Chapter 41 (1/2)
It was a grenade. A riot grenade, to be exact. Tear gas.
This world was insane.
Gregoir had returned to the changing room in short order, with a bundle of legal forms for Dan and Graham to sign. He had either completely failed to notice, or had completely disregarded, the increased tension between the two of them. Based off the giant blonde's ever-sunny disposition, Dan was betting the latter.
Their little party was currently gathered up inside Gregoir's squad car, slowly puttering down a suburban street while the gregarious officer explained the ins and outs of policework in a large city.
”If it were ten years ago, we would be walking a beat,” Gregoir reminisced nostalgically. ”Foot patrol is, even now, a staple of the job. Interacting with the citizens that we protect is essential. It builds trust, and a visible presence can deter crimes far more effectively than physical action. Few criminals are willing to brave direct conflict.”
After a moment, he added, ”Though the number has been rising of late. By a great deal, sadly.”
”Surely they are not so brazen as to act in the light of day?” Graham demanded in an affronted tone. He looked coiled and taut, ready to leap out of his seat and personally attack whatever fool disrupted the peace in the city.
The effect was slightly ruined by his place in the backseat.
”You'll find that brazen is an accurate descriptor for many criminals,” Gregoir remarked simply.
An easy turn of the wheel brought the vehicle out of the peaceful neighborhood and onto a main road. The police cruiser was standard issue for the city, a large SUV with four passenger seats and a caged off rear for criminal transport. The doors were thick and heavy, clearly reinforced to act as hard cover, and the windows were the same.
”These are troubled times, my friends. Recruitment has gone down by forty percent over the past five years. The foundation of the APD remains strong, but we need new blood. The sharks can sense weakness. They are beginning to circle.” Gregoir's voice remained chipper, but his smile had dimmed.
”...How bad is it?” Dan asked quietly. He couldn't help but remember walking face first into an armed robbery. In broad daylight. Of a hotel bank. Had the thief been stupid, bold, or just desperate?
Gregoir hummed to himself, bobbing his head left and right. ”It's not dire quite yet. The citizenry still hold faith in us. Our individual strength is peerless, at least compared to our enemies. We are simply spread too thin.”
”The APD has their own set of upgrades, right?” Dan interjected, trying to drive away the grim mood.
”Quite so!” Gregoir confirmed with a nod. ”We have, I believe, around a dozen upgrade options that are restricted to law enforcement.”
”How does that work? You guys don't start recruiting until...” Dan turned towards Graham. ”How old are you, anyway?”
The question earned him a scowl.
”I am twenty years old, Newman,” Graham replied acidly, ”and, before you ask, I do not yet have an upgrade.”
Dan cocked an eyebrow. The student was waiting until he joined the police department, until he had access to their superior power sets? That was an impressive amount of dedication, considering how widespread upgrades were, in this world. It couldn't have been easy to remain powerless.
”Is that a, uh,” Dan gestured at Graham, ”a prep school thing? No upgrade until you've graduated?”
A moment passed, and Dan added, ”If you keep that up, your face'll get stuck.”
The scowl slid off Graham's face like quicksilver. The change was shockingly fast, from furious to blank, and Dan almost recoiled at the dissonance. Graham took a deep, slow breath, visibly steadying himself and his expression smoothed back into a neutral sneer.
”An upgrade that targets physique achieves its maximum effect on the average male when applied between the ages of twenty and twenty-five. While the increase is irrelevant for common citizens, for those of us who seek to protect society, this minor advantage is critical,” Graham recited the words robotically, as if he was quoting straight out of a textbook.
”Neato,” Dan replied dryly, ignoring the violent twitch his dismissal provoked from the student.
He turned to Gregoir and jabbed his thumb towards the backseat. ”Is he gonna be okay without an upgrade?”
Graham began to angrily sputter protests, but Gregoir's genial voice interrupted him.
”Certainly! Though your concern for your comrade is touching, these ride alongs are only meant to be a taste of the lifestyle of law enforcement!” Gregoir raised his hand and, with a whap of displaced air, clenched it into a tight fist. ”Though you may one day be called to put your life at risk, it is not this day. That is why I am here.”
Dan and Graham spoke at the same time.
”Oh, good.”
”Why not!?”
Conversation stalled briefly as the older pair processed what had just been asked.
Gregoir found the senior's eyes in his rear-view mirror. His voice was low, and as serious as Dan had ever heard it.
”Mr. Graham, you should not seek out conflict. Not now, when you are untrained and vulnerable; not even later, once you've come into your full strength.” Gregoir spoke slowly, emphasizing every word. ”We do not hope that those we protect find danger, we merely protect them when danger inevitably finds them.”
”....I understand,” Graham replied stiffly. ”My apologies.”
The car was silent for a time. Only the heavy thrum of the engine and the dull roar of wind against the window broke the quiet. Gregoir guided the SUV onto a freeway, driving towards downtown Austin. His face was, by his standards, exceedingly grim. There was no smile to be seen.
After several more awkward minutes, Dan spoke up. ”Where are we going?”
The question seemed to snap Gregoir out of his funk. The smile returned, blinding in its intensity.
”As I was saying earlier, interacting with the community is key. With that in mind, we will be focusing on civil disturbances and smaller issues such as misdemeanors. Easier problems, just to get a feel for policing. I'm on a separate channel,” Gregoir flicked the radio at his waist, ”so we won't be tempted by anything out of your league. Currently, we're heading to a small hotel just outside downtown. The owner called in while we were leaving. He claims that someone is stealing electricity from him.”
”A milk run,” Graham observed. Though his tone was even, his arms were crossed across his chest in the timeless pose of a pouting child.
”You object?” Gregoir asked with a disarming grin.
”No— of course not,” Graham denied hurriedly. His hands untucked from beneath his elbows and he held them in a warding gesture. ”I will follow the directives of my commanding officer.”