At Firehouse 141.
“Where did Lieutenant Marcus go?” asked Lusty.
Firefighter Michael Sullivan replied, “He had to go to take the Battalion Chief Exam. They’re holding it today for Lieutenants who want to become a Battalion Chief. So they sent a relief officer for today wherever he or she is and when he or she is arriving. We were supposed to have a relief officer an hour and a half ago.”
Soon a Hispanic male came in, he’s the relief officer. He was sent to the wrong firehouse across the city and was sent to them when the firefighters at Firehouse Sixty-Nine told them that HQ called them with the correction to send him to the correct firehouse.
“So where’s the fire engine at?” asked the hispanic male, “It’s not outside or in here. So where is it?”
Engineer John Rodrigez replied, “What do you mean it’s not outside?”
Everyone went outside and didn’t find it and the Engineer had the keys and they would’ve heard it start if someone hotwired it or stole it. They looked at Lusty due to the fact that she was in the apparatus garage. But she mentioned that she had to use the bathroom and they saw her walk by when she went up to the second floor to use the bathroom.
“Hey what’s this?” asked Lusty.
Lusty went over to the C02 Unit and got a piece of paper off of it from the windshield wiper.
“What is it?” asked Engineer John Rodrigez.
Lusty replied, “It;s a parking ticket. It says that it was parked in front of a firehouse. So why take a fire engine because it’s not against the law for a fire apparatus to park in front of its own firehouse. That only applies to commercial and personal vehicles. The ticket says we have to pay a three hundred dollar fine in the next thirty days or pay six hundred dollars next month.This cop is going to get the back end of a Halligan bar!”
“Did she just say she’s going to attack the cop who wrote the ticket and had it towed?” asked the relief officer.
Everyone but Lusty agreed that she did just say that but they told the relief officer that where Lusty is from that the cops ain’t popular where they have a very slow response time or ignore crimes.
“On my eleventh birthday there was a small corner store near the tenement building I lived at,” said Lusty, “The store got robbed and the owner got shot and the cops were called but the first ones to respond was Engine 47 to respond to a person who got shot and they were there in three minutes and had provide medical aid until an ambulance arrived seven minutes after Engine 47 got there. How long did the police come to respond? It took them three Goddamn weeks then they didn’t even investigate and just said ‘Case Closed’ and acted like someone nearly died! So excuse me, I have a problem with law enforcement!”
They visited the police precinct but because some of the cops there are dicks and refused to give it back to them making their job as firefighters nearly pointless.
They went back to the firehouse but they didn’t accept defeat. The relief officer has a few tricks up his sleeve. He contacted his buddy who owns a towing company who operates for the city of Empire and used his buddy who’s a hacker who put all of the police cars in the fifteenth precinct as none of them have updated registration.
“Not what I would’ve done,” said Lusty. “But it gets the point across.”
The relief officer replied, “What would’ve you done? Throw a Molotov cocktail into the cars?”
“Nope,” said Lusty, “I would’ve smashed all of the windows out with a Halligan bar. I have a feeling that his traffic cop does ‘Ticket fixings’ because he has a badge and thinks everyone should listen to him.”
Some of the firefighters in firehouse 141 never heard of ticket fixing so Lusty told them that ticket fixing is controversial for the police due to officers who do it often tear up traffic tickets for their friends and family members and look the other way for traffic offenses. They later got a reserve fire engine from the fleet maintenance yard which is an open cab 1964 fire engine and they didn’t complain.
Their first call of the day was for a fire at an electrical substation. Of course when they got there they came under sniper fire and the relief officer got hit by the sniper and the rest took cover on the driver side out of line of sight.
“We need to go get him,” said firefighter James Smith, “We can’t just sit here and let him bleed out.”
Lusty replied, “We’re under sniper fire and if you go out there then you’ll get shot as well!”
Firefighter James Smith went out to go get the relief officer only to get shot as well. Engineer Rodrigez radioed in police support due to being shot at but dispatch told them that nearby police units have ‘Gone off the air.’ Lusty and the rest knew what that means that they’re on their own. It wasn’t until they radioed that they needed police support that officers from within the city were on the way to assist, not the ones in three of the city’s residential districts.
“I’ve got an idea,” said Lusty, “We can use this engine as cover and then use the medkits to give first aid to them until help does arrive.”
Lusty went to open the Engineer/Chauffeur door slowly but soon a bullet went through it.
My guess is Armor Piercing or Full Metal Jacket rounds, Lusty thought, Probably a high caliber munition. I remember the stories some of my neighbors would tell me about using high caliber munitions to destroy NVA, VC, North Korean, Soviet, Japanese, Italian, and German stuff in World War 2, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Of course some of them were snipers, Heavy Machine Gunners or tank commanders.
A cop did come but told them that they would have to move their fire engine but didn’t care that they're under sniper fire and gave Lusty the ticket. She pointed out that they were under sniper fire but when the cop did give her the ticket she crunched it up her hand.
The cop told her that if she doesn’t like it then she can always take it to court to get it appealed if the judge agrees to it.
Money-hungry mother fuckers, Lusty thought, Moslty cares about money. To them, money moves the world. Hell, I bet that cop would gladly throw his grandma out of her house for not paying a speeding ticket. I’ll gladly go to court to get this ticket voided!
Some cops did come and they were able to provide medical aid to their injured co-workers. But they were because of blood loss and they say that they saw a light and Lusty knew what they meant by that so they radioed for two ambulances to come to their location and fleet maintenance as well.
Squad 141 decided to go to the hospital to stay with them. Lusty was going to voice her concern but she didn’t not because she was right but she didn't want to sound insensitive. But she was going to say that they got an entire city to serve but to her that situation she thought it would be better to keep her mouth shut.
They were there only for an hour until Lieutenant Marcus came when he got done taking an exam to become a battalion chief in the city.
“Come on Squad 141 let's go back to quarters,” said Lieutenant Marcus, “Just sitting here won’t make them get any better, we still got a job to do to protect two million people.”
They did but the Engine they got dates back to 1943 and both doors on the fire engine says “ENGINE CO 141” over “SQUAD 141” due to back during both World Wars the than future Squad Companies were manpower companies to help relief the dwindling firefighters who were drafted to fight in the wars. So they were given higher numbers and the members of the fire companies with higher numbers were exempted from being drafted and it wasn’t until the 1950s when they were changed from Engine to Squad.
***
Back at the firehouse.
Lusty went over to the history wall of the firehouse. Lieutenant Marcus soon approached her.
“This fire was my first one when I arrived here back in ‘82,” said Lieutenant Marcus, “Auto Body shop. Three alarms fire with a special alarm. An entire wall came down and fire could be seen anywhere for miles. It was all over the news.”
Lusty replied, “Sorry but my parents didn’t have a TV or radio but they only got the bidaily newspaper and they always gave me the comics, my parents read the rest. So Lieutenant, when did you join the Fire Department?”
“1977 after my fourth and final tour of duty was up,” said Lieutenant Marcus,”Volunteered for the Little Bird Marine Corps back in 1973, did one and a half tours in Vietnam and did my final two and a half tours back here, took my papers, left, and joined the Fire Department City of Empire back in 1977 early 1978. I was assigned to Engine Company 33 until 1979, then Ladder Company 59 from 1979 to 1982 then Squad 141 in 1982. until I get results if I fail or succeed in becoming a Battalion Chief. I was a Captain in 1984 and took a test to become a Lieutenant in 1989 and today I took an exam to become a battalion chief.”
Lusty replied, “What about this one?”
“Fifth alarm fire,” said Lieutenant Marcus, “Eight story building which was a consulting building but it was arson.”
Lusty replied, “How do you know it was arson?”
“For starters I was accused of starting the fire because I went to the place to help with my PTSD,” said Lieutenant Marcus. “But only because I was stereotyped and they pulled a race card and pulled the ‘Oh he’s black so he did it!' and I hate being stereotyped. I could’ve sued for race discrimination. They said that I was a criminal, yeah I was a marine but the only crime I’ve ever done was when I stole a pack of gum when I was eight back in 1963.”
Lusty replied, “I hate people who stereotype others. I’ve been stereotyped and not over my nickname. I’m 10% Native Little Birden and I’ve been labeled as a ‘Savage’ and I’ve been portrayed as wild, primitive, uncivilized and dangerous. My mom's side is from the Nightingale tribe you’d know who used their languages to confuse the enemy radios to communicate with other Little Bird Armed Forces branches without the enemy knowing like how the U.S. used Code Talkers In both World Wars. I judge others based on their actions not by their race or skin color.”
“Well it’s nice to hear that you judge others by what they do over than their race or skin color,” said Lieutenant Marcus, “When you first showed up here I thought you were lost and said ‘She doesn’t belong here she belongs somewhere else’ not because you’re a woman but you at first didn’t show my expedition of thinking that you couldn’t do the job but you have convinced me by your work here that you can do the job. I’ve had candidates who thought ‘Oh I can do this job without needing help from others and I can do anything!’ and nothing good happened.”
Lusty replied, “What happened to them? To the ones who thought that they would do better working alone over working in a team as they should?”
“Besides you,” said Lieutenant Marcus, “The ones who went all gung ho and thought working alone over working in a team was better. Their careers in the Fire Department were cut short and some probies I had never even worked enough to see their first check before they were placed on disability before the first week was over. I’ve had probies thought it would be better to enter a structurally unsound building to rescue someone only for that probie just to get a closed casket funeral just on how fucked up their bodies looked. Unlike them at least you listen and you’re still here and you’re the longest probie I ever had that didn’t get injured or decided to go to another company in a slower part of the city or faster parts of the city.”
Lusty replied, “Some people think that it’s better to work solo. What can you tell me about this fire?”
“This one?” said Lieutenant Marcus, “Paper mill fire back in 1985. Took fourteen hours to fully extinguish. There was nothing we could’ve done to save it where the moment the fire started the building was already lost. Only eight hours into the fire the flames got so hot that the floors and inner walls got so weakened they started to collapse then the outer walls started to collapse. Fourteen people died in the fire and a lot of people including the media started to say we’re not interested in saving low-class workers and just let it burn instead of putting it out.
"The fire was so hot that water would evaporate before the fire but people who don’t do this job see us as miracle workers over normal people who are a highly trained bunch that are always understaffed, exhausted, and working in one of the most dangerous professions in the world. For two years any call we or any other fire company went on had police protection yeah two to four cars each with four officers with riot helmets and a police van with almost twenty other officers with twenty-three-inch wooden batons or twenty-four side-handle polycarbonate nightsticks with riot helmets and sometimes with gas masks. The fire at that paper mill you could’ve seen it for miles and the fire was so hot that it cracked and broke the windshields on the fire apparatus or as I already said that it was so hot that the water evaporated before hitting the fire.”
Lusty replied, “I remember when I was in school that they had to let us go early due to a fire which smoke was so bad that it was better to send us home and to stay indoors and some parts of the city were under a lockdown where no one could enter or exit their homes and businesses had to close down early. That was back on March 7th, 1985”
“The paper mill fire was on March 7th, 1985. Didn’t help that later that the winds picked up and blew the thick smoke throughout the city,” said Lieutenant Marcus. “So some parts of the city had to be shut down and air traffic around the city had to be redirected around the city to land at the airport if the plane’s route was through the city.”
Lusty replied, “Ah okay then. Also you stole a pack of gum when you were eight?”
“Yeah I did and kids usually don’t know right from wrong at that young age,” said Lieutenant Marcus, “My parents looked the other way due to it being a pack of gum and they went to the corner store and got a pack of gum later that day anyway. Also it’s not like you ever stole anything.”
Lusty replied, “Fourth grade. Ms. Johnson who’s a stuck up bitch who doesn’t believe in second chances and special treatment. I swear she has a huge stick up her ass and she wasn’t friendly. I stole my teacher’s favorite pencil. To her if you got a C she’ll scold you for failing and tell you that you failed and will tell your parents even though a C is an average in school. I would rather get hit by a car than see her again. But I stole her pencil and never gave it back.
"The saying ‘use honey over vinegar to catch more flies.’ Well her using vinegar isn’t what I would say. To her if you’re not white than she’ll gladly throw racial slurs at people and I was Eight almost nine when she called me a ‘mongrel’ she said to me ‘Claire you’re nothing but a filthy fucking mongrel!’ because I’m 90% Irish-German-Little Birden and 10% Native Little Birden from the Nightingale Tribe. It Didn't help when we did a project saying what we want to do as a job in the future and I said I wanted to be a firefighter or a musician. What did my fourth grade teacher say? She said ‘You’re going be nothing but a cumslut bitch who’s going to be living on your back who’ll be living off of Welfare checks and fucking every male in the city.’ She’s all Ice and no sugar or friendliness. But as I said that if you’re not 100% white or just someone of another race she’ll refer to them by a racial slur. I may be mixed and I Identify as mixed but she has called a Savage, Mongrel, Wild, Primitive, and Dangerous.”
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“I don’t see that me and your fourth grade teacher would be friends,” said Lieutenant Marcus.
Lusty replied, “I told her on the last day of school when I was in the fourth grade that she can go to Hell. Also you were in the LBMC?”
“Yeah I was a Marine,” said Lieutenant Marcus, “Ninth Marine Division, Fourth Regiment, Tenth Battalion, Baker Company, First Platoon, Second Squad. I was a Grenadier armed with a single-shot, shoulder-fired, break-action grenade launcher that fires a 40×46mm grenade, and the Semiautomat Service Garand rifle with a twenty round magazine. Also I heard that all of you were under sniper fire?”
Lusty replied, “Yeah we were. From the bullet holes and damage to me it looks like a high caliber armor piercing or a high caliber full metal jacket rounds. My guess is a Cartridge, caliber .50, armor piercing, M2 or Cartridge, caliber .50, saboted light armor penetrator. I had a neighbor who is a Korean War and Vietnam war Veteran who’s a gun hoarder and has nearly every non communist weapon. Shotguns, pistols, SMG’s, rifles… You name it. Nice guy.”
The fire bell went off for a house fire but the address for the house belongs to a friend of his who was also a Marine who was a part of the Little Bird Marine Corps Naval Task Force which is the same thing as the Mobile Riverine Force.
“We’re not going to enter this house,” said Lieutenant Marcus, “There’s traps in it and most of the flooring is pressure sensitive meaning step on the wrong spot then boom the whole place explodes. So we’re not going to enter this one. When we get there we’re going to fight this one from the outside of the house. No one goes in until we surround and drown the fire and until we’re sure or think that it is done then we’ll have a police bomb squad go over the place to make it easier for us to go in and search for any hidden fire extension.”
It took several minutes for them to get there.
Lusty took an ax off of the engine and she and Firefighter Mike Rogers went around the house using the axes to shatter the windows out to have the smoke while another two went onto the roof to vent the roof so heat and smoke can escape and make it easier to fight the fire. They knew that improperly placed vents can make the fire harder to put out. Lusty also got to take the back door off of its hinges and broke the screen off of the screen door. Firefighter did the same with the front door.
“Horizontal ventilation completes Lieutenant,” said Firefighter Mike Rogers over the radio, “We’re heading back to the apparatus to put our tools away and to grab an attack hose line.”
The two then ran but while running there was a gunshot and firefighter Mike Rogers was hit and fell but Lusty took cover behind the shrub out of sight. Firefighters David 'Scuba' Nguyen, and Michael 'Extrication' Sullivan got off of the roof and took cover before they were shot.
Lieutenant Marcus radioed in that they were under sniper fire and needed immediate police support which the dispatch said that it'll be some time until a few police units arrive. Lusty decided to improvise when she found a big enough stick which she stuck her helmet on. She set up the sniper decoy and was able to get firefighter Mike Rogers when the sniper shot her helmet but by the time the sniper could fire again both Lusty and Mike were behind cover.
"It's alright Mike," said Lieutenant Marcus, "An ambulance is on the way. But can't get the medical bag without one of us getting shot. Lusty? Good thinking making a sniper decoy with your helmet. But now that's got to get fixed."
Lieutenant Marcus then re radioed where police support is which they were told that it was off the air. He told dispatch that he has a firefighter who’s been shot and they're under sniper fire but the dispatcher told them that units are not responding and no one is on route.
“We need immediate police support ASAP!” snapped Lieutenant Marcus, “I got a firefighter bleeding out and we’re under sniper that’s keeping us pinned. So send some police units to my location NOW!”
Dispatch was about to respond.
A feminine voice replied, “Lieutenant. The ninth precinct is on its way. I got a few patrol units and my S.W.A.E.S.U is on route E.T.A: twelve minutes.”
“The firefighter who’s bleeding out. He needs immediate medical attention,” said Lieutenant Marcus, “We can’t get to our medical bag without getting shot. He doesn’t have twelve minutes even while we’re applying pressure to his wound he’s still bleeding out heavily. He got mere minutes.”
Police support did come and an ambulance arrived as well. They went back to fighting the fire from the outside while the officers from the Ninth precinct searched for the sniper. But the house was a lost cause because one of the hidden explosives went off and leveled the house. They just drowned the rubble with water until they deemed it was safe to move the rubble but no one was home. After an hour went by and making sure the fire was out they all decided to go off the air and visit the hospital where Firefighter Mike Rogers was taken to.
When they got there and asked how he was besides rough how he was when the ambulance came but a doctor told them that Firefighter Mike Rogers passed away a few minutes ago from severe blood loss. Lusty left the hospital waiting room in anger and frustration.
“I’ll go talk to her,” Firefighter David Nygumn said.
Firefighter Nygumn did but he only saw Lusty pace back and forth stomping her feet onto the asphalt. No one needed a fortune teller to say that she’s mad and pissed off. He felt like he should say something but didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t sound rude.
***
Back at the firehouse.
Lieutenant Marcus took Squad 141 out of service with three out of seven members being out and he’s not willing to let the rest of his crew get shot or killed by a sniper.
Lusty went over to the garage door to close it but soon a cute woman in her early to mid thirties came in. She asked where she could find Firefighter Mike Rogers and when Lusty asked who she was the woman told her that she's his wife and she brought their two kids a daughter and a son because he's supposed to watch them while she goes to work to clean low rise commercial buildings.
Oh boy this won't be easy to tell her and them, Lusty thought, Oh boy. Better go get the lieutenant.
Lusty took the woman and her kids to Lieutenant Marcus who was in the kitchen but Lusty left the kitchen to get far enough because she knows what's coming up. It's bad news and Lusty would know the pain the woman is about to go through.
After half an hour.
Lusty came back to the kitchen after the woman and her two kids were gone.
"Poor lady and poor kids," said Lusty, "Kids are going to grow up without a father and the woman ain't going to have her husband in her life anymore. What’s going to happen with them?"
Lieutenant Marcus told Lusty that Firefighter Mike Rogers' family will be supported by the EFMF and show support until they can get onto their feet. Lusty asked what EFMF was or is so Firefighter David Nygumn told her that it’s the Empire Firefighter Memorial Fund.
"The nonprofit organization charity in the Empire is called 'Empire Firefighters Memorial Foundation' (EFMF). The foundation's mission is to provide support and assistance to the families of fallen firefighters in the Empire community." Said Firefighter Nygumn, "EFMF was created in honor of the brave firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty.
"The foundation recognizes the sacrifices these firefighters have made for their community and aims to provide a support system for their families during their time of need.EFMF offers a range of services to the families of fallen firefighters, including financial assistance, counseling, and other forms of support. The foundation works closely with local government officials, fire departments, and other organizations to ensure that the families receive the help they need.EFMF also organizes events and fundraisers to raise awareness and support for the families of fallen firefighters.
"These events include memorial services, charity walks, and other community activities.The foundation is run by a board of directors, made up of community members, firefighters, and other volunteers who are passionate about supporting the families of fallen firefighters. EFMF relies on donations and contributions from the community to fund its programs and services. Overall, Empire Firefighters Memorial Foundation is dedicated to honoring the legacy of fallen firefighters and supporting their families in their time of need."
Lusty was now informed.
“So what you're saying is…” Said Lusty.
Firefighter Nygyumn replied, “If you and your girlfriend have a child and you and your girlfriend get engaged or married then the EFMF will support them for at least up to a year. That only happens if you get seriously hurt or killed.”
Lusty went over to the payphone and called Firehouse Sixteen and talked to Dave.
Their conversation was cut short. Squad 141 was put back into service due to the city of Empire only has four Special Operations Fire Companies which in order are Rescue Squad 17 which formed in 1921, Rescue Squad 18 which formed in 1934, disbanded in 1942, reformed in 1946, disbanded in 1950 and reformed in 1953, Squad 525 which formed in 1952, and Squad 141 which formed in 1953. Not adding all four special operations companies, they responds to all major citywide hazardous materials incidents, building collapses, contamination-related incidents, terrorism-related disasters, major emergencies, and a variety of other incidents in which their services may be needed including technical rescue situations, such as rope rescues, building collapse rescues, confined space rescues, trench/excavation rescues, machinery and vehicle extrication/rescues, water rescues and a variety of other technical rescue situations.
So a Special Operations Command Fire Company can't be off the air or be taken out of service for a long time besides for lunch or if their rig is broken. If a Special Operations Command Fire Company is taken out of service then they are automatically put back into service after an hour passed.
Dave had to go due to Engine Sixteen getting a call for a child who got their foot stuck in a storm drain. Squad 141 got an EMS call for a elderly person having difficulty breathing.
***
At a park.
They approached a elderly woman sitting on a wooden park bench.
“Hey miss, do you need some oxygen?” asked Lieutenant Marcus.
The elderly woman couldn’t respond but a little girl responded by saying that her grandma is having a hard time breathing. Lusty wasn’t paying attention; she was just looking for a scope glint to see where the sniper could be at. One of her old neighbors told her that a sniper position can be revealed if the sun reflects off of the sniper scope.
“Claire… Claire!” said Lieutenant Marcus, “Air bottle.”
Lusty opened a medical bag and got a plastic air mask and connected it to the plastic tube and placed the mask on the elderly woman's face and turned the portable air bottle on so the elderly woman could get oxygen to help her breath.
“Do you need an ambulance?” asked Lieutenant Marcus, “Do you want to go to the hospital?”
The elderly woman nodded which had the little girl to tell them that’s a yes. Lieutenant Marcus called for a Basic Life Support ambulance. It took some time but when one did arrive Squad 141 swapped their portable air bottle out and an EMT did the same by connecting their portable air bottle to the mask.
***
Back at the firehouse.
They didn’t park the 1943 opened cab fire engine into the fire house but left it outside. Lusty used a firehouse using a one and three-quarter inch attack fire hose using a narrow-angle cone where her job was to wet the fire engine while the rest besides Lieutenant Marcus would put soap onto the fire engine and Lusty would wash it off. Of course, when they did get done washing the fire engine they put it back into the garage/apparatus bay.
The night was quiet and they weren’t called out for any emergency which is rare.
***
Tomorrow morning.
Lusty was in Dave’s 1959 Hornet Universe. She had a mixed face of pissed and unsure of what to do. She started at a four-story brick building that the front above the door says in bold words CITY OF EMPIRE DEPARTMENT OF LAW POLICE DEPT 14TH PRECINCT.
“You don’t have to go into this precinct,” said Dave. “I can take you to the Ninth instead. If you want?”
Lusty scoffed, “The Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth precincts. What’s different about them? Besides building design. What’s the difference? The EPD will just beat your ass and then decide what crime you committed or shoot you a few dozen times and then pronounce you innocent; half of them are drunk Irishmen who beat you up for being Italian or are sober Irishmen who beat you up for having long hair. I can tolerate them shooting at an unarmed, running suspect. Though this would not be acceptable in an outside world who’ll consider it ‘Police brutality’ but here that isn’t. Better get this over with.”
Lusty got out of Dave’s car and went into the Fourteenth precinct. When she asks to go to speak to the Captain or Lieutenant of the precinct she had to wait and and after some time the officers there try to give her a runaround so she could leave so she decided to leave and reentered Dave’s car.
“So you decided to get a couple of cheeseburgers!” said Lusty, “And Didn’t get any for me?”
Dave gave her a brown paper bag which has a few juicy cheeseburgers in it.
“Anywhere else you want me to take you?” asked Dave.
Lusty told him that he can take her home so he did.
After a few minutes of driving he stopped outside of her house.
“Here’s a card so you can call one of my family members and they’ll give you a car,” said Dave. “Be nice to see you have a car of your own.”
Lusty took the card and thanked him because she has been looking at catalogs of vehicles but she doesn’t know what she wants.
Dave then went back to his apartment. Some men wearing ski masks came quickly and they attacked and beat up Lusty but she wasn’t able to defend herself.
***
At a hospital.
"Alright Claire," said a doctor, "You got a couple of broken ribs. Besides for a few bruises which should go away in several weeks, maybe a month. Just keep alternating between ice and heat if you wish to alternate between heat and cold.”
Lusty was checked out of the hospital. She decided to visit dispatch and was able to get a copy of radio transmissions of Squad 141 requesting police support while they’re under sniper fire but having the police dispatcher saying their sending units then later say that all units have gone off the air.
Lusty decided to talk about it on TV on news and she even played the radio transmission when they were requesting police help and what not. When asked how painful it was for her and her crew to go through that she told a news anchor that a firefighter died because the police didn’t show up and mentioned that two almost three children are fatherless and a woman is a widow because the Empire Police refused to respond. When asked what she meant by 'almost three'. Lusty says that the wife of the firefighter who died is his wife expecting another baby.
***
At night.
Lusty was walking in the Eastside seeing what changed which nothing has. Some people came to attack her but a group of people came out of a tenement building and they went to go defend Lusty.
The four who went to attack Lusty identified themselves as police officers but they didn't help. One officer radioed in that they need back up for riot control due to them having an unruly crowd.
"You'd radio for back up and assistance but they're not going to show up in time," said a person in the crowd.
After ten minutes passed, the police back up and a police helicopter came late. The area was deserted with everyone gone home and currently. Everyone in the district has plausible deniability even though a majority of the district only can lie about what they did and don't tell the truth.
***
The next day.
Back home.
Lusty saw Zofia in the kitchen making herself lunch where she has to get back to the university soon due to she does some activities there during summer break so she can get out of the house, get some fresh air, meet new people, and what not not adding she’s volunteering her time which since she was a four year old she was always told that volunteering would look great on a resume.
Before Zofia left the two shared a little kiss on the mouth. Lusty was about to ask where Zofia was going but she has it written on a calendar that Zofia has to coach a little league softball team from 8 AM to 11 AM, coach a little league female basketball team from 12 PM to 2 PM, coach a female little league soccer/football team from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM and she’ll be playing a round of golf with her dad from 5 PM to 7PM maybe longer due to her dad loves to play two rounds of golf.
Lusty looked at the card that Dave gave her and she went to the rotary dial phone, put her finger into the wheel and called the number. There was a code phrase on the back which says “Polaris Shines bright”. Lusty knew the woman who she talked to was a tomboy by the sound of her voice. Doesn’t help that in the Eastside nine out of ten women are tomboys.
Lusty told the woman that she didn’t know what kind of car she wanted but decided she wanted an upscale, upsized pony car or a muscle car. Lusty also said she wants a 428 cu in (7.0 L) engine, and a four speed manual transmission.
The woman told Lusty that someone will bring her a car out within three to four days to her house. Lusty then hung up after wishing the other woman a nice day.
Lusty went into the kitchen to make herself a sandwich. The phone rang so she answered it her presence was requested at Squad Company 141 firehouse.
***
At the firehouse. In the Shift officer’s office.
“You all want to see me?” asked Lusty after she knocked on the door and opened it.
Lusty saw that there were three high ranking officers from the police department. They’re not happy what Lusty did. They tried to defend their officers who went off the air to get lunch but Lusty and Lieutenant Marcus weren’t buying it.
Lieutenant Marcus gladly defended his company that includes Lusty but he mentioned that if during a shift then Squad 141 won’t respond to any medical emergency for the police and won’t respond to any officer down call.
“Wait a damn minute,” said the Empire Police Deputy Chief.
Lieutenant Marcus replied, “While we get under sniper fire your cops don’t come so don’t give me ‘wait a damn minute!' So you get your three precincts in line or else! Until then A shift for Squad 141 won’t respond to any officer down calls or any medical emergencies for police officers.”
***
Later that day.
Lusty was suspended from the fire department pending review of her action of what she did. She decided to plan a dinner for her and her girlfriend.
“To hell with it!” exclamed Lusty, “If they fire me for doing what I thought was right well then fuck them. If I do get fired then I can just fall back on my music career!”
Lusty got her guitar and strummed a few strings.
I don't care how they feel about me speaking the truth! I spoke my mind and now I'm being reprimanded for it! I spoke out about what's happening and I'm being silenced for it. I don't care what happens to me. I don't care if they fire me.
Lusty went to the store to do some grocery shopping to get what she wanted for her and Zofia date.
Lieutenant Marcus and the rest of A shift for Squad 141 they all went to the Fire Department City of Empire HQ. They gave them an ultimatum which is that they can unsuspend Claire or the rest of them would resign in protest.
***
The next day.
At the firehouse.
"Hey Lieutenant," said Lusty, "What is it like to be an officer?"
Lieutenant Marcus replied, "You want to find out?"
"Sure," said Lusty, "I guess."
Lieutenant Marcus removed a slip of plastic off of his helmet and removed the slip of plastic on Lusty's helmet that says Probie and put Probie into his helmet and put Lieutenant into Lusty's helmet.
Lusty and them waited for their first call which was slow. It wasn't until 10:00 am when they got a call for a two car accident.
When they got their Lusty didn't have to say a word where each member has a role and a company officer oversees it without partaking in the rescue. She was actually amazed how quick they were with Firefighter David Nygumn making sure the cars batteries were discontinued, Firefighter Mike Sullivan using the hydraulic rescue tools, and Engineer John Rodriguez staying by the engine but has a 1 3/4 attack line filled with foam just in case of a gas leak or a fire which water would be inadequate to use. Lieutenant Marcus while he and Lusty swapped roles he’s getting vitals of the two in the cars and treating them equally.
When they were able to extricate the two people out and just provide them with enough medicine and support then hand them off to two different ambulances, Lusty radioed for two tow trucks, and they cleaned up the fuel leak.
While heading back to their fire house they were dispatched to a courthouse for several people stabbed. Lusty radioed dispatch that they were heading to the courthouse.
***
At the courthouse.
"Alright what happened?" Asked Lusty.
A Court security officer told them that someone snuck in a shiv and got past security and stabbed the defendant, the defendant’s lawyer and two others.
“Get the medic bags and doctor bags,” said Lusty
They did and they followed Lusty who followed a court security officer.
“Glad to see they’ll send a handful of officers to get everyone else out,” said Lusty in a sarcastic tone.
They passed forty cops wearing ballistic vests and sky blue riot helmets.
When they entered the courtroom the defendant the one who been stabbed he’s trying to break out. “Rodriegez, Marus you two deal with the lawyer and defendant. Sullivan and I would take the security officer. Nygum deal with the injured bystander,” ordered Lusty.
They did but the defendant that Rodriegez tried to deal with the defendant who was on trial for a triple murder tried to break out. Lusty took a syringe and took some liquid medicine into the syringe and knocked the guy out.
“Liquid morphine and morphine used by the military to knock out soldiers for combat treatment,” said Lusty.
They went back to work giving them painkillers or just basic medical first aid until the EMT’s and Paramedics came. They safely got rid of their latex gloves and washed their hands to decontaminate their hands just in case and it’s protocol to wash their hands, arms and medical equipment after every EMS run.
While they were walking out of the courthouse there was a gunshot. Firefighter Sullivan was shot but they were able to drag him to cover. Due to the cops being there they couldn’t leave this time but they were able to go to the estimated or suspected area of the sniper.
They had the medical bags with them and they were able to provide Firefighter Michael Sullivan with medical treatment until they could get him to an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
After half an hour they were able to arrest the sniper and the firefighters of Squad 141 went back to the station which they want to be there for Firefighter Mike Sullivan but they know sitting at the hospital won’t make him get better faster.
***
A couple of days later.
Lusty wondered why someone deliberately shot at them with a sniper rifle but nothing the guy who shot at them isn't talking to the police.
Lusty was in her new car which has all the proper paperwork in her name and license plate is registered to her. Her car is a black two door 1968 Hornet Muscle.
It’s night. Lusty had to do some errands which took most of her evening away and now getting home.
She noticed a black car sitting a few houses down from her’s with someone sitting on the hood.
Lusty carefully approached until the person got into the passenger side of the car. The car started and drove down the street with a single rotary light on the dashboard on.
“I know why all of you were here!” shouted Lusty, “I’m not afraid of you all! I’m the right one! I’m not afraid! I’m right here! I’m right here!”
Lusty went inside of her house after seven undercover police cars passed.
I don’t care if I made enemies within the Empire Police Department, Lusty thought, I don’t care! If they want a shot at me then they can go for their best shot.
Lusty didn’t see Zofia in her house which she remembered that Zofia would be with her parents for awhile but Zofia didn't come out to her parents about her being a lesbian but Claire she’s very reserved who she tells about her being bisexual because she dated other women in high school only for her to get beaten up after the date and be called a “Freak” so she started to shelter herself. Even though half of Eastside knows that Claire is a bisexual but they don’t care about her sexuality. They see her as a person where they accepted her for her and they treat her as a daughter or niece or cousin by others in her old neighborhood.