Chapter 9: Regret

Chapter 9: Regret

So, let me get this straight. You climbed up to the top of the hyper-scraper, tossed your pet snake over the edge, and then jumped after it, just for a thrill?

This is an offensive oversimplification of the events that have transpired, but it is not entirely inaccurate.

Officer Maloney groaned in frustration. Hed left the station for this? Talk about a tremendous waste of his time. Though, it wasnt as if he was needed elsewhere. Just the opposite, in fact. This was the first time in about two months that hed had to respond to a call since Dave-156 was a model mega-city with an astronomically low crime rate. It was nothing like the 3BEs frontier colonies, where policemen like Officer Maloney allegedly had to sleep with sidearms under their pillows. That was why the man wouldnt be caught dead complaining about his job. Indeed, any policeman would be happy if their services were hardly required, and not just because it meant they got to collect a paycheck for doing nothing.

That said, whenever Officer Maloney did have to respond to a call within his precinct, he tried his best to perform his duties to the utmost of his abilities. A job well done was its own reward and whatnot. That was why he was so annoyed at this particular incident. All he had to do was investigate a reported public disturbance, something about unlicensed skydiving by the sound of it. However, between the conflicting eyewitness reports, the inconclusive security camera footage, and this nutty black-haired birds inane statements, the whole thing had turned into a bloody circus. He had half a mind to just get back in his patrol car and sod off back to the station rather than deal with this mess.

Alright, miss Mags, he collected himself. If thats your final statement then Im afraid Ill have to bring you in.

Where is it you intend to take me?

To the station, of course.

For what purpose?

Im arresting you, he stated the obvious.

On what charge?

Well, you basically just confessed to skydiving without a permit. Thatll be a fine and a few days in lock-up.

The girls unfathomably deep eyes narrowed.

Skydiving. Noun, she spoke in a soft monotone. The sport or activity of jumping from an aircraft and performing acrobatic manoeuvres in the air under free fall before landing by parachute.

Yes? I know what the word means, miss.

Then you will agree that my actions do not qualify as skydiving as I did not jump from an aircraft, nor did my descent involve a parachute.

Uh huh, he scratched his head in confusion. That is an excellent point, miss. However, Im afraid I now have to bring you in for smart-mouthing a police officer.

Despite the mans crude phrasing, there was actually a law like that, and Maggie had no defense against it since she was, in fact, smart-mouthing him.

I comprehend. I will comply.

Very good. Please follow me to the back of my vehicle.

Will it be permissible to retain ownership of AzgodKalar.

Hm? Ah, your pet snake? Sure, you can hold onto it.

He wasnt technically supposed to allow that, but he didnt want to upset the clearly unstable girl. The overprotective way she kept cradling and petting that thing made him think she might snap and cause a scene if asked to leave it behind. Not to mention her charges were about as minor as they could get. All that would happen to her was that theyd run a background check on her while she sat in lock-up for a bit. Shed then be let go with a stern warning. The station was only a few kilometers away from the scene of the incident, so shed probably get home within the hour.

Officer Maloney escorted Maggie to his patrol vehicle. It was a standard four-seater sedan frame painted white with blue and yellow checkered stripes on the sides and roof. The girl obediently parked herself in the rear while the policeman hopped in the front where the control console was. However, he didnt start flipping switches or reach for the flight wheel. He instead sent a mental prompt through his implants and the car did the rest. Its gravity engine hummed to life and the autopilot plotted a course back to the station. This left Maloneys hands and attention free, allowing him to review his confusing case notes one more time.

Several concerned citizens had called in to report a person falling out of the sky and landing on the high road completely out of nowhere. Upon his arrival two minutes later, Officer Maloney had been directed towards the suspect currently in the back of his vehicle. Apparently this was her first time on the high road and she was having a gander at all the curious high-class establishments. Between her unfamiliarity with the area, exotic appearance, foreign accent, and lack of a PnP implant, it seemed obvious she was a tourist. The background check back at the station would reveal more on that.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

No! Its about you! he slightly raised his voice. That police officer told me you threw your pet off of the top of the bloody hyper-scraper! You cant do that!

Why not?

The confused look on her face said louder than any words that she completely failed to understand why this was an issue.

Because hes your pet, Joe grew exasperated.

In what way is this an issue?

In what way!? he paused to stop raising his voice further. Its a living creature, Maggie. You cant just treat it as property. By becoming his owner, you also take on the moral responsibility to care for the little guy and keep him safe. He trusts you - literally puts his life in your hands - and you betrayed that!

I was not made aware of such an obligation, she tried to excuse herself.

No, of course, not. Because nobody told you the obvious, Joe said in a huff. Ill be honest, Maggie. Im not angry with you, just disappointed. All this talk of not wanting to appear like a heartless monster, and then you run off and do stuff like throw innocent sneckos off of buildings. The worst part is, all of this couldve been avoided if you had just talked to me about it. So why didnt you?

I did not wish to disturb your rest.

Then wait until Im done sleeping. Or just wake me up if its urgent. Whats the point in me being your guide or whatever if youre just gonna run off and do this crazy shit without saying a word? Youre supposed to be smarter than that, arent you?

Joe backed off and rubbed his tired face while Maggie reflected on her actions. His harsh words rang true. Her tendency to take her experiments way too far was precisely why she had bonded herself to him in the first place. And yet, knowing that, she had slipped into her old habits the instant his back was turned. She had been so eager to conduct her arguably unnecessary fear research that she had ended up going against her moral obligations not only to AzgodKalar, but also to herself. This realization exposed Maggie to yet another feeling she wasnt all that familiar with, albeit certainly not a pleasant one.

I am sorry.

Her voice was so quiet that it was barely audible, and the look on her face was one of utter remorse. If anyone were to see her like this, they would most likely assume she had accidentally murdered fifteen people or something. Her guilt was so palpable that it made Joe wonder if he had perhaps been too hard on her. He was definitely in the right, and she absolutely deserved worse punishment than a time-out and a scolding, but he couldnt help himself. He did have a soft spot for her, after all.

Haaaah, he sighed heavily. Look, its fine as long as you understand and promise not to do that again.

That was something Joe didnt need to worry about, as Maggie had already decided to never repeat that experiment long before the stern talking-to. She had succeeded in experiencing fear, and frankly speaking, once was enough for her.

Also, he continued, Im not saying you should ask my permission for every single thing you do. Blimey, Ill probably go insane if you actually did that. All Im saying is that maybe - just maybe - the next time you get an idea that puts a life in danger, run it by me first?

Okay, she squeaked out.

Theres a good girl.

The man put on his usual carefree smile and gently patted the upset abominable intelligence on the head. It was a simple gesture, but one that carried with it the mysterious power of comfort.

Also I legit feel like Im about to pass out, so could you carry me back to the pod?

And like that, the moment was ruined. Or improved, depending on the point of view. Maggie was clearly on the latter side of that fence if her resurfaced smile was any indication.

I shall accommodate your request.

Of course, since Joe hadnt specified how exactly he would like to be carried, the girl opted for the most efficient method at her disposal, which was to fling him over her shoulder as if he were a bag of old yams. It was more than a little humiliating if Joe had to be honest, but her skin was soft and warm-cool and she smelled nice, so he ended up falling asleep almost immediately. Maggie also took the liberty of lifting AzgodKalar up to her lips with her free hand and whispered an apology to it.

She was, of course, fully aware that the witless critter could not understand her, but it just seemed like the right thing to do.