No Choice

by Mel Todd

  McKenna wasn’t big on needing praise, but Anne’s comment lowered her stress a little, she had known it was a gamble, but you never could tell which way to go on something.

  “Thanks, I figured this was a political game and not having it on records was the bigger risk.”

  “You’re right. Marchant is a decent man, but he’s still in the political game and Kirk is a better captain that you think, but he gets the politics. Watch your step. Here, I’ve got some make-up and a hair brush in here. You’re going to be taped so do what you can for some armor.”

  It made sense, and McKenna quickly made use of the products, adding a hint of eye shadow, some color to her cheeks and brushed, then braiding her hair. Even she had to admit she looked more professional with that little bit done and it had the added advantage making her feel more assured, secure in what and who she was. A cop, and a damn good one at that.

  In minutes the rest of their party started to show up. First was a lawyer. She recognized him in a passing in the halls sort of way. The name escaped her, but he can always come across as competent, but she didn’t know much else. Before she could talk to him or anything else Shelby Drake, the union rep walked in. A tiny woman who normally smiled so much McKenna felt buoyed just being in her presence, for once she seemed serious and just nodded at McKenna.

  Kirk and Marchant showed up.

  “Food and drinks will be here in a minute, and the tech is bringing the video equipment. Officer Largo, this is William Jones. He’s agreed to represent you today pro bono, and any further activity will be between you two, or at that time you can get another lawyer should one be needed.” Captain Kirk said, actually sounding polite and helpful, which helped to throw her off balance.

  “Officer Largo, it’s great to meet you.” William held out his hand and McKenna took it on automatic. He kept his head shaved clean and his skin always reminded her of ground cinnamon, but his most arresting aspect were light brown eyes that seemed to catch everything.

  “Thank you, Mr. Jones, but why are you doing this pro bono?”

  He grinned flashing nice teeth that she knew he had spent money on. McKenna pushed down the urge to cover her teeth as she talked. She had good teeth, just not perfectly straight and white. Wards of the state got basic dental coverage, not the high-end stuff.

  “Just Will, please. And, so I can hear the real story. It would take us a bit to settle fees, and I’ve seen the video. So, a few hours free is totally worth it.” He flashed that smile again, this time looking a touch sheepish, and she had to laugh.

  This much at least I get.

  “Very well, glad to have you here.”

  As they talked the video tech arrived and set everything up, and by the time she was settled, the video camera pointed at her, they were ready to go.

  “Officer Largo, I’d like to get started.”

  McKenna swallowed down the lump in her throat, and forced a smile, all too aware of the camera. Lately it seemed like she was always being filmed.

  “I think since everyone in the room has seen me naked, you can at least call me McKenna. Might help make this less awkward.”

  There was a rippled of laughter and coughs, and more than a few faces flushed a bit. It helped, a little.

  The Captain did the legal stuff, dating and providing the reason for this interview. Anne and JD both sat at the back, watching and providing moral support while McKenna waited, not sure how she was going to answer their questions, when she didn’t really know. JD had his spinner out, moving it silently in his hands, and she almost asked for it, just to have something to do, to distract from the words.

  Marchant took the lead walking her through the call, the hostage situation and then the demand to strip. She didn’t have an issue answering any of that going through it slowly knowing everything would match up to the recorded information. Her stomach tightened as they got closer to the key points.

  “McKenna, we have the video that Police! took, the dash cam, and the bank security feeds. Everything you’ve said is backed up by multiple cameras. But only the Police! included sound, the rest don’t. And for a lot of the action the camera man was too far away to catch the words clearly. So we know that one of the suspects pointed a gun at the child and made a threatening statement. We see your body changing shifting, could you tell us what happened from your point of view.”

  A deep breath, she wished desperately for whiskey as her mouth formed impossible words.

  “I’d been having waves of dizziness, but I assumed I was just coming down with the flu, so I didn’t say anything.” Marchant nodded encouraging her to continue. “When he threatened the child something in me snapped and I thought I was going to pass out, but my vision came back from an odd angle, and…” she stumbled over the next part, not really sure how to explain. “I was aware of everything, but my actions were more instinctual rather than planned. My body, my cat form reacted.” All of this felt so odd to say and she had to feel out each word as she said it, all too aware that it probably made her sound like she was lying. “I just moved, to eliminate the enemy. There was no hesitation, no thought about right or wrong, just the need to protect the child.”

  “What about the other suspect?” His voice remained un-threatening without any inflections and at that moment he earned McKenna voting for him.

  “He pointed a gun and became a threat, so I acted.”

  “Then you approached the third person. Why didn’t you eliminate him?”

  “He wasn’t a threat, he dropped his weapon and had curled up, I had no need to continue. He smelled weak, scared.”

  Where did that come from? How did I know how he felt?

  “Oh, why do you say that?”

  “Umm, I don’t know.” McKenna paused and thought. “Urine. He’d peed down his leg, and that smell along with his body language told me he was no longer a threat.”

  “You acted different when the camera man spoke. Why?”

  “I became me again. I snapped back into full control. Before it was like my needs controlled me, but once he called out my name, I had full control again.”

  Marchant exchanged looks with the lawyer and union rep, and she couldn’t interpret the meaning.

  “McKenna, if you change again would you attack?”

  She wanted to shout no, of course not, but she bit her lip and finally shrugged feeling everyone's eyes on her.

  “I don’t know. I mean JD changed, and he didn't attack anyone. I’d like to think it was just the situation, but I don’t know.”

  Her throat got tight and her eyes burned as she fought for control.

  “You haven’t changed again?”

  “No, all of this only happened,” she glanced at the clock, “five hours ago. I’ve barely had time to even think about it. Much less try again.”

  “Any questions or concerns for anyone?”

  Shelby spoke up. “I’d like it on the record that she didn’t shift of her own free will, and that it should be treated as extenuating circumstances, as if she had been gassed. While I suspect going forward if it happens again there won’t be this level of leniency, for the first time we need to provide a large amount of wiggle room.”

  “I agree. If this does get filed, it should be under the influence without consent. No charges for the attacks should happen and honestly if she had still had her weapon both men would be dead, and this would be set up as an officer involved shooting.” Will glanced at the officers. “From the information presented and the video do you have any doubt the finding would be a justified shooting if that was what happened.”

  There was a resounding no from all officers, and McKenna unclenched her shoulders.

  Marchant actually smiled. “Thank you for your answers, McKenna. I know I’d like to know if you can do this again and at will, but I understand you might not have those answers now. We really need to give a press conference and present a sane officer. Are you ready for that?”

  “No.” The answer snapped out, and she saw multi
ple repressed grins. “But, I don’t have much choice, do I?”

  “Yes? I can’t force you, but I’d say your life is going to be easier if you willingly provide an interview versus avoiding them. It will just make them more rabid.”

  At this rate, I’m never going to get a date.

  She sighed and stood up. “Sure, let's get this over with. I’ve got whiskey waiting at home for me.”

  Marchant actually laughed. “I’ll send you a case. After this, you’re going to have earned it.”

  The slightly relaxed feeling she had gained evaporated, and she shot a frantic glance at JD. Facing armed gun men was one thing, but a horde of reporters? She hadn’t trained for this.

  An officer stuck her head into the conference room. “Captain? The reporters are here, and they are ready for someone to tell them what is going on.”

  “You’re up, Officer Largo.” Kirk almost looked supportive, but then ruined it with a wolfish smile, and she could just see his promotion opportunities in his eyes.

  JD rose, and every eye in the room automatically shifted to him. “I’ll stand behind you, Kenna. Figure I can look like I might shift if they get too pushy. After all, they saw me too. Hopefully they are wise enough to realize pissing off a bear with human intelligence isn’t the smartest thing to do.”

  A snort pulled McKenna’s attention to Marchant. “They’re reporters. Don’t expect much wisdom,” his voice dry.

  The ripple of laughter through the room didn’t do a damn thing to convince her this wasn’t going to be the worst thing ever. Trying hard to hold her head up and not run like a scared rabbit, McKenna followed the captain and chief to what was sure to be the worst thing ever.

  Chapter 6 - Paparazzi

  There is no response from the White House today regarding these changes. Most governments are not making any statements at this time, but as more and more reports appear not all of them are positive. Some crimes are being reported as being done by animals, and some people have changed, but not changed back. People are looking for answers, and Officer Largo’s name is being bandied around more and more, as she changed back and forth without any issue. So far all efforts to reach her have failed. ~ TNN News Channel.

  Stepping outside, where the podium had been set up, the noise lashed into her and she flinched. JD caught her as she stumbled backwards a bit. McKenna noticed he cringed a bit too.

  “Loud for you too?” Her voice was low, but he seemed to hear her just fine.

  “Yeah. Bit much. We really need to talk once this circus is over.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Officer Largo, over here.” The Chief had slipped back into formal address here in front of the crowd and McKenna held on to it, wishing she was in uniform, but it couldn’t be helped. The title gave her a bit of armor as she approached the podium, JD close behind her.

  “I’ll kick it off. Answer what you can, and I know I’m throwing you to the wolves.” He paused at that wrinkling his nose a bit. “An expression that now has a totally different connotation. Don’t answer what you don’t want and don’t make any comments on departmental policy. Anything about that just say, ‘it is currently under review’. McKenna, I know this isn’t fair, but you are the pivot point in a storm that could make apartheid look like a fight between two kindergartners. If we don’t start putting a good face on it, it might tear apart this country, if not the planet. People are scared, and you are the face of this change. All I can ask is do your best and please don’t say anything that means I won’t be able to support you.” Marchant’s voice was hard, brutal almost, but she knew where he stood. They were using her as best they could to try and salvage this, but if she made it costly for them, they’d abandon her in a second.

  So once again you’re a pawn.

  McKenna shrugged mentally. Life sucked then you died. She’d do her job.

  “I’m ready,” the lie left lips that were curved in a fake smile. The same one she always used with social workers. The one that made them think she respected them. She had practiced that smile for a very long time.

  Marchant walked up to the podium and waiting for the crowd of reporters to settle down. He introduced himself and then took a deep breath. “Officer Largo has experienced a shock today as have people across the world. As you have surely seen, in the course of her duties she underwent an unexplained transformation and killed two suspects who were threatening civilians. We have reviewed her actions and have found no fault with them at this time. While she is still on suspension pending review, we are expecting a full clear. I will walk through the incident, so you understand what happened.” He glanced down at his notes and took them through step by step the entire train wreck. McKenna couldn’t keep her eyes off the reporters all holding out recorders or phones or a few rare ones scribbling something on a notepad as they listened.

  He wrapped up with the statement again that at this time none of her actions were considered questionable. And she had agreed to answer a few questions for them. Marchant turned and nodded at her, waving towards the podium with his left hand as he stepped back.

  Steeling herself, she stepped up to the podium, glad her height matched his, so she didn’t have to futz with the microphone.

  “My name is Officer McKenna Largo. I will answer a few questions.”

  If I know the blasted answer.

  The reporters exploded into shouted questions and flashing lights and she couldn’t hide her flinch. It took an effort to prevent her hands from covering her ears. Her fingers dug into the podium, creaking a bit as she focused on staying calm and not running away as fast as she could.

  That is not my normal reaction.

  She pushed that thought away and took another centering breath, pasting her fake smile on her face. “You there, red shirt, question?”

  The woman in question popped up to her feet, in heels that matched the candy apple color of her blouse. “Cindy Smith, SacWasp, did you enjoy turning into a cat?”

  McKenna blinked but answered slowly all too aware of the multiple land mines this entire situation created and cursed the cameraman. “I didn’t really have time to think about it. I had a job to do, protecting citizens. I adapted to the situation as best I could to do my job.”

  From the frown on the woman’s face, she didn’t think that was the answer she wanted, but tough cookies. She’d be damned if she handed them ammo.

  The woman tried to ask another question, but McKenna turned pointing at a man. “Glasses, brown hair.”

  “Tony Bard, AP, do you have any desire to continue killing humans?”

  “No!” the word burst out of McKenna’s mouth, and she clamped harder on the podium as she moderated her instant answer. “I had and have no desire to kill anyone. I did my job the best I could, and in the amount of time I couldn’t figure out any other way to react given the tools at my disposal.”

  Desperate to get an easy question, though she didn’t know what that would be, she pointed at the next person.

  “Jeff Conroy, Hotwire, will you change for us?”

  Yes, an easy question.

  The smile on her face almost became real for a moment.

  “I do believe everyone here had seen me naked enough for one day, so no.” It seemed safer to make it a joke, if they saw weakness they would attack. With a deep breath she looked around for the next person. “You, rock band phone guy.”

  The man, who didn’t even blush at being called out by his phone case, bounced up, looking at her with bright eyes.

  “Do you think changing into an animal will change anything?”

  McKenna paused thinking about it and then finally shrugged. “I don’t know. I‘m sure it will change some things, but I don’t know anything at this moment other than I turned into a cougar - naked,” everyone chuckled at that. “And then turned back. Maybe it was a onetime thing, maybe everyone can do it now. I just don’t know and saying anything else would be misleading.” There were nods and lots of scribbling on notepads. “You,” she said
pointing, almost feeling like she could handle this.

  “Larry Singer, New York Times, any comment on the terrorist group taking credit for releasing this virus worldwide and ‘exposing the infidel as the beast’ they really are?”

  McKenna shot a look at her bosses who both shrugged and looked at her shaking their heads.

  “Sir, that is the first I’ve heard. If you have any information about how this was caused I am sure we would like to talk to you.”

  She tried to pick out someone else waving at her, but before she could he shouted out another question. “Does that mean you endorse all the websites sprouting up saying you are the Shifter Queen and asking you to lead them into battle against those that caused this? And what are you planning on doing about all the children and adults that have changed and haven’t shifted back, stuck in animal form?”

  McKenna froze, snapping her eyes to the man. “Children have shifted?” Her mind drifted to the two kids the jaguar woman had.

  He smirked back at her. "Yep, apparently hit them a bit later, the reports have just started coming in. Looks like you are going to have a bunch of kids in your army, queenie. You going to declare a jihad?"

  The only thing that prevent McKenna from leaping over the podium and strangling the smarmy idiot with her bare hands was years of putting on a good front.

  “Thank you, I think we are done here,” she snarled and turned to Marchant. It made her relax a tiny bit to see the white line of his lips, but then she saw Kirk’s face and almost went back to the reporters. Kirk looked like he’d found the holy grail. He glanced at her and then the reporters and every time he did his smile grew a fraction wider, and she knew that nothing good was going to come out of that.

  “Inside.” Marchant’s voice was crisp, and she gladly followed him in, ignoring most of the questions being asked though she glanced back in astonishment when someone asked what sex with a cat was like.

  The conference room rather than seeming like a prison was a haven from the noise and people and she sank gratefully into the chair. Everything seemed so loud and bright. She glanced at her fingers and was surprised to see wood splinters in them.