Chronicles of Han: Preserving Creata: Part 1: Learning Curve

We were driving a grid pattern between Pier and Dunn and drove in silence until we made our next turn at Pier Street.

“You do notice things when you have all your attention on it,” Tucker said.

Not sure whether it was a question or a conclusion, I kept silent, bracing myself for the next pre-sight vision.

My nerves were raw by the end of our second turn-around at Pier.

Tucker noticed.

“You seem tense. Pull over. I’ll drive for a while,” he announced.

Not commenting, I brought the vehicle to a stop before swapping positions.

Tucker offered me the rest of his pastries. I did not decline, finishing them in record time.

He handed me his spare juice, which I promptly finished.

I was starting to feel better and made a note to pack some lunch tomorrow. Obviously, the chocolate was not enough.

We were entering a small business centre within the community and had almost reached the Pawn-shop when I ‘saw’ two men entering it, threatening the proprietor with firearms.

There was no time to put this over softly to Tucker.

“Stop the vehicle!”

He promptly did, looking around to see what the problem was.

“The two men walking towards the Pawn-shop. I know them.” I explained. “They are old hands at holding people up in this neighbourhood. I bet you they are trying to do it again.”

Tucker switched on the vehicle siren for one turn.

The two men started running and the pursuit was on.

They ran down a closed-off alley at the side of the Pawn-shop.

I jumped out of the vehicle, continuing after them on foot while Tucker drove the vehicle around to the other street.

Flashes of pre-sight invaded as I tried my best to concentrate on running and keeping the would-be perpetrators in sight.

The visions were annoying and absolutely disorienting.

Somehow, I caught hold of the slower perpetrator busy pulling himself over the wall. Grabbing both his legs, I brought him down hard.

He grappled for the firearm in his trousers.

I hit him, all my frustration channelled into my fist.

He went down in a heap.

It would be a long time before he would wake up.

Scaling the wall, I felt, and saw Tucker in imminent danger.

Knowing by the timing of the other visions that I had only seconds to spare, I took a flying leap from the top of the wall onto the second perpetrator.

He had been preparing to fire on Tucker as he drove down the alley. The bullet grazed the squad vehicle and I heard it hitting a tree with a dull slap.

The cuffs were on the perp before he could orientate himself.

The adrenaline was pumping throughout my body as I took a step back from the secured man. I wished I could take my frustration out on him too.

Tucker allowed me to stand where I was while calling for back-up.

“Where’s the other one?” he wanted to know from me.

“Other side of the fence.

Needing a medic by the looks of it.

He tried pulling his firearm on me and I did not have time to fool around.”

I heard my voice.

It was not me speaking.

I drew a deep breath and tried to control my racing heart.

Tucker looked at me for a long minute, before requesting an emergency vehicle to be dispatched as well.

He brought over a slab of chocolate. “Here. Finish it. It seems to calm you down.”

Tucker picked up the firearm with a pen and placed it in a forensics bag. Then he read the perp his rights before manhandling him into the back seat.

“Get in.”

He was talking to me.

I climbed into the vehicle.

We drove around the block to reach the alley on the other side of the fence.

“Stay in the vehicle.”

I was not planning to go and inspect my handy-work.

Tucker came back with the other firearm, also bagging it for forensics.

“You did an excellent job on that one,” he remarked sarcastically.

“Let me see you hand.”

I presented my right hand. The knuckles had a reddish hue, but the skin was not broken.

“Okay, let us set the record straight. You hit him with your baton, right?”

I caught on. I was not supposed to be strong enough to break a man’s jaw with my bare fist.

“Right.”