It's the evening and the hours of the emergency center are as busy as they can be. James sitting at the right end seat. Looking over to the left of a troubled friend. One who is sitting silently. The two are still in combat armor without the helmets.

“Yeah Celi, we both promised one more hour.” James said. “It's good that the rest of the southern forces made it to the pairs. Damn shame the few that were with us did not make it.”

“Hello, sir and ma am.” a female voice is heard. James looked at the woman who turned out to be a nurse in blue scrubs and a dark navy blue hat with a white wing logo at the center. Ally slightly leaned her head up and tilted it towards the woman. “We were able to remove the bullet from the left of his lower abdomen.” .

“That's great!” Ally spoke with a tiny shred of relief. “Is he ok currently?” .

The nurse nods, “He is resting in his room. However, Due to the difficulties with the process of retrieving the bullet. It's advised he shouldn’t engage in any intensive physical activities for the time being.” .

“Can we see him?” Ally asked softly.

“Sure, just don’t make any noise as he 's sleeping.” .

“Ally, go ahead.” James offered. “ I want to head back to the dock. Pull my weight with this investigation. Besides, your nose is patched up and you took a lot from that fight.” .

“If you say so, Inform me on anything you find.” Ally says walking towards the hallway before she makes a sudden stop. “James..”

The blond agent listened hard. “ Yeah, Ally?” .

She turns around and faces him. “In all of my years of operations. Why is it now that I'm asking what is truly the difference we are actually making currently in this city?” .

James sighs and has a moment of silence. Then he says, "I would ask myself that. But then I remember all of the lives that were taken in the past few days. Don’t think I could sleep or even call myself a man in front of my own son if I started doubting. The lacking feeling of integrity of being a peacekeeper would rot my mind eternally. So, even during the toughest of days when I was a marine. I kept marching on.” .

“ keeping the consistency.” Ally expressed a small and brief display of happiness. “ A trait I wish I could adapt more from.” .

“ We can both learn to be more open with one another.” James looked rather optimistic for Miller. Knowing the pain currently for her to smile.

“Mister and Miss, We’re running low on visiting hours. Do you want to go see Mr. Mitchel?

“Yes!” Ally answers quickly. “ I’ll see you later, James and Thanks.” James nods as he walks out of the hall.

“Follow me to the elevator, I'll guide you to his room.” The woman guides Ally up to the building.

A moment soon, Ally arrives in a room surrounded in the vistas of the City’s shorelines and Neon colored buildings. Yet, all of her attention is towards a man closed inside his pod slumber displayed near the window.

“You have at least an hour.” The nurse advisted. “ Noted!” Ally responds mildly. Slowly walking as if to not frighten Steve out of his sleep.

“Hey Celi”. Ally said.

“Yeah, Miller.” she responds.

Ally says with concern. “ Will explain to Jack later. but you can disconnect my surveillance. ” .

“Make it brief.” Celi said. “ I’ll talk him into understanding or something. Be with your friend, Miller.” Celi disconnects the call.

A loud yawn is heard out of the blue. The pod door opens. “Back is killing me.” A drowsy Steve says as he wakes to the slight of Ally’s Exhausted state. “You’re here!” .

“ Wanted to check in and see how you're holding up.” Ally smiles slightly.

Steve lays up on his pillow and says “At this point, with the bill coming up. Gonna wish I was dead.” He chuckles for a bit while . “Grateful though. You and James came through with saving me. Any idea when I'm good to go.” .

Ally speaks up “What they told me was that you’ll be unable to do any physical activities.” .

“No definitive date, huh?’ Steve sighs. “Guess I'm going to be stuck like this for god knows how long.” .

“ At the very least, you’re alive here and now.” Ally smiles. “ You helped us despite the fact you were bleeding out.” .

Steve turns his face towards the city skylines and says, “That's true.”

“What is it?” She asked.

“As expensive as it may get.” Steve said. “This isn’t even what would disappoint me. But I'm not willing to tell Ms. Tyler or her poor son I've failed.” .

Ally recalled, “You mean that woman and son that walked into the hall days ago?”.

“The same pair I've promised myself I would bring that lying Kyle to justice to." Steve goes on. " I was hoping the southern crew that came along was a way to fulfill the goal of the justice departments coming together. Now, those officers are sitting in body bags.” .

“Hard to think what would've happened if you ran into that dark-eyed lunatic alone at Metx.” Ally reflects back towards what only a few days ago felt like weeks. “ Without the assistance of you and all of the police departments. Global Base Operations of Peace wouldn’t have progressed as quickly on the case.” Ally walks up. “ We started this case together and at the end of my life it's going to be finished.” .

Steve turns around slowly. Seeing what looks to be a restless pair of eyes. “ Don’t take my burden.” He begs .

“ Steve, it's my job too and I'll happily serve it.” Ally admits with the for sure of confidence. Suddenly, Ally’s cyberlen’s rings. “A wireless link notification up from you?” Ally askes.

The tired detective nods his head slightly. She clicks yes on the notification. Both of the eyes glowing neon.

The digital space of binary flies past the two.

Steve stands next to Ally still wearing his gown. “Bring up the date, September, nineteen, twenty one thousand and ten.” The area of code is quickly replaced with an indoor location.

“This is a shop.” Ally comments.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Steve points her towards his virtual and slightly younger self in his recognizable brown jacket looking at a cigarette kiosk near the store's window . “What was supposed to be a simple night.” He explains. A ring is heard across the store. A Young looking male with spiky short hair , a zipped up dark orange jacket, and baggy jeans begins to walk around.

“Welcome to the shop!” an forcibly excited store owner in a plain red shirt and brown pants expresses. The virtual detective quickly inspects the kid behind him selecting candy before returning to his options.

“Guess I'll take the “litbud” pack.” virtual Steve said. He tapped the screen of his pin number to pay credits to the machine.

Only on his way out, the kid suddenly ran out next to him.

“That kid stole my candy!” The bolded owner shouted.

“Shit!” The virtual detective ran after the young man. Ally and Steve fade through the door and witness the young thief easily caught around the gas pumps.

“Please, sir!” The virtual child pleads, “Can’t afford any augments, credits, or anything. So hungry!”.

“You have enough strength to run your ass out of the store!” virtual Steve said while pinning down the young suspect to a pump station with his right hand. He quickly gets out the silver cuffs and places them around the young man’s hand. The two re-enter the store.

“Good Stuff, copper!” the owner jumps for joy.

“Thanks!” Virtual Steve nods. “But I believe you're missing something still.” He hands the owner a giant wrapped chocolate bar. “How many credits?”

“Huh?” The owner is confused. “You’re buying it?”

“Just accept the transaction.” Virtual Steve requested rather eagerly. The two had their eyes lit simultaneously .

“Come again and thank you!” The owner salutes virtual Steve who is on his way out of the market.

Steve pauses and fast forwards through the memory.

“Why are you showing this, Steve?” Ally is feeling puzzled by the detective's lack of interaction.

“Just watch.” He said as the two of them were instantly seated between the cuffed kid.

“My home is near here!” the virtual child said.

“Some place you live!” Virtual Steve’s eyes grew . “The West side of New Haven is dominated by some great looking homes. Why travel to the city’s central dump?”.

“It's boring here!” The kid quietly responds as he looks down. “ My choices are decided over what's good for me. Private schools, not talking or hanging around people they assume are less than me. I yelled at folks and just stormed out.”

“Don’t they give you any money?” Steve asked.

“ fourteen, not old enough to even own a vehicle .” the child shrugs.

The car comes at a gated destination. Beyond is the slight of a huge white luxurious home. The car is parked in front of the gate. Virtual Steve gets out and opens the back door to guide the cuffed teen towards the entrance. The child fades though Ally. She gets up and follows the two out of the car.

“Hope you take this as a lesson then.” The virtual detective says as he loosens the cuffs. “Caught you during my break shift. If there were to be a crime scene. Initiation of arrest and jail time must be processed.” “But, you let me go.” The young spikey male looks confused.

“ Feeling a bit more kind tonight.” Virtual Steve pulls out the chocolate bar. “ It's intense to talk about this to you. But the energy of my station should go towards greater crimes. Take my advice, kid. Walk the greater road than what you assume.” He hands the teen the bar.

“Thanks, sir.” The kid holds the candy in great excitement. “Though to be honest, I’m not sure if taking the road is what makes me happy.”.

“It may not currently.” The Virtual Steve tilts his blue cap. “But someday it will be.”

The kid walks toward the gate and pushes a button as Steve watches. “

Yeah mother.” The kid speaks through a microphone speaker . “I’m back home and fine.” The gates open and the child looks back to the detective.

The memory stops again as Steve brings up his personal interface while still sitting in the virtual car. Fast forwards to an area swarmed by cops. Ally and Him suddenly shifted standing up.

“ So many officers.” Ally stated as she suddenly turned around to catch what had the attention of the police in such a tight and messy apartment complex.

“His friends broke into MY home!” a man struggling to break free from the sheriffs in steel armor walking through Ally. She sees the brightly lit holographic cautions signs covering what looks to be a small kitchen ahead with The virtual Steve is a stand still. She walks forwards slowly into the room. Witnessing a marked down dark Eden model pistol on the side. She comes up suddenly to a lifeless body turned on its back while wearing a jacket with red stains piercing on the permanent .

“Oh my god!” She whispers as she covers her mouth in disgust. Still standing outside of the room, Steve pauses the memory.

“There is one more I have to show you.” The sound of his voice is filled with dread as he fast forwards to what looks to be Ricky’s office. Ally stands at the wall looking around between Virtual Steve standing and the chief sitting on his chair across the desk to what looks to be a pleasantly dressed pair.

“We get our best lawyers!” shouted a dark haired man wearing a dark slim suit and tie. “Worked my way up Wall Street. Try to give what's best for my son! I ain't going to jail!” .

“Try as you must.” Ricky having his hands on the table. “Child was put in immediate danger. The best course of action is for the two of you to show up to court.” .

The wife, tied up blond hair who dresses in a light brown button up and skirt, remains silent but rubs her soaked up eyes .

“I’m sorry for you two.” Steve sighs. “At the very least, I ask the both of you to remain civil.”.

“How can we?” The woman. “Our lives and our son are gone.” The doors open up from behind.

“Sir, mam, follow me.” An armed officer commands. The two pairs stand up and take their leave as Ricky and Steve watch. The memory link is disconnected.

Ally takes a breath. Steve rubs an ache on the side of his patched up stomach.

“Does the chief know about this?” Ally asks as she rubs her head on trying to get a grip on being back to reality.

“He does but hasn't thrown me out.” Steve admits while staring off into space. “He understands that my intentions were for the best and that right now the image of being an officer is so dire. Anyone outside of us that knew about this. A week after the mother and father were put into trial. The parents were given fifteen years each irresponsibly for their child. The man was facing ten years for taking the life of their son. I was able to investigate and catch the two others who had broken into the man's home after doing a memory link scan. Those two bastards got eleven years.”

Ally walks close to the pod. “Why are you telling me this, Steve?” She was taken back by the information. She kneels down. “Talk to me, Steve!” .

“ I want to be an honest cop again.” He finally stared directly at Miller. “ To go out and put up this stunt for people like the Tyler family, the members at the station, and your group. The mayor called this city a haven. A chance to repurify the city yet all I feel like is a false angel.” .

“ Remember that story I told to Mr. Hammer at Eden?” Ally says as Steve gives off a confused glare. “ I made a small fabrication that only my crew knows in order to encourage the young man of his wrong doing. Around west of the Atlantic ocean outside of the United Kingdom. A cargo invasion was taking place. So my squad was flown out to the ship. We gave them all the best chance to live but a lot of the thieves were stubborn. All but one. A dark skin male that was shaken in fear with the sounds of gunfire assumedly. We found him at the captain's room but he was gone by his own personal initiative .”.

“Why join as an agent, then?” Steve's sorrowful eyes widened with anticipation.

“ To escape that guilt.” Ally says. “My years of commanding squads have forced me into a position I would ask no one to do. I was all but done until I read an email from my commanding officer talking to Jack Razor about my career. Like myself, Jack was tired of the blood shed from his time in the last world war. That's how it started for me.” Ally holds on to his hand. “Steve, there is no footage of us talking about this as I told my intel to cut off for the sake of your privacy to rest. If the world was to know about our interaction. There would be a conflict of interest in terms of GBOP’s association.” .

“You're going to keep this a secret?”. The detectives gazes with thoughts conflicting.

Ally smiles in true purity as she says, “ You did the best in that situation. So, Let me carry your burden and finish this case. ” .

He lets go and lays back down on his pod facing towards the window. “ Don’t go killing yourself, kid.” The detective said rather coldly.

A call is seen through Ally’s lens. “Yeah, Celi?” She stands up .

“You won’t believe this, Chicka.” Celi said. “ the website uploaded another video and good old James somehow got the southern police to allow access to that big moot you , James, and Steve fought.” .

“That's great news.” Ally cheered. “Hopefully we can get some leads. I’m ready to go.” .

“you two finished talking?” Celi asked.

“ He’s fine. just about to rest.” Ally looks at him briefly before walking off. “ See you, Steve.” .

As Ally heads out of the room. Steve is left staring out of the view of the neon city. He can’t help but to think of these words, “Thanks, kid. for everything.”