Ride along

Officer Jack Dean was just about finished with scrubbing the bug goo off the windshield of his assigned Patrol vehicle Unit Six One Three, and only to disconnect the high-pressure hose of the hydrogen refueling station before he was once again ready to roll out, when a call from the captain came over the radio. 

"Unit Six One Three come in."

"This is Unit Six One Three go ahead Captain."

"Are you close to the station?"

"Was just about to roll out of MP, Captain. Bugs just taking a little longer than usual to scrape off. Think we must have a swarm moving through or something."

"Good. You care for some company?"

"You have time to do a ride along with us being short staffed tonight Captain?"

"Not me, your favorite rookie."

"The lucky one. Don't blame us if we fill up lockup captain."

Officer Deen waived to Zeph as he stepped out of the elevator thankful that he was spared even a single trip through the blue hell that was a telapod transport. 

"Looks like you are with me Cadet Demonbane, you got any more big bounties you want to hall in tonight?"

"Perhaps, but if it is okay, I would like to stop by the always open store that the college student we halled in early's dad owns. I owe you that E drink anyway."

"Hot lead or just a little pit stop?"

"Maybe both. I had the Building AI do most of the heavy lifting on what I pulled out of Six Fingered Joe's head. Just the amount of criminal activity he had done in the past few days was enough to make my chip start getting tosty."

"Data burn, yea it is why we try to keep lessons old school in the academy. I got it once trying to take the easy way on the code book. Not sure if I ever want to attempt mass data transfers again. Get in an let's roll."

"Unit Six One Three to dispatch."

"Go ahead Unit Six One Three."

"Rolling out of the barn."

"Roger Unit Six One Three stay safe out there."

Officer Jack Dean and Zeph talked about the kid that they had taken in and how they felt like if he was not forced to work ridiculous hours while cramming for exams then he would have likely not got involved with the Mod White pushers, and that they should pull around back of there is any chance of catching one of Six Fingered's former patrons carrying his product.

It was only short distance from the HQ, so they arrived at the always open store in just a few minutes, even though Officer Dean was diving slow in order to look out for suspicious activity. 

Cutting the lights a few hundred feet away from the entrance made the patrol vehicle harder to see as it turned into the small parking area normally use by the employees and delivery vans that resupplied the store a few times a week.

Officer Dean and Zeph both noticed a sliver of light coming out from the propped open back door.

"Eyes up rook, back doors are usually locked up tight unless they are receiving a delivery, especially at night."

"I see movement. Looked like a hand holding some small. Maybe one of the employees is out back on break."

"You sit tight, while I check it out. Have your SLP at the ready on set to whatever it was your hit those guy with, just in case."

"I got your back, Jack."

"And there it is. Every time I have someone riding along, I hear it. Usually a red flag for trouble too."

*Thomp*

Officer Dean got out of the patrol vehicle closing the door as quietly as he could in an attempt not to startle whoever that had Zeph has seen belonged to.

Light for the opening reflected off his badge alerting whoever it was was just out of view thanks to the partially open door, rendering his attempt at getting the drop on them pointless. 

"Can't a girl smoke in peace, and if you are pestering me who is watching the counter, boss? You know that the autopay on leaving system can be hacked by your average network technician student of the college your boy goes to."

"Not your boss, miss."

Officer Dean moved to where he could get a better view of the women that spoke in a way that made him believe she was an employee of the store just trying to get in a quick smoke break. 

""Damn.""

Jack Dean had to use every ounce of his professional bearing not to say it out loud or outwardly express his immediate reaction to what he was seeing in the dim light.

5'6"

Raven Black hair that reached down to her thin waistline that had to be a size 2 at most.

E E E E cup both in size and number.

Golden eyes and cherry red lips made her already picture-perfect face even more beautiful.

"Look all you like officer. Not like I don't know what the girls make a man think about."

Trying to sound as professional as possible given the situation with the insanity attractive women that was pushing the limits of what her store logo emblazed polo could handle."

"Neph Enforcement, sorry but being that you look the way you do, why are you working graveyard at a shitty place like this, and it is not exactly safe for you to be out here alone in the dark. Also I unfortunately have to ask you about your umm, how do I say this in a professional way, less than common appearance."

"They are all natural Officer, sorry didn't catch your name. I get question about once a month by one of your fellow NEO's that I have not ran into before."

"You have documentation then?"

"Back pocket. I can reach for it or you can just run a face scan inside the back room if the store. Play your cards right and you might even have a shot at seeing them soon. Cameras all over the place and boss is a creep, but I get off in about four hours. Well, if you have what it takes anyway."

** Over radio**

"Cadet Demonbane you can get out and head inside through the front door, I am going to step inside with the nice lady and check her documents in the light."

"Roger, Officer Jack Dean."

"Think you partner knows?"

"He said my full name for your benefit. He is young so hands off him. That and he is something you can't handle."

"You know how to tempt a girl, Officer Jack."

While Officer Jack Dean was in the back storeroom of the always open store Zeph made his way inside the store making a beeline for the drink coolers along the back wall. To get to them he has to walk past the front counter that had a grumpy looking middle-aged man standing behind it that matched the discretion of Junter Fiden's father.

Before Zeph even got the door open on the case full of E drinks Mr. Fiden yelled; "Sareea, you got company. Hurry up and get those cans of yours in here before I have to answer a hundred questions about you that I know this young rookie looking NEO wants to ask. If those things did not get the night shifters to come in here to buy beer just hoping to catch a glimpse, I would fire you over the extra attention we get from NEO HQ."

"Partner is already talking to her out back, but I do have some questions for you Mr. Barry Fiden. So, if you can please put your hands on the counter where I can see them."

*Wham*

"Cadet Demonbane Neph Enforcement Black Badge, do not attempt to run."

"Rooke, you should say that before you shoot the suspect. Call it in."

"Administrator Demonbane to dispatch."

"Go ahead cadet Demonbane. Sorry you said Administrator."

"Inform CCO Si that I am going to make it a family reunion in lockup and have my playground ready for my arrival."

"Say last again."

"Interrogation room N dispatch. Don't pretend you did not copy. He said Administrator for a reason. Our little cruise around the city ended before it even started. I think that our little rookie is not in the same good mood I am."