December 12th, 2005.
Lusty was at home in the kitchen but had the TV on in the living room with the news on.
“Allied forces have reached Moscow and are engaged in brutal house-to-house and street fighting,” said the news anchor.
Lusty was humming to herself, lost in thought as she listened to the latest war news. But then, she remembered something Marcus had told her - how the news often reports what people want to hear and how most of it is a comforting lie. Despite this, she couldn't help but take the news at face value because she didn't want to pester the military or government for more information on how the war was really going. It was a tough balance to strike, but Lusty was determined to stay informed without becoming too obsessive over the details. While she does not know how to lead an army and doesn’t know the details of leading one but she does have the knowledge and skill to lead what the army would label as a “squad” of firefighters, not soldiers though.
She turned her TV off, got her daughters, got her coffee, and sandwich and she dropped her infants off and went to the firehouse.
***
Squad 141 Firehouse.
Lusty went to the riding position board and wrote the riding position for the A shift.
“Alright, let’s check the automatic and pneumatic tools,” said Lusty, “And we can check our manual tools.”
Lusty found herself in a sticky situation. She had issued commands to Squad 141 firehouse, but they flat-out refused to comply with her orders, citing Division Chief Smitty's instructions. As the person in charge, Lusty stood her ground and made it crystal clear that she was now in control and would not tolerate any disobedience. She even went so far as to write them all up for defying her directives. It was an easy decision, but Lusty refused to back down. She even warned them that if they ever refused to follow her orders again, she'd write each of them a termination letter and sign it immediately. She even told them.
Soon, the fire bell went off for a person trapped in a garbage compactor. It was something that Lusty wasn’t going to question.
Once they arrived at the site, Lusty wasted no time in calling for a rescue squad to assist with the situation. One of her team members had a blowtorch at the ready, intending to cut through a hydraulic mechanism controlling the trash compactor. Lusty placed her hand on the mechanism before the guy took the torch to it and left a painful 5th-degree burn on her hand. Despite the excruciating pain, Lusty bravely held back her tears and let out only a whimper. She was clearly in agony, but she remained strong and determined to see the job through.
Lusty was seething with anger as she felt the heat from the blowtorch that burnt her hand. Lusty was told nothing and did not attempt to move it away. Instead, she used her unburnt hand to deliver a series of hard-hitting blows to the guy's face. Lusty even reminded him of the fire academy's safety protocols, but it was too late as the blowtorch ignited and burned her hand. She had assumed the guy would use it to cut another piece, but he had other plans.
Lusty for a minute about a career change she had been a firefighter for almost a decade, but she thought that if she were a cop, then any crime involving a child would result in her just pulling the trigger on the criminal quicker than someone could count to one because Lusty has a soft spot for children and not because she’s a mother. She also thought it would be the same if she were a SWAESU/ Special Weapons And Emergency Service Unit (a mix of a SWAT and ESU team) officer.
Even though Lusty was in intense pain, she went to a control panel and tried to shut it off manually, but there was nothing. She punched it with her unburnt hand because it didn’t work. Lusty hated her new so-called “crew” because they were so oblivious to their stupidity and selfishness that they couldn’t stop to think before running their mouths, not reading the room, not reading the situation. The one with the blowtorch didn’t stop to tell Lusty to move her hand or to ask Lusty if they could cut it before trying to cut off the power. Lusty, when she was in the fire academy, was always told, “A fireman doesn’t run. We walk with purpose,” or in other terms, she was taught to take a step and get a sense of the situation and think about what to do and not just run in like a naive person. But her new crew would run into any situation without taking a step to understand the situation.
I swear these dumb motherfuckers are pushing my patience to the last straw, Lusty thought, They’re pushing the wrong gal, and honestly, I’ve had enough of it! I swear these dumb motherfuckers act like they never trained with a fire hydrant or a standpipe. If it weren’t a false alarm, we would’ve lost the entire 24th floor because they want to act like they never trained on a standpipe. At least that was just a false alarm because the AFA was being serviced and wasn’t turned off.
Lusty took the blowtorch, and after putting on a welding mask, she cut through the hydraulic mechanism and was paying attention to where when the door popped open, she jumped out of the way before getting hit.
Then Lusty let the medics get the person, but she told them they would stop by the hospital before returning to the firehouse. Hence, they did before Lusty told them that if they didn’t, they all would’ve been getting a letter of termination when they returned to the firehouse.
Lusty got checked out by a doctor specializing in burns after treating it and wrapping it up. Lusty went back to the firehouse. Lusty even told the guy who used a blowtorch that he should leave in a heartbeat before the cops would have to come and arrest Lusty for Assault, Aggravated Assault, Assault and Battery, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon. He would have to leave in an ambulance to a level 1 trauma center even though Lusty had already beaten the guy’s face.
“It would be better if you leave right now,” said Lusty, “Or this would turn ugly real fast.”
The guy replied, “On Division Chief Smit…”
“Division Chief Smitty ain’t here,” said Lusty, “This is my firehouse, not Divisional Smitty’s firehouse. So his orders are nonchalant here. If you want to follow his orders, then go to Firehouse 53… Oh, I see what all of you are doing. All of you are just waiting for me to snap more so you can report to him and tell him that I’m unfit to be an officer and a firefighter. Well, all of you better get a pen and a piece of paper and write it down as clear as day. Tell him I’m unafraid of him or his friends in high places. Tell him he can send whoever he wants, but I won’t be afraid of him or his friends in high places.”
They looked at her and said she may snap occasionally, but that’s human nature. They would have to report something more actionable for Division Chief Smitty to either demote fire or transfer Lusty to another firehouse or whatnot. But Lusty knew to keep her cool unless the situation called for it.
They tried to provoke her into snapping into getting something to report to Division Chief Smitty, but Lusty was one step ahead and kept her calm. But their Chauffeur/Engineer decided to mess with the original riding board Lusty put a piece of plexiglass over for the guys she was with who died in the warehouse fire before Lusty was given a field promotion from the rank of Firefighter to Captain even though she took the promotion exam but she had to wait for a spot to open. That tipped her scale a lot.
Lusty stormed out to the apparatus bay when she heard a loud thud. Her right eye twitched when she saw the original board on the ground. She was about to explode, but Marcus snapped because of the names on the board. Yet, when he first arrived, they had a barrier between them until he proved himself, and once he proved himself, they treated him as an ally, and to him, they were more than just co-workers. They were his brothers because they treated him as one when he proved himself. He was the one who snapped before Lusty did, but he went into the Officer’s quarters and sat at the desk but had Lusty come with him.
Marcus got six pink letters out of the desk and signed them personally but gave them to Lusty for her to give to them. She did it with pleasure and with ease but gave it to them while upside down, and they tried to say that Lusty or Marcus couldn’t fire them. But Lusty told them that Marcus is a battalion chief and unless someone else with higher authority came, then Marcus said that they’re being transferred to another house to a slower one. He also left a note on all of them saying that they’re lazy and have trouble following authority.
***
At night.
It was peaceful, but when the fire alarm went off. Lusty, even though she was tired, she acted like she had a burst of energy to burn.
There was a fire in an apartment building, but when they got there, Lusty was the only one who took and still takes her job seriously. She went in with an ax and did a search and rescue, but she thought her so-called “crew” was getting water to fight the fire. She also thought that wasn’t happening because she kept low expectations, which her dad taught her, so she didn’t get disappointed.
She would check every door for heat with her right hand and kick in the doors if they couldn’t be opened with the knob. It wasn’t long, though, until her helmet light and lantern flashlight got reflected where it wasn’t her company but other firefighters from another company. Even though they’re not her company, she allows the other firefighters to leave before her because she’s the type of officer who goes in first and the last one out when she makes sure there’s no one else left behind.
She heard crying. Lusty went towards where the crying was, and when she got there, she found a baby. So she grabbed the baby and put it to protect it from the fire, but she started to run. She then started to hear creaking sounds.
When Lusty returned to the main level, something fell on her, but she used her body as a shield to protect the baby. Her helmet rolled off because she didn’t keep her straps connected. That’s because her dad told her once how his father and uncles didn’t wear their chin straps because of fear that if a bullet hit the helmet, it would bring their head back and snap their necks. But rarely, she’ll put it on.
It took the members of the other companies on the scene to go to Lusty to get her out, even though they don’t entirely know her or don’t know her. Capt. Dave was the first to run and radioed of a partial structural collapse and a firefighter down, and the rest of ladder company sixteen followed him to save Lusty even though the rest of them didn’t know her.
As they were frantically digging her out, Dave marched over to the members of Squad 141, who were just standing around like a bunch of lazy deadbeats. He didn't hold back, telling them exactly what he thought of their lack of action. He made it clear that if whoever passed them from the fire academy thought they were capable of handling the job, they made a colossal mistake. With a city population of a million and a half, the stakes were too high to have incompetent firefighters on the team.
Dave even reminded them of the golden rule that every firefighter trainee learns at the academy before their training starts - trust and teamwork are everything. He questioned whether Squad 141 had even undergone training at the city's academy, as it clearly didn't show in their lack of action.
To Dave, it was simple: if they couldn't demonstrate trust and have each other's backs, they shouldn't be on the job. Especially since their Lieutenant is under a pile of rubble, they’re not doing but standing around not doing anything while the entirety of his company is risking their own lives to save someone they don’t even know.
The final thing he told them was that in training, they’re all put in a team to get used to teamwork and while the five that are on Squad 141 probably skipped that part of the training and he even told them that he doesn’t care who sent the five to Squad 141. Not adding the five that don’t have HAZMAT Tech A, Collapse rescue, and Vertical rescue makes them unqualified to be eligible to join a Squad Company.
When they got to Lusty, she opened her coat jacket to reveal the baby. One of the members took the infant, but the rest got her. Dave went with her to the hospital when she got into the ambulance.
***
7:00 AM.
Lusty was in the hospital and was given an MRI and a Ct Scan.
When Linda came to the hospital, Dave left. However, both of them come from a family of firefighters. Dave's grandfather was a New York City firefighter from 1921-1941, 1945-1950, and 1953 until he retired in 1966. He had fought in both World Wars and the Korean War. Dave's father and uncle were both volunteers in Staten Island and Brooklyn before moving to Little Bird. They were labeled as 4F when trying to join the US military to fight in Vietnam because of their medical issues. However, they chose to be firefighters because they liked being volunteers. They were proud of hearing stories of what their father would tell them.
Linda's family has been firefighters in the city of Empire since the city's establishment in 1710. Her great-great-great-great-great-great aunt was the city's first fire commissioner in the 1860s. Unfortunately, she died in a factory fire because she refused to leave a group trapped. The city was suffering a shortage of male firefighters due to the diphtheria outbreak at the time. Additionally, Linda's grandfather was a firefighter and Captain during the 1907 Earthquake in the City of Empire. He met his wife, a fiery auburn female, during this time. Linda has seven brothers who rank as Lieutenant, Captain, or Firefighter, with her father being a Battalion Chief. While her uncles were mostly Captains and Lieutenants, she had an uncle who died on her fifth birthday. She was there with him and her father on that day. That's how she and Dave met. They think their sons and daughters would follow the same path.
Lusty only had one uncle who was a firefighter. He was assigned to the same company as she was given to, but she did not know that he was part of that company until seeing a photo dated mid-1953. Her roots trace back to the Nightingale Little Bird Native Tribe from her mother's side. On her father's side, her German ancestors, the few that stayed behind in Imperial Germany, died during the First World War.
Linda and Dave were a power couple in the Fire Department. They had their own separate firehouses and were known for their exceptional firefighting skills. However, things took a dramatic turn when they decided to confront the city fire commissioner about a severe issue.
As they walked into the Fire Dept HQ, they could feel the tension building up inside them. Dave had a hint of sarcasm as he asked, "Hey, Commissioner, are you ready for the press conference?" The commissioner was busy, but Dave wouldn't let that stop him from speaking his mind.
He voiced his concerns about Division Chief Smitty abusing his power to settle a personal score against someone who didn't deserve it. Dave spoke passionately about how he couldn't work in a place where someone thought they were above the law. Linda chimed in, agreeing with everything Dave said.
The two were determined to make a change and weren't afraid to take a stand. They put their turnout gear onto the floor, making a bold statement. Linda's gear differed from Dave's because it said "CAPTAIN RICHTER-WATERSON," and under FDEB it said "RESCUE SQUAD." Linda is part of an elite team that Dave calls and says "The Green Berets of the Fire Department." She was the first female to be assigned to a Rescue Company during non wartime and the last woman who joined a rescue company was back in 1942 but she replaced one of the men who went to go fight off in the war. While Linda wasn't the commissioner got Linda to the spot after reading a bunch of letters from the members of Firehouse Eighteen even Linda’s father asked him to give Linda a spot on a rescue company but Linda’s father also learned to let go as well.
The commissioner listened to them with open ears this time, and they felt like they were being heard. They knew that they had made a difference and that their voice mattered. But the commissioner asked what they wanted. Dave wanted Division Chief Smitty suspended for an indefinite period but Linda wanted him fired and arrested for violating the National Little Bird Wartime Safety Act of 1917 and 1942.
The commissioner agreed because he received anonymous complaints about Division Chief Smitty before the two got there but went with their suggestion because he had heard about the incident and the accident a month ago.
***
Several months later.
When Lusty was released from the hospital, she had to get her head examined for any damage once a week. But her first doctor told her that next time, it could be a lot worse, and even a minor tap on her head could lead to memory loss and bleeding from the ears and can cause more brain damage. When Lusty asked if her brain and head would heal, she was told that her head would heal, but brain cells don’t regenerate, so her brain won’t heal. Lusty even asked if she could go to work. She was told that she could, but it would be idealistic and better if she found a safer job.
As a child, Claire was rescued by a firefighter and it inspired her to pursue the same profession. However, she still vividly remembers feeling scared during training when she had to climb a 100ft ladder. Despite her initial fear, she remained determined to become a firefighter. She froze up with other trainees behind her, waiting for her to move again, but her instructor climbed down the ladder and said, “It’s okay to be afraid. It’s human nature, and anyone with any sense is afraid to run into a burning building. We’re training you to do the thing that’ll scare anyone.”
She was also told not to look down while climbing a ladder and to look up, not down.
***
At night.
“You know you don’t have to do this,” said Dave. “You should be better off just to get some better rest.”
Lusty replied, “No I gotta do this. This is long overdue.”
Lusty entered a bar.
“What the hell are you doing here,” asked Division Chief Smitty.
Lusty replied, “I didn’t come down here to shake hands and makeup. Come on, let's go and take this outside.”
The two went out back of the bar where Lusty put her badge on a barrel and so did Divisional Chief Smitty.
“Hey, look, we don’t gotta do this,” said Smitty.
Lusty then gave him a right hook, then an uppercut to his torso, and then she forced him against a chain link fence. She then kept giving him a few more uppercuts to his torso before throwing him down onto the gravel.
Soon, the bar’s backdoor opened.
“I’ll deal with the rest of you another time,” snarled Lusty, “Another time, I’ll deal with you, Captain Novak, Captain Simons, and Alderman Graham.”
They pretended not to hear what Lusty just said but decided to circle and surround Lusty, leading her to say, “Fine, if it’ll be like this. I can see all of you want an ass-kicking then.”
Captain Simons threw the first punch at Lusty, only for her to grab his arm, break his elbow, and uppercut him, knocking him down. Captain Novak tried to kick Lusty with his right leg, only for Lusty to grab his leg, kick him in the nuts, and break Captain Novak’s leg by hitting the side of his knee.
“Remember all of you wanted this,” said Lusty, “The moment all of you got around me wanting to fight me, then well, all of you got a fight none of you’ll win. Don’t cry when all of you are on the ground after I kick the rest of your asses. And don’t cry when a girl kicks your asses, and I’m not afraid of your friends in high places.”
Alderman Graham, “Well, if you’re not going to be intimidated, then the cops would intimidate you.”
“Send the Goddamn cops. I’m not intimidated by them,” said Lusty, “Any cop you send to me I’ll kick their ass. Send them to my old neighborhood, and then my old allies would take care of them. The last part isn’t a threat. It’s a death threat.”
When the Alderman was about to say something, Lusty punched him and gave him a roundhouse kick. Lusty then went and got her badge and put it back into her pocket.
“Remember I said that all of you should’ve left, not push your luck,” said Lusty, “Now that’ll be a good one to tell your friends and family of how five guys got their ass kicked by one twenty-six-year-old female.”
Lusty walked through the bar and went back out front, but she told Dave that he can take her home, which he did.
***
The next day.
Lusty returned to work. When Lusty entered the locker room, she looked at the single-dial padlock. She forgot the combination, so she got a pair of bolt cutters and cut the padlock off her locker to open it. She just put her duffle bag into her locker, but she took out a prescription bottle to deal with her head pain, but she has to drink water.
She went to the desk that was in the apparatus bay. She was just reading the past runsheets when she was laid up in the hospital. She then heard someone call out for help, so she got up and followed the person, but it turned out it was an ambush, and she got beat up but one of her attackers she knocked down but used a utility knife she had and stabbed the guy in the nuts. But soon, her attackers got the guy whom Lusty stabbed and high-tailed it out of there but she saw Alderman Graham sitting in a vehicle.
***
At a hospital.
Lusty was getting examined by a doctor and was lucky she didn’t get hit in the head.
Soon, a caucasian woman with dark brown hair came in wearing a black suit with a white button-up undershirt, a black striped tie held by a tie clip, and a police badge necklace. Lusty also could see that she had a wedding ring on her finger.
“Lieutenant Johnson,” said the woman, “I’m…”
Lusty interrupted, “If you’re the Grim Reaper or going to take me to the Grim Reaper, then I thought he would’ve at least sent someone single, not taken.”
“No, I’m not here to take you to the Grim Reaper.” said the woman, “Unless you committed a federal crime, then I would. But as I was saying, I’m Special Agent Mackenzie Smith-Ryan. I’m with the Elite Operations Detachment. I wanted to talk to you about Alderman Graham.”
Lusty replied, “How do you even know me?”
“We got the same friends,” said Agent Mackenzie, “Dave told me all about how an Alderman and some people think they’re God’s great gift and think they can throw their power around and think they can’t get in trouble. What the Alderman and Division Chief Smitty did well was that it violated both the National Safety Act and the Wartime Safety Act. Both violations are Federal crimes. I’ve heard how they gave you a crew that didn’t have the minimum requirements to join a Squad Company, and I can imagine that if they went on a HAZMAT Level One call, I’d bet they would kill half of the city by just looking at it and do something to fuck it up. In the past, I’d had people willing to testify in open court and whatnot to a grand jury, but they either reneged or went missing.”
Lusty replied, “Sounds like you suck at your job. They were intimidated or paid off or killed. Or, as I said that you could suck at your job.”
“Listen, smartass, before I even came over here, I’d pulled your file,” said Special Agent Mackenzie, “Do you want my help to get rid of the people who have been after you…”
Lusty replied, “Yeah, I’ve heard that sales pitch before, and when I first believed that the Bureau of Law and the Justice System just kick those people out of the station and won’t do their jobs because I’m from a poor background, but if I come from a wealthy background then the cops would’ve done something. But you got to do a lot more than that.”
“This time it won’t be the local law,” said Special Agent Mackenzie, “It’ll be the Federal Law. Also I don’t want to sound like a stalker, but I’ve got bad and good news.”
Lusty replied in an annoyed tone of voice, “Can I get the abridged version because I’m just bored and getting bored of this conversation.”
“I’m going after Alderman Graham and other dicks who put your company in the hospital,” said Special Agent Mackenzie, “While yes, the rest of the Candidates you had were killed, they’re planning on pinning it on you because of your gender. So it’s either help me do my job, or they can pin it on you, and everyone and their dog would and will look at you as if you should be in prison or death row.”
It got Lusty’s attention even though she believes it’ll end the same way as it has in the past. But she only agreed to help because she wants to send a message to people who think they’re untouchable that they can be touched and they’ll get caught sooner or later. Not adding, Special Agent Mackenzie told Lusty that whenever she goes after a criminal, she always says, “You’ll get tired sooner or later and make a mistake, and when you do, I’ll be there.”
Lusty even had a gut feeling that Special Agent Mackenzie would just be bribed off and just drop the case and when Lusty was about to say something.
“No, if someone is going to try and bribe me, it won’t work,” confidently said Special Agent Mackenzie, “The last person tried to bribe me with what I’ll make in ten years on a yearly salary. I double-tapped him in his nuts with two 9mm hollow point rounds and told him he was trying to bribe the wrong gal and agent. I even arrested and charged him with trying to bribe a federal officer, which is a Class B felony even though in other countries it’ll be different.”
***
Squad 141 Firehouse.
Lusty brought Special Agent Mackenzie into the briefing room.
“So when did your contempt of authority begin?” asked Special Agent Mackenzie, “Because I want to know and whatnot.”
Lusty replied, “Since the 5th grade. Had a bully, and I told my homeroom teacher and the principal about me having a bully, but no, they turned a blind eye, and when my bully one day snuck up and pulled my ponytail, which my mother called a ‘sneaky bitch ass move.’ and when I kicked my bully’s ass then I was the bad gal. They called my parents and my bully parents into school, and I had to give an apology. Still, my mom said, ‘My daughter ain’t apologizing because she told her homeroom teacher and you, Mr. Principal, that she’s getting bullied, but no, she had to take it into her own hands when the bully pulled my daughter’s hair.’ My dad said, ‘Well, my baby girl did what she had to do to defend herself. If you or a teacher had done something beforehand, we wouldn’t be here.’ My parents even said that it wasn’t my fault and it wasn’t. That same day, when we were in the hallway leaving my bully, her parents confronted me and my parents, and they started running their mouths. My parents punched my bully’s parents in the mouth and face hard enough to knock them down fifty pegs. The bullying didn’t stop but got a little worse after that, but I always kicked my bully’s ass whenever she opened her mouth. Also, I didn’t know what a School Resource Officer was until the Eighth Grade.”
“Have your parents considered taking you out of school?” asked Special Agent Mackenzie.
Lusty replied, “They have, but I would’ve been home unsupervised because the law says…”
“The youngest age that someone can work in non-hazardous work is the age of fourteen,” said Special Agent Mackenzie, “Didn’t you have any other neighbors who could’ve watched you?”
Lusty replied, “All of my old neighbors work. The woman who watches my infants is a retired baker… Damn, I miss her chocolate chip cookies too. But if someone were retired, they would’ve watched me until my mom or dad got off work, but since that didn’t happen, I had to go to public school.”
Lusty took a sip of soda she had.
“Soda coming out of glass bottles tastes better than out of plastic bottles,” said Lusty, “Alright, let’s get this interview over.”
Special Agent Mackenzie replied, “When did you meet Division Chief Smitty and Alderman Graham? And their other friends?”
“November 14th. Several months ago,” said Lusty, “Truck Company Eighty-Two hit us, but we were blamed even though we had the right of way. I didn’t find out later that Captain Novak and Division Chief Smitty are best friends, drinking buddies, and brothers-in-law. I guess I won the unlucky lottery. They blame me because of me being both biracial and female.”
Special Agent Mackenzie replied, “Which violates the 1934 and 1954 Civil Rights because it violates your civil rights because you’re female, you're biracial even though you’re more leaning to white than mixed and eithincy because they instead ignore evidence and just blame you because it’s easier. I mean, even when I’d checked the traffic cam, they had to slow down, and the traffic cam showed their speed increasing instead of slowing down. And while they are covering it up to blame you even though you did nothing wrong, Division Chief Smitty can be arrested for Accomplice and Complicity five times, Vehicular homicide, and assault. So can Captain Novack even order his Chauffeur ‘Beat Squad 141 to the scene come hell or high water, but nothing would happen to us. Step on it, put the metal through the floor’. Don’t believe me, then take a listen.”
Special Agent Mackenzie then got out a portable recorder and pressed play but Lusty hit pause because she didn’t want to hear it.
***
The next night.
Lusty was in her car with her infants in the backseat and an old neighbor in the front passenger seat. Lusty is giving an old neighbor a ride home because she missed the last bus for the night.
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Lusty’s old neighbor wanted to talk about Lusty’s head problem and whatnot, but Lusty avoided talking about her head damage because she didn’t want someone else to worry about her.
However, Lusty wanted to talk about her parents and remembers her dad saying, “You never know how life may play out, so keep your options open.”
But that was when Lusty first took the Civil Servant entrance exam to become a firefighter, and her father was telling her that if she got rejected, there were other careers, not just that one.
Lusty asked if she took the Civil Servant exam to enter the police academy, but her parents gave her that look saying, “Not cool and not joking.” but where she’s from, she would’ve become a social outcast and a black sheep if she became a cop. But her parents would’ve supported her becoming a full-time musician.
Lusty kept her eye on the road and ensured she was driving safely. It wasn’t long until a police car came behind them and turned on the siren. But Lusty pulled over not because it’s the law, but she’s not in the mood to get her license revoked. There were two cops, and they both had their hands on their pistols in their holsters.
One of the cops ordered Lusty, while the other cop ordered the passenger out of the car. But Lusty refused because not because her daughters were in the car but because the two didn’t do anything to warrant it, and they would have to be forcefully removed, and they were.
Lusty was forcefully arrested, but when the other cop ordered Lusty’s old neighbor to have her hands up she refused and even told the cop that they didn’t do anything wrong and it wasn’t a crime to be driving down the street at 8:30 at night. The second cop ordered her to get down onto her knees with her hands behind her back, but Lusty’s old neighbor refused. Soon, there were two quick, rapid gunshots.
Lusty was placed onto the hood of her hood of the police car and saw her old neighbor lying dead, face down dead. A teardrop went down Lusty’s face, but she felt more than anger.
Lusty didn’t even have to say a word, nor did she try to escape, but soon, some people came out of the dilapidated tenement building. When one of the cops radioed for a lot of backup, even when one went back to the car to press the panic button, Lusty only said with a sad but hostile tone, “By the time backup arrives, they’re going to be too late.”
It’s as Lusty said, but she was freed by some members of her old district neighbors even if they were on a different street. But Lusty didn’t want to leave an old neighbor behind, but an old neighbor told her to go and take her children home, so she did. It took a few minutes, but she left before more cops came. Even unmarked cars came, but Lusty was long gone when they arrived. Even though they had set up a dragnet over the entire district, nobody said anything but told the cops that it was their fault for what happened, and that was it before people slammed their doors in their faces.
***
In the morning. Lusty couldn’t sleep.
EOD Building, Downtown Empire.
“I got to talk to you,” said Lusty.
Special Agent Mackenzie replied, “Sure, what is it?”
“Last night, I was giving my old neighbor, my mother’s close friend since high school, and was like a sister, but I was giving her a ride home because she missed the final bus,” said Lusty, “But we were pulled over where the cops ordered me, and my friend refused because we didn’t do anything wrong so we were forced out of the car and I was arrested but while my friend refused to put her hands up and the other cop shot her.”
Special Agent Mackenzie replied, “I’ve heard over my car radio how the police are looking for a suspect, but nobody is cooperating with their investigation. The people are more or less telling them that it’s their fault and that the two officers brought it onto themselves. When I first heard about it, the first thing that came into my mind was that you would tell me to go to hell and that you wouldn’t help with my investigation.”
“I’m still going to help you with your investigation and whatnot,” said Lusty, “But I’m going to say this now, but we’re not going to be gal pals, we’re not going to have slumber parties, painting our toenails while having gossip.”
Special Agent Mackenzie replied, “Never had a slumber party and whatnot. But we need to get ahead of this, though. Come on, let’s take a ride. Well you stay here and I’ll be back.”
Special Agent Mackenzie left and entered another Elite Operations Detachment building room. She used a computer where they can view any city traffic cam, and it’ll help to prevent corruption because, in the past, cops have remotely deleted them from servers. Even though the footage is live, it’ll go to the Empire Police Dept, the Island Patrol Barracks of the city of Empire, and the EOD building.
Special Agent Mackenzie watched it but had to go to 8:31 PM and watch it but had the volume on so she could listen. She heard that Lusty told a cop that she had her kids in the car, but the cop that arrested her told her to “shut the fuck up before her teeth get knocked out.” Mackenzie kept listening, and Lusty’s old neighbor said to the second cop that what they were doing is harassing and Selective enforcement. After she said that, there were two rapid gunshots, but Lusty’s old neighbor wasn’t doing anything. The other cop said to the other cop who arrested Lusty that she (Lusty’s old neighbor) lunged at him, trying to take his gun but she was standing still.
The other cop, not the one who arrested Lusty but the other one also said that Alderman Graham would just use his political power to prevent anything from happening to the duo anyway. But Special Agent Mackenzie wanted to give those two a fate worse than death but Lusty’s old neighbors beat her to it by fourteen hours, to be exact. But most of Special Agent Mackenzie’s career has been going after corrupt cops. To her, it’s karmic to send a corrupt cop to prison and be funny that they end up on the same cellblock of people they arrested in the past.
Mackenzie then decided to save and back it up so no one could quickly delete it.
To Lusty, it was as if the 1960s were repeating itself because of the war, riots in five out of seven cities, and anti-war protests. But Lusty feels like her grandparents a bit because her grandparents' and adults' old-fashioned values contrasted heavily with those of the young people who favored social change. While Lusty is somewhat of a tomboy and likes having short hair, she never understood why a male would want to have long hair because to her, having long hair is a pain.
Lusty also remembered how sometimes, when her shift ended when she was working as a cashier, she would use her free lunch break and take home her lunch and share it with her parents. Until her boss told her, she had to eat her lunch at work. Even though she got offended by it she didn’t cry about it and saved some for her parents because she would call it ‘leftovers’.
While Mackenzie was still gone, Lusty kept on thinking about her past. She remembered one boy she used to babysit. She remembered accidentally walking in on him wearing his mother’s dress and putting on lipstick. Still, Lusty didn’t say anything because her mother told her that if she didn’t understand something, she could try to understand what was happening but not accuse someone of something. When she asked him why the pre-teen was nervous, Lusty told him she'd keep what he said and wouldn’t tell anyone. He nervously told her that he was transgender but didn’t dare to speak to his parents, but Lusty kept his secret, and she never told anyone.
Of course, Lusty babysat many children in the district of Eastside, and 75% of them have disabilities like Dyslexia and ADD or ADHD. But she had an excellent opportunity to get experience with babysitting and thinks it’ll help her raise her children.
Special Agent Mackenzie returned and told Lusty to follow her because they got to visit “someone.” So Lusty did.
***
A high-rise office building.
Lusty and Special Agent Mackenzie got off an elevator.
“Just keep your mouth shut and follow me,” said Special Agent Mackenzie.
Lusty followed Special Agent Mackenzie. They soon came to a door, where Mackenzie opened it. Lusty was going to say something, but she kept her mouth shut because the look she saw in Mackenzie’s eyes when they first met showed that to Mackenzie, she was not bound to any rules and not bound to any laws to catch criminals. But that’s one of the primary modus operandi for the Elite Operations Detachment. They want agents who aren't afraid to bend the rules. Mackenzie always played her hand and does it her way, whether someone hates it or not.
Before Mackenzie opened the door, she told Lusty that she should create a distraction if they ran into any trouble.
Mackenzie opened the door to the office and went over to Alderman Graham,
“Can I help you?” asked Alderman Graham.
Mackenzie replied, “Screw you. You’re under arrest for violation of the 1917 and 1942 Little Bird Safety Act, 1917 and 1942 Little Bird Wartime Safety Act, aiding and abetting and covering up the vehicle manslaughter of Probationary firefighter Steven Pine, Probationary firefighter Kevin Philip, Probationary firefighter Edward Smith, Probationary firefighter Henry Wilkins, and Firefighter Alpial. You’re also under arrest for abusing your power and using the police to intimidate or eliminate people who disagree with you. So you have the right to shut up; anything you say will be used against you in court; I’d be happy to smash a brick into your face. As the good book says, ‘Payback’s a bitch,’ and the people you had intimidated like Lieutenant Johnson out there got their payback.”
“I don’t think the book says that,” said Lusty, “But I’m Agnostic and an Atheist.”
Mackenzie replied, “I'm paraphrasing', ya heathen. Also, you, Alderman, your circle jerk of friends in high places, are being rounded up as we speak.”
“I’ll have your badge for this,” said Alderman Graham.
Mackenzie replied, “Yeah, and I want to throw you out of this window, but I’d instead give you a fate worse than death. I’m sure you’ll be real popular on the cellblock, a corrupt politician.”
Mackenzie then brought Alderman Graham out of his office, but the two were confronted by his security. Lusty looked over at the wall, where she quickly reached over and pulled the fire alarm pull box. Even though Lusty knows it’s a misdemeanor or felony since it’s in a high rise, it’s a felony, where a street alarm box or a low-rise building is a misdemeanor.
It brought Special Agent Mackenzie a quick time when the guards looked up when the sprinklers turned on. That’s when Mackenzie quickly drew her pistol and shot the guards in the leg, but they had a long way down. It took an hour to get down because they climbed down from the 30th floor.
“Besides it being your job,” said Lusty, “But why are you doing this?”
Mackenzie replied, “Because these pricks have been in power too long. It’s about time we message people like Graham that it’s time for them to go away.”
Mackenzie put Alderman Graham in the back of her unmarked car when they got outside.
“When I get ahold of my friends, you’re going to be sorry,” threatened Alderman Graham.
Mackenzie replied, “Now I can add threatening a Federal officer and a firefighter to your list of charges. Your friends can’t save you; if they do, I can charge them with interfering with a Federal criminal investigation. So call your friends. I’d happily throw their asses in the same cell block as you. Also, I have some friends who can put you on a cell block with more hardened criminals and I mean max security inmates, who’d gladly make you and your friends as their prison wives. Oh, if that does happen, just watch out for shivs.”
Lusty even stuck out her tongue at Alderman Graham.
“I thought you were twenty-six,” said Mackenzie, “Not a child.”
Lusty replied, “At least I didn’t spend most of my childhood and teenhood in front of the TV watching both Science Fiction and SitComs of the '50s.”
“I spent most of my childhood and teenagehood resenting my father,” said Mackenzie. “I’ve read your file. Your parents were always there for you. My father's only time he was in my life was when he and my mom made me, and when I turned sixteen when he tried to convince me to join the Navy. My mother was mainly too busy working on cases. My neighbors didn’t watch me because they hated that my mom was a federal cop, so I had to take care of myself. By the time my mother could care for me, I was old enough to get a part-time job and care for myself. Also, no, I didn’t watch Sci-Fi and Sitcoms of the ‘50s. It was Dramas, Game shows, and police procedure shows. But it’s not like your mother went with you on your first date with a guy and the first thing your mother says is, ‘When can I expect to have grandchildren?’ because I highly doubt your mother did.”
Lusty replied, “My parents really didn’t. My mother did want to have grandchildren but she never really said it but I could feel that she would want me to have children. My mother didn’t straight up say that she wanted to have grandchildren because of me being the only child she and my dad ever had and she didn’t want to make me think that being a mother and that motherhood is mandatory but I picked up some hints that my mom did want some grandchildren but they were okay with me not doing anything that I wasn’t comfortable with. But hey I’m a single mother and to me I don’t care what other people think. If they say that if it’s unnatural I’ll tell them to fuck off because it’s not their business not adding that I have commitment issues…”
Mackenzie was about to say something until Alderman Graham kept running his mouth until Mackenzie threatened that she would pull over, take out her gun, and pistol whip him until he shuts up but still alive. Mackenzie she isn’t the type of woman that when her hand is shoved then whoever shoved it shouldn’t cry when she strikes back three times as hard and is a loose cannon but a lot of people and other agents believe she got her position because of her mother even though she hates favoritism and nepotism but Mackenzie got to where she is by hard work and keeping her nose to the grindstone.
“So your mother,” said Lusty.
Mackenzie replied, “Former Deputy Director turned Director of the Elite Operations Detachment. Director Bailey Smith. I don’t know my mother’s maiden last name, so I just say her married last name. Never asked, she didn’t tell. Let’s say she’s a female version of J. Edgar Hoover. But my mother issued the EOD HRT and EOD SU to use the Viperstrike .50 as their standard pistol… Don’t know what my mom saw in my dad. My father wasn’t there for me. Wasn't there for when I was born, my first word, the first days of school, my first prom, my elementary, middle, and high school graduations or when I became a Federal agent. The only time he was in my life was when I was sixteen and he tried to convince me to join the Navy, and told him no. He tried to throw a hissy fit and he said ‘Of all the things that I did for you,’ and he didn’t do nothing but be in a battleship as an admiral oh I mean fleet admiral.”
“Oh boo-hoo, a big bad G-girl has daddy issues.” sarcastically said Alderman Graham.
Mackenzie hit the brakes, catching Lusty off guard, but Alderman Graham’s face hit against the steel bar separating the unmarked car's front and back half.
“Driving around the city can be dangerous,” said Mackenzie.
Lusty replied, “Next time, warn me. I almost hit my face on the dashboard. So your dad didn’t walk you down the aisle?”
“Me and Darick didn’t get married in a church,” said Mackenzie, “We got married at a courthouse. He told me that he didn’t care where we got married and due to me not being the religious type I chose a courthouse. So we got married there.”
The trio soon returned to the EOD building, a two-story brick building with a single rotating door. But Special Agent Mackenzie told Lusty to go home because she got it from here.
***
Back home.
Lusty looked through her notebook, half filled with songs she had written from the heart.
There was soon a knock on Lusty’s front door, so she answered it. Two people were threatening Lusty there, but Lusty didn’t back down and didn’t let them scare her.
“I’m not going to let those arrogant jackasses scare me,” said Lusty after the two left.
***
Back at the EOD building.
“Oh you’re back,” said Mackenzie, “Thought I told you to go home?”
Lusty replied, “Oh I did until some two jackasses threatened me and threatened to kill me.”
“Did you get their names or something like that?” asked Mackenzie.
Lusty replied, “Got where they work. It’s a place called Sentinal Dynamics.”
“You want me to secure an arrest warrant for two people who work in the office of a defense contractor?” asked Mackenzie.
Lusty replied, “Somewhat. Is there something wrong with that?”
Mackenzie picked up the phone on her desk.
“No, there isn’t,” said Mackenzie, “Just go back home and let me take care of it.”
It was out of Lusty’s hand, but it was now in Special Agent Mackenzie’s ballpark because while Lusty is a firefighter and since she’s employed by both the city of Empire and the municipality around the city of Empire and is considered a city government employee so them threatening Lusty falls under threatening a Government employee. But Lusty didn’t want to just sit out, but she wanted to help. Still, she couldn’t because she’s not a federal agent, not to add that Special Agent Mackenzie has a team of three that backs her up even if they’re busy and have temporarily been reassigned to help other teams.
I wonder who she called, Lusty thought, Wonder if someone will follow me and whatnot.
***
Back at Lusty’s apartment. Lusty went into her makeshift armory and grabbed a pistol she had and a box of ammo. She opened the box of 9x19mm and got out twelve rounds. She individually loaded the ammo by hand because she had previously fired weapons but had the weapon jammed because of a dented bullet.
The look that Mackenzie had in her eyes showed that she was and still is unafraid to stand up to people who have more power than her, rich or poor, connected or not. But one thing that Lusty doesn’t know is that Mackenzie had gone against cops who do the same and actually threatened a police officer lawyer before and even told a judge that “If you go for a mistrial or throw out this case then your honor is sending a message that bad cops are above the law and get a free pass.”
Lusty then put the magazine into her 9mm pistol and racked the slide. Lusty got her gun for her safety but also the safety of her daughters. She kept the gun with her but got a yearbook out of her drawer from her bedroom. She looked through it even though it was in the 10th grade.
Lusty remembered how she was picked on every day in high school because of her small breast size. Still, she didn’t care because she didn’t want other students' attention if they were just going to stare at her chest. But Claire didn’t envy the other female students whose chest sizes were more prominent than hers. She loved not getting any unwanted attention but the few girls who picked on her about it were narcissists, drama queens, fashionistas, valley girls, bratty teenagers, daddy's girls, and attention seekers. But the girls who used to bully her were the aggressive type, the not-too-bright, outwardly rude, bullying, and mean-spirited excuse for a human type while Lusty was and still is the passive-aggressive type.
Lusty got her shotgun and rapidly pumped it where the 12-gauge buckshot shells were. came out of the chamber. She picked up the shells and lined them up in order. the first shell that came out, then she chamber loaded, then put the other seven shells back in the chamber. Lusty wasn’t preparing to defend herself but she’s going to protect her daughters, too, come hell or high water.
Then Lusty picked up a pen and was about to write a new song until her door busted open and Lusty picked up her shotgun and slam fired her shotgun. Even though she knew that she should’ve saw first how, since she lives in a high-rise apartment building, she had no time, and how since no one knocked first. Her door was broken in, then now self-defense law, defend your castle law was on her side because she was following the law to protect her home, and defend herself and her infant daughters.
***
Half an hour later.
It wasn’t long until Special Agent Mackenzie came and took over the crime scene from the city police or, as the lead detective said, “Fine. You can do all of the paperwork.”
Mackenzie did the interview with Lusty even though she kept the question short because it was both straightforward. Any sane person could see that it was tempting to home invasion. Lusty was following the law of both self-defense laws of standing your ground and defending your castle. Of course, Mackenzie knows that whoever sent the two would pull the “Duty to retreat” but Lusty has no way to flee because there’s no way out and no leave besides out of the only door which is the front door.
“Parents, especially fathers, might not get everything right when they try to be good parents.” said Lusty, “They try is more important than you think. My dad wasn’t always there for me, but he always made up for it. What your father did was inexcusable though.”
Mackenzie replied, “I know. But my dad doesn’t even deserve the title of dad. My husband is a million times better father than my own father. My husband has more of a backbone and more balls than my own ‘father’. My mother speculates that my dad chose his career over us because of having a daughter over a son. But honestly, I don’t give a damn what my dad thinks about me. I don’t care what he thinks about me, and honestly, I hope the ship he’s on goes down. Still, everyone else on his ship can get to safety while he stays behind, or if he jumps off the ship, I hope he gets surrounded by man-eating sharks. I know my mom, and I won’t attend his funeral when he dies. And he definitely won’t meet his grandchildren. Guess you and your infants need a safe place to be now.”
“I’ll stay here,” said Lusty, “Not going to let some jackasses scare me out of my own home.”
Mackenzie replied, “If that’s your wish. I’ll leave an unmarked unit outside for your and your children's protection. But gonna wait for CSU and CST’s finish up before leaving.”
After an hour. Lusty, she never thought that her home would become a crime scene. Still, while her apartment was a crime scene, Mackenzie would just file it in self-defense and not evict Lusty for an unknown time. But she knows that she should, but she won’t because it’s an open-and-shut case to her.
Lusty let Mackenzie do her work, but Lusty just went and got a box of twelve gauge shotgun shells and put a few shells into the tube.
***
The next day.
While Lusty was driving to work, she noticed a car following her, so she took the long way to work and ensured she lost them before she went to work.
She also ran a red light, ensuring there wasn’t a cop. Still, it’s something that Dave told her that his family doesn’t take the same route to work/home/anywhere, mix up their routes every day, and run red lights. If someone follows, they put a loaded magazine into their gun and take care of business.
She spent most of the morning in her office just reading a book until at 10:00 AM on the dot, there was a knock on the office door. It was Special Agent Mackenzie. She told Lusty that she was going to go and see the Mayor and asked if she was going to come along not because of the unexpected but it’ll be nice to have someone to come with, but Mackenzie’s board of strings connects to the city Mayor.
***
City Hall. Mayor’s office.
“The Case against Alderman Graham, and Division Chief Smitty is solid, Mayor, and frankly, it’s out of your hands,” said Mackenzie, “The only way is that the case won’t go to a courthouse if the prosecutor offers them a plea.”
The Mayor replied, “I strongly suggest that you reconsider your position.”
“And why would I want to do that?” said Mackenzie, “So the people they tormented can still live in fear of them still being out on the streets?”
The Mayor replied, “Are you going to say something whoever you are?”
“Like what?” said Lusty, “Special Agent Mackenzie is doing her job. Is she sweeping it under the rug like how you want and prefer? No, she isn’t. I strongly advise you to discontinue trying to obstruct her and her unit from doing its job, or I’m sure she’ll slap you with an Interfering with a Federal Investigation crime charge. I’m sure she’ll charge you as a co-conspirator.”
Mackenzie replied, “I can and will. So keep trying to halt or interfere with my investigation again, I'll slap an Interfering with a Federal Investigation charge on you so hard that you can’t run for re-election even though you’re worse than the last mayor. Also, do it again of trying to interfere with my investigation I’ll also throw seven times child endangerment charges as well. Also, try and call your friends in high places. I'm not scared of them. Have your friends in high places come after me. I'll retaliate so hard that none of you can get a job as a meter maid.”
“If you just stop and think…” said The Mayor.
Mackenzie interrupted with a fiery tone, “You’re swimming in different waters now. You may use your power and bully your way around the city police HQ, but I don’t answer to the city government, I answer to the federal government.”
“You’re going drop this…” said the Mayor.
Mackenzie snapped back with a fiery tone, “I’m not going to drop this case. So you can drop the cavalier attitude. So, guess what, I'm not dropping the case.”
“Yes you are,” said the Mayor.
Mackenzie replied, “And I’d like to see you castrated with a rusty steak knife. Neither are going to happen, but we both can dream.”
The Mayor touched Mackenzie, only for her to break out of it.
“Touch me again, then I’ll sue you and the city for sexual harassment,” said Mackenzie with a fiery but scarier voice, “The last person who touched me also threatened my family I gave him a more severe felony, but he didn’t last a day in Max security. Come on, Lieutenant.”
***
Back in Special Agent Mackenzie’s unmarked car.
"Did you actually pin a threat crime on a criminal?" Lusty questioned.
Mackenzie shot back, "Quite a way to start a conversation, Lusty. Yes, I did. The fool threatened my family, so he ended up in maximum security. End of story."
"No disrespect, Mackenzie," Lusty began, "But we're not cut from the same cloth. I act out of principle. You act out of convenience or combativeness."
"True," Mackenzie conceded, "We're both Aries, but with different traits. You're a nice girl, albeit a bit not uptight. I'm a silent type who'd never back down from a fight. I've read your file - your entire life story."
Lusty grimaced, "That's unnerving, to say the least. Smacks of Big Brother. But I suppose it's necessary for safety. We're not like those regimes of the past, after all. Yes, we're a stratocratic police State, but our people have freedom of choice, religion, and expression. Politicians remain politicians, schools are politics-free, and protests don't end with baton beatings unless they escalate to riots. We're not perfect, but we've established justice, ensured tranquility, provided defense, promoted welfare, and secured liberty for our citizens. We might seem authoritarian, but we elect our leaders and officials. Everyone here enjoys civil rights. It's a mixed bag, really. At least we're not living in fear of a clandestine police force. But I'm still not entirely sure what you do."
"I investigate possible corruption or conflicts of interest in local and state police," Mackenzie explained, "I handle civil rights violations, counterterrorism, and national security issues. I focus on federal crimes - those crossing state lines or interfering with federal government functions. This includes assault on federal employees, crimes on federal property, and mailbox destruction. I also take on cases involving copyright violations, bank robberies, and crimes crossing state/borough/county lines. We're called in to assist when a child or a teenager goes missing for over a day. We used to focus on the Mafia but shifted our focus after the late '90s. In fact, the public didn't even know about the Mafia's existence until the winter-spring of 1958, following the Apalachin meeting in 1957. Actually, out of all the Mafia families on Little Bird only one we didn’t investigate was The Waterson mafia because they don’t have any illegal rackets and didn’t do anything to warrant our attention."
Lusty replied, “What was your last mission?”
“Waiting to go to trial,” said Mackenzie, “Every job I do, every assignment falls under Top Secret. Nice try. What I can tell you is that I trained with both HRT and CTU with the former, I failed by one point, and with the latter, I passed, but there’s no room.”
Lusty replied, “Not even going to ask what HRT and CTU means,”
“HRT means Hostage Rescue Team,” said Mackenzie, “CTU means Counter-Terrorism Unit. The former was established on July 4th, 1968, and CTU was formed on May 2nd, 1977, after the Air France flight 139 the previous year. My mother even tried to get me to join the CAT or Combat Assault Team, which was formed in 1933 to combat the increasing amount of bank robberies before the banks were backed by the Federal Government. Because back then the local coppers only had ”
Lusty replied, “Ah, okay then.”
“I remember when I first came to the city of Empire,” said Mackenzie, “I remember when I first came here, and when I was in my car, I witnessed and saw five muggings and nine street fights one after another at the same intersection.”
Lusty replied, “Yeah, the city was a wretched hive in the 1980s and 80% of the 1990s. It was mostly a Red light district and a Vice City. There were more criminals here than in prison.”
Special Agent Mackenzie then dropped Lusty back off at the firehouse. But Mackenzie gave Lusty a snubnosed .38 double-action revolver for her protection, where Lusty was about to say something.
“It was my mother's,” said Mackenzie, “Before 1978, snubnosed revolvers were issued revolvers. From 1978 to now, EOD Cadets are issued semi-automatics. It was 1969 when my mother joined. Don’t lose it because me and my mom aren’t entirely on talking terms of me taking her revolver. Even though what she calls ‘Veterans’ could keep their revolvers.”
Unknown to Lusty, Special Agent Mackenzie is that she has a few tricks up her sleeve, not add when the Mayor more or less tried to threaten Mackenzie to throw out the case well, this ain’t the first time Mackenzie got threatened, and her mother is the Director of the Elite Operations Detachment and like daughter like mother, Mackenzie’s mother mostly made her career by going after corrupt cops, corrupt government officials, and by being untouchable from corrupt officials not adding when someone did threaten Mackenzie’s mother that they were going to harm Mackenzie, Mackenzie’s mother said in a threatening tone, “You harm my fucking daughter it’ll be the last fucking thing you do!”.
Of course, to Lusty, Mackenzie should be the poster child for the EOD for agents who abandon their morals.
“Ah the prodigal daughter returns,” said Zofia.
Lusty replied, “Hey Zofia. Since when does EPD issue weapons to meter maids?”
“Wanna pick a fight, eh Johnson?” said Zofia.
Lusty was about to answer.
“Hey, Zofia! How about that time a few weeks ago when a stray bit you near between your legs,” said a firefighter.
Zofia replied, “Shut it.”
“Up yours pal,” said the firefighter.
Lusty replied, “Go sit on a dick Zofia.”
Zofia decided to leave because while she loves to torment Lusty but she knows that if she pushes her luck, then Lusty would’ve kicked her ass.
By the sound of the voice, it sounded like Lusty had a new crew. She found a letter from Marcus that he had ensured she got adequately trained members. But he just sent ones who aren’t candidates because of past events.
Lusty was also thinking about how computers made things more accessible, especially with dispatch. Still, when she was home and watched a half-hour movie about firefighting, it showed a dispatcher answering a phone to get an emergency. Still had to write down the address and then look through a lot of punch cards but had to look at a map to see which dot was closer, then look through a book of street names. But the street call boxes made it much easier because it’ll send a Morse code to the nearest two firehouses if they’re there or already out.
Lusty just remembered that when she was in class at the fire academy, she was told that she and the other candidates in her class would have to see things they didn’t want to see but have to see things that other people don’t get to see. But the one thing that Lusty doesn’t like is that the buildings in the Empire have new buildings, lightweight buildings, steel-barred joists, and old construction. Still, many newer ones are built to be cost-effective, not adding what’s inside. Still, she continuously learns from her company’s mistakes and learns from them.
It wasn’t long until the fire bell went off for a vehicle fire.
This vehicle model looks familiar, Lusty thought, Kinda looks like an unmarked police car.
They went and quickly put it out and found a decapitated body in the front seat but tied. Lusty grabbed her walkie-talkie and said, “Squad 141 to main got a dead body here. Need both police and the coroner here ASAP.”
It wasn’t long until the cops came. Lusty still had no idea what was going on, but it was out of the Empire Police’s hands because it was a Government car, so it’s now in the EOD’s hands. But it wasn’t long until Mackenzie returned, in which she knew who the body was because she sent the agent to investigate. It was her agent she had to go out with, but because they’re all busty, Mackenzie doesn’t entirely know the details besides that she signed off for him to use an unmarked car.
“Lieutenant, with your permission, I’d like to tag along,” said Mackenzie, “If it’s okay with you.”
Lusty allowed it even though she didn’t entirely ask why.
***
Back at Squad 141 Firehouse.
“Who are they?” asked Special Agent Mackenzie.
Lusty replied, “Fire Breathers. They were firefighters before Breathing Apparatus became widespread. January 1st, 1966, was when the Breathing Apparatus became widespread for everyone to wear before that date, it had to be in a unit called ‘Air Mask Unit’, and the ones in those companies had training to use it. It became more wide used in the Post-World War 2 era because of bombers flying high altitude where bomber crews had to wear an oxygen mask to breathe.”
“Don’t you mean Smoke eaters?” asked Mackenzie.
Lusty replied, “One, Fire Breathers sound cooler. Second, in the Nightingale Tribe calls members who make fires for cooking and lighting are called Firebreathers, they are also called Wildland firefighters as Fire Breathers. Also, Fire Breathers sound cooler.”
“Do you ever think today could be your last day?” asked Mackenzie.
Lusty replied, “Every day before I walk in here. There’s a part of me telling me that’s telling me that ‘Today could be your last day.’ There’s a wall with golden plaques next to the C02 unit with members who died in the line of duty. Yeah, there are technological advancements but the most important thing we have is our brains. I’ve met members on this job who are cocky and they tend to overstate the danger they’re in and don’t realize it until it’s too late. And when that happens is when their mother, father, husband, or wife will have a department car with a member of the department brass and a Chaplin coming to knock on the door to say that someone’s husband, wife, son, daughter, trans son, trans daughter or whoever died. Yeah, almost eight hundred names of people died in the line of duty. Still, the reality in the city of Empire is that we will lose a few members battling the red devil this year. But we rely on each other, training, instincts, and knowledge of past members. No seriously, go down to the FDE HQ, and there’s a wall with eight hundred plaques dating back to 1710 of members who died on the job. Only reason and I’m not sounding mean but the only reason we can do our job now is by learning and learning from what they did wrong. But we’re still standoffish to new technology, though.”
“Like when the gas-powered and internal combustion engine was invented?” said Mackenzie, “How everyone and their dog were resentful and fearing how the internal combustion engine was going to replace horse and buggy?”
Lusty replied, “Yeah. But we had to adapt to new tech though and newer emergencies. Like when the first high-rises were built and other things. But in that warehouse where I was field promoted to Captain before my official promotion, this company lost twenty-three years of experience. But honestly, just recently, I entered the Seventh stage of grief of it being Acceptance and hope. Now I'm going to the gym and work out. We work out to stay in shape because the top three killers aren’t smoke or fire but being physically unfit, heart attack, and heart disease. The other killers are Cancer, Chronic Respiratory Disease, Hepatitis, and Stress. Have you even read the latest study by the Bureau of Human Welfare? It said that one and a half out of seven firefighters are unfit and two and a half police officers are physically unfit. Hell during my first and second pregnancy, I worked out to stay in shape and after giving birth I stayed in shape so I could stay strong and could do my job also to burn off baby weight as well. I remember when I first came to this company my old neighbors I told them that I’m good at what I do, I make a difference and make a direct impact at saving others but it’s more what I am than what I do.”
“I know the type that your old neighbors are,” said Mackenzie, “Before going to that car fire I was on the phone with the Mayor who wanted me to go and aid the police to go and arrest all the people in Eastside who defended you after you got arrested after your old neighbor was killed. I told the mayor in response ‘If you send the Empire police to go arrest all involved. Then you better set up three thousand five hundred funerals then and those are for the cops, not the people who are going to be arrested’. Wish I had old neighbors like them. At least your parents aren’t like my friend Linda’s parents. Her dad was being overprotective and the other was the type of mother who wants her daughter to be a housewife and have children.”
Lusty replied, “How was her father being overprotective?”
“Her father has been a Battalion Chief since 1982,” said Mackenzie, “When Linda became a firefighter, he made sure she was at his firehouse to keep a protective eye on her but he kept telling her that she ain’t going to go join a rescue company. But there was a reason for his overprotectiveness and it started back in 1957 when he was a Candidate and his uncle got hit by a train because the train was going too fast and it was at night. His second daughter was a firefighter not even for a month before not listening to her CO. She fell to her death when a window washer platform fell out beneath her. But she told me that her father didn’t want to go to a Rescue Company because they went to more complicated emergencies. But she wanted more of a challenge and got it, and to her, she ain’t complaining.”
Lusty replied, “I bet he has seen some things if have been doing this job since the Spring or Autumn class of ‘57.”
Lusty gave Mackenzie their bunker gear and showed her how it’s used, but Mackenzie felt that with the jacket, it was like buttoning up a flannel shirt. After Lusty showed Mackenzie how their gear is worn Lusty then went to the firehouse’s gym and worked on her cardio by running on the treadmill.
“So what can you tell me about your mother?” asked Lusty.
Mackenzie replied, “She mostly went after highbinders for most of her own. What really made her career was back in ‘73 when she was working with the Vice Squad and got a judge on solicitation of a street woman. Once in the box, he started confessing to all sorts of misbehaving tryin’ to get a deal, but he got copped to takin’ kickbacks from the four out of five mafia families. She mostly worked in the Ad Vice Squad mostly but for a while, from ‘70 to ‘73 she worked in the Organized Crime unit where her first investigation was during the Waterson- Falcon Mafia War of ‘68-72. Honestly, I’m on the side of my mom because she said it was logical for what Jimmy ‘James’ Waterson the 1st did on his eldest daughter’s wedding day of… Imagine watching your daughter walk down the aisle but come outside your son-in-law gets shot by a guy who likes your daughter and wants to be with her but she refuses so he kills your now son-in-law?”
“I would’ve done the same,” said Lusty, “Also, spare me the details. I know the details of how the Falcon mafia family was a loose cannon after Cadenza Christina Waterson, the 14th newlywed husband, was shot that her brothers beat the shit out of the guy, took him for a rough ride, and threw him through the plane glass window of his family’s bar. The Falcon mafia was a loose cannon and didn’t care who got in the way while the Waterson mafia only fought those in the Falcon mafia. At least the Waterson mafia didn’t target anyone who wasn’t with the Falcon mafia. At least one side has morals while the other is a loose cannon.”
Mackenzie looked around the firehouse. But she was thinking until the phone in the firehouse rung where Mackenzie answered it, and surprisingly it was her boss he chewed her out for visiting the Mayor and told her that her case was closed for not following the rules only for Mackenzie to tell her boss that the EOD wants agents who bend the rules which she does and that if he wants to follow the rules then he’s in the wrong line of work. Not adding that other agents call Mackenzie a sociopath and they think that her husband must either be brave or fear Mackenzie to stay with her.
My case ain’t closed, Mackenzie thought, Not going to listen to him.
Mackenzie then told Lusty that she had to head out quickly but would be back.
***
An hour later, while watching TV in the kitchen.
An urgent broadcast blared from the television, declaring an emergency unfolding at city hall. But Lusty, barely batted an eye – this crisis was a job for the police, not her crew.
Through the static, the distinctly Irish accents of the responding officers rang out. A poignant echo of history, as Irish immigrants have long been a cornerstone of both law enforcement and fire departments. However, to Lusty, the sight of police attire was one of disdain. The gray short-sleeved shirts of the sergeants, captains, and lieutenants clashed with the dark navy uniforms of the rank-and-file officers, complete with shirt, tie, trousers, and polished police cap.
"Of course, city hall, with its wealthy politicians, gets the full force," Lusty mused cynically. "Every officer they could spare, equipped with shotguns, automatic rifles, and heavy steel-plated body armor. If it were some poor politician, they'd probably take a decade to even start the investigation."
With a shake of her head, she returned to her office, where rejection letters from the mayor, district representatives, and aldermen sat unaddressed. Their excuses of budget cuts were transparent lies to Lusty.
Shaking off the frustration, she decided to meet her new crew. And to her surprise, it wasn't an all-male team. Marcus had added two women to the mix, known as “Dynamite” and “Avalanche.” These were no ordinary women - Dynamite was a seasoned Marine Combat Demolitions Engineer, hardened by her service during the Gulf War and the Allied-Soviet war of 1999-2000.
On the other hand, Avalanche had a history with the Little Bird 1st Mountaineer Regiment, her tenure shadowing the same wars. "Avalanche" was an impressive figure, a master of multiple disciplines. As a Mountaineer, she honed her skills in close-quarters combat, proving herself an invaluable asset in tight and unpredictable situations. Her expertise didn't end there, as she also served as a communications specialist and a medic - a testament to her versatility and adaptability under pressure.
Moreover, she juggled the roles of a Cyber Operations Specialist and an Electronic Warfare Specialist, showcasing her technological acumen. Being part of the special forces, she was trained to be multifaceted, ready to take on any role the situation demanded. Her unique skills and experiences made her an invaluable addition to Lusty's team even though she won’t need her training as a Cyber Operations and Electronic Warfare specialist as a firefighter.
Lusty returned to her office and looked at the profiles/w photos on the vanilla folders. When she looked at Avalanche’s folder, it had both her first and last name as “REDACTED” on it. Like Lusty, she prefers to be called by her nickname, but unlike Lusty, who doesn’t matter if someone calls her by her first name or her nickname; Avalanche prefers to be called by her nickname.
It wasn’t long until Mackenzie was back. She and Lusty talked and got to know each other, and Lusty got to know why Mackenzie became a federal agent. It’s not because she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and not to spite her father even more but because she wanted to make a difference and to go after corrupt individuals especially in both the justice system and law enforcement.
Lusty told her that she became a firefighter because she could see the firehouse near her old tenement building, that the members loved doing what they did, and how they changed someone’s life, even if it was someone’s worst day.
Mackenzie asked Lusty how she’s Multilingual. Lusty explained that Eastside's occupants are descendants of Ukrainian, French, Swiss, Dutch, Italian, Norwegian, Greek, Portuguese, German, Hungarian, Russian, Irish, and Chinese immigrants. But she only speaks English, Nightingale, German, and Ukrainian but primarily speaks English because it’s her native tongue. But she didn’t mention how her old neighborhood is so safe that people don’t get to lock their doors.
Lusty then decided to ask if she knew about what’s happening at City Hall, only for Mackenzie to tell Lusty that she had an argument with the mayor about him using his power to have her boss close her case. She went ballistic on the Mayor, yelling at him worse than a parent scolding their child.
Not adding, after Mackenzie left the phone in the office and when the Mayor answered it, it was Mackenzie’s mother who gave him an ear rant and told him that she doesn’t give a shit about his friends in high places where she’s sending an elite team of agent to come and to aid in Mackenzie’s case. Not adding Mackenzie wiretapped the mayor’s office in the past.
After several hours, Mackenzie returned to Squad 141 firehouse and found Lusty working out on a leg press machine. Mackenzie had some excellent news for Lusty - she could rest easy now. Those who had been abusing their authority and misusing government resources and had been going after Lusty, were now behind bars and awaiting corruption trial. Mackenzie explained that her first career was in the Anti-Corruption Unit of the EOD, where she went after corrupt people and froze their assets and accounts so they couldn't use any illegally obtained money. Initially, Mackenzie's mother wanted her to work as a clerk in the EOD Index Department, where she would be reading through index cards of different groups.
Lusty was just about to make a comment when Mackenzie dropped a bombshell - she had worked in almost every unit in the Elite Operations Detachment! From Anti-Corruption to Homicide, and then on to Armed Robbery, Arson, Bunco/Fraud, burglary, Traffic, and finally the Major Cases Unit. Lusty was impressed and called Mackenzie a "busy gal" for hopping around so much since 1995.
Before leaving, Mackenzie shared a secret with Lusty. She revealed that neither she nor her mother would be venturing into Eastside to make any arrests. Why? Because they knew when to fold 'em and not press their luck. Plus, if they did, Mackenzie's mother would be planning a lot of funerals. Mackenzie had already told her mother that it would be a lost cause anyway - they were simply defending an old neighbor, an old ‘family’ member and an old friend. So Mackenzie’s mother is doing what her daughter did and put what happened in the Eastside as “Defense of others from harm.”
Before she left, Mackenzie told Lusty that she had a feeling that their paths would cross again at an emergency. In which Lusty agreed that they might but if they do then the crime scene she’ll come to an emergency then it’ll either be burned away from the fire or washed away from the water or foam or chemicals they use to fight fires. Mackenzie told Lusty that any crime labeled as a federal or a capital one then she’ll investigate but they might cross paths one day again but the future is unknown.