Mav didn’t shy away from the massive Peace Keeper. He faced his stare, watching as his neck turned from pink to red. Mav hadn’t thought of it before, so focused on his guilt, but why did this guy seem more offended by Mav’s desertion than the others?
The man had recognized him, so they’d clearly met before. But where?
“Officer,” JJ said. “Thank the Winds. I have a lot to report and I–”
“Decided to go to a traitor, first, instead of the official channels,” the Peace Keeper said.
JJ cocked his head. “Sir? The officers at the station told me to come here. They said Peace Keepers would be here to make a report with, but I couldn’t find you.”
“So you saw how busy they are after the attack and instead of using your brain to think that we’re busy too, instead of waiting for one of us to become free, you found a Deserter to give your report.”
“That’s not what happened.”
“Then what are you doing here with him?”
“Where do you think we are?” Mav asked.
The large Peace Keeper rounded on him. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
“His best friend’s right there.” Mav gestured to Paul. “I was talking to JJ, like a human being. Something you’ve forgotten how to do.”
“Deserters are less than trash. You don’t deserve my respect.”
“Is he a Deserter?”
“He associates with you.”
“So he’s trash because something less than trash comforted him in front of his friend’s body, while the civilized man comes in yelling?”
“Listen, punk.”
The large man made to grab the front of Mav’s vest, but Mav slapped his hand away. The fire in the man’s eyes felt cool compared to what blazed in Mav’s chest.
“I think I remember you now. Last year, in Nichugo. We did a joint operation with Sergeant Keller’s cohort. What was your name again?”
“Think pretending to forget my name will make you seem big, little man?”
“It’s not that. I remember your face and temper. It’s also hard to forget a guy dumber than me. But I’m really bad with names.”
“That’s grounds for immediate expulsion from the city!”
“So you’ll do your job when someone talks back to you, but not when terrorists are destroying the city?”
The Peace Keeper stepped close, growling. “Wanna run that by me again?”
“Jensen! That’s your name, right? Sorry, the bad breath brought it back to me.”
Jensen reached for Mav’s throat, which Mav ignited as the beefy fingers closed in on him. Yelling, the large Peace Keeper backed away, shaking his hand.
“You just assaulted a Peace Keeper!” Jensen roared.
“Wielders can defend themselves against unprovoked attacks,” Mav said. “And here I thought I couldn’t remember the law.”
JJ pulled on Mav’s elbow. “Is antagonizing him really the best idea? I need to report what I know.”
“He won’t listen until he gets an ass-whoopin’,” Mav said. “Maybe then he’ll learn to think.”
“Like hell I’d think like you,” Jensen said. “That leads to Desertion, to disgrace.”
“That’s right. You admire Sergeant Allen. You wanted to be a part of our cohort.”
“That has nothing to do with this.”
“Nah, this makes a lot more sense. You tried to transfer to our cohort, but were denied. It must piss you off that I freely left somewhere you failed to join.”
Jensen squared his shoulders and bent his knees slightly, adopting a Supporter stance. The floor started to buzz.
Mav stepped into his stance, shoving his thumb into the base of Jensen’s throat where it met the underside of his chin, where his uniform didn’t protect. Jensen strangled a gasp as he lost his balance.
“We’re in a morgue,” Mav hissed, then shoved Jensen to the ground.
Jensen coughed. “You’re dead.”
“Do it after you do your job. JJ has a lot to tell you.”
“I do,” JJ said, stepping forward. “Long story short, I infiltrated Serene. I have recordings of their plans, and even a layout of their headquarters. We need to move fast. They’re planning on attacking Wilkins’ main building and they’re holding an associate of mine hostage, threatening to kill her.”
“Sounds like the scared pleas of a terrorist,” Jensen said, rising. “We’d never take your word seriously.”
JJ’s face dropped. “But it’s true! If we don’t move now, a lot of people will die.”
“Even if that is true, then our top priority is the protection of Jessica Wilkins. HQ would have to give us the go-ahead to do anything else. At best, we can look into your shit tomorrow.”
“But that’s when the attack will be!”
“Uh-huh, sure. Because they could manage a major op after striking the police station.”
“Save your breath,” Mav said, cutting JJ off. “It’s clear the Peace Keepers weren’t sent here to take care of Serene. Just to look after Wilkins’ CEO.”
“But why?” JJ asked. “Peace Keepers are meant to protect civilians. Why aren’t they?”
“That’s what I’m saying.” Mav glared at Jensen.
“Don’t make me laugh,” Jensen scoffed. “You, looking down on me?”
“Yeah, I am. Why aren’t your orders to deal with Serene? Why didn’t you at least try to use Jessica Wilkins’ safety as an excuse to investigate the terrorists?”
“We did! And...”
“HQ shut you down. What? Did they have you send all the evidence you gathered so they could have someone else deal with it later?”
Jensen’s lips and flared nostrils twitched, yet he avoided Mav’s eyes.
Mav’s arms shook. “Why does HQ keep getting in the way of Peace Keepers doing their jobs? Why is it so hard for Peace Keepers to help people?”
“Our job isn’t to help people, idiot. It’s to maintain the peace.”
Mav had once been thrown into a vacuum chamber which removed all traces of oxygen. He’d been told to fend off three fighters adorned with breathing devices for a minute. Even that hadn’t taken his breath away as quickly as Jensen’s words.
That sentiment, however, had been drilled into Mav during his training over the last two years. He’d never seen them as mutually exclusive.
Clearly, the Peace Keepers did.
“Thank you, Jensen,” Mav said with a little smile. “For showing me why Koda was right. Come on, JJ. Let’s find someone who’ll listen to you.”
“Where are you going?” Jensen yelled as Mav and JJ walked to the door. “I’m not done with you!”
Mav’s step was light. Despite the danger promised for tomorrow, he breathed freely.
“I’m going to do some good, because I’m completely done with you.”