“Thanks for getting what you could with that memory link, Miller.” Ricky said. “At the very least we have some vague idea of who we may be going up against. I'll Send
whatever willing men and women here to help Steve and you two agents investigate the fourth street of SouthHaven city. A ton of help is still needed here at the
station.” .
Steve sighs. “SouthHaven , heh.”
“Based on the link.” Ally said, facing Steve. “It's quite a banged up area.”.
“The place I always hated going to is where half of my work comes from.” the detective replies grimly. “The area used to be a nice remote for those fed up with the complex city life. A suburban area turned bad due to improper maintenance.”
“Seems like a city budget issue.” Ally responded while folding her arms together.
“ It's quite the mystery to me, Miller.” Steve answers. “ But if I could guess once again, Our lovely mayor, Charles Dawn , wanted to put more money into the main city. Saw the main line as his overall goal to fix due to it being a potential tourist spot.”
“Sure is the place to be.” Ally said with a slight grin on her face as she rubs underneath the right arm sleeves of her suit where the patch
remains. “We should head off now while we can.”
“You two riding with me?” Steve asked.
James shakes his head. “Ally and I are going to change into our other gear.” James said. “Believe it's the wise choice with where the location is.”
“Alright” Steve waves as he starts walking towards the guarded doors. “Meet ya down, there.”
A twenty minute drive out on cloudy Friday evening. The GBOP truck parks around a corner that arrives around fourth street.
Ally opens the backdoor as Her and James, once again geared in their dark camo suits, step out of the truck. The two approach Steve , who has his cop car parked in
front of the gray truck. The three walk towards the center of the block.
“Whole block is full of vehicles.”James said. “Nearly every home with an open door has a cop willing for answers.”
Ally searches around every address number in the block. “Three, seven, four, nine!” She pointed towards the singular house. “The one from the link with the young lass.”
“I see that too.” Steve mentions. "Bet she's seen some shit.
the group walks over to the house.
“Wander if they're home.” Ally thought as she walked and knocked on the door.
The silence didn't last long as it opened.
“Hola!” Greeted the young woman wearing what looks to be a waitress uniform just as Ally projected from her link.
“Uh” Ally was lost for words. “She says hi.” Celi translated through optical surveillance. "Activate speaker
mode,Miller. " .
“Hope you know what you're doing.” Ally says as she operates her lens's interface system. “Speakers on.”
“! Hola, ¿te importa si podemos tener un poco de tu tiempo?”. Celi speaks through as Ally's optics flash in sync . The woman shakes her head and speaks. " She wants us to come inside."
She gives a welcoming hand gesture while stepping aside.
“Quite the hospitality, mam.” James comments as the three walk in.
The woman guides the group to a small family room with a fireplace displaying a cross, a jar and a few pictures above it. The place has a retro vibe with wooden floors
and a huge mechanical clock setup on the other side of the living room. The group notices a figure is sitting on an orange couch.
“Oh, there's someone else here.” Ally notices while everyone walks around the large furniture. The figure sitting turned out to be a female senior in a gray nightgown sleeping.
“MAMA” The woman speaks once again. The elder quickly woken to the slights of armed strangers.
“NO SHOOT!” the old lady yelled. as she looks out from her blinds .
“Someone tell her that's not our intent!” Steve backs up while raising his hands slightly.
“No MAMA!” The woman expresses this to her elderly mother. The senior breathes a sigh of relief.
The woman walked to her living room window and spoke quietly “Soy Rosaria Sanchez.. desde el incidente con la policía. ”
“Her name is Rosaria Sanchez .” Celi translates. “ever since the incident with the cop. This block doesn't feel safe.”
“Can you ask her what she saw during that attack?” Ally asked, standing in front of the fireplace as Celi’s call
highlights her eyes.
Rosaria displayed a look of unease as she told what she saw.
“ My god that's creepy.” Celi voice shievers moments later. “ She said that the cop
woke up and laughed. As if They just knew what they were going to do next.”
“No remorse.” Steve grips his hand. “Is that everything we can get from her?”
“Two guys coming out of the van wearing black and white masks.” Ally's eyes widened. “That disjointed image was just a guy in a white mask.” She said, “ During my link, I couldn't get a grip of his identity. Although it's not much. We got a proper starting point. We are ready to head out and ask some of the other residents. Let's jet!” Ally turns towards Rosaria still at the window. “Thank you, mam.”
“Gracias!” Celi shouts through the call. Rosaria nods in silence.
The three are back outside once again.
“Hell of a start.” Steve said. “A few cops are checking this side of the block, Miller. Let's check the other side.” Ally, back to
wearing her helmet, stood in silence. “Hey, Ms.! you ‘re not bugging out on me? ”
“We’re being watched.” She whispered. “I did a quick zoom in before that owner shut her window curtains.”
“that green home across the street?” James whispered closely to Miller. “You think she might withhold something suspicious.”
“We have no evidence to provide that theory.” Ally responds as she begins to take walks towards the location.
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“Looks like we’re heading to our next gig.” Steve comments as he follows the two behind. As the group approaches the house itself. They take notice of its condition.
“Gated windows.” Ally indicates while approaching the door.
“Grass seems to be unkept and dry in a few areas.” James comments. “Might be due to the winter season.”
Ally knocks on the door.
“What's your business!” a female voice
shouts.
“We just want to ask questions about what you saw." Ally said. "Should be nothing more than a minute.”.
There is silence temporarily. Suddenly, the door opens at a crack.
Revealing the rather white short hair with a bang to the left of her head. The pale but middle aged woman, with a short black tank top and shorts, looks rather tired.
“ You don’t sound American.” the tired lady said.
“ my partner in armor and I am associated with GBOP" Ally informs. "we’re helping with the police here to investigate the surroundings of the area.”
“Haven’t heard of that organization nor seen squat. ” she responded. Ally sees the woman wearing a smartwatch.
“ I notice you have no augments.” Ally mentions. “ but you do have a smart watch.” .
“ What's your point, Brit?” The lady asks rather impatiently.
“They can be used for both tracking time, recording and calls. Do you do any of the following the moment you hear about the
incident.”
The young woman laughed. “Coppas like you are out of touch. No one out here isn't that crazy to snitch. With that said, I heard some laughs but that's all.
you dig?” .
“Understandable.” Ally nods. “Thank you for your time.”
The woman shuts her door as the trio walks back to the front of Steve’s car.
Steve and James turned and stood still in front of it. Looking at Ally.
“Miller.” James said as gently as he could. “I think for the sake of the team's health it's time to call this a night for us.”
Ally jaws dropped in disappointment. “ For what reason?” she asked.
“ we still got the rest of the block to go.”
“I tend to question the two of you and your organization practices.” Steve says as he slightly leans on his car. “But I have to side with James. You made quite the recovery but still have a few kinks to work out. That shootout at the station is driving me mad to stay awake. They’re punks out there wanting to actually start a war with folks like me trying to do what's best.”
“I see.” Ally looking dead into Steve’s piercing glaze. “But this is not a war for you to take on your own. This group seems like they’re opposed to any concept of law enforcement. Having to not put in my effort as an agent to help would be quite melancholy.”
Steve shakes his head and says “Would appreciate the effort for my partners to not have their heads in the clouds.”
Ally took in the comment before letting out a slight chuckle. “I think I get it, Steve. Call us any time that is needed.” Ally looks at James while heading back to the truck.
“Let's head out of here, Conner .”
Thirty minutes passed after the officers checked the block. Steve is on call as he is cruising through the streets of SouthHaven.
“ So far, I’ve recorded several citizens who only heard of the incident and one who has seen it. Recordings should have been sent the moment I left the block. ” . “Good eye” Ricky comments. “ I’ll be searching though after the call. Got an update with Metx.”
“As if we aren’t in the shitter enough.” The detective detested the sight of Allure’s smug grin .
Ricky continues his update “The CEO himself sent me an email. Saying he wants to meet up in my office in the morning if it's appropriate.”
“Guess I’ll hurry home and rest.”
“Broadcasting to nearby officers of the area!” A random voice is heard through the car’s digital radio system.
Steve taps the black button to respond.“ This is Detective Steve Mitchel. Received your call!”
“Fire alarm signal instantly activated around fourth street!”
“WHAT?!” Steve was awakened by the news. “I’m still around the area! Going now!” .
“Sir! You’re not equipped for fire operations!” the worried officer shouts .
Steve makes a U-turn as he activates his car’s sirens. “He made a point Steve!”
Ricky said with a stern voice. “It's too coincidental that a random fire would just start up in that area. If I’m quick enough. I can maybe catch whoever did it!” “Without
any backup?!”
Ricky shouting is even more upset than ever.
“Not that careless, sir!” Steve responds rather more collected.
The detective parked his car half way into the opening of the block. He takes off his brown coat and hat, wearing nothing more than his standard blue uniform. gets out
and runs into half of the street that is covered by the huge gaping cloud of smoke and flame.
“Oh my god!” He thought. “ The windows are broken but their car is still at Rosaria’s home!”
The detective rushes to the windows. “The area is covered in flames and glass. Not a good way to enter!” He runs to the front door and knocks hard.
“FIRE, GET OUT NOW!”
“Coppa!” A female voice shouted.
Steve stretches his arm out and yells “ You're that lady the agents and I were talking too. Get away from the building! You don't even have half of your boots on!”
The lady, still wearing her black shirt but now with sweatpants, flicks her right foot that immediately reveals a huge blade.
“ Your foot has an amputation?!” The detective shouted as he is disillusioned with the imagery.
“Step back!” The woman came running towards and jumped and sliced the lock off. “This way, coppa!” the lady held open the door.
“People like you are the way I love this city.” He comments happily as he runs inside.
The inners of the house are bound in fire.
“Rosaria!” Steves coughs out her name. He runs to the back of the house and sees the young woman coughing but also
helping her mother out of bed.
The detective offers a helping hand by picking up the senior by her shoulder on the left. Rosaria holding the right. The two pauses at the
slight of the leg bladed lady. Stretching her right foot blade out why leaning to the side.
“YOU BLOCKED THE DOORWAY, MOVE!” Steve coughs out as he could.
The devious lady continued, “Like I told you coppas, No one is smart to snitch out here.”
“Dear god, you side with such people!” He shouts. “This is a god damn family!”
“And traitors!” The woman shouts as she walked, creeping in the three. “If they were like the rest of us. They should mind their own business.”
loud footsteps came running in.
“STEVE, ROSARIA!” A female voice coming out from a fully sealed helmet wearing a dark suit.
“Miller!” Steve yelled out.
The old woman is coughing contingently.
The lady turned around quickly towards Ally.
“Ah shit!” the blade legged one shouted as she ran towards her. Ally unveils her needle blades.
The lady attempts a drop kick stab but the Agent dances around her. Miller leaps over the flaming orange couch for defense. But the lady slices through the center of it. As the standoff is taking place, Ally sees Steve guide Rosaria and her mother outside.
“ Nothing but a snake!” Ally shouts.
“ Says the government's slaughtering dog.” the lady rebuttals following with her tossing the couch forward. Ally barely managed to dodge out of the way. Running towards the small narrow kitchen.
Ally stands on the side of the fridge as the other woman stands across towards the flaming entrance of the living room.
“So much flame on these wood floors.” Ally thought.
The blade legged one is gunning for a surprise kick but Ally blocks the impact with her now shattering needle blades.
“Down two, seventeen to go.” Ally thought as she unveiled another pair.
The lady steps back and starts coughing. “We’re going to die here if we don’t leave!” Ally shouts.
The lady smiled, “One of us will!” .
The woman ran across the kitchen at blazing speed.
Ally quickly opened the large door of the fridge and blocked the blade. The sharpest end of it going slightly though it nearly touching Miller’s helmet. Allowing for it to be jammed on the door. Various amounts of food ingredients begin to leak between.
“The fuck!” the woman shouts.
Ally, without hesitation, quickly slams the door between her legs.
“UGH!” The woman became overwhelmed with such aches. Causing her body to shiver on the ground as her foot remained
stuck. Ally walked around and slid her needle blade in the middle of her head. Slowly, the shaking stops and the rescuing process begins.
“ALLY!” A male voice shouts though.
“ In the kitchen!” she shouts as she begins to remove the foot blade from the doors of the fridge. “Connor, I need help!” James enters what looks to him like a
burning warzone.
“My god, she was in on this?” He said as he helps Ally out with the bladed psycho. “Watch your steps, Miller!” James commands as they tip together
across the fiery flames of the living room floor. Slow but not too much, they’re out. With a large squad of robotic firefighters passing them by.
Ally and James spot Steve's car pulled up closer in front of the emergency station. “Throw her in the back of the emergency truck.” she commanded.
“With them?!” James argued.
“She’ll be knocked out for hours.” Ally informed him. “went in there without any fire protection. Urgent care is needed.”
“If you say so.” James quickly responded. “Those two have enough to be upset about.”
A few human nurses in Medical armor like gear walk up with a large mobile bed. “ Toss her here!” one of them ordered. Ally and James carefully places her belly up on the bed.
“Thank you for your service!” the nurses said as they quickly took the bed up to a small panel lift behind the truck.
Ally takes off her helmet as she walks forward the medical vehicle.
She coughs for quite a bit while looking at the back of the Van.
One side is the foot blade attacker stripped tightly on to the bed.
The other side is Rosaria, with a drone hovering a tube of air into her mouth, kneeling down holding her mother’s hand whose
body is lying still on the mobile bed. with another air drone doing its best with puffing it into the mother.
No cries are heard but Rosaria’s head cuddles on to her mother’s hand. no different than a pup would to a mother wolf. Ally stares into the moment until the doors close.