Officers Ramirez and Tate
The rhythmic hum of the cruiser’s engine filled the cabin as Officer Ramirez tapped his fingers idly on the steering wheel. He was driving, as usual; he preferred it that way. Tate, his partner, sat in the passenger seat, thumbing through his notes on a notepad he always kept handy.
“Think they’re ever going to fix that light on 12th?” Ramirez asked, half-joking as they waited at an intersection. The light ahead flickered faintly, the green hanging on for dear life.
Tate snorted, not looking up.
“Doubt it. They’ll replace it when it falls on someone’s car. Maybe.”“City priorities,” Ramirez muttered, easing the car forward as the light finally turned.
The two had just finished a routine patrol through a quiet residential area. The biggest excitement of the day so far had been a call about a missing dog that turned out to be napping in its backyard. Now, they were en route to grab coffee and finish their shift in relative peace.
Tate glanced at his watch.
“We’ve got an hour left. Think it’ll stay quiet?”“Don’t jinx it,” Ramirez said quickly, shooting him a warning look.
“You say something like that, and we’ll get—”The radio cut him off, crackling to life.
“All units, all units, 10-90 in progress at Nova City Bank. Possible armed robbery with multiple hostiles. Meta-level threats reported. Backup requested immediately. Units in proximity, respond.”Both officers straightened in their seats, the air inside the car suddenly heavy. Ramirez’s hand instinctively went to the lights, flipping them on as the cruiser lit up in red and blue. He grabbed the mic.
“Dispatch, this is Unit 3-2. En route to Nova City Bank. ETA three minutes.”“Copy, 3-2,” the dispatcher replied. “Advise upon arrival. SWAT is in route.”Ramirez shot a quick glance at Tate.
“Guess you jinxed it after all.”Tate sighed, shoving his notebook into the glove compartment.
“Figures. Let’s just get there and do our job.”As the cruiser sped toward downtown, weaving through traffic, both officers shifted into a focused silence. Ramirez kept his eyes locked on the road, pushing the speed limit with calculated precision, while Tate mentally ran through potential scenarios. Neither spoke much—they didn’t need to. Years of partnership had taught them how to settle into the rhythm of a tense situation without wasting words.
By the time they arrived, the chaos was already unfolding, and the bank loomed ahead like a fortress under siege. Ramirez brought the car to a halt behind the growing line of police vehicles, his pulse steady but elevated.
“Let’s hope SWAT’s close,” he muttered as they stepped out and joined the front line.
*******
The scene outside Nova City Bank was a flurry of tension, the air heavy with the overlapping sounds of alarms, sirens, and the occasional crackle of radios. Officer Ramirez stood near the barricade, his hand resting on the grip of his pistol as his sharp eyes scanned the area. Beside him, Officer Tate kept his stance firm, his weapon held low but ready. Both men had their orders: hold the line, secure the perimeter, and wait for SWAT.
“You think the crew’s still holed up inside?” Ramirez asked, his voice steady but low.
Tate nodded, not taking his eyes off the bank’s front doors.
“No way they’re gone. Power’s back, alarm’s going, and the place is still lit up like a Christmas tree. SWAT’ll handle it, but until then, we hold.”Ramirez gave a quick nod, but his focus shifted as movement caught his eye. A man was approaching, his steps deliberate and unhurried. His presence immediately set both officers on edge. The man—Dante—moved with an air of absolute confidence, his lean but solid frame accentuated by his dark, fitted clothing. His face was sharp, and his gaze carried an intensity that seemed to cut through the chaos around him.
“Sir, stop right there,” Ramirez called out, stepping into the man’s path with a hand raised. Tate quickly mirrored the action, his pistol held low but ready.
“This area’s restricted. Turn around and leave, now,” Tate ordered, his voice sharp and authoritative.
The man didn’t even slow down. His cold, piercing gaze swept over both officers as if they were little more than obstacles in his way.
"Hey! You can’t go in there!" "I'm not asking permission." he said flatly, his tone dismissive.
Ramirez stepped forward, reaching for his baton.
“I said—”“Leave it,” Tate interrupted, his jaw tight as he watched Dante disappear into the chaos beyond the barricade.
“Guy’s a problem, but he’s not ours to solve right now.”Ramirez frowned, still glancing back in the direction Dante had gone. He keyed his radio.
“Dispatch, Unit 3-2. We’ve got a situation at the front barricade. A civilian forced his way through, ignored our orders, and entered the perimeter. Male, lean build, dark clothing. Possibly armed, though we didn’t confirm.”A crackle of static preceded the dispatcher’s calm reply.
“Copy, 3-2. We’ll notify units inside the perimeter to intercept and assess. Maintain your position at the barricade. Do not pursue.”Ramirez looked at Tate, frustration clear on his face.
“You hear that? We just let him walk in, and now it’s someone else’s problem.”“Orders are orders,” Tate said flatly, scanning the area again.
“It’s a mess in there already. We can’t leave our post every time someone thinks they’re the exception. SWAT’s almost here. Let them handle it.”Ramirez sighed, nodding reluctantly.
“Yeah, you’re right. Just hope whoever gets him knows what they’re dealing with.”“Me too,” Tate muttered, eyes narrowing as he returned his focus to the bank’s entrance.
Before the tension could settle, a deep, guttural cry tore through the night. Both officers instinctively turned toward the source. Emerging from the shadows was a creature unlike anything they’d ever seen. Its sleek, glistening skin shimmered under the flashing lights, its seal-like features contorted with a strange, predatory intelligence. Powerful humanoid limbs rippled with muscle as it moved forward with a blend of grace and menace. Finley.
“What in God’s name…” Tate murmured; his voice steady but filled with disbelief.
Ramirez’s grip on his pistol tightened.
“Focus. Whatever that is, it’s not here to help.”The creature locked its eyes on an armed guard standing at the bank’s entrance. Before anyone could react, it lunged. Its leap was impossibly high, clearing the barricade in a single, fluid motion. It crashed into the guard with devastating force, knocking the man to the ground.
Ramirez brought his weapon up instinctively but held fire, the scene unfolding too quickly for a clear shot.
“Tate, call it in! Now!” Ramirez barked; his weapon trained on the creature but hesitant to fire without a clear shot.
“Dispatch, this is Unit 3-2,” Tate said, his voice calm but urgent into the radio.
“We have an unidentified hostile, possible meta, engaged with personnel at the bank entrance. Repeat: hostile is non-human. Requesting immediate backup and tactical response.”Finley moved with eerie determination, leaping through the bank’s broken doors and vanishing into the chaos inside.
Ramirez exhaled sharply, his mind racing.
“First that guy, now this… What the hell’s happening here?”Tate squared his shoulders, his gaze hard.
“Doesn’t matter. We hold. No one else gets through, and we keep this perimeter locked down until backup arrives.”Ramirez nodded, his focus snapping back to the barricade. The approaching wail of sirens grew louder, but the night was far from over.
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