Thursday, May 20, 2004

   Cream Filling & Nougat: Third Helping (Chapter II)
The next morning had a newly promoted Nougat preparing a whiteboard and papers at the front of a briefing room. Cream, meanwhile, had his feet up on one of the long tables near the front of the room.
"Noug', you look awesome," the young sergeant said to his partner. "I do believe this marks the first time I've ever seen you wearing a tie . . ."
"Yeah, and I still don't know why you like to wear it," Nougat said, tugging at his neckline a little. The entire piecemeal outfit was scavenged out of old formal clothes the veteran officer owned from years back, and while not completely going together, still gave a sense of distinction as compared to his old street clothes motif. The tightness under the shoulders was still bothering him, but he opted to not voice that particular bit of information to the relaxed man grinning before him.

Cream swung his feet around and stood up.
"So what sort of dream-team have you picked out for this, if I may ask?" he said as he walked towards the papers at the front desk.
"Top sheet," Nougat answered. Cream took a look down at the scribbled out list of names.
"Dude, for a lieutenant your handwriting still sucks a- . . ." Cream stopped himself as Nougat started reaching for his shoulder holster - he smiled innocently and didn't stop until his partner put his hand back down.

"Alright, let's take a look . . ." Cream skimmed the names. "You've got Ruit, Pastille, Raute . . . Losanje . . . . ." Cream stopped and looked up at Nougat, his brow wrinkled in curiosity. "Hey Noug', did you just sorta happen to pick all the heavy hitters of the precinct or was that intentional?" Nougat stopped writing on the whiteboard.
"Huh?"
"It's just that . . . I know Ruit's been trying to get into SWAT for a while, and Pastille's got a bit of a reputation as being pretty extreme in his measures . . . only a little, though . . ." Cream's eyes rolled up in thought. "Now Raute . . . . . I heard he's one of those crackshots. Haven't seen it, but it's what I heard . . . as for Losanje . . . . . uh . . ."
"She's really gung-ho too," Nougat added, "if that's what you were wondering." Cream nodded in recognition. "Hey, you're gonna be working with 'em too. Ask 'em yourself."

During the next five minutes, the others who were called in to the eight-man team filed into the briefing room. Cream was happy to see just about everyone was in high spirits despite the recent hardships the precinct was under. They all definitely looked up to the task.
"Alright guys," Nougat started, clearing his throat, "you all know me, I'm Lt. Nougat and I'm heading this op'." There were some light, casual comments afterwards, mostly about Nougat's luck in getting promoted and in his new look. Cream could only grin. "Likewise, you should all know Detective Cream to my right, he'll be the X-O . . . well, if this were a submarine he would be . . . . . in any case, that's Whip', you all know him already." Again, there were quick comments and greetings, nothing especially formal.

"Anyway," Nougat continued, "the chief deemed it necessary to volunteer me to the cryssal case. I, in turn, deemed it worthwhile to volunteer the seven of you along with. This investigation is going to be dangerous and most likely life-threatening . . . so, I'm hoping that you're all gonna look forward to this." The volume of cheer after his statement was enough to confirm that. "Alright, so we've all seen what the effects of cryssal - or light, as some are calling it - can do to a person. Though it has yet to be really confirmed, the downtown riot a few months back was more than likely attributed to individuals zonked up on light. I know most of you were there, so you know how messed up people get and how hard they are to keep down . . ." There were more nods from the officers in the room. " . . and that's where we come in."

Nougat went over to the whiteboard, where grids were drawn out.
"Now I'm sure you've figured out by now that none of us are actual narcotics officers . . ." There was a quick shuffling of people looking around. "But we're not going to exactly be going about this the way most normal people would . . . we're gonna be diving into the pool, head-first." Again, there was some light snickers from the more amused members of the team - Cream stayed silent and listened to what his partner was thinking. "We're gonna be like hornets, buzzing back and forth over the downtown area. If we find a lead, we're gonna chase it until it leads us to a new lead. We're not gonna let up, and we're not gonna back down. We're gonna keep drilling 'til we get to the top of the pyramid and break it open to whatever mummy's inside."
"Sir," one of the officers asked, raising his hand, "I'm afraid if you move into any more metaphors I may lose you and thus be inefficient in my later duties. May I please request normal speech?" More snickering made its way through the room. Nougat recomposed himself.
"We're gonna go downtown and kick some ass. Simple enough for ya?"
"Very simple, thank you sir."

"Alright, let's wrap up and then get out there," Nougat said, looking back down at his sheet. "I'm splitting the team in half based on geography. I'm gonna run half the team on the west half of downtown, while Sa- . . . uh, Detective Cream will be covering the East. Pastille, Ruit, Raute, you're with me. Losanje, Schotse and Munt, you're with Cream. Everyone got that? Alright, everyone gear up and meet up at oh-nine hundred hours."

The team got up and exited the room, still full of all the energy in the world. The team leaders stayed behind to clean up the room a bit and organise the papers.
"Not bad, Noug'," Cream said, walking around the front desk, "you read notes like a pro." Nougat replied,
"Why thanks, Whip'. You certainly know how to say just the right thing, as always." Cream hopped up and sat on the desk.
"So, was that the whole plan?" he asked.
"Pretty much," the lieutenant answered, "why, something wrong?"
"Oh no, nothin' at all . . . we gonna be calling plays at the line as well, then?"
"Something like that, yeah." Nougat dropped the files back into the folder. "KISS Rule and all, you know."
"Keep it simple, stupid, yeah, I know . . ." Cream got off the desk and moved towards the door. " . . . alright, I'll see ya at nine, then." Nougat turned around to face his partner.
"Yeah, definitely. Catch ya later, Whip'."

Once in the hallway, Cream stretched his arms, groaned out the last of his morning fatigue, and headed towards his and Nougat's office.
"Kiss Rule, huh Noug'?" He muttered to himself. "Takin' it a little extreme today, aren't ya?"
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