Book 1, Genesis: Chapter 13: Hostile Environment
#14 of The Chronicles of James Travant
Tanya awoke with a smile upon her face, as she heard a twittering at her window on the balcony. She moved softly in his protective hold of her from behind, cherishing the feel of his fur against her bare skin. It was a pleasant feeling both comforting and exciting to have. She turned her head to find him awake as well, watching her. "Good morning, James. Sleep well, I hope?"
She slipped from his arms as she looked at the clock, "Unfortunately we both have to go to work today. You will be safe for me, won't you?"
James grunted an affirmation as he rolled out of bed himself and sought out his uniform to dress in.
Tanya started to put her uniform shirt on overtop of her black bra, deodorant, her uniformed slacks and her pins, then she proceeded to brush her hair. She was a fast dresser that was for sure; she looked to him with a smile and looked again at the clock.
"Well did you want to give me a ride or should I walk to work this morning, looks like a cloudy day, not raining yet though. Pick me up after work maybe then, so I don't have to get all wet? My car was kind of put outta commission unfortunately."
He nodded, driving her to work and gave her a kiss in the cruiser before they both went off to do their jobs. She worked through the morning, getting glares and whispers she was sure she caught her name in.
She walked up to her casual friends at their lunch break and brought it up, or rather they did. "How could you go for one of those modified mutts!? What aren't regular humans good enough for you? What happened about liking that normal man, sure he just left you but there are plenty of men!" They were all agreeing, teaming up on her, she started to get angered and her back went up.
"Oh fuck off. Friends would stick by me, and just because I like James doesn't mean it isn't any of your concern! That Kaynine treats me with respect and holds me dear, just like any man would love to do. We enjoy each other's company and if you can't get around your species prejudice then-" She was cut off by voices and she recognized the more guttural tone of Kaynines and they seemed official.
She looked at the clock and it was only five minutes left of the break. "You guys make me sick, I'll be eating my lunch in a different room if you care to grow up and get over your thick headedness. Goodbye..."
With that she up and left, not looking towards the administration desk as she went towards the scientist lounge where a few of them were similarly talking. "Oh come on, not you too. I would have thought you more dignified in thought." They sat her down and started talking to her and questioning her about it and getting a little too personally for her liking. She started to feel nauseous and wanting to be anywhere but there...
At the Ro District Doghouse, James was filing another set of paperwork for booking. Although technically a rookie Kaynine, the Doghouse automatically counted him a fully capable officer due to the training regimen he'd already been through. So that meant less time shadowing another Kaynine, and more time working his own shifts, which meant he got all the paperwork that went with it.
"Yay." He said with zero enthusiasm as he dropped the packet onto his 'out' tray. He had long ago grown bored enough to swap his 'Trash' and 'In' labels, just to see if the interns would actually dump a file in the trash bin.
It hadn't yet happened.
"Travant." The guttural tone of the Desk Sergeant snapped him out of his musings.
"What's down, sarge?" The Husky asked, leaning forward and folding his arms on his desk as the Golden Retriever approached him.
"We just got a call from Starfire, apparently one of their security officers has been enjoying herself with one of ours, and she's facing species prejudice." The lab took a seat and set the cover sheet of the file in front of him.
James' ears twitched as he scanned it, immediately fixing on the name of the involved person.
"What's the status of the situation?" He asked, handing the sheet back.
"She's been interrogated by the local scientists several times now, the complaint just came in from a close friend of hers that just found out, it was transferred to us because of the situation itself. EUPD classifies it as a hostile work environment, and we're probably going to have to go in to get her out." The Desk Sergeant sighed, scratching an ear idly.
"I take it you're putting me in?" James pressed.
"You and a team of other Kaynines, with the usual EUPD support group, you got a problem with that?"
James looked away for a moment before opening his muzzle. "It would be me."
"Eh?" The lab leaned forward.
"Her name is Tanya Sonatte, and she was my lover before I grew my fur, when I returned to introduce myself again, her attraction to me didn't fade." James answered as tactfully as possible.
"Ah, I see." The Desk Sergeant said with a small smile. "Well, that's convenient, you're still on." He reached out and placed his paw on the Husky's shoulder. "You know we're all accepting of that kind of relationship here, Travant. It's those types outside the fence that make us out to be the monsters we seem."
"Yes, Sarn't." The Husky replied. "What will we do with her?"
"We're already leaning on Starfire to grant her immediate severance pay, and our team is mounting up to be at the front gates inside the hour, bring her back to the Doghouse for now, and then she'll go to stay with you until we sort out what we can do for her." The Sergeant released him and stood up. "See you in a few."
"Home in time for dinner." James sighed, grabbing his tactical vest off the back of his chair as he left for the garage...
Tanya looked around, "Why are all of you so against the Kaynines? They have helped us all, and they are just the same as us only with canine looks. Why can't you just see past your own prejudices that others don't see. We aren't robots and I see whomever I please, and it isn't any business of yours!"
She backed up as a few scientists got up, turning on her heels she found herself face to chest with one of the other security members. He didn't look to be on her side.
"Oh that's just great; you are a piece of work, the lot of you. Think starting a fight with me will stop my feelings towards a Kaynine? He treats me with dignity and respect, more than you have done in light of this."
Katie came up but wasn't allowed near her as one of the female scientists pushed her. She wanted to growl, but thought better of it considering the possible comments and worsening the situation. Katie called out saying she was going for some help, though her voice seemed distant as Tanya's anger started to rise and it got personal.
"I don't want conflict, especially over something so stu-" The man in front of her threw a punch only for it to be caught and he sent flying over her shoulder. "Doesn't mean I won't fight back." She was pushed on the shoulder, holding her balance for now and not retaliating.
"Come on, dog lover. Do some tricks for us, or is that his role?" She got her back up on the insult directed at him.
She whirled around, back to the door now and away from the security personnel to the scientist who made the insult. "How dare you try to insult him and his dignity like that? You have no idea who he is even, what reason do you have to dig into him in any way? He is more of a man than you can call yourself."
At that point in time, three of the scientists left, one female and two males, she recognized them as her friends in the scientist community and she smiled. "At least I know that not all are against a relationship that is true and full of love. I pity you all..."
"Shut up, mutt maker!" The insults rolled off other's tongues and the shoving got worse as the circle of about 20 closed in, hoping that she'd itch a fight to break out. She was disappointing their desire for her to start a physical fight and soon they would stop waiting for her to become hostile, and they would throw more punches and corner her, She looked around the group and wondered why no one was intervening and guessed at the reason, they all pretty much had the same mind made up or forced upon. "Just great..."
Outside Starfire, a large panel van labeled 'EUPD K9 SWAT' Pulled up to the front gates with the flashers on. The guard came out from his shack with a curious look as the passenger of the vehicle, a huge Siberian husky, slid his door open and stepped down.
"EUPD Kaynine, we're on official business here, open the gate." The Husky said simply, lifting his badge and ID to show the guard.
"Starfire has their own internal security, officer, if there's a problem, we've got it handled, no need for EUP-" The guard never finished his sentence as James sighed, rolled his eyes skyward, then bodily shoved the man, sending him slamming back into the wall of the shack.
"I said we were on official business." He growled, taking the guard by his collar and throwing him to the floor, face down, inside the shack. His boot came down on the guard's neck and kept him there as he manipulated the controls, opening the gate quickly.
"The EUPD kindly thanks you for your cooperation." He stepped out of the shack, leaving the guard to regain his senses as he jumped back into the van, the driver, his friend Jack Raynes, already hitting the gas to send the van roaring towards the front entrance.
"You ready Ronso?" James asked, getting the answering bark from the back, the rest of the SWAT team sounded off quickly after him. The van pulled to a jarring stop mere feet from the front glass doors and the rear doors exploded open, 8 Kaynines and 10 working dogs streaming out the door, the driver and passenger the last ones out.
"Rear guard set." The two bulky dingoes barked as they took up blocking positions on the van and doors, James took point and the rest of the team filed in behind him and Raynes, the Rear Guard Dingo pulled the glass door open as the dogs streamed into the central lobby.
"Alright, take it easy, boys." James said, the Kaynines immediately broke their file and began walking somewhat normally, but very quickly, their partners trotting around and through them.
"Can I help you, err, gentlemen?" The Secretary at the central desk asked, looking up with surprise to see the full team of SWAT Kaynines, some armed with rifles, others with only their handguns in the hip holsters.
"Ignore her; objective will be in Lab B, Southeast wing." James growled.
"This way." A Foxhound Kaynine barked, changing direction and walking the team right past the desk, despite the secretary's surprised protests.
The dogs entered a long corridor; two more of the team dropped off at the entrance and began diverting the curious.
"Take a left." Came the barked command, the team turned as one, two more dropping off and diverting the various scientists.
"Third door on the left." The Foxhound stopped beside the indicated door and took up a guarding position, James could already hear an altercation going on inside and unsnapped his holster.
It was now him, Jack Raynes, and a female Black lab by the name of Jules Carson. James cracked his neck once, then reared back and sent a solid kick right into the door.
The door crashed open under the assault, despite its steel makeup and reinforced lock, James was, all things considered, a big dog. All three Kaynines stepped through and turned to face the group trying to hem in Tanya, their three partners, equally clad in ballistic armor with "K9" on the sides, stepped between their legs with menacing growls.
"What seems to be the problem here, folks?" James asked with a deep rumble underlying his voice, his paws resting on his hips, one obviously just above the grip of his handgun.
One of the men waved a hand, looking over his shoulder he silently cursed. "Nothing you dog types need be concerned of. We have this building under control, and we don't need your noses sticking into offer help to our security forces, we are capable on our own. Now if you'll leave us to take care of some pressing matters, we need to speak and rationalize with our coworker here."
She looked behind her as she was shoved and saw James. Kind of relieved and mostly embarrassed to be stuck in this kind of situation, she didn't look all too happy to be talking to her fellow security guards. "Thank you Katie. And guys, I think I am finished trying to talk to you all. I've said what I had to say in my defense and I won't be changing my mind or my future action any time soon, so get over your own raging issues." She tried to push through but found she couldn't take more than one step as two large iron gripped hands folded around the back of her neck and her upper arm. She knew what was coming next. The guy who was dismissing the Kaynines was reeling his arm back to take a good aimed and easy shot at her face, knowing she couldn't dodge or fight back with real force. She closed her eyes, laid out a heavy, expecting exhale and waited for the blow to land...
Before the man could swing, James's paw wrapped tightly around his wrist, holding him fast.
"Really?" He growled, suddenly ripping the man off his feet and releasing him to go flying into the back wall.
"I don't call cheap shots rationalizing." The next move he made was probably seen as very unbecoming of his status of an officer, but James, Raynes, and Carson all were in agreement that it suited the situation perfectly.
James reared back with a balled fist and drove a brutal right Haymaker into the guard holding Tanya's right side, his grip released her as he went flying back into James' two fellow Kaynines, who immediately snatched him quite literally off his feet and slammed him face down on the floor, the zip cuffs already out.
The next blow was a solid punch, driving straight into the second man with speed that James' size belied. He crumpled directly to the floor. James wasted no time, snaking an arm around Tanya and drawing her from the center of the group, his magnum was snatched from his holster and swept the group as they tried to close him in.
"Back off!" He snapped. "These three are being arrested for inciting a Speicest gathering, attempting to constitute Anarchy and assault and battery. If you believe them that much then line up to join them in the Doghouse lockup, we take real kindly to these types there." His last words were said over bared fangs.
"They're good to go Travant." Carson yipped, dropping the first man, still dazed from his impact against the wall, into an unceremonious pile with his two hog-tied friends.
"Prepare to extract." He responded, cold eyes sweeping the group.
Tanya looked up to James and if she had canine ears they'd be back in embarrassment and shock. She had never seen him so cold, so professional up close before, it was a change from the gentle and loving expressions he wore around her.
She held herself close to him, whispering a shy thank you before looking over her shoulder, looking around with almost sympathetic eyes. She gave a soft smile and a sigh of relief to be out of that situation. "What do your fellow Kaynines, think of mixing humans to the dogs?" She was careful to not make it sound like James was the one she was in love with, for she wasn't sure on their stake on the entire thing.
"We're fine with it." James said flatly, eyes scanning the entire hallway ahead fo them for a threat.
They started moving; the others had quickly dispersed to their jobs, not wanting to be arrested. Katie came in on her long way back to work, Tanya knew that she was just checking up on her and would be off to work knowing she was now safe with the three Kaynines. She had been stopped by the Kaynines on her way in, but convinced them that she was the one concerned for her safety to inform others of what was starting up. Tanya smiled and nodded her eyes making her look to James and she grinned more, she got the picture and giggled waving goodbye.
"What is going to happen now? Do I just go back to work?"
"No, EUPD is leaning on Starfire to grant you immediate severance pay, you've been forcibly retired." James replied coolly, magnum now strapped firmly back into his holster, he released Tanya to her own devices and they walked calmly out, the rest of the Kaynine SWATs breaking down their blocking positions and filing in as they entered the main lobby.
One of the guards couldn't hide the look of disgust on his face and in a flash James was on him, slamming him bodily into the wall and baring his fangs centimeters from his face.
"Wipe that look off your face before I give you a real reason to make it!" He snarled, throwing the guard away from him and returning to Tanya's side.
"Spin it up." He barked as the team exited the building, the two dingoes immediately climbed into the front of the van and started it up, the rest of the team circled to the back with their partners, James helping Tanya up before climbing in, with Ronso and the rest following in kind.