The last three weeks at the Academy went by quickly. It was our capstone and graduation prep time back in New Braintree. No time away was ever granted during that period, and we spent all our time trying to show what we had learned.
I excelled at the PT evaluation. I crushed everyone in the timed run, the push-up and sit-up competitions, and the so-called obstacle course, known as the Confidence Course. We did traffic stops and radio use scenarios. They sampled our report writing and our ability to respond to domestic calls, OUI calls, and officer-safety drills. We had a firearm re-qualification, a defensive tactics test, and a use-of-force review.
Finally, Cam and I partnered up to do our capstone scenario. The scenario was different for every duo, but for us, it involved a response to a traffic crash call. Our instructors were there to evaluate proper patrol tactics, radio procedures, and decision-making. Ironically, it was about a hit-and-run in the city. That distracted me at first, but I managed to refocus and bring my A game to the scenario. Cam, too, rose to the occasion, and we both ended up hitting it out of the park.
We spent the four days leading up to graduation prepping for the ceremony and doing our final inspections. For us, that meant pressing our uniforms, mirror-shining our boots, and properly shaping our hats. As a platoon, we were also responsible for making our barracks pristine.
The graduation ceremony was slated for Wednesday, November 26, at the DCU Center in Worcester. Families of the graduating recruits and State Police leadership were invited. During the ceremony, recruits would be sworn in and receive their badges. Immediately after, new troopers would be assigned to a troop somewhere in the state. The chance that Cam and I were assigned to the same troop was slim to none. We’d known this going in, but I could tell that Cam still held out hope we would get to work together every day during our year-long probationary period.
When the day came, we processed into the medium-sized venue, and the ceremony began. I had attended a few concerts, hockey games, and monster truck rallies at the DCU Center over the years, but this time, it felt completely different. I was actually down on the floor.
During the opening speech, I felt a nagging in the corner of my mind. I recognized it as something that Lanie had told me about after our little race around the Fellsway. She had talked with me for another hour in the parking lot that fateful night, despite having only agreed to give me five minutes. Even better, after that night, we had messaged nearly every day of the last three weeks, and I’d felt myself truly accepting my strange new reality.
Lanie was dry and funny over text, and just about everything she’d told me had been really helpful. In one of our earliest conversations, she helped me understand the app much better.
songbird: You know you don’t really need the Elysium Pro anymore, right? It’s part of you now.
Max: What do you mean?
songbird: Ever notice how the phone appears with you whenever you need it? Proper creepy, that.
Max: “Need” is a strong word.
songbird: You know what I mean, smartass. Try to visualize the interface in your mind. Takes a bit of practice, mind. Just picture the screen in your thick skull.
Max: Sounds like fun.
songbird: Oh, thrilling, I’m sure. Almost as much fun as texting you, love.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
I think I was growing on her. At least I hoped I was. Snapping back to the present, I tried my best to access the interface in my mind by focusing on that nagging feeling. I had worked on it for the last few weeks and had gotten…very mediocre at accessing the interface this way. Pulling it up, I read the new message.
songbird: You clean up pretty good for a townie.
My head shot around at the crowd sitting all around us. It was stadium seating, and we were at the lowest level. There were too many people to pick her out quickly. Inside, I couldn’t help feeling a swell of pride that someone had come to celebrate this day after all. My mom had died when I was little, and my dad shut down after that. My uncle Tommy had taken me in and done his best with me. But he was always busy, and I realized at a young age not to ask too many questions about his job at the Halligan. I don’t think he was thrilled about my becoming a trooper. Needless to say, Uncle Tommy didn’t come to my graduation.
I quickly checked the Dispatcher tab in my head and was relieved to see no new messages from fourth_wall. Lanie had told me that Dispatch always knew when their Endrs were truly busy. I guess that made sense, given that they didn’t want to draw attention to what their drivers actually did for a living. Might as well let us put on the charade of living an everyday life.
songbird: Fancy learning a bit more about this glamorous new existence you’ve stumbled into?
Max: Based on the length of this program, it appears I have lots of time to chat. Tell me stuff.
songbird: Right then. See that little info icon in the top right? Bet you’ve never clicked it.
Max: That definitely wasn’t there before.
songbird: You’re a genius, you know that, right? Anyway… If you ever want a quick tutorial of the Endr system, that’s a good place to start. It would explain the things you really want to know, like how to activate your chosen ride, even when you aren’t assigned a fare.
Max: Shit. Okay, now I feel like a dumbass.
songbird: There’s a very good reason for that. Anyway… you said you wanted to know when you were going to level up into something ‘cooler.’ Check out the information screen. Let me copy and paste it for you, since you seem unable to read directions:
Level 1 – 10 Beaters & Cheap Cars
Level 11 – 20 Basic Pickups & Sedans
Level 21 – 30 Mid-Range Trucks & SUVs
Level 31 – 40 Upgraded Trucks & Sporty Cars
Level 41 – 50 Heavy Duty Trucks & Muscle
Level 51 – 60 Exotics & Big Haulers
Level 61 – 70 Luxury Performance & Military Adjacent
Level 71 – 80 Armored & Specialized
Level 81 – 90 Full Heavy Trucks & Rare Supercars
Level 91 – 100 Legendary Trucks & God-Tier Vehicles
I spent a little while playing around in the tutorial window. Sure enough, that information would have been very useful to have before I actually accepted my first couple of fares. Everyone stood up suddenly, and Cam pulled me to my feet. I had literally missed the entire round of opening speeches. It was time to pick up our badges and assignments.
“This is it,” Cam said, looking more excited than I had seen him in years. He was looking around too, but unlike me, he found his family sitting as close to the floor as physically possible. They cheered and whistled, and I could hear them over the applause of the crowd. His little brother was holding up a sign with my name on it. His family had always been so good to me.
We stepped forward as they called out names and troop numbers. Cam was in front of me. He looked back at me one last time before climbing the stairs to the stage.
“Cross your fingers, buddy,” he said as they announced his name.
The speaker's voice boomed above the crowd's noise. “Cameron Sullivan. Troop F. Logan Airport.”
Cam looked back at me with an annoyed look. It was the one troop that he had bitched about for the last six months, and the last place he wanted to be assigned. I chuckled and nodded at him to go accept his badge.
“Maximus Ryder. Troop H, Barracks 4. Boston.”
I collected my badge and let the realization of what I had done sink in. This had been six months in the making and had required becoming a driver for Death himself to fend off a terminal illness.
“I hope you get assigned to bicycle duty,” Cam said, and pantomimed riding a bicycle as we went back to our seats. I smiled and punched him in the arm.
songbird: Nice job, Maximus. I’m proud of you.
- - -
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