3. Chapter 3

Kendra

I stand in front of the captain in his office. It is chilling cold. How can he even survive in this room? He is cozy here. His fur is to be blamed.

He scowls as he reads the report. "So, you tolled the guy's spaceship and shoved him into the parking lot."

I shrug. "Yes. We could have failed the mission."

"That can happen. But for what he did, or say, didn't do, it's not that bad. Not to mention, the reason you wrote is that he is also a suspect in the robbery case..."

"Yeah... he should learn to get out of the way."

He stands. His curly horns are a bit too close to be safe. He won't stab me with those, but... "Look, you have to get your temper in check, otherwise, we can't keep you here. You're smart and very observant of cases and details, but you can't do that to a civilian."

I huff. "But... He could duck to the side."

"With the size of his spaceship, it would be safer for him to stay there. I won't fault him. Where's he?"

"I think customs is checking his cargo."

"He works as a transport driver and has all the paperwork."

"Well, I can't know that just from a glance."

His scowl grows deeper despite I didn't set out to annoy him. I sigh. "I understand. I'll do better next time."

He taps his fingers on the table, seemingly having more to say. I wince. Maybe he is here to fire me. I know I should do better. But it was hard when that guy looked down on me. Maybe he thinks that because he is a bigger guy, he gets to scoff at me as if I'm dumb or something. He could have been nicer...

But the Captain isn't wrong. I should control myself better.

Captain takes a breath and rests his hands on his waist. "I don't want to put it like this, but entertain this idea. I'm not sure what happened before you joined the team, but not every being who's bigger than you is out to get you. Most of us don't look at you like that. I know it can be intimidating to be around beings that are more than a size, or even a few sizes, bigger than you, but... Don't expect the worst out of others."

I nod and stare at the floor. I've been trying, but it has been hard. Maybe I've not been lucky. Logically, I know that there are good ones and bad ones among all species and sizes, but... I guess I can usually win when smaller ones try to beat me up, not that most of those will try. But with the bigger ones, the chances of me winning are low. Even more practically, what even are the odds of needing to fight someone physically by now?

"Sorry, Captain."

He waves for me to get out of his office. "Think about that. Now, you present the report to that guy and let him go."

So... I'm supposed to be the one who should tell the guy that I find nothing to punish him for and make myself look dumb? I know it's not meant to be a competition, but still...

The captain points at the paperwork. "And return these to him. He'll need it to get his stuff into the destination or submit to his company."

I pick up the pile. "Sure."

The windows rattle when I turn to get out of the office. I turn to look on instinct. He turns to check it out too. The windows are thick, but the storm outside isn't forgiving. It was fine earlier in the day, but... Maybe this is part of the reason the robber chose to take action.

He sighs. "Get it done soon. If the weather allows, you can go home after that."

I nod. That sounds good. It is still early for my shift to be over, but given the weather, we don't need all hands on deck. If something was to happen, I'd be called to head back anyway.

When I'm out of the office, I let out a breath. Maybe the Captain would much rather be out in the snow. He likes the cooler weather and makes his office that way all the time. If there's a device that could do snow indoors, and for such snow not to damage documents, he would have that.

I stare at the stack of paper in my hand. It can't be that bad to hand the documents over to that guy. Maybe I'm overthinking it. He is innocent, just... with four arms.

That still doesn't mean he is a bad guy.

I head down the corridor to the lift. I work at a defense complex, which puts the police department and customs in the same building. The guy should be in the isolated parking lot that's reserved for spaceships that are held for inspection or tolled from the streets.

No one is around. Everything in this place is... A bit too tall or higher than suitable for me. Captain isn't wrong, but for him, he doesn't feel the same way. It's like... I'm in the wrong place almost all the time. It won't hurt anyone to design things to be easier to reach.

The lift arrives and the door opens to no one inside, which is for the best. I hate to be stuck in a lift with a lot of beings. Feeling suffocated all the time annoys me so much that even thinking about that sends my blood boiling.

It's okay, I can manage that.

I swipe my card and press the button to get to the parking lot in the basement. That guy deserves to be stuck there longer. I don't care whether he's going to lose his job just because.

He is probably going to be fine anyway since we're the ones who delayed him.

The lift opens to darkness. I think his spaceship was the only one there when we arrived. Maybe that's still the case. There are faint lights closer to his spaceship. Otherwise, it looks like no one cares enough to light this place up.

That big cargo spaceship sits in the center of the parking lot. I head closer to the spaceship, only to see that guy standing outside, leaning on his spaceship. I roll my eyes at him. "I thought you knew to stay inside."

He shrugs. "No one else is here, and I'm not going anywhere without my ship."

I scuff. "You're lucky we let you go. Otherwise, since you snuck out of the spaceship, we could keep you held up here for another day."

He rolls his eyes. "So, I suppose I can leave now."

"Yes, you can." I hand him the file of his paperwork. "Here's your stuff. Be gone and remember to move your ass."

He takes the document and heads to the door of his spaceship, murmuring something under his breath. I just know he is here to annoy me. Anyway, he'll be gone and I'll never see him again.

I turn to leave when the floor shudders. I pull my laser gun and turn around to where the spaceship is located. He stares at me, but...

The lights go off and everything turns into thick darkness. I put my gun back. I don't think it is him.

There are lights from the spaceship. He pulls up his phone and lights the area up, just enough to show me his creepy, ugly face.

I roll my eyes. I know where the lift is and there should be...

Wait...

I stare in the direction of the lift, but there's no light from it. There should be numbers on the display and at least lights for the pad to scan my card on.

He shrugs. "Guess the storm found us."

Oh, fuck... No way... That can't be happening...

Since this parking lot is used to hold spaceships that are suspected of committing crimes or have things customs are keeping an eye on, the security gate is at the exit.

But if the electricity is cut...

Now, I can't get out of this place, and...

The four-arm guy shrugs. "It's the weekend."

I roll my eyes. "I'm not worried. The repair team will be here soon. Do you even know where you are located?"

This is one of the major facilities in the city, it has to be high on the list of priorities.

"Heat is off."

I blink and look around. Now that I think about that... There seemed to be a low humming noise from engines or something, but everything is quiet now.

So...

There's a light shifting sound as the door of his spaceship opens. He gets inside and closes the door, not without shooting me a look.

I...

I fold my arms and stare at the closed door. He is there to mock me. I'm not going to ask to get into his ugly and broken spaceship for sure. It is a disgusting place.

It won't be long before the lift is fixed. I'm going to be fine.

Fuck him and fuck the stupid snowstorm if that's the reason the electricity is cut.