Part III

Winter 2070

The Police Corvega hummed in harmony with the tires across asphalt. Reed and Clavel drove high above the city on one of the Commonwealth over passes. Advertisements for Poseidon Energy and Tesla Magazine passed overhead as the Corvega rolled onward.

The two Officers were en route to the district precinct to talk to detectives about a string of robberies the higher ups seemed to think were connected. If that were true, then they probably started with the Tailor that had been robbed in the autumn of '69. The next set of stores included a parts store and then a jewelry store, followed by another parts store and then a Red Rocket. Many of the break ins had similar, what Reed and Clavel both thought to be, calling cards in the form of Neckties.

A war bond billboard went by as the two men drove onward. Which reminded Reed of the phone call he had gotten from Clavel's mother Teresa.

"Hear anything about Martin?" Reed asked. Martin was Clavel's younger brother. According to Mrs. Teresa, Martin's armor unit had been deployed to Alaska to fend off the reds. So far the campaign had been slow from what Reed could tell.

"Yea," was all Clavel said at first. A deep breath later and, "turns out he's been stationed in some place called Cordova?"

"Sounds like a fishing village," Reed said

"Something like that," Clavel said, "I looked it up the other day, nothing really their but the mouth of a river. Something like a hundred miles from Anchorage."

"Sounds safe at least," Reed said, "what's he doing?"

"Coastal Battery stuff," said Clavel, "Harassing Chinese shipping"

When the Corvega finally pulled off of the bridge and signaled for a right. As the car passed apartments on either side Clavel noted the blanket of snow that lay piled on the roofs and sidewalks, which seemed oddly lively for a Monday morning. Despite the cold, the Officers could see groups of men and women standing or sitting on the steps and rails, walking up and down the sidewalk or otherwise just staring at the Corvega. Reed knew contempt when he saw it. Sharing a look with Clavel, who then grabbed the radio mic, he continued driving on.

"1 Seira-7 to dispatch," said Clavel into the mic.

"Go ahead 1 Seira-7," radioed a feminin voice a moment later.

"Dispatch," said Clavel, "1 Seira-7 requesting information on civil unrest in the area of, 1600 McArthur Parkway and 700 Chase Street? Over,"

"1 Seira-7," said Dispatch, "Standby for information."

The two men drove on, the hair on Reed's neck was standing up and a cold sweat ran down Clavel's back. When they stopped at an intersection, they could see people lining the streets waving signs and shouting at the local City hall. The harvest of 2069 had been poor and protest of food prices had been sweeping the entire East Coast for the better part of the winter. Farms in the more southern and western states were all that were keeping the country going it seemed. People had been begging for weeks for lower prices but the corporations had so far refused, citing supply and demand as the reason for the increase. Which was probably right, but the average citizen distrusted most corporations and were now demanding the government do something about it.

"1 Seira-7, recommend you avoid area immediate of City Hall due to widespread protest."

"No shit," Clavel muttered, "try right?" he said to Reed, who nodded and pulled onto the street. Clavel radioed to Dispatch that they had not gotten word in time to avoid the crowd and were now on the street directly north of city hall.

"Roger that, 1 Seira-7," the female voice said, "Proceed with caution."

The Corvega drove slowly east as the protest roared. The sound of hundreds of people muffled by the sound of the engine and the Corvega's windows still rattled Reed and his partner. Clavel shifted uncomfortable and swore aloud when a group of protesters ran out in front of the car beating on the Corvega's hood as they passed. The two men glanced at each other and silently agreed to let the group go. It was easier to wash a car than to arrest five men in the midst of a protest.

When the car finally passed into the next intersection Reed started breathing again. They turned down a series of streets as directed by Dispatch until they came to the parking garage of the Police Station. The door closed behind them as they drove under the building into an open space. Clavel took the shotgun from the rack and Reed the closed bag housing a 10mm submachine gun and four 30 round magazines.

After they went through the door into the station they were greeted by a sergeant and medic who asked them repeatedly if they were alright and if they needed an examination. "Well I'm glad you boys are alright," the Sergeant told them when the medic had gone, "We've actually been waiting on you, so if you don't mind joining us?"