Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the characters of Kung Fu Panda. Any other characters are mine and out of my own head.

7/10/2011

The Man, The Book, and The Ruby

By Toonguy25

Chapter 1

The whole day was just another day on the beat of his city. Well, not exactly his own city, just his neighborhood. Andersonville. And if you wanted to learn more about the neighborhood just research it for all he cared. Tomas (Tommy) Lindstrom had lived in this particular part of the city all his life with the oncoming changes to it and everything. The whole neighborhood was becoming more culturally diverse with Middle-Eastern, Thai, Mexican, and other nationalities coming in starting their own businesses. It was traditionally a Swedish enclave and he wished he could keep it that way. Alas, things change over time and he didn't quite care for it.

Tommy was about 30 years of age, going on 31. Yet, he still managed to keep a negative attitude about everything. The politicians of the city, the politicians in general, and yet he valued his life in his one bedroom apartment where he called it his "other office." Being a police officer brought a lot of grief to him sometimes. For example, after telling a young Mexican man to drop his pistol, the man refused and pointed it at Tommy, leaving him no choice to fire HIS pistol and take the man's life. Or so he wished that it wasn't the way it was supposed to go.

Unfortunately, Tommy had a way of being himself as he put it. He didn't like the whole idea of things changing constantly. To cope with this sort of thing, he would drink. And his beverage of choice while he was off the job was vodka. In fact, he kept an empty flask inside his refrigerator. He wasn't an alcoholic, but he did have a habit that was hard for him to break.

Then came one day. One Friday as a matter of fact. The day just before he had decided he needed to have his vacation off.

"You won't do it will you?" said a fellow officer who had the name V. Krykowski.

"What do you think?" came a sarcastic Tommy who was very unenthusiastic about what he was almost dared to do on his week off.

"About Chinatown?" Krykowski replied.

"No, absolutely not. Why the hell would I even go down there? It's not even close to my part of town. And if I knew better it will never be.

"You know you're going to do it. It's practically the only exotic place YOU'RE going to go on this planet as far as I know."

"Geez, Vinny. Stop pressuring me. Look, if you really want me to go I'll do it. But I'm not going to have ANY fun down there."

"Shape up, Tomas."

"Tommy! God you sound like my mother when you say that!"

"Seriously, you will learn to appreciate things in life that are different. You might even find something good to eat down there and maybe even something else."

"What was that last part supposed to mean?"

"I don't know. You might find something cool about that neighborhood."

Tommy just sighed. "Okay Vinny, you win. While I'm off I'm gonna go down there, see what I can have for lunch and IF I get adventurous I might stop at one of the many stores."

Vinny patted him on the back. "That's the way to go! Oh, and by the way. Take it easy while you're on break."

"Look, Vin. I know martial arts. I have for about ten years. I think I can handle anything that comes my way."

"All right." And with that Vinny just walked out of the way of Tommy's desk.

After that whole conversation, Tommy just continued with his load of paperwork. One real thing about his job he absolutely loathed.

End of Chapter 1.

Yes, I know this isn't sounding like a fanfic at all, but if you just wait for the next chapter things will start sounding like one. Don't worry folks. It's on the way!