Page 20 of Testing the Kot'oll Officer

Is that the case?

A comfortable silence envelops us, punctuated only by the sounds of the city coming alive beneath the twinkling stars. It feels natural walking with Vatok, almost as if we've done it so many times that... Except...

I don't know anymore.

Chapter 9

Vatok

Being with Julie more is great, but...

I open my eyes to chuck down another mug of coffee. I think something's wrong with my eyelids; they keep closing on me.

A fellow team member elbows my side. "Are you fine? You seem to be falling asleep."

I stifle a yawn. "I'm fine."

"You haven't been on your A-game recently."

I shake my head. "No, everything's the same."

He watches me for another moment before he leaves for his shift. There is still some time before my shift starts. Maybe I can take a nap.

No, no naps are allowed even before my shift officially starts. When I'm in the office, I'm still at work and should... remain... awake... and...

I blink heavily, attempting to shake off the exhaustion that clings to me like a sticky web. The remnants of last night's joy at Julie’s bar still flutter at the edges of my mind, but my body is proving uncooperative. I stretch my arms out, feeling the tension snap like a rubber band, registering the pull of muscles that loom with fatigue.

“Get it together, Vatok,” I mutter to myself, leaning back in my chair, trying to catch a whiff of the bitter coffee that’s supposed to fuel my day. Instead, it leaves me with more of a bitter aftertaste.

The station is busy—alerts pinging on the comms, fellow officers scuttling around with urgency, a symphony of shouts and barks buzzing like flies in my head. The chaos mirrors my experience at the shelter and the bar—that joyful whirlwind—but this is noticeably more chaotic, and the stakes feel higher.

With a sigh, I pull myself to my feet. Maybe a walk will clear my head. The bright lights and sterile scent of the station wash over me as I move through the bustle.

As I step outside, the cool evening air greets me, stirring something dormant within. I take a moment to breathe, letting the crispness ground me. The city's neon skyline glimmers like gemstones against the star-studded backdrop, inviting me into the rhythm of night—a rhythm that somehow seems more alive than the day.

“Vatok!” a voice calls out, interrupting my solitude. I turn to see Ral, my boss, hands on his hips, eyebrow arched with concern. “You look like you've seen better days. Are you alright?”

“Just had a rough night." I force a grin that feels more like a grimace. “Nothing I can't handle."

Ral narrows his eyes, unconvinced. “You do know that if you’re off your game, it’s not just an inconvenience. It could lead to accidents. We can't afford mistakes.”

“Thanks for the concern. I’ll pull it together,” I assure him, the weight of his words settling on my already heavy heart.

But deep down, I know it isn’t merely a lack of sleep. Maybe I've been distracted by Julie's beautiful face and the chaos she can create, which all makes me smile. And... I wish I could be with her instead of on my shift. Who knows what can happen in the bar right now? Is she safe?

He watches me for another second before he says, "Rumor's that you've been in the bar street a lot lately."

My heart skips a beat. "I'm only there when my shifts are over."

"I don't mean to say you're slacking off, but... Do you think there's a reason for your... performance lately?"

I swallow. Recently, unless I have an evening shift, I'd be in the bar with Julie, making sure no one bothers her. I'd stay there until she can leave work and I drive her home. And when I don't have evening shifts, it means I have early morning ones, so...

"No, captain, I just didn't have a good night yesterday."

He narrows his eyes at me. "Are you sure about that? As the leader of the team, I have to remind you that our job is risky and you need to be fully alert in order to protect yourself and those we serve, also the innocent beings in the city, and also our loved ones, and also..."

I nod and nod, pretending to be listening. While Ral is a good boss, he tends to go on and on and on and on some more... This won't be easy when I'm tired before the day begins.

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