A large mirror is held up on a wall in a dressing room of Skaia College's Theater. Only the candidate for mayor, Feferi Peixes, is there pacing around the room. She looks at her own reflection pondering herself in her business apparel. A troll full of power and command; Feferi backs away shocked at the similarities between her and the old Empress.

"Hold it together!" She instructs herself. "You're you. This is only nerves. You're going to do fine." Feferi, in hopes of calming down, looks over the notes her campaign manager handed her; nothing too trivial there, or comforting. She then pulls out her phone reading the message from Jade to assure herself where the human and her friends would be sitting. Feferi has looked at that message fourteen times already.

The sea dweller wants Sollux there with her. She wants someone to hold her and tell her she'll be fine. He's been so patient with her so far, and he's assured her that she can look at him when answering. But she wants-no, she needs him with her now. Or anyone who can tell her she can do this debate.

The door to her room opens. Feferi turns around expecting anyone but Officer Vantas to be peering in. "Oh good," he says coming in, "you're decent."

"Karkat? I didn't expect-"

He interrupts her, "No kidding and by the way this isn't going to leave the room."

"Is something wrong?" Feferi eyes him curiously. "You're not upset about me not inviting you yesterday are you? Jade told me and I didn't think-"

Karkat closes the door behind him, "Oh my Grub! Shut up, I'm not some petty wiggler trying to gain favor! I'm here to tell you that you've fucked up."

"What- How did I-?"

"At your stupid meeting yesterday, you involved Jade. And Vriska too I guess . . ." He adds as an afterthought.

"Yes, but Jade and Vriska both said that they were fine-"

"No you idiot, you're as stupid as both of them." Karkat scrunches up his brow, "Listen, I'm about to give you some worthwhile advice. So open up those pathetic holes in your head called ears and hear me out. Don't call out any connections to the Midnight Crew or the Felt."

Feferi is undecided, calling out her opponents connections to mafias was her wild card. She takes a long sip from a nearby glass of water while Karkat waits impatient. "Karkat that information is important to tonight's debate. The people need to know who they are voting for. I need to use it."

"And who the fuck told you that, your half-wit of a manager? Enough of Skaia can already guess that Scratch and Vallens are involved with organized crime. It's written on their fucking faces." Karkat starts to pace around worried and stressed. "I wasn't going to confront you about this, but that-that fucking meeting of yours yesterday! You just had to involve them! Now if you become too much a risk they'll hurt anyone sided with you as a lesson, and I can't allow that!" Karkat looks slightly up at the sea dweller furious, "You should have kept your hands out of this election completely! They'll hurt Jade now!"

"Karkat, I-" Feferi isn't sure what to say just yet, but she quickly finds out. "I'm sorry if you think I'm incapable for this position and that I've put Jade in jeopardy, but Jade is able to care for herself. Unlike you, I know that she is a strong woman who can handle anything thrown at her. And aren't you no longer her mentor? She's not some desperate child you need to roughly coddle." The male troll opens his mouth to protest, but is interrupted. "And I'm not some incompetent, seaweed head that can't help this city or save her friends! Karkat, you are not her guardian! Get over it!"

He backs away intimidated but sputters out, "She's not ready yet."

"I think that if you look back, she's a lot more ready than you think." Karkat looks down on the floor embarrassed with himself.

"You might be right there."

Feferi turns to collapse on a couch, "Are you done harassing me?"

"I didn't mean to-" he sighs, "I did fuck this up didn't I?" Feferi hums in agreement. "I only wanted to help in my fucking toilet of a mind. But I have my own worries, like whether I'll have a job after this election or not." Karkat moves closer to look down at the sea troll who is resting, "But you're not looking so well yourself."

She keeps her eyes closed, "I keep imaging that I'm going to barf on stage. Grub, what if there's a question and I choke? Or if Scratch slams me on stage and I don't have a comeback?" Feferi opens her eyes and pulls Karkat closer by his shirt, "What if I don't have a comeback Karkat!?"

"Oh Grub!" He tries to release from her grip but it is too strong. "Fef-Feferi you'll be great!" In a smaller, much weaker voice he wonders, "How the fuck are you so strong?" But Karkat senses that she is too distracted to answer that question, "You just need to pull out this inner power that you have out!"

Her grip relaxes, "Inner power?"

"Right, inner power!" Karkat continues to try to escape her, but now believes that her sharp nails have cut through his shirt.

Feferi recognizes how uncomfortable the officer is, "Oh!" She immediately releases him embarrassed. "I'm so sorry; I don't know what came over me." The female troll covers her faces with her hands ashamed. Karkat backs away and realizes the damage that Feferi has.

"Are you going to be okay?" He realizes that that's an idiotic question, "Okay . . . time for me to give you real advice, you do have 'inner power.' You know, what's in your blood."

She sighs, "I'm trying to distance myself from the Condescension." Karkat grinds his teeth agitated by the name.

"You still can. Historically, the . . Empress was able to hold power for generations. She had the ability to grasp the attention and have people obey her. No one dared to defy her, and that's why she's famous. Disliked by everyone and known as a tyrant, but at least she's remembered from Alternia history; an ability that not many from Alternia have," he ends appreciating. Feferi tilts her head thoughtfully and a bit amused.

"I would never have fitted you for supporting the Condescension."

Karkat rolls his eyes and grunts, "I'm not. Only the idiotic dunderheads who can't let go of the upper class hierarchy would support her. I just respect how she was able to control a whole species, but she can't control humans apparently." He looks back at the sea troll, "But in all solemnity, it's all in the way you hold yourself. Act confidently and voters will respect that. Trust me Feferi, you'll do fine. You really are the best candidate out there."

"Thank you Officer Vantas."

"You're welcome Future Mayor Peixes." Feferi giggles at the name and turns her head to the side looking relaxed. The other troll turns around to leave but stops, "What the fuck?"

Feferi looks up concerned, "What is it?" Karkat looks back at her.

"Why am I the one helping you out when you have a boyfriend? Shouldn't Sollux be the one here, not me?"

"Sollux," she pauses for a second, "Sollux has been great with me so far. He's been supporting me through everything. Tonight he's just sitting with the audience to get the feel with them, I can understand that."

Karkat rolls his eyes, "So instead of staying backstage encouraging you now and being there for right after the debate, he's out with the audience."

"Ugh, don't phrase it like that. And just when we were starting to be friends," Feferi turns to take a sip of her water.

"We're not-it's not that. You see, Sollux is . . . weird."

"Weird? Seriously? Are you going to start pulling dead fish that'll stink up my performance? Again?"

The officer snarls at her, "This isn't about you. If anything, I'm just clearing shit up about Sollux."

"Jade's right, you really are too mysterious."

"Agh! Fucking Grub shit! This isn't about me being idiotically cliché either! I basically don't know what's with Sollux. I'm not the mysterious one; he is!"

"What's strange about Sollux?" Feferi questions concerned.

Karkat throws his hand up frustrated, "That stupid secret of his."

"Secret?"

"Oh great, his matesprit doesn't know. I guess I'll never fucking find out!"

"Alright Karkat," Feferi frowns, "I think you should leave if you're going to spurt empty bubbles at me."

"No we actually should talk about this," he takes a seat down across the female. "You need to understand something about Sollux that you've made much more complicated for him."

"Hear me out Karkat, I do care about Sollux, but if you're going to talk like a clam then don't bother trying to open up at all!" Karkat looks at her annoyed but persists.

"No one appreciates the dramatics that great cinema has gifted us for our pathetic lives." The sea dweller glares at him; she is not going to deal with sidetracking anymore. "Sollux should be the Chief of Police by now."

Feferi watches him waiting for Karkat to reveal that this is a stupid joke, but that isn't even his style. "How is that? He's only an officer."

"The troll is weird; he's denied any sort of promotion he's offered. I've overheard the Chief wanting him to be his replacement, and that's something for the sweat coaster to endorse a low blood. But Sollux says no. He told me once that he likes his pathetic, meaningless job; a bunch of hoof-beast shit if you ask me."

"I-" Feferi lays back on the couch, "He's never shared anything like that before."

Karkat shrugs his shoulders, "I've managed from observation to figure out an idea of why, and let me tell you that that was absolutely worth avoiding boring paper work."

Feferi feels guilty, "I need to respect his privacy, let him keep his secrets."

"No I feel the same way. I have my own secrets, but the numbskull you're fucking 'accidently' found out. So I figured I need his to even out the field."

"And you two are friends?"

"Yeah and don't fucking question it. I'm not questioning your relationships."

"You just called my matesprit a numbskull and have been questioning his concern for me."

"And I thought you said no more sidetracking." Karkat scoots up in his seat, "Why don't you start saying some stupid fish puns so you can feel less awkward and we can go back on track." Feferi stares at him uncomfortable. "I heard that stupid drunk dial you gave Sollux. You know, the guy we're supposed to be talking about." The two stare at each other annoyed.

Feferi squints her eyes, "Why don't you tell me what's so fishy about Sollux then?"

Karkat could say something about stupid fish puns really do help the situation get at ease, but he should stay on topic more. Perhaps that is why he's never able to finish his work alone and that he needs someone at his side. But isn't that the way life is? One document is organized in life and another one is shortly handed back. It's only with the power of teamwork when the papers are organized and fun can begin. So in the end, Karkat needs to unite his allies together to overcome the greatest enemy of all time: paperwork.

Officer Vantas understands that that is stupid and anyone thinking that is just as well. Fuck you brain. Fuck you.

"Sollux doesn't like attention."

Feferi stares at him concentrating, "That doesn't make sense. He loves spending time with me."

"It's not one-on-one attention that I'm talking about, it's public attention. Having a whole room look at you at once; whatever it is, he hates being looked at." Karkat frowns to himself, "Probably why he doesn't take interviews too."

"Oh Grub!" Feferi rubs her face, "And I've pulled him into a highly public spot! No wonder he's been off."

"Honestly, I can't believe he's still with you."

The sea dweller pulls her knees up to comfort herself, "I know. Breaking up with your matesprit during a campaign is privacy suicide. It's better to stay with me for that to leave me. I wonder when he'll be able to leave if it's just to keep himself isolated."

"Feferi," Karkat's guiltiness causes him to realize his mistake, "I totally be wrong. And I'm sure Sollux loves you. He's stayed with you so far; why would he even date you in the first place if you're such a public figure?" He leans back a little, "Please don't grab me again."

"Oh I won't. I just feel lost right now."

"No no no no no. I'm not fucking your feelings up again. Get . . happy again or something! Damn it say another fish pun!" Feferi does not listen to him; Karkat's words have little effect. "Feferi, I'm going to give you this last bit of brain knowledge and then I'll leave before I fuck things up again. Sollux is a fucking baby. It's his fault, not yours, that he's keeping secrets from you. You didn't know; therefore, not your fault. Let Sollux tell you when he's ready. And you know what else? I highly doubt that that loser nerd even has a decent secret. He probably sings teenage girl pop songs."

Feferi lightly laughs, "You're right Karkat. You know what, I'm positive you're right. Not that he listens to songs like that, but it's nothing to worry about. I'll just wait for him to tell me, I love him too much to let that get in our way."

"Yeah well just as long as I didn't fuck things up with you. I don't need Sollux against me."

"Right . . . By the way, what blackmail does Sollux have on you?"

Karkat's mouth turns thin, "Uh we had a minor mishap during combat practice. Something just, 'leaked out.'"

"And that's enough for you to look for blackmail on Sollux? Sorry, but that doesn't really help my confidence over his secret."

"Well how do you feel about the debate?"

"Actually," Feferi thinks about it for a second, "I do feel more confident."

"Great," Karkat stands up and Feferi gasps from noticing the holes in his shirt.

"I am so sorry! I can't believe that I did that!"

The officer looks disapprovingly at his shirt, "It's fine, I guess. I'll probably wear my coat all night."

"Hold on one second," she interrupts him reaching for her purse. "I ruined it; I can at the very least pay for a new one." Feferi hands him a large sum of cash that makes Karkat's eyes go wide.

The male troll hesitantly grabs the bills and looks through them, "Feferi, this is a lot. Way more than what the shirt cost."

"Please, take it."

Now Officer Vantas knows that a greater man would refuse to take the money, but he is not a man. "Alright thanks," he says shoving it into his coat pocket. Karkat puts on the coat and says goodbye to the sea dweller who feels certain that this debate will go great for her.

And so it does.

Skaia's debates were once a profound engagement that created thrilling questions and caused the audience to debate their decision themselves. However, with the passage of time and the change of today's media, a debate in Skaia could only be comparable to a showy beauty pageant. One that causes the moderator, this night it's Channel Nine's female news anchor Kharlotti, extreme anger for having to use questions from social internet media like .com. And as a result, Skaia hears responses such as . . .

Mayor Vallens, "Of course Skaia has the best parades. Who could say otherwise?"

Doctor Scratch, "We need more puppets! Puppets will make this city shine. Imagine all the birthday parties for children now having a puppet show. Beautiful isn't it?"

Feferi Peixes, "Any half-decent party needs to have the perfect banquet, orchestra, scenery, and not have the host get kidnapped in the middle of the party. Isn't that right Mayor Vallens?"

But these debates never hit the hard questions that can affect the citizens' future, but the people of Skaia don't want that. They don't want to know who can run their city the best if their candidate is able to get the office, but they want someone who looks good leading them. The citizens know that their city is the sewers in comparison to the Capital, but they want someone who can make them feel like everything's okay. This is in no way a good idea for them to live by, but if the mayor can make them feel prestige, then the mayor can do whatever he or she wants. Luckily no mayor has abused this power as they want to run a decent city and not look like idiots. So in the end, both the citizens and the mayor want their city to improve, just not for the same or right reasons.

And back in her dressing room, Feferi is greeted by her close friends. They send her congratulations and assurances that she did great, the troll politely smiles and graciously accepts their comments while pointing out a few of her own mistakes.

Feferi then, to everyone's surprise, thanks Karkat. "I don't know if I would have done so well without you Karkat. I would have been a fish out water!"

"Uh," the troll officer looks warily around him, "It's not a problem. Anytime I suppose?"

"Really?" Feferi tilts her head coming up with an idea.

Officer Harley prods her partner in the shoulder, "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" He whispers back.

The sea dweller should have heard this short conversation, but after her minor thanks to Karkat, her campaign manager stepped in.

"Alright Feferi, you did good. Everybody loved you. Well not everybody, but you probably gained some votes. Now I'm going to set you up for a party . . . and I'm sorry but the boyfriend has to go."

Feferi tightly grabs her matesprit by the arm, "Excuse me?"

"I know you think it's cute, but the polls say that he's too low; they think you're faking it with him."

Vriska inclines down to Jade's ear, "Sollux probably gets that a lot."

"Sollux and I are not faking anything!" Feferi argues, "He is my matesprit!"

The other troll holds up a clipboard, "You can say that as much as you want, but the polls would rather have you date a troll with a higher blood color."

Sollux tries to relax his girlfriend, but she is relentless, "No. I'm tired of changing myself for the public. I deserve better than that. Uzekib, you're fired."

He shakes his head, "Don't even try to fire me, you'll lose by a landslide without me!"

"And if I that happens then I would still be me. You're fired." Frustrated, the troll leaves with shaking fists. Feferi turns back to her friends exhausted.

Sollux grabs her hand and stares into her eyes, "FF, you didn't have to do that. We could have tried something else, or-"

"No. I don't want any lies or secrets to come between us. I love you." Sollux brings a tiny smile to his face and kisses her forehead, but he cannot see the mild disappoint Feferi has on her face.

Karkat makes a disgusted noise, "Ugh, I'm going to leave before this gets any more graphic."

"Yeaaaaaaaah," Vriska says edging away, "This is weird."

"You two are horrible," Jade insults, but she turns back to look at the two matesprits who are now sharing multiple light kisses. "Okay yeah let's get out of here."

Feferi abruptly pulls away from kisses, "Wait Karkat!" She walks over to him so he cannot escape, "I want you to be my campaign manager!"

"That the stupidest idea I've ever heard on the face of this brainless planet. Why would you want me to be your campaign manager, I don't even like the people you're trying to win over! I don't like anybody!"

The sea dweller continues to smile, "Well okay then, not my campaign manager, but how about motivator? You were wonderful to talk to before, I would like that. Besides, you said anytime, and I would pay you for your services; a motivator is a real job." Karkat can only stare at her bewildered, and he isn't the only one in the room doing the same thing. "Karkat," Feferi continues, "I know you care about this city, you're a police officer! So please help me with this one thing, I can handle speeches on my own, but I need someone to help me prepare. Please?"

Karkat rubs his face frustrated, "There's no fucking way out of this is there?"

"Well you could say no."

"Right, like it would be that easy. Fine! I'll help your stupid campaign."

Feferi squeals in delight, "Thank you so much Karkat! This election will go swimmingly with my friends by my side!" She then bounces over back to Sollux excited.

However Karkat is frozen in place bewildered, "Friends? Oh fuck me."

AN: I've been writing PoliceForcestuck for a whole year . . . wow. But thanks to everyone who's supported me thus far and has enjoyed the series. I'm sorry that updates have been slow lately, but my life has other demands from me. But I do intend to see this series to the end. But seriously thanks everyone for reading!