"What the hell is a pig doing outside your house?" asked Sky as they pulled up to Annette's house to find a sleek black SZPD Stormkreuzer patrol car parked near the curb.

  Its engine started with an ominous growl, and its lights flashed on.Annette sighed, and got out of the car.

  However, the patrol car just slowly pulled away, and drove off down the street, its engine growl echoing in its wake.

  "That was weird," said Annette, "I wonder what that was about?"

  "Pigs," scoffed Sky, as they followed Annette into the house.

  "How about some wine after that failure of a night out?" asked Annette.

  "Please," said Sky, flopping down on the couch.

  Annette returned with two bottles of wine, and handed one to Sky.

  Sky took a long swig from the bottle, and sighed contentedly.

  "It's been a while since I've had wine straight from the bottle," said Annette, sitting down next to Sky.

  "Yeah, it's been a while since I've had wine at all," said Sky, taking another swig.

  Annette smiled, and took a swig from her bottle.

  Sky looked curiously at Annette.

  "What's up?" asked Annette.

  "Nothing, just thinking about that pig that pulled away just as we arrived," said Sky.

  "Maybe they were there because I took a restraining order out against my vile ex-husband," said Annette.

  "Tell me about it. Ugh! Straight men are the worst!" said Sky, shuddering.

  Annette laughed, and took another swig from her bottle.

  "It's been a while since I've had somebody to talk to about this stuff," said Annette.

  "I'm all ears," said Sky, taking another swig from their bottle.

  Annette, chuckled, and began to recount her story of how she and Ivan divorced, the custody battle for Mikaela, and the restraining order she took out against him.

  "Yeah, totally get why you didn't want him around. Like, feeding a kid hot-dogs and ice-cream? How insensitive! Doesn't he know that meat is murder?" said Sky, shaking their head.

  "Hear, hear!" said Annette, raising her bottle in agreement.

  ---

  Officer Vasquez shook her head in disbelief as she and her partner, Officer Martinez, drove through the quiet suburban streets of Pine Springs.

  The liaison with the new Boston PD had not gone as planned, with Boston PD treating the entire Sirius Zone as a hands-off area.

  They were willing to loan out a couple of hybrid police SUVs as alternatives to the SZPD Stormkreuzer super-sedans, but that was it.

  Most of the new Boston PD were still pro-union, and despite unionizing being declared illegal, they still stuck together on things like avoiding the Sirius Zone, and the SZPD like the plague.

  The annihilation of the former union-backed Boston PD's first precinct by Sirius Software's missile defense system didn't help matters.

  "You know, when you signed us up for this job, I was skeptical, but now, I've got to admit, spending the evening with a kid like Mikaela was pretty fun," said Officer Martinez, glancing over at Officer Vasquez.

  "Yeah, well. It's technically not our job to act as babysitters, but I feel this one was necessary. Annette may have taken out a restraining order against Ivan, but she's the one who's more of a liability as far as Mikaela is concerned," sighed Officer Vasquez.

  "I call BS. You just have a crush on Ivan, and you want to make sure his daughter is safe since he can't come anywhere near her," teased Officer Martinez.

  "Shut up, Martinez," said Officer Vasquez, blushing slightly.

  "Anyway, I don't blame you. Ivan's a great dad. And Annette just showed how neglectful she is by going off for a night out with that Sky person," said Officer Martinez.

  "Tell me about it! I can't believe she just left Mikaela alone in the house with nobody to watch her," said Officer Vasquez, shaking her head.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "Well, at least we got to spend time with her, and we're getting a nice collection of evidence against Annette for Ivan to use in his new custody case," said Officer Martinez, smiling.

  "Yeah, but you know how judges are these days. Let's hope it works out," said Officer Vasquez, sighing as she parked the Stormkreuzer outside Annette's house to check in on Mikaela's morning school run.

  ---

  Mikaela walked into the living room the next morning, ready for school.

  She fought down a wave of nausea as the smell of cheap wine hit her nose.

  Annette and Sky were slumped asleep on the couch, each with a bottle of wine in their hands.

  Mikaela crept past them and opened the front door.

  Outside, she saw a sleek black SZPD Stormkreuzer patrol car parked near the curb.

  The car's gull-wing doors swung open, and Officer Vasquez and Officer Martinez stepped out.

  "Good morning, Mikaela," said Officer Vasquez, smiling.

  "Good morning, Officer Vasquez. Good morning, Officer Martinez," said Mikaela, smiling back.

  "Where's your mommy and Sky?" asked Camille.

  "Asleep on the couch," said Mikaela, looking back towards the house.

  "I see. Would you like a ride to school?" asked Officer Martinez, as Officer Vasquez offered Mikaela a sandwich and juice box.

  "Yes, ma'am," said Mikaela, getting into the back seat of the patrol car.

  "All right then, let's get you to school," said Officer Vasquez, getting into the driver's seat.

  "So, these are the cars that Daddy likes," observed Mikaela, as the Stormkreuzer's engine rumbled to life.

  "Yeah, your daddy likes these cars," chuckled Officer Martinez.

  Unable to resist, Officer Vasquez pumped the accelerator, and the Stormkreuzer let out a loud angry growl.

  Mikaela giggled, but sobered up quickly as she spied Annette and Sky tumbling out of the front door, looking disheveled and hungover.

  "What the hell are you pigs doing?" shouted Sky, staggering towards the patrol car.

  "We're escorting Mikaela to school," said Officer Vasquez, rolling down her window.

  "Like hell you are! I'm her mother! You can't take her anywhere without my permission!" shouted Annette, stumbling towards the patrol car.

  "Ms. Petra, it's already late, and Mikaela needs to get to school. You can arrive there on your own time, after you've sobered and cleaned up," said Officer Vasquez, firmly.

  "Wait what?" asked Annette, confused.

  "Lady, you stink of booze. Mikaela's getting late for school, I suggest you clean up your act," said Officer Martinez.

  Officer Vasquez chirped her siren, and the Stormkreuzer's lights flashed on.

  Annette and Sky glared at the patrol car, but reluctantly stepped back.

  The Stormkreuzer activated its lights and siren, and shot down the road, leaving Annette and Sky staring after it.

  ---

  The SZPD Stormkreuzer reached the Boston Public School in under two minutes, thanks to the lights and sirens.

  Kids milled around outside, drawn to the growl of its V8 engine.

  The sleek black super-sedan parked in front of the school, and Officer Michelle Martinez stepped out.

  Her sleek black leather SZPD uniform glistened in the morning sun, as she helped Mikaela out of the back of the car.

  "All right sweetie, off you go. Have a great day at school," said Michelle, kneeling down to give Mikaela a hug.

  Mikaela hugged her back tightly, and then ran off towards the school entrance.

  A large African American woman riding a mobility scooter approached Michelle.

  "Why are you here Officer? This school district is under Boston PD jurisdiction!" she demanded.

  "This school might be under Boston PD jurisdiction, but Ms. Zakhrov is a resident of Pine Springs which is under SZPD jurisdiction. We just offered her a ride to school, since her mother was late," explained Michelle.

  "Fine, but next time try to be a little less conspicuous! I will not have my students distracted by those things you call police cars!" snapped the woman.

  "And you are?" asked Michelle, arching an eyebrow.

  "I'm Tamera Randall! The principal of this school, and you officer, are not welcome on its premises!" snarled Tamera.

  "All right, all right, we're leaving. No need to get your panties in a twist," said Michelle, getting back into the Stormkreuzer.

  The Stormkreuzer pulled away from the school, and Michelle let out a sigh of relief as they drove off.

  "Is it just me, or is everyone outside the Sirius Zone a little... off?" she asked Camille.

  "It's the car and uniform, Michelle. It triggers something in people. Particularly in those with certain political leanings," explained Camille.

  "Yeah? Well they can stuff it. We're just doing our jobs," grumbled Michelle.

  "True that," agreed Camille, as they approached Annette's house, to find Annette and Sky finally cleaned up and about to leave.

  Sky flipped them off before getting into the front passenger seat of Annette's Hyundai Ioniq 5.

  Camille and Michelle ignored the gesture, and continued on their patrol.

  ---

  "Mikaela, why were you dropped off by those cops? You in trouble or something?" asked her friend, Anna Stanislaus, as Mikaela settled into her classroom desk.

  "Nah, it's because Mommy and Sky had gone on a date last night, and they were sleeping on the couch in the living room when it was time for school," explained Mikaela.

  "Ms. Petra and Sky are dating?" asked Anna, surprised.

  "That's what it looked like when I saw them this morning, snoring on the couch together and smelling bad," said Mikaela, wrinkling her nose.

  Just then, the classroom door opened, and Sky walked in.

  "Sorry I'm late kids, had a bit of a rough morning," said Sky, as they walked to the front of the classroom.

  "Sky! Are you dating Ms. Petra?" asked Anna, unable to contain her curiosity.

  "What? No! Why would you think that?" asked Sky, confused.

  "Because you were both sleeping on the couch this morning when Mikaela got dropped off by those cops," explained Anna.

  Sky's face turned bright red, and they looked away.

  "Umm, well, no we aren't dating. We just... fell asleep watching a movie last night," said Sky, sheepishly.

  "Sure you did," said Anna, skeptically.

  Sky ignored the comment, and turned their attention to the whiteboard.

  However, the rest of the 2nd grade class were not letting things go that easily.

  "Sky and Ms. Petra sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" sang out several of the kids.

  "Now, that's enough! I'm not dating Ms. Petra, and I don't appreciate you making fun of me!" snapped Sky, angrily.

  Flashbacks of the disastrous night out the previous evening flooded Sky's mind as they recalled the humiliation of being denied entry to every restaurant and café they and Annette had tried to enter, because of dress codes, and the culmination of the park vendor ignoring their request for vegan food, and giving them guacamole that was slathered in beef tallow.

  They glared daggers at Mikaela, who shrank back in her seat.

  "Mikaela, you see me after class. We need to have a little chat," said Sky, sternly.

  Mikaela nodded, and looked down at her desk.

  The rest of the class fell silent, sensing that Sky was not in the mood for jokes.