August 17th, 1997.
Lusty went back to work and she was welcomed back and she decided to put the past in the past. She didn’t forget where she’s from not adding where she’s from suffers from Urban Depreciation due to the higher ups in the city of Empire since Post-World War 2 that the Mayor, City Planner, Finance Planner/Advisor, Utility Advisor, Public Safety Advisor, Health and Education Advisor, Transportation Advisor, and Environmental Advisor. Since 1947 they have always put the districts of Eastside, Westside, and Anderson in a low and deprived state.
When Lusty was younger she always saw a lot of resentment for the city government because the city government always favored the more middle class and richer areas of the city but kept the poor areas of the city as they were and kept them in tenement buildings that felt like they would collapse anyway. If it wasn’t for the Stratocratic-Police State government then they would’ve had more fires and crimes because the city multiple times wanted to cut fire protection, police protection, education and other stuff in the poor areas of the city.
Not adding in poorer areas the police use the “Broken Windows” theory but in wealthier areas they do community oriented policing and problem oriented policing.
When they were testing their tools Lusty concentrated more than she did last month. She did what Dave told her to do and that is not to think about ‘what if’s’ because then she’ll just keep thinking about what would’ve or could’ve happened but didn’t. She just focused on what today would bring and not to worry about tomorrow or yesterday because it hasn’t happened yet or what already happened and can’t cry about it.
Another good thing is that Lusty’s probationary period was over when she was suspended for her second time. As of August 15th her one year and a month probationary period is officially over and she’s now a firefighter no longer a Probationary Firefighter.
Of course Lusty’s nickname from firehouse thirty-three is still with her and her nickname from them is “Ghetto firefighter” and it’s not a derogatory term but it means that she’s a very comfortable firefighter and has no problem with any scenario they have to face. Not adding with her background she’s from what other people would call where she’s from a ghetto and a slum. But Lusty is very comfortable with being a firefighter and already experienced several bad things and witnessed some bad things as a child and teenager.
While they were putting their gear away and refolding the hoses the fire bell went off for a multiple alarm fire at a fuel processing plant and the fire was near the fuel silos. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what’ll happen if the fire reaches the fuel silos. Not adding it’ll severely damage the plant and gas prices in the city will rise until they can find another refinery to get fuel from until the main one is back up but it’s their job to prevent that.
While they were gearing up they heard firehouses 53, 59, 23, 71, 82, 33, 16, 69, 14 and Heavy Rescue Squad 18. That was half of the Fire Department City of Empire main engine and ladder companies and with one out of two Rescue Squad’s that the city has and with two of four of the city’s Special Operations Command fire companies going to be there well they’ll need their specialties. To Lusty she’ll say “If Firefighters are soldiers in a war that never ends then us SOC Firefighters are the Special Forces of the Fire Department.”
They were responding, a car cut them off and Lusty hit her head on the roof because she was standing up and the cab only had a half closed roof not a fully enclosed cab. It was painful but a twenty ton steel fire engine or a forty ton steel fire truck won’t stop instantly. And unlike other places in the world, Little Bird a majority of their fire apparatus is either open cab or half closed, not fully enclosed and in the world they banned riding on the tailboard while they still do on Little Bird.
Lusty rubbed her head for a few minutes until she decided to stop and she put on her fireproof gloves. She made sure everything was on tightly and on correctly because she didn’t want any part of her body exposed to a Class B fire and possible Class D fires.
Before they got to the refinery Squad 141 stopped and Firefighter Eddie got off with a four inch supply hose and wrapped it around the hydrant and told Engineer John Rodriegez to go, which they did go down to the refinery.
“Oh boy this will be a very long day,” said Lusty. “I highly doubt water is gonna work. Gonna be needing Dry Chemicals and foam. Probably need one of three Hazmat Level Two or Three. Either way we’ll need a foam engine here as well.”
Lusty overheard Lieutenant Autumn radio in a HAZMAT alarm and for a Foam Engine to be there. He only radioed it not because he heard Lusty but due to the fact that the area had a lot of flammable, asphyxiating, and toxic materials not adding it’s a fuel refinery so it’s full of flammable gasses and liquids.
Until backup arrived they were divided up in uneven numbers. Firefighters Eddie, David Nguyen, and James Smith were tasked with keeping three of the fuel silos cooled down with the one and three quarter attack line, two and a half inch attack line and the deluge gun on top of Squad 141 semi-closed 1967 fire engine. Lieutenant Autumn would be the Incident Commander until Battalion Chief Marcus arrives, Lusty, and Michael Sullivan will perform search and rescue.
Toxins, Chemicals, and Gasoline make a very dangerous mix, Lusty thought, Wait I’m not a teacher but I was taught that in the academy when studying for HAZMAT Tech A! Those HAZMAT Suits make me uncomfortable. It's like having a bubble around you. But better safe than never. Zofia probably yell or start a argument about me being here but excuse me about me doing my job and going where the emergency is and doing my job I don’t get pissy at her when she goes to work selling office supplies or when she goes to school at Arcane University to study to become a police detective.
***
Plant Storeroom.
“Needless to say,” said Lieutenant Autumn (over radio), “Saving lives takes priority. Just remember the longer the fire burns the greater the casualties! Contain it as we possibly can. Now get to it!”
No shit sherlock, Lusty thought, Get the fuck out of here with ‘Saving lives take priority!’ Get out of here and don’t tell us what we already know what to do! We’re professionals not Kindergartners or First Graders!
Lusty didn’t have a hose, she just had a dry chemical fire extinguisher she used when it was necessary. She didn’t just run to a fire to put it out and just rinse and repeat; she only used it when fire was in her way and used it to make a path. She didn’t want to use it all up real quick because if she got trapped by fire she would need a way out and if she wasted it then she was as good as dead.
The fire inside of the petroleum storeroom was so intense that after some time Lusty and Firefighter Michael had to retreat but they could reenter with the help and by wearing the Entry Suit version of the Fire proximity suit.
While they were it was Lusty’s first time seeing a Fire Department Foam Company up close and personal of a Foam company and it wasn’t one fire engine but three which one is an opened cab. The second is a half closed cab and the third one is Red in color with eight wheels, the fire truck has a hose mounted in front between two separate cabs. It has two red emergency lights on top, and several compartment doors along the sides and back
The Foam Fire Engine is a powerful vehicle that is used to fight fires that involve flammable liquids. It is red in color with eight wheels, a hose mounted in front between two separate cabs, two red emergency lights on top, and several compartment doors along the sides and back. The Foam Fire Engine can carry up to 1,000 gallons of foam, which is used to smother the flames and prevent them from spreading. It also has a powerful pump that can deliver the foam at a rate of up to 1,000 gallons per minute.
Lusty asked about the second Foam Fire Engine and the chauffeur told her that it’s:
It is 40 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 12 feet tall.
It weighs 40,000 pounds.
It has a top speed of 60 miles per hour.
It is powered by a 600 horsepower engine.
It has a crew of four but can carry up to sixteen more.
It is equipped with a variety of firefighting tools and equipment, including hoses, axes, ladders, and a fire pump.
Has a bulldozer blade that can be raised or lowered and when lowered it can push through obstacles, push objects that’s bound to catch on fire away or to push dirt to either make dirt barriers or to put dirt onto fires. Not adding it also helps to power through the thickets of earth and undergrowth and if need be the blade can be replaced with “Rhino” cutters to cut through thick foliage.
She was also told that when the other two can’t go off road then the other eight on the other two get into that one to go off road. She was going to ask why it can have blades or “tusks” but remembered that it could be used for wildland firefighting and that it could cut through thick foliage.
Lusty went back inside but she took a two and a half inch attack line with her. But this one has foam in it, not water but it made it a lot easier to fight but the heat made Lusty sweat a lot and she felt like she’s a Ice cube ready to melt.
Lusty just kept the nozzle set to a straight stream due to the fact that she would rather fight the fire from afar not be close to feel like a baked potato but she already feels like a baked potato.
To me this is the greatest job on the Earth, Lusty thought, This is the only job I know that you can get ready for and be excited to go to work because it’s not the same because every fire and every emergency we go to is different than the last. Hell we can go to a hundred fires but each one will be different than the last. We can go to nothing but MVA’s and collisions and each one can be different. It can be a single car accident to one hundred cars pile up. Each day is different.
Some workers who Lusty saved weren’t grateful and they either said “You’re going to hear from my lawyer!” or “One more minute I could’ve been killed!” or “Can you be any slower!” or “Are you for real! Hurry up!”
Lusty met some workers who said “Thank you” or “I can’t thank you enough for your bravery” or “I knew you would come and save me” or “Please tell me. Is everyone else okay?” or “I can’t see and my throat hurts!”
When Lusty ran into the rude workers she wanted to take her steel toed rubber boots and kick them either between the legs or in the stomach but didn’t. She can’t let her emotions make her angry and she understands why some would be angry or mad but then taking it out on her isn’t right. She always told them to get on their hands and knees and to follow the hose to get outside.
Lusty would go as far as she could before having to leave to swap out her air pack for another one but she made sure she had enough air remaining to make it outside. But she followed her training and that is to use the hose to find her way out because it’ll show the way out and a firefighter or civilian won't get lost.
***
Chemical room.
9:45 AM
Lusty still had the hose in her hand. She heard screaming from a room.
Dave grabbed Lusty’s shoulder and told her to check the door first before opening it but she just kicked the door in anyway. She just saw fire but she got out of the way.
“Next time check the door to make sure there isn’t a backdraft on the other side!” snapped Dave, “The indications of a backdraft are. Black smoke becomes dense, grayish yellow without visible flames. The smoke color is indicating incomplete combustion. Usually the darker the smoke the more incomplete the combustion. High concentrations of flammable carbon monoxide could be present as a result of incomplete combustion. Smoke leaving the building in puffs and being drawn back in. Fire is trying to find oxygen, and this is the appearance of smoke pulling in under doors or through cracks. If you don’t know what a backdraft is, well it’s a abrupt burning of superheated gasses in a fire caused when oxygen rapidly enters a hot, oxygen depleted environment like when a door or window is broken or opened. If you want to prevent a backdraft then ventilate rooms from its highest point allowing heat and smoke to escape without igniting.”
Lusty replied, “Ain’t a backdraft and a flashover the same thing?”
“Simular in my opinion,” said Dave, “A flashover is the near simultaneous ignition. The indicators of a flashover are, fast dark smoke, the neutral plane is moving down towards the floor and a flashover is plausible, all directly exposed combustible materials are showing signs of pyrolysis, tongues of fire appear as gasses reach their auto-ignition temperatures, rapid build up in temperature due to the compound effect of rapidly burning gasses, and the fire is in a ventilated compartment so there is no shortage of oxygen. My dad always taught me the saying ‘Thick dark smoke, high heat, rollover, free burning.’ and I was taught that chant when I was in the academy. Don’t know what fire academy you went to that didn’t teach you how to prevent a backdraft, flashover and a rollover!”
The two went their own way with Firefighter David “Dave” Mitchell Waterson going straight and Firefighter Claire “Lusty” Johnson went to the second floor.
They both could hear on their walkie talkies about different company locations like how Firehouse 52 and 59 is now entering the Fuel Distillation area, Firehouse 23, 71 and 69 were keeping the fuel silos cooled and keeping the fire at bay preventing the fuel silos from blowing sky high, and firehouses 14 and 16 are entering the other storage depots.
There were some explosions and soon the floor that Lusty was on soon collapsed with her falling several floors down.
***
Two hours and a half later, 11:44 AM.
Battalion Chief Marcus arrived after leaving from a HAZMAT spill and he got out of the passenger side.
He went to the trunk of the 1965 Salamander Admiral (1965 DeVille Coupe), opened it and put on his turnout jacket and helmet.
“Get me up to speed Captain,” said Battalion Chief Marcus while putting on his bunker gear.
The Captain replied, “Got an oil refinery and most of the fire is by the silos and inside. There was an explosion a hour and a half ago. We lost contact with a firefighter. Claire Johnson, Squad Company 141.”
“Any contact with her?” asked Battalion Chief Marcus.
The Captain replied, “Negative.”
“Anybody with her?” asked Battalion Chief Marus.
The Captain replied, “No she and Firefighter Waterson split up to make search and rescue faster where he's trapped as well.”
Battalion Chief Marcus grabbed his walkie talkie and said “Battalion 1-9 is on scene and taking command. Strike out a mayday alarm and a mutual aid alarm.”
Battalion Chief Marcus then put down his walkie talkie and said, “I’m shutting down 50% of exterior operations. Get your asses in there and find her!”
“Battalion 1-9 to Squad 141-7 come in,” said Battalion Chief Marcus. “Battalion 1-9 to Squad 141-7 come in. Lusty come in over.”
Battalion Chief Marcus’s Aid came over with some blueprints.
“Chief we got a problem,” said Battalion Chief Marcus’s aide, “Where Johnson and Waterson are well, floors one to ten are identical.”
Great just great, Battalion Chief Marcus thought, “Well we’re going to find her one way or another!
***
Twenty-two minutes later.
“Where do you need us chief?” asked a Lieutenant Firefighter on Ladder company Eighteen.
Battalion Chief Marcus replied, “I need you up on the seventh floor with Engine Fourteen. I need a four inch supply line up on floor nine! Go! Engine Thirty Three I need you up on the tenth floor to assist Truck Sixteen.”
Battalion Chief Marcus took a sigh and picked up his walkie talkie, “Rescue Eighteen I need a situation report.”
Captain Constintine replied (over radio), “The progress is that we’re working on it.”
“I need another saw,” said a firefighter on Rescue Squad 18.
Captain Constintine replied (over radio), “We need another saw up where we are.”
“All hands are busy,” said Battalion Chief Marcus (over radio), “Next arriving company will bring you a saw.”
Ten minutes passed. Battalion Chief Marcus said into his walkie talkie, “All companies on the S&R I need a progress report!”
The fire companies who are assigned to Search and Rescue and are currently looking for Dave and Lusty told Battalion Chief Marcus that they have a lot of debris and need additional saws, and blowtorches.
***
Twelve minutes later.
Lusty’s eyes opened and the only thing she could see was debris around her with some fire.
Why ain’t my air bottle working? Lusty thought, Why ain’t my PASS alarm working either?
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Lusty looked at her PASS alarm and saw it was broken and when she looked at her air gauge it showed it was empty so she took it off her air tank and saw that it was busted open. She could hear a faint chirping sound in the distance and it was several floors up.
“Squad 141-7 to command,” said Lusty into her walkie talkie, “Transmitting a Mayday alarm. Repeat Mayday. Mayday, mayday. Firefighter lost and trapped.”
Battalion Chief Marcus replied (over radio) “Lusty. It’s Marcus. Good to hear your voice again. We know you’re missing and trapped. I got units coming in after you and Dave. How’s your air supply?”
“My air bottle is destroyed,” said Lusty into her walkie talkie.
Battalion Chief Marcus replied (over radio), “Can you manually set your PASS Alarm? Or just be still for thirty seconds? So it’ll be easier to find you?”
“Sorry I can’t,” said Lusty into her walkie talkie, “It’s busted and broken as well.”
Lusty looked at her surroundings.
“Chief I just see debris everywhere where I’m at,” said Lusty into her walkie talkie, “I see a door to my south I think it’s to my south but got enough rebars in the way that I’ll need a blowtorch or plastic explosives to get through.”
Battalion Chief Marcus replied (over radio) “Copy that. Just sit tight. I got companies coming to get you and Dave. They’re coming in to get you.”
“Hey Chief, did the victims who I saved,” said Lusty into her radio, “Did they get out?”
Battalion Chief Marcus replied (over radio), “Yeah they did. You did a good job. You relied on your training to save them.”
“I can’t believe that I got myself trapped in here like a dumb rookie,” said Lusty into her radio, “I feel like a rookie by splitting up from Dave.”
Battalion Chief Marcus replied (over radio), “Yeah but we all make mistakes, some can be avoided and some are inevitable. If you stayed with Dave then you’ll be trapped with him even though you’re several floors away from him. I got units searching from floor ten on down. I got another rescue squad coming as well.”
“Well they’re doing or going to do,” said Lusty over the radio, “What they were organized to do and that is to rescue trapped firemen.”
Battalion Chief Marcus replied (over radio), “They were organized to and are tasked with responding to and dealing with specialized fire and rescue incidents that are beyond the scope and duties of a standard engine company or ladder company. Also rescue companies have an emphasis on equipping the company with tools that could be instrumental in performing rescues of civilians and firefighters at structural fires as well as operating at ‘odd jobs’. Also Squad Companies somewhat do the same.”
Lusty had to sit and wait but she rubbed her legs because they hurt and her lower back hurts as well. She also made sure she looked for any other falling debris.
***
At an office supply store.
Zofia entered the staffroom/ staff lounge and she went over to the fridge to fetch her lunch and reheated it in the microwave but she went to the vending machine in the room and got herself a soda.
While she was waiting for her lunch to reheat she watched the color tv in the room. The news was covering the fire at the fuel refinery and Zofia saw that the company that Lusty’s a part of was there.
Doesn’t help that the news reporter there mentioned that two firefighters are unaccounted for and Zofia just assumed it was Lusty who got herself trapped or killed.
Damn it Lusty, Zofia thought, If you’re going to die there then I’m going to kill you! I told you that I don’t like it when you go to work!
***
An hour and twelve minutes later.
Lusty’s right knee cracked and it was painful.
“Goddamn it that was painful!” said Lusty, “That’s going to hurt for a while!”
Lusty started to rub both her knee and underneath her knee.
There was a loud saw sound and to Lusty it sounded like a chainsaw revving up and soon Lusty saw sparks coming through the steel door.
When a few minutes passed the steel door was removed off of its hinges.
The door came off Lusty could see some firefighters wearing yellow bunker gear with yellow and silver fluorescent strands/reflective stripes. Lusty called out to them to show where she was. They weren’t a part of the Fire Department City of Empire but they’re a part of the Port Sernia Fire Department on the country of Blister Canyon.
They had to cut through several rows of rebars with a saw before the saw blade went dull and had to switch to a Oxy-Acetylene blow torch to cut through the rest.
They were able to get to Lusty. While they were walking there was some squeaking sound and a firefighter that’s following them got blasted by high pressure steam so Lusty and the other two ran over to get him even though the two that saved her got burned as well Lusty didn’t but they all got outside.
Due to Lusty being hurt and possibly having carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide poisoning she had to go to the hospital, even though she didn’t want to and she wanted to walk it off not to go to the hospital. Both Battalion Chief Marcus and the Division Chief there overridden her decision. She also took off her Fire Proximity suit as well because that’s damaged.
***
At the hospital Lusty had to wear a plastic air mask to get fresh air so it can help replace the carbon dioxide she got at the fire. She also got an X-ray due to her legs and lower back hurt and surprisingly nothing was broken.
After that she was cleared and discharged from the hospital but she was recommended to go home to rest up but she went back to the firehouse by walking.
***
Couple of hours later. Back at the firehouse.
“Hey Claire,” said Lieutenant Autumn, “You need to report back to the academy when not on shift.”
Lusty replied, “Why? Why do I have to go back?”
“Now you’re a firefighter and not a Probie anymore,” said Lieutenant Autumn, “You have a lot of classes to take.”
Lieutenant Autumn gave Lusty a piece of paper that says in bold words:
FIRE DEPARTMENT CITY OF EMPIRE
BUREAU OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
SQUAD CO-141
4752 STARFISH STREET
RIVERVIEW, EMPIRE
TO: FIREFIGHTER CLAIRE JOHNSON. S/N: 4531978
Required classes:
Rescue Technician
Hazardous Materials Technician II
Confined Space Rescue Technician
Collapse Rescue Technician
Trench Rescue Technician
Hi-Angle Rope Rescue Technician
Dive Tender Training
Optional Classes but highly recommended:
Advanced Shoring
Advanced Hi-Angle / Lead Climbing
Advanced Extrication
Advanced Rigging
Lead Climbing
Swift Water Rescue Training
Rescue Boat Operator Training
Optional Classes but very highly recommended but not required:
Live Agent WMD Training - Fort Flurry, Borough/State/Province of Blueberry
Bomb Defusal School - City of Chocolate, Borough/State/Province of Cascade
Radiation School - City of Fort Bluejay or City of Fort Sunction Borough/State/Province of Strawberry or Borough/State/Province of Starfish.
Lusty took the piece of paper and put it into her locker but told Lieutenant Autumn she’ll jump in when the next classes start because she’s too late to join now. The current classes are only 27% in progress and if she enters now then she’ll delay the classes until she’s caught up.
For the rest of the shift, Lusty was put on light duty and was prohibited from responding to emergencies and she had to sit behind a desk and do paperwork.
***
At home.
Lusty was on the 1960s rotary dial phone where she’s on the phone with the Fire Department City of Empire Fire Academy and trying to see when she can join in for Rescue Technician, Hazardous Materials Technician II, Confined Space Rescue Technician, Collapse Rescue Technician, Trench Rescue Technician, and High-Angle Rope Rescue Technician.
She was told that next classes won’t start until October 27th and the previous classes won’t end until October 15th. She was also told why there’s a twelve day gap between finishing and starting a new class is because the academy can get material and stuff for the training.
Soon Zofia came in and she looked at Lusty and Zofia looked like she was staring daggers.
“Looking like that ain’t scaring me,” said Lusty. “If you don’t like my career choices then that’s for me to worry about, not you. If you’re going to say how stupid it was of me getting separated and trapped, well don’t I’m still kicking my own ass about that!”
Zofia started an argument with Lusty on how stupid she was and is and told her that she needs a safer job than being a firefighter but Lusty told Zofia that being a cop ain’t safe as being a firefighter. Zofia corrected Lusty by saying that she’s going to become a police detective but Lusty told her that she has to do several years as a patrol officer before she can take an exam to become a detective.
Zofia didn’t believe Lusty, not even when Lusty told Zofia that when she went to take the civil service test she saw some cops take an exam to become a detective but Zofia still didn’t believe her.
“AT LEAST I DON’T DO A DANGEROUS JOB!” yelled Zofia.
Lusty calmly replied, “And? Being a cop and/or a detective ain’t safe. Cops and Detective’s get shot at not adding during riots, rioters throw stuff at the police. Last time I checked a six shot .357 magnum revolver or a eight shot .45 semi-automatic pistol or a fourteen shot 9x19mm semi-automatic pistol ain’t no match for someone with an assault rifle with AP or HP bullets.”
“BEING A DETECTIVE IS A LOT SAFER THAN BEING A FIREFIGHTER!” yelled Zofia.
Lusty calmly replied, “Unless you break the Blue wall of silence. The police is a patrol agency while the Fire Department is a response agency. Also stop acting like you’re high and mighty! If you just want to keep arguing with me well there’s the door don’t let it hit you on the way out. Also if you’re just going to argue with me the day I get off of work then we shouldn’t date.”
“IF WE DO BREAK UP YOU’RE JUST GOING TO GO GET ANOTHER GIRLFRIEND WHO CAN PLEASURE YOU!” yelled Zofia, “OR YOU’RE GOING TO GET A BOYFRIEND SO YOU CAN SUCK HIM OFF!”
Lusty replied calmly, “Who I date after we break up it’s none of your business. If we break up, if I date another woman or if I date a man, that's my decision and my choice not yours.”
“YOU KNOW WHAT!” yelled Zofia, “WE’RE THROUGH! HAVE A NICE SINGLE LIFE!”
Zofia then stormed out slamming the front door. Lusty rolled her eyes. Now I don’t have to worry about someone who’s just going to yell at me for doing a job I want to do. It's her fault for not wanting to open her eyes and look at someone else’s point of view and she’s just so one sided and doesn't care about how other people do what they want to do.
Lusty went out to her greenhouse and she just tended to her fruits and veggies by giving them water and what not before going back inside of her house. Then Lusty decided to make a pot roast in the slow cooker she has.
Lusty made herself a bowl of frosted mini wheat styled cereal and watched a trivia game show on her TV.
“What happened on March 14th, 1877?” said the game show host, “It happened in the city of Empire and on the left right part of Little Bird.”
Lusty said with a full mouth, “A hurricane hit and due to a majority of the buildings being made of wood it destroyed a majority of the buildings. The few brick buildings were badly damaged and the rain caused a flash flood in a heartbeat and a landslide that destroyed half of the city. Back then the city only had seven firehouses, and one hospital. Twenty-thousand people died and another fifty thousand were left homeless. Of course the military came out using their lever action rifles to put down looters.”
Lusty swallowed the cereal that’s in her mouth.
“A hurricane hit the city and caused massive property damage,” said a woman on the TV, ”And caused millions of dollars worth of damage.”
The trivia game show host told her that she’s correct.
Lusty got done eating the bowl of cereal and put it in the stainless steel sink in the kitchen. She wasn’t bothered with Zofia breaking up with her and she didn’t do anything wrong.
While she was walking back to the living room there was a knock on the front door so she answered it. It was Dave who stopped by and he wanted to talk to her and he came into her house when she told him to come in.
“Where’s Zofia?” asked Dave.
Lusty replied, “She and I broke up. Not going to be putting up with her shit of her getting mad for my career choices!”
“Ah okay then,” said Dave, “Kinda reminded me of my stepmom when I was a kid and a teenager. She was a bitch. She never liked me.”
Lusty replied, “Mom and Dad got a divorce?”
“Nope,” said Dave, “I’m the third child out of five. Number one, and two died before they were three years old and she died. Killed by arson. My mom and baby brother died by arson in 1980 and my stepmom and newly born baby brother died by arson.”
Lusty replied, “Damn. Sorry for your loss.”
“I’m not sorry my stepmom died,” said Dave, “Fucking bitch is what she was. My dad told me about my biological mom, she was a kind soul who never hurted anyone.”
Lusty replied, “Not going to ask what your stepmom did or how she acted because I wasn’t there.”
“Well she wasn’t entirely friendly but she wanted me to be a banker,” said Dave. “If I wanted to be a banker then I'd be in the districts of Downtown or Uptown but now I'm a fireman. My father and uncle they’re firemen and my granddad was a fireman. I guess my dad and uncle became firefighters because of how their dad talked about the job and the only reason why I became one is because it feels like that it would or makes him proud. I hate counting my own money and if I was a banker I’d probably either give someone too little or too much money and if I gave someone twenty bucks over then they’ll be a happy son of a gun.”
Lusty replied, “I don’t like people like her. What can you tell me about your cousin Midnight?”
“Well what I can tell you is that,” said Dave, “Midnight lost her parents when she was sixteen in a terrible car accident so she had to live with relatives on a farm. She loved it because she had freedom she never had because her mom was… very strict and always had her studying for every possible second! If Midnight even got a B+ her mom would beat her within an inch of her life. But she and her Dad, Daniel got along fine. Her mom only told her that A is acceptable, anything lower is a failure. Even an A minus was considered failing to Midnight’s mom.
“When Midnight joined the LBMC in 1988 she took to her new life with gusto and excelled as a marine, however, she rallied against the strict structure it forces, feeling it didn't allow for the adaptability and versatility required to get the job done right. To her small elite groups of infantry were able to show the type of flexibility required to carry out their tasks properly, and were attracted by the type of missions they undertook. Through command tempers her somewhat. Midnight has retained her rebellious and fiery personality and she doesn’t think much of playing things by the book.
“Midnight exudes supreme self-confidence that borders on narcissism. She evidently takes great pride in her elite status as a Ranger, as it makes up a large part of her personal identity. She frequently makes reference to the fact she and her men are Rangers, and expects them to live up to her image of the First Ranger Battalion- that there is no task they cannot handle.”
Lusty replied, “How did she become a Ranger?”
“First she was a Marine from 1988 to 1991,” said Dave, “During the Second Korean War to Midnight in her mindset it was ‘No Mission Too Difficult. No Sacrifice Too Great. Duty First’ and when the Second Korean War broke out she was already a Master Gunnery Sergeant. She pretty much did balls to the wall which is pretty much the Little Bird Marine Corps and the Little Bird Army Rangers in a nutshell. She was offered a spot in the Army Rangers as an Infantry officer.”
Lusty gave a playful scoff and shook her head in disbelief. She didn’t judge but if that happened well Lusty wasn’t going to go and poke her head where it doesn’t belong.
“I bet Midnight could kick Zofia’s ass,” said Lusty, “On how Midnight nearly killed me if it wasn’t for you stopping her.”
Dave replied, “Well you don’t get to become a Marine and later a Ranger by being a doormat. She did it by taking the gloves off and getting her hands dirty and either did what others wouldn’t do or couldn’t do. There’s nothing she can’t do. Tell her to lead an assault somewhere that’s heavily defended then she would and could.”
“Ah okay then,” said Lusty, “Oh how’s you and Linda doing?”
Dave replied, “We’re doing fine. No arguing and not worrying about each other.”
“That’s nice,” said Lusty, “What does she do for a living?”
Dave replied, “Yeah but she is a lovable person. She’s also a firefighter.”
“What company is she a part of?” asked Lusty, “Or is she just a volunteer?”
Dave replied, “Engine Company Eighteen. It’s over in The Factory District of this city. I think she was assigned there because of her father who’s a Battalion Chief and he’s at the firehouse and I think he wants to keep an eye on his eldest daughter. But his sons are firefighters but he’s not worried about their safety.”
“He’s probably overprotective of her,” said Lusty, “Because she’s probably more inclined to have a child or two in the future while her brothers probably won’t settle down and have kids.”
Dave replied, “Well she does have seven brothers. There’s Steven born in 1968 and he’s Lieutenant on Engine Seventeen in Westside, Constantine he was born in 1972 and he’s Captain on Rescue Squad Eighteen. There’s Avery who was born in 1974 and he’s a firefighter on Engine Forty-Seven in Westside. Benjamin who was born in 1970 and he’s on Squad 525 ,Dominic who was born in 1971 and he’s apart Engine 33 ,Ethan who was born in 1973 who’s on HAZMAT Company 32, and Gabriel who was born in 1975 and he’s on Foam Engine 33-2. Constantine and Avery work on B shift, Benjamin and Dominic work on C shift, and Ethan and Gabriel work on D shift. Steven and Linda work on A shift. Also Linda has sisters who are Sarah who was born in 1980 and Chloe who was born in 1982. They’re probably going to follow in their family footsteps or family tradition for them.”
“I have a feeling that Linda is probably the only one in the family who’s going to have children and give their parents some grandbabies, give her brother’s some nephews and nieces. At least she isn’t from where I’m from though.”
Dave replied, “Probably but that’ll be the future. Also what do you mean that she isn’t from where you’re from? She’s from Westside which is the same… Hell it’s nearly identical to the Eastside.”
“Does Westside have a frequency of teenage pregnancy?” said Lusty, “Has she gone to school and seen half of her class that half of the females in her class are pregnant? Or half of the school? Because the city government is fucking lazy to prevent it and that in a poorer areas the we don’t have the same access to medicine and education as the middle class and rich!”
Dave replied, “Yup. That’s what she told me but I’m not going to look into her past so I’m taking her and her brother’s word for it. Also I do agree with you on how…”
“The city government redlines the districts of Eastside, Westside, and Anderson,” Lusty said, cutting off Dave, “How the city is willing to classify our neighborhoods as 'hazardous' to investment; these neighborhoods have significant numbers of racial and ethnic minorities, and low-income residents. Not adding we don’t get access to insurance, credit, and how insurance is willing to write off fires and accidents as our fault. Banks? They’re willing not to give us a loan and won’t even cash or deposit checks and whatnot. Insurance companies? They’re willing to write off everything instead of doing their job. Doesn’t surprise me that in the future if the city government does Gentrification of the three poor neighborhoods so the middle class and rich can move in. I can see it throwing a riot if they do that.”
Dave replied, “It’s not like someone you know has a Anti-Armor launcher. But if the Government does evict them well then the government would have to pay them because the government can expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation. Of course how low the government can pay is low which is five thousand dollars and high up to twenty five thousand dollars. Of course the government gets their money back because they use the money as a downpayment to get their house or apartment back. Of course the government can’t do anything if someone refuses to take the money and leave and I can understand if people would refuse the money because they’ll be leaving their memories just to be destroyed and rebuilt and just have to make new memories and lose the old ones. I can understand where the ones who’ll refuse.”
“Except what happened back in 1938,” said Lusty, “When they built the freeway. When the construction company tried to compensate the people to move a lot, they refused to, so the construction company resorted to arson so the company could just build on the land where the houses were…”
Dave replied, “Yeah but in 1948 when the elevated freeway was done with construction. It was delayed due to in 1939 with the outbreak of WW2 our focus was on national defense because of what was happening in Asia and Europe. But when the Government found out well President Abigail Sparkle when she found out she used her presidential powers and launched a government investigation into what happened. She was preoccupied during the war with national defense and well if it wasn’t for her then the city wouldn’t have almost two million people.”
“If it wasn’t for her?” asked Lusty.
Dave replied, “In 1940 after the Battle of Dunkirk. Mrs. Sparkle sent supply convoys to England and the convoys were protected and under armed protection by the Little Bird Second, Fourth and Fifth fleets while the First, and Third would stay behind. Of course our DE’s, DD’s, Seaplanes, and aircraft on our carriers had Sonar and our Destroyer Escorts, Destroyers, Seaplanes, and Aircraft could hunt down and destroy the U-boats. Until 1942 in which Little Bird sided with the Allies against Japan and our bombers could either reach the Central United States or Japan and come back on a single tank of gas.
“Also in 1941. The Borough/State/Province of Mountain’s population increased by 53%, the Borough/State/Province of Starfish population increased by 40%, and the Borough/State/Province of Blueberry’s population increased by 38%. Out of the population of 24 million then. Five million men and women would serve in the military, and eighteen million would go work in war factories, transportation, and agriculture. Typewriter manufacturers stopped making typewriters and made armored cars, canned goods manufactures made helmets, car factories were turned into making tanks, half tracks, and jeeps, refrigerator factories were turned into making artillery guns, tank munitions and anti-tank munitions, and whatnot. By 1945 our war industry made 97,000 ships and landing craft, 500,000 tanks and armored cars, 900,000 aircraft, 400,000 trucks, and 82 billion rounds of ammunition.
“Of course what advantage we had back then was range and height. Our bombers could go four thousand miles while carrying 30 HE or Incendiary bombs. But they were only taught to fly only 1500 miles just as precaution.But our bombers could fly so high that they more or less flew unscath from Anti-Air fire and from interceptors.”
“I still don’t see how it was her that grew this city’s population,” said Lusty.
Dave replied, “The city of Empire only had a quarter of a million people in 1940. In 1941 750,000 people moved into this city to work in either the defense plants or work on the farms that surround the city. Overall the Borough/State/Province of Mountain had two and a half million residents in total. By 1945 the population rose up to four and a half million. Then you had the Baby boom from 1945-1965. It's the same as what happened in the US. When the war ended Little Bird lost 419000 soldiers and marines. The population of Little Bird by 1966 was at 41 million people.”
Lusty’s facial expression was that she wasn’t following.
I can’t believe I’m giving a Native of the city of Empire a history of her own city, Dave thought, She needs to do some research on her own city.
“From that time,” said Dave, “In the interwar period well Post-World War 2 period the city of Empire had better economic condition due to the returning veterans and building materials were being shipped to help rebuild Europe and Asia. Also the city expanded a bit and expansion meant it needed services that were only inadequate for a modern city. Back then in 1942 the city only had eight fire companies with six of them being used to fight fires and two being both Heavy Rescue Squads. In 1954 the city used their reserved numbers and firehouses 33, 71, 82, 68, 69, and 59. Until then it was only 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 23, Rescue 17 and Rescue 18. Then both Squad companies came into service in the early 1950s. Of course there was a problem back then and that was a lack of housing. So when the city expanded between 1945-1959 both residential and commercial buildings were built. Hell before the Post- World War 2 era half of the city’s roads were either dirt, cobbled or mettled roads; it wasn't until 1949 when the city upgraded it’s roads to either brick roads or asphalt.
“Also a lot of homes in the city were made of wood and in the post World-War 2 era both home makers and government officials saw and think that a lot of veterans didn’t want a wooden house because wooden houses take a lot of maintenance to maintain so they built homes with prefabricated steel houses. It is what a lot of veterans and their families wanted which is a neat and affordable place to live.
“But the pro and con of that time was high rises while yes it created a lot of white collar jobs and created apartments but at the same time they were and still are nightmares for firefighters. Of course the great thing was that urban planners thought it would waste natural resources and the city would either become more bigger than what the city could support like you know a lot of homes and other residential places but not enough people or too many jobs but not enough workers. But they made enough homes and apartments for everyone and jobs for everyone.
“When the Sixties came, there was a clash between the police or the city militia against anti-war demonstrators.”
Lusty replied, “My dad punched a anti-war demonstrator in the throat and broke another one’s shoulder dislocating it. Didn’t help that his brother died in Vietnam on that day back in 1967. And someone told my mom that she shouldn’t date a ‘Baby killer’ and my mom told that hippie to go fuck herself because if she wanted to date someone her age and who voluntarily to go and fight in a unpopular war then she will and did and they had me.”
“My dad and Uncle Clarke tried to serve in the US Armed Forces and later when they emigrated to Little Bird and tried to fight in the Little Bird Armed Forces and to fight in Vietnam,” said Dave, “But they were rejected due to my dad suffers from a Essential tremor and it causes his hands to shake and my uncle Clarke suffers from cross eyes but they were accepted into the fire department though.”
Lusty replied, “I can see your dad being rejected but your uncle I can see him being taken in due to I think being crossed eye will help in war while shaking of the hands. I can see your dad accidentally firing an assault rifle even if his finger is on the trigger guard.”
Lusty and Dave spent the day together as friends and Lusty didn’t mention Zofia’s name and soon put Zofia out of her mind and was happy she didn't have a special someone who’s going to argue with her when Lusty gets off of work. Lusty also asked Dave if she could see his hometown which at first he was going to tell her no but decided to do so anyway.
***
Clearlake, Little Bird.
Lusty woke up from a nap.
“Where are we?” asked Lusty.
Dave replied, “The town of Clearlake. My hometown.”
“It feels like I’m in the past,” said Lusty.
Lusty looked at the cars which date back to 1947 to 1960 but mostly between 1947 to 1959 and had more of a 1950s feel and more of a 1950s sense.
The main part of the town is the park, where people can have a picnic, go fishing, or take a stroll and maybe meet someone new; there is also a local cinema, a gym, restaurants, shops, pools, and other recreational facilities. The houses, and commercial buildings have building ideas with nostalgic architecture and design rooted in American suburbs of the 1950s.
“Who’s the statue for the woman?” asked Lusty.
Dave replied, “Lieutenant Flurry ‘Night Queen’ Armor. Little Bird Air Force 1942-1945, 1950-1954. She was the daughter of the Governor of the Borough/State/Province of Mountain. She was an ace in World War 2 and the Korean war. She shot down a lot of Japanese, North Korean, and Soviet aircraft. Her daughter was a Little Bird Air Force ace during the Vietnam war from 1964-1975.”
They rode around the town and they even crossed the bridge to the other side of town which is nothing but residential homes and an arcade place.
“Nice and quiet town,” said Lusty, “Looks like the type of place for people to raise their children at.”
***
At a brick building.
Lusty was about to ask what the building they’re going to but didn’t when she saw the sign above the two garage doors that says “FIRE DEPARTMENT TOWN OF CLEARLAKE ENGINE CO 5, HOOK AND LADDER CO 5.”
The two entered the firehouse.
“Hey dad!” said Dave, “Uncle Clarke! You two here!”
Soon two males in their late forties came out.
They greeted Dave because they haven’t seen him since when he and Lusty got their medals for saving someone on Christmas. Dave also introduced Lusty to them. Dave’s father assumed that Lusty was Dave’s girlfriend and Dave’s uncle assumed that Lusty was Dave’s fiancee or that the two are going to get married because she’s pregnant with their first born but she recently discovered she was pregnant.
Dave told them that she’s just a friend and that his girlfriend is still in the city of Empire.
Lusty was intrigued by a wall next to Ladder Company Five so she looked at it and it dates back to 1922. There are plaques on the wall and they’re the list of firefighters who died in the town who died in the line of duty but there’s only 23. There were some other plaques which date back to 1855 which the town of Clearlake organized a all volunteer fire department after the Clearlake fire of 1854 in which a fire destroyed 90% of the town but left 10% unscath due to the river being a fire break and the embers were cooled down when it landed on the other side of the river.
Lusty also got to know Dave’s father and uncle who are real nice people.
After she met them they went back to the city of Empire with Lusty sleeping in the passenger seat.