercise of my rights. The Little Bird 7th Amendment clearly states that people have the right to bear arms. This right serves as an auxiliary support to the natural rights of self-defense and resistance to oppression, and the civic duty to act in defense of the state.
The amendment, written in black ink, advocates for a well-armed group of citizens ready to take up arms in case of enemy invasion or to fight against a tyrannical government. It states, “A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
This was established by our Founding Fathers and Mothers out of concern for political corruption and governmental tyranny. Even the Federalists, who were accused of creating an oppressive regime, acknowledged the risks of tyranny. Against this backdrop, the personal right to bear arms was seen as a potential check against tyranny. It’s a powerful reminder of the balance between individual rights and collective security.
***
As the calendar flipped to Monday, October 26, I, Mackenzie Waterson, stepped back into the familiar territory of my workplace. The air was thick with tension, a palpable reminder of the accusations that had kept me away for three long weeks.
Carter, ever the antagonist, was quick to break the silence. “Oh look who’s back,” he sneered, his tone dripping with passive-aggressiveness.
I shot him a glare, my patience wearing thin. “Carter, you’re a hair’s breadth away from being flipped over by a woman. I’ve taken down men twice, even thrice my size, and no, I didn’t resort to cheap shots. If you’re itching for a trip to the ER courtesy of a woman, be my guest.”
His retort was predictable. “You should be behind bars for robbing the Federal Reserve,” he spat out.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Nice try, Carter. But I’ve been cleared. Just last week, my name was removed from the Person of Interest list. You’ll have to do better than that to get rid of me. Next time, don’t give the feds a false motive and make sure my alibi isn’t rock solid. My account of that day, from the moment I woke up to the fire, is as solid as a rock. It’s all accounted for, confirmed, and won’t be used to convict me in front of a grand jury. And if I did go to trial for a crime I didn’t commit, who do you think they’d believe? A misogynistic pig or someone with a solid story backed by a hundred witnesses? Yeah, the latter. Because if a hundred people can confirm my whereabouts, even with receipts and camera footage, you can shut up. If you want a fight, there’s a forty-ton fire engine right next to us. I’m sure its steel and aluminum chassis will rattle what little brains you have left.
I ventured into the kitchen, where I found Steven, confined to a wheelchair, engrossed in a crossword puzzle.
“Ah, the prodigal returns,” he greeted, not lifting his eyes from the puzzle.
“Hey, Steven. How are the legs holding up?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation light.
“Well, I’m stuck in this contraption until January. Then, it’s off to rehab to relearn walking. Being cooped up at home with only 75% pay was driving me up the wall,” Steven confessed, his tone laced with frustration. “But I wanted to thank you, Mackenzie. You stayed with me when I was trapped in that oil refinery fire. You were a far cry from Carter back in '04, who left me high and dry at the first sign of trouble. I wasn’t expecting the Feds to come knocking, but they seemed disappointed when I had nothing but praise for you. Heard about the Federal Reserve fire and the heist. I’m relieved it wasn’t you, kid. You saved my life by calling for help and keeping me calm until rescue arrived. Unlike Carter, who abandoned me and faced the music for leaving a man behind.”
I smiled at Steven, his spirit unbroken despite the challenges he faced. “You’re a tough one, Steven,” I said, my voice filled with admiration. “And don’t worry about the Feds. They were just doing their job, even if they were barking up the wrong tree.”
Steven chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Yeah, they seemed pretty disappointed when I had nothing but good things to say about you. Guess they were hoping for some juicy gossip.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Well, they certainly won’t find any of that here. And as for Carter… well, we all know what he’s like.”
Steven nodded, his gaze turning serious. “You know, Mackenzie, I’ve been in this line of work for a long time. I’ve seen people come and go, but you… you’re different. You’ve got a heart of gold and nerves of steel. That day at the oil refinery, you didn’t hesitate. You stayed with me, kept me calm. You saved my life.”
I felt a lump in my throat, touched by his words. “We’re a team, Steven. We look out for each other. That’s what we do.”
He smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile. “That’s right, kid. We’re a team. And I’m glad you’re a part of it.”
As I left the kitchen, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Despite the accusations, the suspension, the whispers behind my back, I knew I had made the right choice. I was a firefighter, through and through. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I then crossed paths with Lieutenant Valkyrie. Her welcome was somewhat warm, but it was clear that what she missed most was my culinary skills. Among the seven of us, I was the undisputed master of the kitchen.
Lieutenant Valkyrie let me in on a secret - Carter was banned from cooking. The one time he was allowed near the stove, he managed to set the kitchen on fire. Valkyrie had to radio a 10-75 to dispatch, calling for help to the quarters of Squad Company 525. The kitchen was out of commission for a month, undergoing renovations.
During that time, we had to resort to ordering lunch and dinner. Our meals varied from beef chili, French Onion Soup, Chicken Noodle soup, Tomato soup, Vegetable Soup, Beans and Ham Soup, Buffalo Chicken Wings with Baked beans, Burger with fries, Macaroni and Cheese, Meatloaf with baked potatoes, to Lasagna. And no meal was complete without a slice of Cheesecake.
But in 2005, Valkyrie put her foot down and banned Carter from cooking for good. We already faced fires in our line of work; we didn’t need to risk our lives in our own firehouse. The fire commissioner didn’t take the incident lightly and held Valkyrie accountable, pulling the “buck stops with you” card on her. Since then, Carter was prohibited from going within ten feet of the stove in the kitchen.
I sought out Pengelle, who shared with me the collective frustration of the team when Squad Co 525’s firehouse caught fire. They had half a mind to toss Carter into the flames he’d ignited in the kitchen-dining room. The incident had made headlines, splashed across papers and media outlets. This all happened before I moved to the city of Empire to attend Arcane University. By the time I arrived on August 15th, 2005, I started University on August 24th, it was three months post the fire Carter had caused.
Schmit, on the other hand, could only shake his head at Carter’s recklessness. He had to pull both Squad Co 525 and the Fire Department Homeland HAZMAT Response vehicles out of harm’s way. The second vehicle, an all-white delivery step truck, bore the words “FIRE DEPARTMENT CITY OF EMPIRE HOMELAND DEFENSE HAZMAT RESPONSE” on its side.
With all the firehouses already at full capacity, relocation wasn’t an option. The kitchen was declared out of service, and the team had to continue occupying the firehouse amidst ongoing renovations. Carter earned himself a collective slap on the back of his head for his blunder. The majority of the city’s firehouses are located on two or four-lane city streets, making it impossible to park their rig outside without risking a collision with a reckless driver. So, they had to endure the construction and renovation noises from 7 AM to 3 PM, all while staying put in their original location.
The headline "EPD VICE SCANDAL" caught my eye as I scanned the newspaper lying on the table. It was a stark reminder of the grim realities that the Empire Vice detectives grapple with daily. They delve into the city's underbelly, exposing the sordid world of drugs, prostitution, and organized crime. Their work often brings them face-to-face with the worst aspects of humanity.
Yet, it's no secret that the Vice department itself is riddled with corruption. Many of its members are known to be ruthless, dishonest, and susceptible to bribes. Their power, stemming from the department's glamorous status, grants them an unusual amount of leeway, unseen in other departments like the EPD or the District Attorney's Office.
This scandal, as the headline suggests, could implicate the highest echelons of the department, shedding light on the depth of corruption within. It's a sobering thought, serving as a reminder that even those entrusted with upholding the law can sometimes be the ones who break it.