"I thought that keeping you in charge of the Sirius Zone administration would be a good idea, but now I'm seriously pissed off! What the hell were you thinking when you authorized the SZPD to field a damn helicopter gunship!?" thundered Mayor Victor Callahan, as he agitatedly paced Elena Park's office.

"I was thinking of protecting the Sirius Zone from the anarchy that's clearly brewing outside its borders," said Elena calmly.

"They were just kids Elena!" shouted Victor.

"Tell that to the families of those officers they killed when they smashed through that road block," snapped back Elena.

She swivelled her large computer screen to show Victor its display.

"The SZPD managed to grab the contents of their YouTube channel before Google deleted it. These kids as you call them, have been running the same MO across the entire Eastern Seaboard! Every time they strike, they leave a trail of destruction in their wake, and every time they cross county lines, the pursuit mysteriously gets called off! Just look at this! For a bunch of anarchist punks, they have a great deal of organization and resources!" said Elena, pointing at the screen.

Victor stared in disbelief as Elena scrolled through clip after clip of the "Pig Roasters" harassing various police departments and evading capture. The videos all ended after they crossed county lines, with the police being ordered to break off pursuit, and let the next department handle it.

The only problem was, the next department never seemed to pursue them, nor did the chases ever escalate to state or federal levels, despite the massive destruction they caused.

"You're saying they were protected?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes, which is why the Boston Police Department dispatcher panicked when she realized that the chase was entering SZPD jurisdiction. She knew that the SZPD was not compromised, and would stop them cold," said Elena.

"Well, they certainly did stop them cold," said Victor grimly.

"Now, any further questions about this?" asked Elena pointedly.

"No, but this is going to be a damn media circus," said Victor, running a hand through his hair.

"Well, we'll be able to find out whose protecting them based on who screams the loudest," said Elena.

"Great! Just what I need, another damn headache," sighed Victor, as he shuffled out of the office.

----

"That SZPD chopper swooped down, and just sat their in the air. Then that truck came speeding up the street, and then bam-bam-bam-bam-bam! They shot at that truck and stopped it! Then they flew up, and left!" said Mikaela, gesturing with her hands excitedly as she recounted the incident to her friend Anna.

"But Mikaela, weren't you scared? That sounds like, super-scary!" said Anna, her eyes wide with concern.

"No, why should I be scared? The SZPD only shoots bad guys," said Mikaela matter-of-factly.

Anna stared at her in disbelief.

"Mikaela, didn't you see the news? They said that it was a bunch of kids in that truck!" said Anna.

"Yeah, so? They got two cops killed as well. They were bad guys," said Mikaela, shrugging.

Anna recoiled slightly away from Mikaela.

"Mikaela, are you OK? You sound like, a little... different," said Anna cautiously.

"I'm fine. Don't worry," said Mikaela, picking up on Anna's unease.

The teacher entered the classroom, halting the conversation.

"Class, today we'll be joining the rest of the school in a candlelight vigil for those poor kids who were killed by the SZPD. But for now, please open your workbooks," said the teacher solemnly.

Mikaela frowned slightly, but said nothing.

----

Students milled around the Boston Public School's playground, holding candles in their hands, as a small stage was set up at one end of the playground.

A banner above the stage read "In Memory of the Victims of SZPD Brutality".

Mikaela stood next to Annette, holding a candle in her hands, but looking rather uncomfortable.

"Mom, why aren't the police officer's photos up there?" she asked quietly, gesturing to the stage, where big blown up pictures of the kids who were killed in the armored truck were displayed.

"Because this is a vigil for the victims of SZPD brutality, Mikaela. The police officers were not victims of brutality, they were just doing their jobs," said Annette, trying to keep her voice calm.

"But shouldn't it be for everyone who died?" asked Mikaela.

"No, Mikaela. The police officers were not victims of brutality, they were just doing their jobs," repeated Annette firmly.

Mikaela looked down at her candle, and said nothing.

Something about the whole situation didn't sit right with her, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

The principal took the stage, and began to speak.

"Good evening everyone. Thank you for coming to this vigil to honor the memory of those poor kids who were so brutally killed by the SZPD. Let us all take a moment of silence to remember them," said Principal Randall solemnly.

The crowd fell silent, but Mikaela fidgeted uncomfortably.

After a few moments, the principal continued.

"Let us all remember the names of these poor souls. First, we have Khalid Johnson, age 17," said Principal Randall, gesturing to the first photo of a black teenage boy.

"Next, we have Yusuf Walker, age 16," said Principal Randall, gesturing to the second photo of a brown-skinned teenage boy, and holding back tears.

"Finally, we have Saied Clark, age 15," finished Principal Randall, gesturing to the third photo of another youth.

"These poor kids, were brutally gunned down by the SZPD! They needed love. Support! Rehabilitation! Not bullets! Let the vigil begin!" said Principal Randall, as the crowd erupted into applause.

Mikaela clapped mechanically, her mind on the two police officers who were killed, but not mentioned in Principal Randall's speech.

Annette lit her candle from the one on the stage, and handed it to Mikaela.

"Here Mikaela, light yours from mine," she said.

Mikaela took the candle, and lit it from her mother's.

"I'll hold this vigil for the cops," she thought, staring at the flickering flame of her candle.

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