Conversation · The Pigs

Get the gun, lieutenant, it's okay. It's safe, he thinks. Just get it.

"SUSPECT AT LARGE ON FOOT," she yells in the megaphone. "PIGS IN PURSUIT, CUFF HIM, BOYS!"

"I hear you, ma'am, look..." (Start slowly bending over.) "...hands going on the ground."

"We just want to help, that's all."

So that's how Cunoesse must have felt, when you pointed the gun at her.

So this is what the weather's like on the other end of a cop's gun?

Nope, not right now. [Leave.]

"Officer..." The lieutenant shakes his head and adds: "There is no way I'm leaving it like this."

"You're right, of course. Let's do this!"

The lieutenant nods. His eyes stay on the swaying firearm.

"Suit yourself, but I need to decompress first." (Turn to leave.)

"We can't leave. A delirious civilian is pointing a firearm at us. Your firearm. You need to solve this."

Just trust me and go for the gun.

"Careful, I'm packing fire too..." (Flash your piece.)

"SUSPECT IS ARMED AND DANGEROUS! REQUESTING IMMEDIATE BACK-UP!" She's now panting heavily. "RESISTING ARREST, BREAKER BREAKER, CUT HIM OFF!"

There's no way you can take aim and fire before she gets a shot off.

"Wait, officer!" the lieutenant shouts. "We're trying to de-escalate the situation! Adding more guns just makes it worse."

"DON'T MOVE!" She seems to grit her teeth. "HANDS ON YOUR HEAD, HUMAN SHIELD! HANDS ON YOUR FUCKING HEAD!"

Enough! Fry me some bacon!

There has to be a way to resolve this situation peacefully.

Time to get my gun!

"Please identify yourself, ma'am?"

"IT'S THE GODDAMN POLICE, SHIT-BAG," she yells into the megaphone. "HUG THE PAVEMENT, YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!"

As she waves her hands, you notice familiar-looking ampoules and packets sticking out the mountain of police gear on her back. Medicine? Or drugs?

Magnesium, drouamine, maybe even speed... My god, she has speed on her? What else?

She thinks she's a police officer... Try treating her like a police officer. A lower-ranking police officer.

"We can solve this peacefully, please lower the weapon."

"OFFICER IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE!" Her eyes dart between you and Kim. "SUSPECT AT LARGE, GET ON THE GROUND!"

"Ma'am, please..." The lieutenant is trying to maintain eye-contact. "We want to help you, but you need to lower that weapon."

Doesn't want to hurt her?! This is flight or fight -- do or die.

"Let's just talk, alright?"

"Disturbance reported, authorize deadly force. SECTOR, TAKE THE SHOT!" Her head snaps at you. "BIG RED KEY, BIG RED KEY!"

Big red key? That's code for the battering ram. Cop talk. You know this.

What happened to make her like this?

Loneliness.

Yes, sure. But also -- in a less abstract way -- the neurodegenerative disease I mentioned earlier.

Again, a neurodegenerative disease.

"That's it, you're under arrest!"

"You're making it worse, officer," the lieutenant says quietly. His eyes never leave the woman's face.

"Blow her away, lieutenant!"

"You're making it worse, officer," the lieutenant says quietly. His eyes never leave the woman's face.

"Are you on drugs?"

"CONFISCATED CONTRABAND!" The megaphone makes her voice almost painfully metallic. "RESTRICTED ACCESS, TWO KILOS MISSING, EYE-WITNESS REPORT COMPROMISED!"

"I don't think she's on drugs," the lieutenant whispers. "Being off drugs might actually be the problem here..."

"You're not the police. I am the police."

"Back-up?" She lowers the megaphone half-way, but immediately raises it again and screams: "BACK-UP, BACK-UP! STATUS UNCONFIRMED!"

Yeah, back her up, right up against those boxes and do some sex-healing.

STOP! For the love of god, don't.

Confirmed. Don't listen to your glands right now. Listen to me. The lady asked, if you're the backup?

"I'm with the rat squad!"

"Rat squad?" The question is addressed to herself more than you. "But I thought... But Mr. Morrand..." The megaphone raises and she screams: "AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, MAN DOWN, SUSPECT ON FOOT!"

There's a scenario unfolding in her head right now. It has nothing to do with what's happening here.

"What's the situation..." the lieutenant hesitates addressing the woman, "... officer?"

"LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPROMISED," she screams in the megaphone. Red and blue lights illuminate the spit flying everywhere. "IMPERSONATING A POLICE OFFICER!"

Does she not believe you two are actually police officers?

"Eee... I'm in full RCM lieutenant's uniform. Trust me. I'm a cop."

"LICENCE AND REGISTRATION!!!" She repeatedly bashes the megaphone against her head, then screams in the bloody mouthpiece: "LICENCE AND REGISTRATION! COME IN DISPATCH! SECTOR, SECTOR, AZIMUTH!!!"

It's not a code. Just disjointed words.

She's losing it -- one twitch and there will be blood.

"Look, ma'am..." (Point to your clothes.) "White rectangles. I am a cop."