Trying to Adjust(Saber)

[Mani4c]

Mani4c walked through the NPD server like a man on a mission, his expression one of annoyance and exhaustion. It had been 3 weeks since the attack on the server, and in that time, things had gone from bad to worse. Kate had left the force, angry at what she perceived as a lack of moral discipline and respect. The few people who knew Kate best (The "Inner Circle" as Mani4c referred to them.) Consisting of Mary, Erika, Alexi, Jake, and Sam; had tried their best to maintain some semblance of order, Alexi having decided against quitting the force in an attempt to prove Kate wrong.

However, it was apparent that the Russian officer was still rattled about what Kate had said, taking her words to heart and letting them fester, this made him incredibly short of temper. And this is what brought Mani4c to his destination, Baretta's office. Shepard and Sam had been trying to convert the Durendal into the NPD's main command center since the attack, hoping that it being a flying fortress would make it more secure. However, They needed Baretta's approval on the idea, and had sent Mani4c to speak with her.

Mani4c also had a private reason for coming, since the attack, he had taken comfort in Baretta's presence, her calm and collected personality acting like a salve for his frayed nerves. This had already resulted in a massive rumor mill about him and Baretta, one of the rumors even implying that they were being intimate while on duty. The officer who started that little story was currently getting the cosmetic data of his skull repaired, courtesy of Murakumo smashing him in the face with the flat of her swords.

As Mani4c arrived at Baretta's office, he pushed thoughts of the office drama from his mind, already glad that he could see his "girlfriend" (Baretta still hadn't officially accepted his affections). Mani4c knocked on Baretta's door, creating a single rose out of Viral data as a gag. "Hey Baretta, can I come in?"

[Saber]

Baretta looked up from her paperwork, trying to push through most of the documentation as quickly as possible. Since kate's absence, the quality of the work has been lacking in some reports, and she had to send several back with heated criticism and telling them to revise their work and send it back in proper quality for documentation. The lack of support from Kate had been having an affect on her as well, but she had been able to cope at least a little bit with the calming, even if unprofessional company of Mani4c.

When Mani4c knocked and asked to come in, she smiled and released the lock on the door "It's unlocked, come on in, Mani4c."

[Mani4c]

Mani4c walked in and approached Baretta's desk, holding the flower behind his back. "You know, only you could make office work sexy." Mani4c's tone was half-joking, and he held out the flower that he made. "Here, I made this for you." The rose's stem was made of a glittering purple crystal, and was devoid of thorns. The petals were a mix of purple, blue and green, the colors mixing like the northern lights, the petals were also crystalline, but were soft to the touch and produced a pleasant sent. "I'm getting a lot better at shaping my code into solid objects. I hope you like it."

Meanwhile, in the real world, Mary was having a video conference with Jake and Petra. Mary had stepped up considerably in Kate's absence, taking on most of her responsibilities in an attempt to alleviate the strain on Sam, not to mention the legal issues presented by Sam being both Captain AND Commisioner. "Alright, let's try and get this shit done folks. We've been having reports of several officers using Kate's departure as an excuse to fuck around instead of doing actual police work, we're also dealing with infighting between the cops who appreciated Kate's particular brand of hard ass management, and those that...didn't. I need you two to tell me all you know about this, and try to help me find a solution."

[Saber]

Baretta blushed softly when Mani4c handed her the multicolored rose, smiling at Mani4c before loading up a cup program to place the flower in "It's beautiful, thank you." She then placed her documents down and looked up at her unofficial boyfriend "Was there something you needed? Or did you just stop by to sweet-talk me?" She smirked and leaned back in her chair, resting her hands in her lap as she crossed her legs patiently.

Jake scratched his head, trying to think of how best to tackle the chaos happening inside of the precinct <I don't know much of that myself, Mary. I'm barely inside of the precinct unless I get called in for briefing. If this chaos is happening because of what happened with Kate, we have to try and convince her to come back before the whole precinct falls apart.> Petra was rubbing her chin, trying to think of this herself <...Well...We could all just go out and have a few drinks, let them settle it in a bar fight...> Before Mary or Jake could go off on her, she held up a hand, signalling to let her finish <On a serious note now, I've dealt with bull-headed bosses before. If they have their mind set on something, it's very hard to change their mind unless a neutral party gets involved.>

[Mani4c]

Mani4c smiled, "Well, The Doctor, Bit and Noxus are trying to work on some upgrades for the Durendal. And Shepard wants to move the entire force on board so we don't get attacked by Abraxas as easily. They all need your approval before they can move forward." Mani4c rubbed his eyes, it was apparent that the viral avatar was exhausted. "This is getting re-goddamn-diculous. Kate was a pain in the ass at times, but she would've gotten this done 10 times faster...we need to get her back somehow, this place is falling apart."

Mary nodded, "You're right...both of you. But who would we send? everyone we know is involved in our little club." In a suprising twist, it was Totenkopf who offered a solution. <What about your Father? He was an officer in the military, correct?> Mary nodded, "Yeah, what does that have to do with-" Totenkopf cut her off. <And Jacob's father was an officer in the Marines, both understand the difficulties of being in charge.> Mary's eyes widened, "I get it, you want either one or both of them to speak to her." <Exactly.>

Before Mary could respond, Erika burst into the room. "Mary! Alexi's beating the shit out of a couple of newbie SWAT members!" Mary got up and sighed, "God damn it Alexi! Jake, Petra, I need to take care of this. I'll be back in a bit. Totenkopf, inform Mani4c." Mary followed Erika out of the room, following her to the site of the brawl.

[Saber]

Baretta uncrossed her legs and sighed, closing her eyes "...I agree, Mani4c, her leaving has had a heavy toll on the entire precinct for the past month. But you know how she is, once she's decided on something, she sticks to it, and doesn't do well with people changing her mind." She crossed her arms and thought on what to do "...If we place the entire force on the Durendal, that will put the precinct at the highest risk...In order to go through with this, we will have to temporarily compress and reroute the entire server data into a section of the Durendal, to ensure its safety. Until that has been planned out and tested, I cannot allow this plan of action to be taken."

<Go take care of things over there, Mary. I'll try and get ahold of Daniel and see if he can help out. Petra, thanks for the advice> Petra winked at Jake through the video chat, grinning slyly <Anytime Jakey, just send me a ping if you need any 'personal advice' of your own~> Blushing, Jake diverted his gaze from the camera, clearly embarrassed <...T-Thanks...I'll keep that in mind...> Giggling, Petra cut her connection, leaving Jake to sit and wait, while sending a message to Daniel's terminal to see if he wouldn't mind giving some friendly advice to Kate <So, "Iron-Sides" finally cracked huh? Alright, I'll send Old Jimmie Ranger a message and see if he'll want to lend a hand.> <Thanks, I'll let Mary know when she gets back.> <Good. Maybe as payment for doing this favor, you can do me a favor and to work up the nerve to ask that Alice girl out.> <Wh-Dan! Dome on, you know it's not like that!> <Yeah, yeah, sure. See you at dinner?> <...See you at dinner...>

[Mani4c]

Mani4c nodded, "That's a good point...Bit and The Doctor would have to run simulations on how that would work before we could try though...Alright, I'll run the message to Shep-" Suddenly, Totenkopf burst into the room. "Mani4c, Baretta. Sorry about bursting in, but it's urgent." Mani4c nodded, "What's up Totenkopf?" "Alexi's gotten into a fight with a couple of greenhorn SWAT officers. Mary and Erika are intervening now." Mani4c clenched his fists. "God...damn it Alexi!" Mani4c looked at Baretta, "Hey, could you pull up the security footage of that idiot for me? Please?"

Mary and Erika burst into the room, Alexi had one of the officer's by the throat with his cybernetic hand and was punching him in the face repeatedly. "I'LL KILL YOU, YOU MISERABLE SHIT!" The second SWAT officer, sporting a large gash over his right eye, courtesy of Alexi's cybernetic limb, tackled the Russian officer. "RAGGGH!" Alexi hit the ground hard, his head cracking against the floor as the other officer started punching him in the mouth. All the while, a large group of officers had formed to watch the melee, including Samuel and Adrianna, distinguishable from Jäger in that she had a look on her face that was a mixture of disgust and fear.

Mary pulled out one of her pistols and fired it twice into the ceiling, causing the officers to scatter, all except Adrianna, Samuel, and the three combatants, who were still trying to kill each other. "THAT IS ENOUGH!" Mary leveled her pistol at the officers. "All of you break it up or your going to the ER with fucking bullets in your knees!" The SWAT officers immediately complied, fearing Mary's temper. "Erika, bring these two assholes to the infirmary, have them patched up, and then take their effects and toss them in a goddamn cell." The older officer of the two began to argue, but Mary simply aimed her gun at him. "IF YOU WANT TO ACT LIKE PUNKS, I'M THROWING YOU IN WITH THE MOTHERFUCKING PUNKS IN LOCKUP, UNDERSTAND ME YOU PIECE OF SHIT!?" Mary advanced on the officer, pressing the barrel of the gun against his chest, and banking on the thought that they didn't notice that she had flicked on the safety after shooting into the ceiling. "Try me. I fucking dare you..."

The officers complied, dropping their sidearms on the floor and leaving with Erika. Mary looked over at Alexi and holstered her pistol, storming up to him and Socking him clean in the jaw. "ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE!? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?" Alexi simply thundered back, his face dark red. "THEY SAW FIT TO TALK SHIT ABOUT KATE! CALLING HER A FUCKING TRAITOR AND SAYING THAT SHE DESERVED TO DIE FOR ABANDONING US!" Mary grabbed Alexi's collar and pulled him down, making him stare her in the eye. "She did abandon us. Like it or not, you heard what she said, we "refused to live up to her moral expectations" and she "couldn't trust us"."

Alexi shoved Mary away, the reminder of Kate's words just making him angrier. "YOU THINK I FORGOT!? HOW THE FUCK DO YOU THINK I FEEL!? THE WOMAN OF MY LIFE, THE ONE I CHERISH MORE THAN MY OWN EXISTANCE, TOLD ME THAT SHE DIDN'T TRUST ME! THAT I WAS MORALLY BANKRUPT!" Mary was about to retort, when she smelled something, she hadn't noticed it before, but now that Alexi was up close, she could recognize it. Alcohol. Alexi had been drinking before, or while he was on duty.

Mary's anger receded, her tone becoming less harsh, but no less commanding. "Alexi...your gun, and your badge now. You've been drinking while on duty and you assaulted an officer, You're suspended for 2 months, without pay." Alexi was silent for a moment, before retrieving his badge and gun, hucking them at Mary's feet. "Now...get the FUCK out of this precinct." Alexi simply turned on his heel and left, slamming the doors to the main entrance behind him. Mary bent down and picked up Alexi's effects before leaving herself.

Adrianna, having been silent during the whole Ordeal, looked over to Samuel. "Samuel, come with me please." Samuel looked at Adrianna, noticing the look on her face, it was one of anger. "Where are we going?" Adrianna started towards the exit, not looking back as she spoke to Samuel. "You're taking me to Kate's. this has to stop now." Samuel just nodded and followed the young woman, getting into his car (a small four door sports car, used by the NPD for police chases.) and starting off to Kate's apartment.

[Saber]

Baretta had already been bringing up the video feed the moment Totenkopf mentioned a fight breaking out in the precinct, her expression having lost all of her cheerful demeanor and entirely serious as she focused on the task at hand "Already done, bringing the feed up now."

Baretta had to rub her temples when she saw the entire display pan out, things were getting more and more out of control "...By the creators...This chaos is just getting worse and worse by the day..."

[Mani4c]

Mani4c sucked in a few deep breaths, his temper reaching it's boiling point. "That...STUPID, PIG HEADED, AMOEBA BRAINED ASSHOLE!" Mani4c smashed his fist into a nearby wall, cracking it. "I can't fucking believe this shit! He gets depressed, drinks himself stupid, and now he's...GAH!" Mani4c threw his hands up into the air and began pacing around angrily.

Mary stormed back into what used to be Kate's office, tossing Alexi's badge and gun on the desk. "God damn it..." Mary sat down and placed her head in her hands, this day had gone from stressful to maddening, and it wasn't even past 12 in the afternoon. Mary took a minute to breath before contacting her father, this latest disaster had sealed the deal, they needed Kate back. It took a few seconds for her father to answer. <Hello? Oh it's you Mary, how are you?> Mary sighed, "I'm having a shit-tastic day pops, thanks." James sighed, <What happened?> Mary regaled James with the whole story, from Kate quitting to Alexi being suspended. <So, let me get this straight. Both parties were being stubborn dicks, refusing to talk things out, and now Kate's quit.> Mary nodded, "Yeah, though Me and the others are more at fau-" <Don't. Say. Another word. I've dealt with this shit before, tell me her address and I'll talk with her in person.> Mary wanted to argue, to tell him not to bother, but she didn't really have a choice. Her Father would find Kate easily enough, and it was clear that Kate was the best person to lead the precinct. "All right...here's her address..."

Adriana and Samuel arrived at Kate's apartment in less than five minutes, thanks in part to Samuel abusing the siren he had put in the car. Adriana got out of the vehicle and looked at Samuel. "Don't follow me in, as harsh as it sounds, you'd complicate things instead of helping." Samuel nodded, "I won't be a liar and say it isn't true."

Adriana walked into the building, a helpful tenant letting her in. Adriana made her way up to Kate's floor, having remembered some of the details that PariahTech had given Jäger back when she was still their personal hit-woman. 'I'll never get used to having access to memories that aren't mine.' Adriana reached Kate's door and knocked sharply on it, "Kathryn, it's Adriana Weaver. I want to speak with you." 

[Saber]

Baretta sighed and leaned against the desk, resting her chin on her folded hands "Can you honestly blame him? The woman he loved most betrayed his trust because she said something impulsively, and neglected to be specific. It was just as bad as when I accused you of leaking the program info to the world, I didn't think before I acted. Now, all hell is breaking loose, and Kate's decision to leave is at the center of it..."

Kate had been sitting at her table, idly carving a block of wood into a shield-like shape. When the knock on the door came, and Adrianna introduced herself, she cautiously approached the door to look through the peephole. When she saw Adrianna standing there, almost like a normal person, and not some combat trained professional, she opened the door and leaned on the doorway, arms crossed "...I assume you're here to talk me into going back?"

[Mani4c]

Mani4c shook his head, "I didn't say I blamed him! But he's still being a fucking moron..."

Adrianna scowled at Kate's remark, but kept her anger in check. "What would be the point, you wouldn't listen. That's the reason you left isn't it? neither you nor the others were willing to listen to the other." Adrianna walked into Kate's apartment, not caring that the former Captain hadn't invited her in. "You leaving has torn apart the precinct, your friends, and worst of all, Alexi." Adrianna turned to look at Kate, "Tell me, it's been three weeks since you left, in all that time, has he called you once?"

[Saber]

Baretta crossed her arms and leaned back, eyes closed "...He isn't the only one being a moron out there..."

Kate lowered her head when Adrianna started lecturing her about her stubbornness. She knew she had taken things too far when she quit, saying things she half meant, but was too proud to clarify. And her refusal to speak her mind clearly has cost her many of her friends and allies. She calmly spoke, trying not to rise anger levels, not for Adrianna or herself "What would you have me do? Only half of the precinct respects me, and even less of them take the purpose of why I discipline them for deviating from the law to heart. I cannot protect them from internal affairs if they screw up on the job, and it not only looks bad on them, but myself as well." She turned and looked Adrianna in the eye, her clearly defeated gaze masked by a stern glare "If I cannot keep an entire team in line...If I can't get them to understand that their shields don't make them above the law...I am not fit to be in command. If you knew what it meant to lead an army of law enforcers sworn to follow and enforce the law, then you would understand."

[Mani4c]

Adrianna stormed up to Kate, "I expect you to apologize to your friends if nothing else! Alexi, despite the fact that you said that he was undeserving of your trust and morally inferior right after getting SHOT IN THE HEAD AND LEGS, got suspended beating the snot out of two officers who spoke poorly about you. Mary is trying to keep the precinct together in your absence, while also helping Samuel rehabilitate me and Jäger!" Adrianna's breathing was heavy, her voice going hoarse from yelling. "...I don't even know why I'm bothering!" Adrianna turned away, throwing her hands in the air. "You don't care, it's not your problem any more, why would you?" Adrianna's voice became bitter, "Alexi's been drinking you know, he won't talk to anyone, not even Mani4c."

Meanwhile, James pulled up to Kate's apartment on an antique Motorcycle, he had received a message from Daniel, an old drinking buddy of his (who was also Jake's father), informing him that he had also been asked to speak to Kate. James agreed to meet Daniel outside of Kate's apartment so they could try and convince Kate to come back.

James got off of the bike, adjusting his duster and pulling the motorcycle helmet off off his head. James' sense of style was...unique to say the least, a long leather duster, reaching down to his calves and long faded to a dull tan by years of wear. Knee high leather boots with a noticeable heel, complete with spurs (though the spikes were dull for safety reasons.), and two belts, complete with gun holsters, which were, at the moment, empty. James walked over to the entrance of the building, leaning against a nearby wall and waiting for Daniel to arrive.

[Saber]

Kate clenched her fists when Adrianna started to yell at her directly in her face, saying that her lack of communication has brought Alexi to drinking. Secretly, she felt ashamed that her lack of care for what she said when she quit had hurt so many. "...You have no clue the amount of pain I felt leaving the precinct the way I did...I said things I regret now, yes. But how can I face them now? I'm...afraid...The looks of contempt that they may give me if I show my face...I know I deserve it, but I can't just walk up and apologize to them so soon after leaving...Not while they are still so angry at me..."

Daniel drove up in his navy blue Rolls Royce, parking on the street behind James' motorcycle. After shutting the engine off, he stepped out, and waved to his drinking buddy as he headed for the sidewalk "Yo Joe."

[Mani4c]

Adrianna grabbed Kate by the shoulders, "Don't you get it!? They feel just as bad as you! Alexi feels like he's failed you, Mary feels like it's her fault because of her history of breaking the rules, And Samuel...Samuel thinks that all this is his fault, he doesn't know about all the drama behind the scenes, he thinks that all of this is because of trying to help me and Jäger." Adrianna let go of Kate's shoulders, "Kate, please, if you let this fester, you'll lose your chance...you'll lose Alexi, you know what happened to his dad right? What if that happens to him?"

James smirked, "Tch, smart ass. Let's go, then we can head to Reg's and get a drink." James jabbed his thumb towards the door, standing up and heading into the building.

[Saber]

Kate was rattled by Adrianna grabbing her by the shoulders, wincing a little bit from the pressure, but listening to her nonetheless. She was right, if Kate didn't do something to mend the bonds she's broken, she could lose her friends altogether. "...Al...Alright...I-I'll reach out to Mary and see if I can make things right by everyone I've wronged...That much I can do...Thank you Adrianna..."

Dan chuckled and followed James to the apartment complex's front door "Well, you're certainly in prime form today, normally I get a 'Jarhead' or something out of you first. Had a talk with your exasperated daughter before coming here I take it?"

[Mani4c]

Adrianna pulled Kate into a hug, careful not to squeeze too hard due to her cybernetic strength. "Don't thank me Kate, I just don't want you to be alone like me and Jäger were."

James rolled his eyes at Daniel's remark, "Yes, I did. She suspended Alexi for fighting and drinking on duty..." James sighed as he climbed the stairs to Kate's apartment. "This is a fucking mess, I get that she didn't like them going against her, but when someone does that, the first step to figuring out how to keep it from happening again is to find out why, and it sounds like neither side did that." James was very well aware that both sides were right in some respects, Kate was right in the sense that, as police officers, they were held to a higher moral standard. But Samuel and Mary were correct when they said that, given how dangerous things had become as of late, some rules would have to be bent.

"We need to find a way to balance out Kate's Black and White worldview with Mary and the others' more grey look at things...any idea-" James arrived at Kate's apartment, finding the door ajar and Adrianna embracing Kate. "Heh, typical, the ladies get the drop on us."

[Saber]

Daniel sighed and shrugged his shoulders, keeping at pace with James as he was talking about his talk with Mary, and how Kate was acting "Yeah, I got the same impression when I heard Jake's side of the story, and he wasn't even there when it happened. Just try and go easy with the lecturing her when we talk to her, alright Trainer Joe? She's likely conflicted, so we don't need to treat her like a greenhorn."

Kate was surprised by Adrianna's hug, but smiled and wrapped her arms around the cyborg. She then heard a voice and someone clearing their throat and looked over to see Daniel and James standing outside of her room "Mr Derrix? Mr Richards? What are you two doing here?" Daniel scratched his hair, looking at her with a deadpan stare "I was hoping you could tell us, because we heard some pretty upsetting things from our kids." Kate sighed and closed her eyes, resting her head in Adrianna's shoulder "...It's come to this? How bad have things become..." "None of that. How about we all sit down and talk calmly about this, hmm?" Kate nodded, patting Adrianna's back to get free "...Very well...Please come in."

[Mani4c]

Adrianna released Kate and went to pull up some chairs for everyone, James walked into the room and waited for Adrianna to offer him a seat, thanking her before sitting down. The former Army Ranger crossed one leg over the other, the spurs on his boots jingling with the movement. "So...things are pretty messed up eh? Some viral despot attacks the server, Petrovik get's a few bullets in him, and then to top it all off, you quit the force seemingly out of nowhere." James put particular emphasis on "seemingly", he knew that Kate had her reasons, Mary even tried to explain them, to the best of her ability.

"Now...I have a feeling that you're going to reply with, "So they want to take me back?" or some variation of that, and you'd be right...But I want to hear your side of the story, I've heard the hearsay, and what the other side has to say. And I want you to explain it to us, make us understand your point of view. Because honestly, Mary gets her dislike of the rulebook from me, so I'm not exactly on the same page as you." James crossed his arms, leaning back into the chair. "Because if you can explain it to me, you can explain it to Mary and the others when you apologize."

[Saber]

Kate sighed and collected her thoughts, nodding as James asked her to tell her side of the story. She then began to tell James of every incident that led her to make this decision. The insubordination, the hidden agendas, the back-talk, and the times when she had her own mistakes thrown back at her when she was disciplining an officer who had done something that wasn't 'by the book'.

She then ended her long tale with the viral attack and how it affected the server. Alexi's collar shooting him in the head while she watched, Jager's timely appearance by the hands of Samuel, and everything that followed "...I've said things that I need to apologize for, I know this now...But I am the way I am because of my respect for the law...As broken as it can sometimes be, if used right, it can bring criminals to justice, and save lives. If used poorly, the criminals will escape persecution, innocent lives are still at danger, and then internal affairs will start to investigate and go through our reports with a fine toothed comb...I'm as harsh with my morals and discipline because I fear the law just as much as I respect it, and I cannot protect my men if they make a mistake. Not only will it cost them their careers or worse, It looks bad on and to me because I'm not able to steer them in the right path...I was lucky enough to get out of my own mistakes, and I've tried my hardest to make sure they don't do the same..."

She looked down and folded her hands on the table, her knuckles white as she painfully said her final piece "That's why I quit; I trust some of my old subordinates with my very life, but if I'm not able to maintain order and trust all of my men to obey and enforce the law that they have sworn under oath, without straying from the law itself when performing their duties, I am no longer deserving of my position as captain..."