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Chapter 2, hope you enjoy it. As always feedback is very welcome :D

Hollywood's Final Act, Part two

Two weeks had passed since the shoot out on 54th street and the deaths of two police officers, Officer Mark Dalton and Officer Catherine Munro. Two more names to be added to the black stone outside Station Fifteen, two more funerals to attend, two more friends to bury, the only saving grace of the whole ordeal was that Officer Mike Castle who had been badly wounded had returned to duty after a week and a half in hospital and after being cleared by the forces psychiatrist.

The psyche evaluation was probably dud though, as there was no way any officer in the entire LAPD at the moment could pass one of the tests they were subjected to before the recession, such was the stress and demands placed upon them.

The funerals of both Dalton and Munro had been a week ago. Ever since then a dark mood had settled over the police station, even the return of Mike Castle couldn't liven the mood. It was because they all knew that something was about to happen, the tension in Hollywood was mounting. It had reached a level that Captain Cain had put out a call to LAPD central for reinforcements, thankfully central had responded positively. A few days ago thirty extra officers had arrived along with a SWAT team and the promise that if it got bad central would ask the governor to dispatch National Guard units. However even with the extra men and women providing a temporary morale booster, the mood quickly sunk again after attacks on officers; one of which put two Los Angeles Sheriff Department Officers in intensive care.

The date was June 23rd and a blazing sun was beating down on Los Angeles. People were trying to get their lives back to normal and were attempting to ignore the violence that had in engulfed their city. People were heading out to the parks, the playing fields and just generally having a good time for once. There was surprisingly no major incidents for most of the day with the LAPD getting a taste of normality as they sat in their patrol cars watching children playing in the park or leisurely driving patrol circuits with the windows down, just enjoying the fresh air. However like every other blessing given to the LAPD, it wouldn't last.

Wood and Castle were back out on patrol, they had even been given a new Dodge Charger as there last one had been shot up so much it was a write off. However the new one had a few upgrades and modifications so Wood and Castle didn't really mind. Similar to the day of the 54th street shoot out they sipped drinks, this time colas. They were parked up on a local public play park's car park, both of them enjoying the sun and peace, the children frolicking around just plain enjoying being out and about had a soothing effect on the two overly tired and stressed officers.

"You have no idea how much I miss the old days, I thought a transfer to Hollywood would make my job easier," Wood commented as he stretched his right arm out the window, leaving it to rest on the side of the cruiser.

"Life styles of the rich and the famous Charlie, lifestyles of the rich and the famous. Oh and I love how you refer to the ‘old days' that were no more then five weeks ago"

"Yeah...but that is how much life has changed"

"You have a point...not five weeks ago I was about to try to settle down with Lara." Castle sighed mournfully as he stared out of the window, eyes gazing off into the distance.

"Yeah..." Castle sighed to, also staring out the window as the car descended into silence. They sat there for a good four minutes in silence, either staring out the window or watching the children and their parents play in the mid day sun.

The peace was sadly, going to be inevitably, shattered. Even as Castle and Wood, along with quite a few officers across the city relaxed in the peace and quiet, their police radio's crackled to life. "All units, all call signs we have a 10-99 on Sunnyside Avenue, local LASD units have a reported a gathering crowd, probably hostile. All free patrols are to converge on 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th streets to establish road blocks. Be advised ‘Robert' units are inbound. All free patrols Code 1 on this call, over."

The relative silence of the city was shattered as all across Hollywood, police patrols responded. Pulling out of their parking spaces, switching on sirens and lights and speeding for what they all hoped would be the last of the violence. In fact it was only just starting.

Castle looked at Wood, anticipation and dread filling his ice blue eyes, his paws on auto-pilot as he started the car's engine, sirens and lights. Wood reached down onto the dashboard, grasping the radio, his crisp South African tones devoid of any surprise or panic. "This is 6A40, we are Code 3 on last call, over." The soft click as he released the transmit button, rang out as the city went quiet, almost as if it knew what was about to happen.

In the park Castle and Wood had been watching everyday furs looked up and around in horror as the sirens started. All of their attention turning to Wood and Castle's Dodge Charger, then as more sirens started up in the distance as every free Hollywood police patrol mobilised. Panic filled the air as they realised what was happening, as the panic spread, furs began grabbing their children and belongings as they ran for their cars and homes. The crying and screaming children joined the cacophony of sirens filling the air.

Back inside the cruiser, Wood had flicked on the main police net both of them horrified as to what they were hearing.

"This is SD45A, 11-99, we are pinned down from hostile shooters at the cross..."

"Shots fired...shots fired. 6A12 taking fire, req..."

"...ear the net, 10-00! 9th street barricade tak..."

"7th street barricade....CO is hit...EMTs on my position"

"...11-41...paramedic...code 10 truama..."

"Net call, net call. All Hollywood units..."

"Dispatch! 6A23 and 6A24...fall..."

It was chaos, the LAPD net had broken down into chaos, there was no command and control. Castle floored the accelerator as Wood reached behind his seat and pulled out the M-4 assault rifle, racking its slide, nodding to himself at the satisfying ‘click' of a loaded bullet. Placing the rifle back down between his legs he returned his attention to the radio, the net still alive with desperate calls for assistance.

As the streets of Hollywood flashed past their windows, the roar of the Chargers engine filling their ears as they tried to drown out the panicked cries on the radio. Then Castle thought he recognised the voice on the radio, his paw darting to the radio controls as he isolated the frequency with a few quick motions. "This is 6A43, we need immediate support on 12th street, shooters have flanked the roadblocks. We need ground cover now!" It was Mike Reed's accented voice on the radio, his unique Californian accent unmistakeable. Wood glanced over at Castle who had his eyes fixed on the road and paws clamped tight to the wheel as he swung the car around in a violent left turn, accelerating towards 12th street.

Wood picked up the radio handset again, pressing in the Reed's patrol code. "6A43 this is 6A40, we are code 3 inbound, we will be 10-97 in about three minutes hold out." Releasing the transmit button, he was about to place the handset down when a slightly familiar female's voice came over the radio.

"6A40, CHP-L60. I am coming up behind you, lead the way" Wood stared at the radio for a second before glancing at the rear view mirror to see a black and white CHP Dodge Charger similar to their own closing up on them.

"CHP-L60, 6A40. Nice to see you, watch our twelve o'clock, we heard reports of shooters in vehicles bypassing the roadblocks."

"10-4, 6A40. Out" With that the two chargers closed up close, both drivers expertly moving in closed formation, the two cars a red and blue blur as they screamed their way towards a cacophony of gunfire.

No more then a minute away from the fighting, Castle, Wood and Munro could hear the growing sound of gunfire, see the ever present clouds of black smoke and smell the thick scent of cordite filling the air from the continues discharge of firearms. As the two cars got closer they had to slow down as civilians were still fleeing the area en masse, whole families having abandoned their homes to escape the third world type violence that was happening on their streets. It was frustrating for Castle and every other police officer rushing to the assistance of their comrades. The civilians were getting in the way and there was nothing they could do about it

"God damn it! Fucking move!" Castle yelled loudly out of the window as he buzzed his sirens at a group of mice desperately running across the road, Munro adding her own sirens to the cacophony. "There is no fucking way were gonna get there in time!" Putting his foot down he almost cut down a middle aged horse as he pulled a sharp turn, swinging the car into the final stretch. As they came round the corner they caught a brief glimpse of the one of the barricades, both of them staring wide eyed as they took in the scene.

It was like a scene out of a war film, police cars and civilian cars burnt alike, desperate police officers provided covering fire for EMTs and fire-fighters to pull wounded and dead furs to safety. Grenades and home made Molotov cocktails detonated all around the police, who were defiantly not equipped for such a conflict. Even the arrival of a SWAT team appeared to have made little difference as they too were gunned down or forced to hit the deck. The term war zone was the only phrase that could be used to describe the situation and to think this was happening five or six times over within the space of several blocks.

A loud crack brought Castle and Wood back to their present situation. As the stared forward they saw the crack in the windscreen, a round circle marking where a bullet had smacked against the bullet proof glass. It took another sharp crack for both Castle and Wood to realise they were taking fire, someone was shooting at them. As Castle raced to where he could just pick out two LAPD officers taking cover down behind a cruiser that was obviously trashed, Wood lowered the window and began firing his side arm at where he thought the shots were coming from. He might have been shooting at some civilians but at this point he really didn't care.

Slamming on his handbrake, wheels screeching, Castle brought the car to a stop. Kicking his door open violently, drawing his pistol at the same time firing off two or three shots down the street at the crowd of rioters, the incoming bullets not fazing them one bit. However the hail of fire Wood put down from his assault rifle caused most of the crowd to duck, giving Castle a chance to crouch-run forward toward a severely shot up LAPD cruiser that had been pulled up across the road. Sheltering behind it was Mark Reeds, covered in a myriad of cuts and grazes with his uniform stained with the blood of others as well as his own. Both of them stood up to give Munro covering fire as she raced over from her Cruiser, holding a shotgun in each paw.

Munro tossed one of the shotguns to Castle who promptly racked the slide, loading a shell into the breach. Taking a quick glance around, he could pick out Evans loading her own shotgun as she hid behind another wrecked cruiser, Wood having moved across to support her. Popping his head above the roof of the car he tried to take in as much as he could before a high powered shot zipped past his ear. Turning back to Reed, he gave his friend another quick look over. "What the hell is going on? It's a fucking killing field out here."

Reed shouldered his rifle again and turned to fully face Castle. "This group of rioters has tried to flank the 12th street road block. We found out when an EMT unit called in an 11-99. Me and Evans plus two more patrols raced over here as fast as we could but we didn't expect to be hit like this. We got two dead officers over by the burning SUV, two wounded officers down by the fountain and the EMTs are pinned down the other side of the road by their ambulance. We got one spot of luck in that we have a sniper up on the third floor of that apartment block but he is low on ammo and injured. So yeah...that's the situation." As he finished he stood up and unleashed a torrent of fire from his assault rifle, dropping a Molotov wielding ferret.

Joining Reed, Castle and Munro began firing. Aiming man stopper slugs at the crowd of what must have been thirty to forty furs. The large metal projectiles cutting down angry furs, causing a red mist to fill the air as arms, bodies and heads exploded into tiny pieces. It was brutal, the streets running red as the police and rioters exchanged fire. The police seemed to have the upper hand as the rioters were forced back as more and more of their number were killed or injured but then they surged as more arrived. Unfortunately these new arrivals were totting some heavy weapons. The ‘crack-crack' of pistol and rifle fire was soon drowned out by a heavy ‘thud' of a M60 Light Machine Gun.

Evans was the first to notice the new arrival as its bullets shot over her head, causing her to throw herself and Wood to the floor just as several rounds zipped through the air Woods head had been occupying several seconds ago, screaming as she fell "LMG! Take it out!" Thankfully her plea was heard by the sniper high above, calmly taking aim through his high powered sight on his PSG-1 sniper rifle. Observing the conflict down below like an omniscient god, raining thunder bolts down on the sinners. Settling his cross hairs on the head of the fur who was manning the light machine gun, he breathed out slowly as his finger tightened on the trigger, until a bang muffled by his head set rang out across the square. The high powered bullet zoomed across the square. The snipers aim true the weasel that had been behind the machine gun collapsed as half his head was disintegrated by the bullet, causing more blood and viscera to spill out onto the floor.

Wood watched the weasel collapse from underneath the cruiser with Munro still lying on top of him from where she had thrown both of them to the floor. "That was a fookin' amazing shot and thanks Alex...for saving me" His South African accent causing Evams to smile wildly as she climbed off him both of them, offering her paw to help him get up. Forgetting the situation they were in, lost in the brief moment of camaraderie as Wood grasped her paw and pulled himself up. An exploding Molotov brining them back to modern world, as it shattered across the main road spreading its fiery death.

"We need to rescue those officers and EMT's, no way they can last much longer" Evans stated in her accent, very similar to Reed's as she peered over the car she was sheltering behind at the large fountain surrounded on all sides by raised stone barriers. Luckily for the feline and canine who where sheltering behind the fountain proper, both of them obviously heavily injured, the stone of the fountain was keeping them safe from the rioter's fire. The EMT's on the other hand were less fortunate as their position was becoming more tenuous by the second, as rioters constantly tried to get close or flank them, only being held back by the sniper high up above and the EMTs own side arms.

For some unknown reason the fighting entered a lull, so after a brief minute or two of conversation over the radio with each other they decided on a plan. Munro, Castle and Reed alongside the sniper were going to put down heavy covering fire so the EMT's could rush backwards to the relative safety of the LAPD patrol cars. At the same time Wood and Evans were going to rush forward and try and walk, carry or drag the two wounded officers back to cars. There was only one major problem with this plan, neither the EMTs nor the injured officers radios worked so any instructions would have to be communicated by speech and they could only hope they would follow them without question.

With everyone ready the sniper started off the plan by dropping someone he had picked out as a ring leader, Reed, Castle and Munro quickly following suit with their own weapons. Reed let up for a second to bellow over the suppressing fire they were putting out, "Oi! EMT's! Fall the fuck back! Fall back! On my fucking position!" The two years he had spent doubling as a national guard military police drill sergeant shining through as his voice cut though the battle torn air, the commanding tone causing the two EMT's to snap around. It took about seven seconds before they realised this was their only chance to get out alive, grabbing their medical bags, keeping them pressed tight to their back, they sprinted the full distance under the covering fire.

On the other side of the road, Wood and Evans started running forward as soon as the first sniper shot was fired. Keeping the fountain between them and the armed rioters they leaped the outlying concrete barrier to skid to a stop in front of the two barely conscious officers. Evans gave Wood a despairing look as she checked the feline now more identifiable as a white tiger for a pulse, she found one but just barely. The other officer, an Alsatian was better off but still pretty bad. They both knew there was no way either of them was walking back to the safety of the cars so they were going to have to carry them. A surge of adrenaline gripped both Evans and Wood as the slung their weapons and carefully draped their comrades over their shoulders. Keeping the fountain directly behind them, they focused on getting back to the cars, oblivious to all else.

The first thing Wood noticed was how light the Alsatian felt, the second thing was a warm and wet sensation on his paw and back, it didn't take long for him to figure out that this warm, sticky wet substance he could feel was the dog's blood bleeding onto him. His vision tunnelled as he clasped the dog tight to his back ignoring the bullets that were thankfully just zipping past him and his load. All he could hear was his own heart beating, drowning out all else as step by ponderous step he neared the safety of the cars. What seemed like a lifetime to Wood actually only took about nine seconds for him and Munro to successfully carry the two injured officers behind a overturned LAPD cruiser, placing them down so the newly rescued EMTs could tend to them.

Castle just stared as he watched two of his best friends almost die ten times over as they carried their charges across that open stretch of road. As soon as they were safe he turned to face Reed, all of them now crouching back behind the cruiser that was now thoroughly riddled with bullets. "Do we have a way to get these casualties out? MEDEVAC or CASEVAC?"

Reed shrugged and tapped his radio "The stations frequency has been dead for the past ten minutes or so and I have been a bit busy to switch channels" Obviously thinking there was no more to be said he dropped his assault rifle to the road as it was out of ammo and drew his side arm, aiming down the street popping off the odd shot to keep the now much more subdued rioters at bay. Castle frowned slightly and keyed his transmit key, Reed was right the Hollywood stations frequency was dead. He reached down and pressed a button that would connect him to the city wide LAPD channel. The normally reassuring un-emotional and calm words of the central dispatcher chilled him to the bone, rooting him to the spot.

"Attention all LAPD and FD Hollywood and North Hollywood units, fall back to LAPD central. Situation in Hollywood has become untenable with stations 6 and 15 out of action. All units, all call signs are to immediately evacuate the Hollywood and North Hollywood area by order of the governor. Assist each other in any way you can, rally point for all evacuating units is LAPD central. I repeat complete withdrawal from Hollywood and North Hollywood, effective immediately." The cold, heart tearing message to abandon the area most officers serving in that area had signed up to protect was repeated over and over again on most if not all of the LAPD's and LAFD's radio channels. Castle glanced around at his friends and comrades who had also just heard the apocalyptic message. The reaction was mixed from Wood who understood the logic behind it and knew it was the only way; to Castle who flew into a blind range. Castle stood up drew his pistol and begun firing off shots wantonly down the street, not paying attention to whom and what he was shooting at.

Wood heard the rapid, careless firing off to his left as he tentatively watched down the street for any kind of resurgence in the violence that had thankfully calmed down. Before anyone else could react to Castle's blind fit of rage as he screamed obscenity after obscenity and fired bullets at no one in particular, Wood hurried over and knocked the pistol from Castle's grasp, flicking the safety on and drooping it on the floor in one smooth action. Next in what seemed like one set of fluid moves he pinned Castle hard up against the patrol car. "Snap the fook' out of it mate. It aint' fookin worth it. We can't defend all of Hollywood by ourselves! Look everyone else is pulling back" Jabbing his paw at the main road behind them where every few seconds a LAPD, FD or another emergency vehicle would pass, all of them in retreat. "None of us like it but we have to. Don't worry we will come back, these street's won't be theirs for long."

Castle seemed to just slump in his friends grasp, eventually falling slightly forward into a half hug as he sobbed gently, everything just being too much for him and his stores of adrenaline having been worn down over four days of almost constant action. Patting his back gently Wood swung around, Castle in his arms to face a short questioning look from Reed before the otter continued. "I got in contact with a SWAT van on their way down, they saying they can take our two injured, two dead and four others. I am reckoning Munro as her cruiser is shot to shit, the two EMTs and..." Reed indicated Castle with his paw, shrugging sympathetically.

Wood nodded and so did Munro who was still covering the street with her pistol. She knelt down next to the two EMTs as Wood and Reed sorted Evans out, glancing down briefly to look the two officers over. "How are they?"

"They need a proper medical facilities fast" Answered one of the EMT's as he finished changing an IV bag he had clasped in his paw.

"We got CASEVAC on the way, can they be moved?"

"We have no choice, they need to be. As long as we don't shake them about too much, they should be fine." The other EMT replied, her uniform stained dark from all the blood, sweat and other bodily fluids that came with her line of work.

"Well let's get them over to the corner of the pavement, we're gonna' load them onto the SWAT van from there... Reed! I am going to need a hand here." She yelled out as Reed came rushing over, leaving Castle in Woods capable paws. All of them now relied on the still unknown sniper to keep them covered, Evans and Reed grasped one officer and the two EMTs the other. Bodies held tight, moving as carefully and as quickly as they could they reached the pavement setting both casualties down gently, the EMTs diving back into work. Reeds and Evans headed back to the line of cruisers staring at the bodies of the two furs who has up until now been practically ignored. A ferret and lion lay there in a pool of each other's blood, the one missing half his neck the other's uniform was heavily stained around his chest. Grimacing as they grabbed one each under the arm pits they dragged them over to where everyone else was assembled, all hoping that the brief absence of violence would last long enough.

It was another minute before the SWAT van came into view, six black clad furs hanging on to its outsides. Screeching to a halt the jet black armoured vehicle rear doors opened as the six dismounts spread out to provide a security cordon as two more SWAT members jumped out of the rear carrying four thin, flat casualty boards between them. It took three minutes to load the two casualties and then the two dead bodies, Reed and Castle affording the dead one last piece of dignity by draping their jackets over their face and torso. Onto the truck then went a now very subdued and quiet Castle, Munro with her ever reassuring smile and the two EMTs just glad to be alive. As soon as everyone was aboard a SWAT officer issued a gruff command and the six dismounts grasped onto the side of the truck, the officer turning back to the remaining three furs, saluting them and saying "See you back at central, good luck" Then with a roar of its engine the van sped off into the city, with its sirens blazing.

The world seemed to go quiet for Evans, Reed and Wood, a serene bliss settling over them. Even though an almost constant stream of emergency vehicles shot past them sirens wailing none of them seemed to hear them. The silence didn't last long as the rioters began to gain some more courage now the SWAT had gone. Luckily for the LAPD the sniper was having none of it, putting down the ring leaders as soon as he picked them out. Reed glanced at Evans and Wood and with his trademark grin he nodded towards the cars. "Shall we get out of here guys?"

"Yeah, you guys get to central, I'll wait for the sniper" Wood yelled as he ran for his car

"You sure? There is only one of you"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Now get fookin' going"

"Fine! We'll see you soon" With the final comment Reeds and Evans slammed their Dodge Charger into reverse, a tense moment as the engine sputtered but the tension was dispelled when the car lurched backwards. Their sirens blaring and lights flashing as they sped off after the SWAT team, suddenly Wood felt very alone in the face of the increasingly resurgent crowd of rioters. He tapped his radio on what he remembered to be the snipers channel. "Let's get out of here mate. I'll see you round the front entrance, hurry the fook up." The sniper gave no reply but he saw a grey paw offer a thumbs up out of a window. Clambering in his car he was stunned for the moment how many holes were in the right side's chassis and seat. Thankfully the engine was still running so with siren and lights active he pulled out of the street he has just spent the last thirty to forty minutes defending.

Pulling around the front of the building the sniper was holed up in, he waited nervously for him, sure that if he didn't hurry the rioters would catch up with him. After what seemed an eternity the front door opened and a young grey wolf, a white streak across the right side of his face limp out as he cradled his rifle, heading straight for the door, Wood threw open. Throwing his rifle on the rear seat as he climbed in and slammed the door shut he offered a smile to Wood. "Nathaniel Cross thanks for the pickup."

"Charlie Wood, my pleasure, thanks for the save. Now let's gets out of here."

"Let's" Cross seconded as Castle threw the cruiser into gear and joined the tail end of the stream of emergency vehicles withdrawing from Hollywood. As the police drove off into the darkening sky behind them Hollywood burned, dark pure black plumes of smoke rising into the air. A black day for the LAPD, Los Angeles and America as a nation. This was just a taste of what was to come.