Viviane navigated her way through a maze of grey, interconnected cubicles on a large floor. She knew exactly where she wanted to go even though the sameness of the cubicles could confuse anyone. Kylian sat in his designated allotment of grey walls and furniture which he liked to think of as his “office” when Viviane popped in on him.

“Hello?” Viviane stuck her head into the opening where there should have been a door.

“Geez!” Kylian jumped in his seat. “Doesn’t anyone ever knock around here?” He sounded annoyed.

“Why should we?” asked Viviane. “There are no doors.”

“Someday, I’ll make professor here and I’ll have a door,” Kylian resolved.

“You’ll be very lonely if you keep that door shut all the time,” teased Viviane as she played with Kylian’s ego. Kylian, however, would have none of that.

“Very funny,” he deadpanned. “What did you come around here for?”

“I’m going to visit Anaelle and Marielle, but I can’t find Moyenne and I hate walking the street by myself. Would you come with me?”

Kylian’s heart swelled with joy and anticipation. He didn’t think that Viviane would ever ask him to go somewhere with her, even if it was just going to visit the identical teenage twins at the High School located within the confines of the University campus.

“Absolutely!” responded Kylian.

Viviane cracked a sly smile knowing full well that her request would not be denied.

It was not a long walk from the National Laboratory’s Research Offices to the High School, but it was not a short one either. On the way, they came to a small square where people gathered to watch news and public announcements on large, electronic screens. On one of the largest screens, it read: “Your government at work.”

Right above these gallant words, if it could be believed, was a photograph of what looked to be government officials actually working. After a few seconds, the words changed: “Selecting the leaders of tomorrow.” Instead of a picture, a video clip played showing members of the Ruling Party with red armbands casting ballots presumably doing what the words were saying, namely, selecting who the country’s leaders will be for the next ten years.

The words changed again: “The public trust must be upheld. It is the duty and privilege for the Ruling Party to act and decide in the best interests of our citizens.” Another video clip played above these grand sentiments showing members of the Ruling Party applauding nearly fifty tables of ballot boxes.

The public service announcement faded to black but the words changed and remained saying: “Citizens please stay informed of important events during the government transition.”

Just before Kylian and Viviane reached the High School checkpoint, a group of three, young, brash STS Agents drove patrol in their military personnel carrier when they happened to catch sight of Viviane. They instantly took interest in her, being that she was a shapely, striking young lady.

From inside their vehicle, one of the patrol Agents impressed with Viviane’s beauty said to the others, “Hey, have a look at this girl, would you?”

“Maybe we should interact with the locals,” said another. “Community policing, you know?” He winked his eye at the others.

“Can’t argue with that thinking!” agreed the last one.

So with their confidence high, or perhaps it was their male chauvinism that pumped up their confidence, they pulled over to the side of the road and parked alongside Viviane. One of the Agents blew a shrill whistle to get Viviane’s attention.

Viviane bristled at the sound of the whistle and felt a pit in her stomach grow. She froze in place and stiffened up while she waited for what she could guess would happen next.

“Hey gorgeous! Where you heading?” hollered one of the Agents through an open window.

“Yeah, if you tell us, we can give you a ride there! C’mon, tell us!” insinuated another.

With her heart racing from this unwanted attention, Viviane thought quickly and came up with a plan! She reached out to enlist Kylian’s help.

“Please!” Viviane whispered to Kylian, “Help me out! Tell them that I’m with you and they can go.”

These boorish officers of the badge also caught Kylian off guard, too, the way they suddenly swooped in on them so fast. He whispered back to Viviane, “But they’re law enforcement! If we’re not careful, you might not get arrested, but I certainly will!”

Viviane glared at Kylian and through clenched teeth she begged, “Please!?”

A hundred conflicting thoughts ran through Kylian’s head.

What do I do? I don’t want to get tasered, but I don’t want to look like a coward in front of Viviane either! What’s the worst that could happen? They beat me up and throw me in jail for a night. That’s bad! What’s the best that could happen? They leave and I look like a hero for saving her from this situation? That’s good! But I don’t like handcuffs! That’s bad! But I can’t let Viviane down. That’s worse!

Kylian finally decided to stand up for Viviane, although his legs did not feel like they could stand much longer. At least he had not soiled himself yet.

Kylian stepped up and put himself in front of Viviane between her and the STS Agents. He opened his mouth, prepared to say that the attractive young lady was with him, but no sound emerged! Kylian, legs already jelly, panicked and tried to force himself to say something, anything. Finally, he squeaked out a response.

“Hey, she’s with me!” he squeaked in a mouse-like voice. “You guys can go now!”

Upon hearing the high-pitched voice of Kylian, the STS Agents exploded in a fit of laughter not believing for one bit that Kylian could be Viviane’s companion.

Kylian realized that he had utterly failed and was about to grab the sides of his head and push inward on it to keep it from exploding when Viviane rushed up to him offering moral support. Those STS Agents were not just rude, they were plain mean to humiliate Kylian for trying to help her. Even though Viviane disliked confrontations, seeing Kylian demoralized like that gave her the courage to lash back.

“You guys are jerks!” she shot back, angry that they bullied Kylian into a quivering mass of jelly. “Don’t you have anything better to do than harass innocent civilians?”

But then, from nowhere, a cynical voice cut through the laughter and commanded respect.

“Enough horsing around you numbskulls! Get back to your patrol before you’re late for your check-in. She’s with me now.”

Everyone twisted their necks to see who had spoken in such a powerful manner. It was Luc! He must had seen Viviane and Kylian coming from afar and ran down to them from his post from the High School above to intervene. It was a good thing he did.

The three patrol Agents realized that their little detour had taken them longer than they expected.

“Oh crap!” exclaimed one of them looking at the time on his dashboard. “We’ve got to get back for check-in guys or we’re going to have some explaining to do.”

The others inside the patrol vehicle agreed and they drove off in a hurry without even as much as an apology to Viviane and Kylian.