Officer Camille Vasquez, and her partner Officer Michelle Martinez, sat in their SZPD Stormkreuzer patrol car, parked a few blocks away from Annette Petra's house in the Pine Springs neighborhood.
From their vantage point, they could access the surveillance cameras that covered the front of the house, and the street outside.
"Hello, what's this?" asked Officer Martinez, as she spotted Annette and Sky coming out of the house.
They both got into Annette's Hyundai Ioniq 5, and drove off down the street.
"They left Mikaela alone in the house?" asked Officer Vasquez, incredulously.
"Looks like it," said Officer Martinez, switching camera feeds to track the car.
"Central this is unit 256, requesting a tracking detail on a white Hyundai Ioniq 5, license plate Bravo, One, Tango, Charlie, One, One," said Officer Vasquez into her radio.
"Copy that unit 256, sending vehicle information to all units in the vicinity," replied Central.
"Wait, did her license plate just say B1TC11?" asked Officer Martinez, raising an eyebrow.
"Apparently it was Ivan's idea. He actually paid for a vanity plate, and spun it as a random registration, just to troll her," chuckled Officer Vasquez.
"Wow, that's... actually kind of funny," said Officer Martinez, giggling.
"Yeah, well it's kind of fitting. Come on, let's check in on Mikaela," said Officer Vasquez, starting the Stormkreuzer's engine.
The Stormkreuzer's engine growled to life, and its lights flashed on.
---
"There are way too many pigs here," grumbled Sky as Annette drove them towards the unofficial "border" between Pine Springs and the Sirius Zone.
"Yes well, you're the one who wanted a night out," said Annette, tightly gripping the steering wheel as she stopped at a police checkpoint.
The SZPD officer at the checkpoint tapped the car window, and Annette rolled it down.
Immediately, Annette and Sky were assaulted by the smell of the officer's black leather uniform.
"Evening ma'am. Just a routine check," said the officer, sticking a breathalyzer through the open window.
Annette scowled at the officer, and blew hard into the device.
The device beeped, and the officer waved them through.
"Insufferable," she muttered under her breath.
"You can say that again! I was nearly nauseated by that pig's uniform smell!" scoffed Sky.
"Yes well, the night out awaits," said Annette, as she approached a small French café.
She parked the car and they both got out, only for a waiter to approach them.
"I'm sorry ladies, but you can't come in like that," said the waiter, indicating a large sign that displayed "No Jeans, No Hoodies, No Sneakers."
"You cannot be serious! A dress code? Here?" asked Annette incredulously.
"New regulation ma'am. But don't worry, we have some wrap-around skirts and dress shoes you can borrow," said the waiter.
"Up yours!" snarled Sky, giving the waiter the bird, and stormed back to the car, with Annette quickly following them.
---
"Unit 256, update on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 license plate Bravo, One, Tango, Charlie, One, One, went past the Pine Springs police checkpoint, last seen heading Northbound towards Orion shopping district," said Central.
"Copy that Central, notify when it returns to the Pine Springs checkpoint," replied Officer Martinez as they pulled up to the curb outside Annette's house.
Camille and Michelle got out of the car, and walked up to the front door, their SZPD boots clicking on the driveway.
Camille knocked on the door.
After a few moments, Mikaela opened the door.
"Hi Mikaela, remember us? We're Officers Vasquez and Martinez, we're here to check in on you," said Officer Vasquez, smiling.
"Hi Officers. Mommy and Sky went out for the night," said Mikaela, opening the door wider to let them in.
"Is that so? Do you know when they'll be back?" asked Officer Martinez.
"I don't know, they didn't say," replied Mikaela, listlessly.
"How about we play with you while we wait for them to come back?" suggested Officer Vasquez.
"Okay," said Mikaela, perking up.
Camille and Michelle took off their boots, and padded into the living room.
"What shall we play?" asked Officer Michelle.
"How about a tea party?" suggested Camille.
"A tea party?" asked Mikaela, puzzled.
"Yes, a tea party. You can be the princess, and we'll be your royal guests," said Camille, smiling.
Mikaela's expression immediately turned sad at the mention of "princess".
"Okay," she said quietly.
"What's wrong Mikaela? You don't want to be a princess?" asked Officer Martinez, sitting down on the floor.
"That's what Daddy calls me. But he's not here," said Mikaela, looking down at her hands.
"Tell you what. I'll call him for you," said Michelle, pulling out her phone.
"Really?" asked Mikaela, looking up hopefully.
"But it has to be our little secret, okay? Your mommy won't like it if she finds out," said Michelle, winking at Mikaela.
"Okay," said Mikaela, nodding.
Michelle dialed Ivan's number, and put the phone on speaker.
"Hello? Officer Martinez?" answered Ivan,
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"Daddy?" asked Mikaela, excitedly.
"Princess! Hi! How are you?" asked Ivan, his voice lighting up.
"I'm okay. Mommy went out with Sky, and Officer Martinez and Officer Vasquez are here," said Mikaela.
"I see, and how is school?" asked Ivan.
"It's okay. Sky's my new teacher," said Mikaela.
"Sky? The same Sky that Mommy went out with?" asked Ivan.
"Yup, I think she's a girl, but she calls herself non-binary," said Mikaela.
"Ah, I see. Well, I'm glad you're doing okay," said Ivan.
"Why can't you come over?" asked Mikaela.
"Because I can't, Princess. Mommy has given the police my name and said I'm not allowed to come near you," said Ivan, sighing.
"Officer Martinez, why can't Daddy come over?" asked Mikaela, looking at Michelle.
"Because your mommy told us not to let him come near you, and we have to listen to her," said Michelle, gently.
"Why?" asked Mikaela, looking confused.
"Well, your mommy said that she's scared of your daddy, and that he might hurt you, I know it sounds silly, but if we don't listen to her, we could get in trouble, and then we can't keep daddies who are really bad away from their kids," explained Michelle.
"But Daddy's not bad! He takes me to the park, and he buys me ice-cream!" protested Mikaela.
"I know, Princess, but the police have to listen to mommy otherwise everyone would just end up in fights all the time," said Ivan.
"Okay," said Mikaela, looking down at her hands again.
"While I can't come over, Officer Martinez and Officer Vasquez can come over whenever you want, and they can call me and I can talk to you like this, okay?" said Ivan.
"Okay," said Mikaela, perking up slightly.
"All right, Princess. What are you going to do with Officers Martinez and Vasquez?" asked Ivan.
"We're going to have a tea party," said Mikaela, smiling.
"A tea party? That sounds fun! Tell you what, I'll join by video call, okay?" said Ivan.
"Okay!" said Mikaela, excitedly.
Ivan switched to a video call, and Michelle propped her phone up a couch cushion in the living room.
"Hi Princess!" said Ivan, waving at Mikaela.
"Hi Daddy!" said Mikaela, waving back.
"All right, let's get this tea party started! I'll go and make some tea," said Camille, getting up and heading to the kitchen.
"Can I help?" asked Mikaela, following Camille.
"How about you and Officer Martinez set the table, and I'll make the tea," said Camille.
"Okay!" said Mikaela, excitedly.
Michelle and Mikaela pulled out cups, saucers, and plates from the cabinet, and set them on the coffee table.
"Oh, but we don't have any cookies or cake," said Mikaela, looking disappointed.
"Actually, I have some sponge cake," said Michelle, going to the front door, and pulling out a small package of store-bought sponge cake from one of the utility pouches in her SZPD boots.
"Yay! Cake!" said Mikaela, smiling.
"All right, tea is ready!" said Camille, coming back into the living room with a teapot.
They all sat down on the floor around the coffee table.
"Would you like some tea, Princess?" asked Camille, pouring tea into Mikaela's cup.
"Yes, please," said Mikaela, taking the cup. Her hands brushed the black leather gloves that Camille was wearing.
"Wow, that's so smooth! What are those?" asked Mikaela, looking at Camille's gloves.
"These are special gloves that we SZPD officers wear, they help us beat up bad guys," chuckled Camille.
"Wow! Can I try them on?" asked Mikaela, looking hopeful.
"Finish your tea first, and then we'll see," said Camille, smiling.
Mikaela took a sip of her tea, while Ivan came back into view on the phone.
"I've got my own set of tea here," said Ivan, holding up a cup.
"Yay! Cheers Daddy!" said Mikaela, clinking her cup against the phone.
"Cheers Princess!" said Ivan, smiling.
They all took a sip of their tea.
"This is yummy!" said Mikaela, taking another sip.
"Glad you like it," said Camille, smiling.
"Can I try on your gloves now?" asked Mikaela, looking at Camille.
"Ok, but be careful, they're big, and they can give you a shock," said Camille, carefully pulling off her gloves and handing them to Mikaela.
Mikaela put on the gloves, and they engulfed her small hands.
"Hehe, yeah, they're big," she giggled.
"How do they feel?" asked Camille.
"They're super soft inside! And they smell nice too," said Mikaela, carefully sniffing the fingers of the gloves.
"Yeah, they're made from real leather, not that fake stuff," said Camille, smiling.
"Is that why they smell nice?" asked Mikaela.
"Yeah, real leather has a nice smell," said Camille.
"Is your outfit leather too?" asked Mikaela, looking at Camille's SZPD uniform.
"Yeah, everything except my shirt and my pantyhose is leather," said Camille, smiling.
"I'll be very careful Princess, Mommy hates leather," warned Ivan.
"Don't worry Daddy, I'll keep it a secret," said Mikaela, giggling.
"All right, let's have some cake!" said Michelle, cutting the sponge cake into small pieces, and handing them out.
They all ate the cake and drank their tea, chatting with Ivan over the video call about school, and what Annette and Sky were like.
"All right, Princess, I have to go now, but we'll talk again when I can, okay?" said Ivan, smiling.
"Okay Daddy! Bye!" said Mikaela, waving at the phone.
"Bye Princess!" said Ivan, waving back.
Ivan ended the call, and Michelle put her phone away.
"That was fun!" said Mikaela, as Camille cleared the table.
"Yeah, it was. You're a great hostess, Mikaela," said Camille, smiling.
"Thanks Officer Vasquez," said Mikaela, blushing slightly.
"How about we read a story now?" suggested Michelle.
"Okay!" said Mikaela, excitedly.
They spent the next couple of hours reading Alice in Wonderland, with Mikaela taking turns on both their laps.
"This is the best day ever!" said Mikaela, as they finished the book.
"Well, I agree," said Michelle, ruffling Mikaela's hair.
"Um, are you staying for dinner?" asked Mikaela, looking at Camille and Michelle.
"We'll be staying until your mommy and Sky come back," said Camille.
"Yay! Can we have pizza?" asked Mikaela, her eyes lighting up.
"Sure, we can order some pizza," said Michelle, smiling.
"Pizza!" said Mikaela, jumping up and down.
---
"They're everywhere!" gasped Annette, as she and Sky, sat in her car, fuming.
They had tried to enter six other restaurants and cafés, only to be turned away due to their casual attire of baggy jeans, and oversized hoodies with sneakers.
Almost all the establishments had signage either restricting jeans and hoodies to "fitted" variants, or outright banning them, with the more premium looking places enforcing a black-tie formal dress code.
"Yeah, I don't think this is going to work out. Maybe we should just go back to Pine Springs," said Sky.
"Maybe we can try the park?" suggested Annette.
"Sure, why not. It's not like we can get any worse treatment than we've already gotten," said Sky.
They drove to a nearby park, and Annette breathed a sigh of relief as she saw that the park didn't have any dress code signage.
They walked slowly through the park, looking for food trucks or vendors.
"Hi, you've got any vegan options?" asked Annette, as she approached a taco stand.
"I've got guacamole and salsa," said the vendor.
"OK, two guacamoles with no cheese please," said Annette.
"$4," said the vendor.
Annette handed him a five dollar bill, and the vendor handed her a dollar back.
The vendor handed them their food, and Annette and Sky sat down on a nearby bench to eat.
Sky took a spoonful of guacamole, and immediately gagged.
"Ugh! This has something like meat in it!" she exclaimed.
"Hey! I asked for vegan!" said Annette, glaring at the vendor.
"A bit of beef tallow ain't gonna kill ya, chica," said the vendor dismissively.
Annette stood up, and tossed the guacamoles onto the ground, and stormed off with Sky following her.
---
"An unmitigated disaster," muttered Annette, as she and Sky drove back to Pine Springs.
"Maybe we should stick to Downtown Boston next time. This Sirius Zone is way too uptight," said Sky, sniffling.
"Aww Sky, don't cry! It's not worth it," said Annette, trying to comfort her friend.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. But I was just casually misgendered so many times, and that hurt," said Sky, wiping their eyes.
"Next time, we'll just go to Downtown Boston. I promise." said Annette.
"Thanks Annette. You're a good friend," said Sky, smiling weakly.
They drove in silence for a few moments, until the arrived again at the Pine Springs border checkpoint.
The SZPD officer at the checkpoint tapped the car window, and Annette rolled it down.
"Evening ma'am. Just a routine check," said the officer, sticking a breathalyzer through the open window.
Annette scowled at the officer, and blew hard into the device.
The device beeped, but the officer didn't wave them through.
Instead, he handed Annette a ticket.
"What's this for?" asked Annette, incredulously.
"Defiling public property ma'am. We've got you on camera tossing guacamole onto the ground at the park," said the officer.
"Are you serious? A ticket for littering?" asked Annette, incredulously.
"Wrong, it's defiling public property. And it's $100," said the officer sternly.
"Hey pig! There's a word for that. It's called extortion!" snarled Sky.
"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Your choice," said the officer, dangling a pair of handcuffs.
Annette shoved a credit card in the officer's face.
"Give me a receipt!" she growled.
The officer swiped the card, and handed Annette a receipt.
"Have a good night ma'am," said the officer, as Annette and Sky drove off.
---
They had just cleared away the pizza box, when Michelle's radio crackled to life.
"Unit 256, update on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 license plate Bravo, One, Tango, Charlie, One, One, just cleared the Pine Springs police checkpoint," said Central.
"Copy that Central, terminate surveillance detail," replied Michelle.
"Let's clean up here, and get going," said Michelle, standing up and stretching.
She and Camille quickly cleaned dried the dishes, pulled on their boots, and headed out to their Stormkreuzer.
"Well, that's our cue. Your mommy and Sky will be here soon, so go off to bed and pretend nobody was here, okay?" said Camille, smiling at Mikaela.
"Okay," said Mikaela, closing the front door, and scampering off to her bedroom.
Camille and Michelle got into their Stormkreuzer, and waited for Annette and Sky to arrive.
