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B-shift had cursed them. He’s sure of it. Just because the A-shift had the sunny days off and held a team barbecue at Bobby’s, while B-shift had to deal with all the crazy people that suddenly came up during heatwaves, didn’t mean that they had to curse them. Buck was pretty sure he heard one of the guys mutter the Q-word before leaving.
He himself only said it once, totally out of context of the shift, only complimenting on how noiseless the new dishwasher at the station was. Apparently, the curse didn’t care. The curse also apparently didn’t care who had said the Q-word, because while Sanchez could easily drive home and take a long, deserved nap, A-shift had been in the fire engine and ambulance for four hours straight.
The crew had barely finished up restocking the ambulance and engine when the alarm went off again in the firehouse. They hadn’t even had the time to debrief properly. The amount of paperwork that awaited Bobby was piling up and Buck was already thinking about a simple dish to cook for dinner at the station.
Dispatch: Engine 118, truck 118, ambulance 118, partial collapse at Westfield Century.
After years of training and working together as a team, not many words needed to be spoken before the firefighters got moving. With practiced efficiency they climbed into their respective vehicles and moved out.
Inside the fire truck Bobby sat in the captain’s seat and turned to the rest of the team behind him. “The roof collapse happened after an explosion was heard during a protest march through the mall against pink-washing. Police is already at the scene.”
Upon hearing the word ‘pink-washing’ Buck lit up, his eyes twinkling with so much life, something Eddie had seen it happen multiple times in their years together. It’s Buck recognizing words and flipping through his mental catalogue of ‘useless’ information.
Buck softly nudged Eddie with his knee, looking for permission to speak.
Turning his body ever so slightly towards his partner, Eddie nods. Permission granted.
“Did you know,” Buck started his speech. It wasn’t unusual for Buck to share fun facts with his team. Once, when they were sent out to capture some escaped animal at the zoo, Buck had named every single animal in there and how they could kill him. The fire truck was never quiet on the way towards an emergency. Buck and his infinite encyclopaedia of knowledge that no one seemed to question anymore were always there to fill in the silence. “This protest actually started online with someone digging into the finances these clothing stores. They found out these stores were into some shady business, violating human rights, and covering all their tracks, but they never got repercussions for it.”
He raised his voice enthusiastically towards the end, as if he hadn’t just mentioned multiple crimes committed by fashion brands. His smile faded as he looked around at his team, who were staring horrified back at him, fully tuned into his intro. This was definitely not the fun fact they expected.
“Okay, so, this I wouldn’t say wasn’t the worst part, but it does get slightly worse, if we’re tallying up moral crimes committed,” he raised them slowly, gauging the reaction from the rest. His knee, the one that wasn’t resting against his partner’s started bouncing lightly. “Remember, Eddie,” he elbows him.
Eddie raised an eyebrow back. “Remember what?”
“The pink-washing!” The disappointment in his voice had Bobby turn his head around to look at his crew. “Bobby mentioned it in the briefing, and Chris and I were talking about it while you were trying to save your empanadas.”
Eddie nodded his head slowly frowning. “Sure, yeah, totally wasn’t distracted by aforementioned empanadas, but please, Buck, do enlighten us.”
“So, this company right, horrible morals, shady business, and then for the pride they are suddenly launching a new rainbow collection, to ‘support the community and give them space to exist freely’ or something. Well, obviously that went as well as you would suspect online. So, people got to sharing. Think pieces about the human rights violations in the fashion industry, call-out posts for other brands also trying to cover up this ‘PR nightmare’ with happy-go-lucky pride initiatives, calling for boycotts of certain brands.”
“Okay, so they collectively took action to bring down these big companies. How does that connect to the explosion we’re headed to?” Hen chimed in while Buck took a breath.
“I’m getting there, Henrietta,” he quipped back, barely dodging a meaningless punch from the paramedic. “That’s where you’re wrong, though. It wasn’t collective action. It’s connective action. Collective would’ve been if there was actually a group leader or something who provided all the messages, so that there would be one central message that gets broadcast. What we see here is individuals coming up with their own motivation to join the action, each having their own message to broadcast out into the world.”
“Collective, connective.” Chimney popped his gum. “All I’m hearing is chronically online people got mad at a clothing company and now a roof has collapsed. Doesn’t sound that efficient.”
“No, I get him,” Ravi backs the firefighter. “I was on Twitter the other day and my entire timeline was just people posting about these companies but from like different perspectives. So, some people were angrier about the human rights violations, and others were more appalled about using the queer community to cover up their crimes. Like using the community instead of actually caring about us. I would never have known about this if it weren’t for all the attention brought to it.”
“See, Ravi gets it,” Buck said enthusiastically, holding up his open palm towards the younger man. “Sometimes it’s good to be chronically online. You learn something.”
“Yeah, don’t let Christopher hear you say that, please,” Eddie interjected. “I’m trying to get him off that screen.”
“Amen to that,” Hen said full of frustration and weariness. “Denny keeps calling out 6-7 at home and I’m sure it’s coming from those social media apps.”
“Okay, but have you considered that social media could actually be good for them?” Buck proposed.
Chimney tuned back in. “Do I need to revoke your Uncle Buck privileges? I do not need my daughter addicted to that stuff.”
“Oh, absolutely not. Not for Jee, of course, she’s way too young,” Buck backtracked. “No, that’s too much stimulation for her little brain. No, social media is actually a great gateway for teens to get into politics nowadays! It might seem controversial, because social media is so overwhelming with choices from what app you’d choose to what you’d want to follow. It’s not like the linear television from when Bobby was young, right? Less choice in what to watch, and all.” He reached over to tap his captain on his shoulder, earning a scoff.
“Please, Buck, I’m sure you also grew up with cable television.”
“Tomato, tomato. Potato, potato,” Buck shrugged. “But the point is, we are now living in a high choice media environment, meaning every single time we want to consume media, we have so many options to choose from, and who would willingly sit through an entire debate on highway taxation, when you can also doomscroll for three hours.
“Politicians have gathered intel on this and are playing into this. The social media presence of politicians has grown over the past few years for them to reach the public, directly speaking to their audience instead of using the news the old-fashioned way.”
“So what? We now have politicians campaigning on TikTok?” Hen asked sceptically. With her and Karen trying to minimize the amount of time Denny is on his phone and the amount of time he spends with Buck, it worried her what Buck was teaching her son. “How does that differ from them plastering their faces on billboards and television ads?”
“Well, the difference is that they’re not only talking policy. So, to attract the people to their posts and accounts, the algorithm must like them, and for the algorithm to like them, the politicians must appease the algorithm,” Buck explained.
“And we are sure the algorithm isn’t something that is one day going to take over the world, right?” The edge in Eddie’s voice was clear. Maybe he should remove all of Chris’ internet access.
“No, definitely not. Let our boy keep his Instagram, he needs it to communicate with his friends,” Buck replied quickly, not letting Eddie dwell on the thought of algorithms and AI overlords taking over humanity. “But to continue,” he lightened the mood, “to appease the algorithm, they must play the game, right? Post content people actually want to watch. So, the funny thing is, fandom culture is a thing, right? Making video edits of your fan subject, be it NHL player Macklin Celebrini or the character Brad Torrence played in Hot Shots, is one of the things fans do. So, like pick a popular song, take a few out of context clips of your fan subject, piece it all together and wham, bam, thank you ma’am, another piece de resistance is born.”
“You notice how no one ever says wham, bam, thank you, sir?” Hen remarked offhandedly.
Buck furrowed his eyebrows and turned to look at the only woman in the truck. “Because that doesn’t rhyme, get with the program. So, as a I said: video edits of your fan subject and politicians playing the media game. Are you picking up what I’m picking down?”
“Oh, I know what you’re on about,” Ravi smiled. “Please, continue, I want to see their reaction.”
“I’m piecing things together and I don’t like where this is going, please tell me I’m wrong,” Eddie says defeated, already leaning back into his seat.
“So, politicians of course have their own social media team, and that social media team knows what the people, or the fans, want. So now, we have video edits of politicians. Gen Z slang, trending songs. Have you all considered a Frank Ocean song playing over a politician during a debate?
“In The Netherlands the youth organisation connected to a political party even made video edits of two male politicians in a fictional relationship! If that isn’t a great gateway for teens and young adults to get into politics.”
“Political yaoi getting the fangirls to the polls.” Ravi laughed. “I’m so glad I’m the first person in my bloodline to experience Resse in real time.”
Shaking his head, Bobby interrupts the 118. “Alright guys, we’re almost at the mall. We’ll be the first to arrive, so for now we’re going to check the perimeter, make sure the building is safe enough to enter.”
“Hen, Chim, set up triage and prioritize patients. Make sure everyone is stable enough for when other ambulances come,” Bobby yelled out as soon as they exited the vehicle. The police had pooled injured people on the curb at the parking lot, so the paramedics were quick to assess the injuries.
Assuming the role of incident commander wasn’t new to Bobby, so when the other firehouses arrived at the scene, the 118 had already secured the structure to avoid further collapse.
“Buck, Eddie, Ravi, stay together and sweep the building, find any stragglers and help them out. Main entrance should be fine, but the C-side staircase is compromised. No mentions of active fires, but due to the explosion, beware of any signs of smoke or smouldering.”
“Yes, Cap,” the trio exclaimed as they jogged towards the main entrance. Luckily most of the visitors were already outside once the roof gave in, but some screams at the top floor got their attention. Or well, a combination of the top floor and the one below it.
Rushing up the stairs on the D-side of the building, they’re met with rubble and dust. Climbing over the debris of the roof, they find a group of teenagers huddled around a large concrete plate.
“Make way, LAFD,” Buck announced their arrival. He tried not to sound too authoritative as the teens didn’t seem to disobey orders and were probably already scared enough by the incident.
One girl turned around. “Oh, thank god you’re here! Allison got trapped underneath the roof. We can’t get her out. Please, help her,” she rambled, tears streaking down her face, her hand holding onto what Buck could now see was the hand of another girl lying on the floor. A large slab of concrete resting on her leg, effectively stopping her from moving.
Buck looked at Ravi and Eddie, silently planning out the course of action. Sanitize the area, stabilize the structure, distract the victim and then extraction.
“Alright, why don’t you guys go downstairs with Ravi over here, give us some space to work on getting your friend free.” Eddie stepped forwards, motioning to Ravi, who waved his hand.
“I’m staying,” the girl who spoke up first said. “I’m not leaving her behind.” Her tone full of determination. Her thumb carefully stroking over the back of Allison’s hand in reassurance.
Eddie nodded at Buck and Ravi. “Alright, that’s totally fine. We all need someone we know. The rest, please follow Ravi down and get checked out by the paramedics for any dust inhalation.”
Buck was already walking around the debris, looking for weak spots and areas that he might need to watch out for, quickly establishing the best way to secure the rest of the debris before radioing Ravi to bring the hydraulic struts back up.
Meanwhile Eddie was crouching down at the patient, connecting her free hand to a heart rate monitor. “My partner was just telling us about this protest; how social media is can also do good. I think you’re brave for challenging large companies like this publicly. Takes some guts.” He knew that distracting the patient from the status quo could only work so far.
“If not me,” Allison groaned. “Then who?” The look on her face challenged Eddie.
“Well, I mean, I’m sure people older than you would have more experience in protesting like this. Going to the streets. You’re what, barely 17? You could have just done the fandom thing. Buck, my partner, said something about that. Something with creativity and being a fan of something. Like video editing or something? Isn’t that more something your age would do?”
The thought of Christopher going out to protests, marching and chanting for a change, scared Eddie. It was a noble deed, but not something he’d wish for his son. He’d rather his son play more video games with his friends, not worry about the state of the world, be oblivious, for just a little while longer.
“Yeah, well, I do that too, but I don’t want to be a free rider,” Allison grimaced. “I’ve always hated those people in school, free riding on my hard work and getting the same grade, meanwhile I was pulling all-nighters trying to finish whatever stupid project. Morally, I could not sit back and watch this shit unfold in real time and not do anything. I won’t profit off the backs of others, unlike certain companies.” She quickly glanced at what’s left of a popular fashion chain. “I’ve seen and heard from so many people online what the consequences are of the horrible acts these companies do, and I can’t just let that go past me.
“Do you know—fuck,” she hissed as Buck started stabilizing the debris with Ravi, ever so slightly moving the slab on Allison’s leg. She squeezed her eyes shut, grinded her teeth and breathed in deeply. “Do you know how much whiplash I get when I scroll through social media? It’s like an edit of Supernatural followed by gruesome images from war zones and then the next scroll it’s a kitten trying to walk in a harness for the first time. Like, when my timeline is so messed up, I can’t just let others do the work. I have to do my own part too, not just reposting shit online and reheating the cold nachos of others.”
Eddie looked at Buck and Ravi working the struts and securing the structure. They were almost done. He looked down at Allison, still holding onto her friend. “Alright, Allison, I’m going to have to cut out conversation short, as my partner and his buddy are almost done securing. Time to get you out of here.”
He slowly saw the fear return in her eyes and her pulse quickening. Allison quickly turned to her friend and shook her head. “I can’t, please-”
“No, no, no need to panic. No worries, we’re all trained professionals. If you can fight those large companies, you can go through us lifting this off your leg. Your friend is also here and will help drag you from beneath the concrete, if that’s what it takes. Deep breaths. Go on. Focus on your friend, follow her breathing. Good,” Eddie coached her through the breathing. Buck and Ravi were placing themselves around the slab to try and lift it off her first. “Okay, Allison, on the count of three, my buddies and I will lift this slab and as soon as you feel the pressure lift, you drag yourself out, alright? Can you do that for me?”
She nodded quickly. Tears taking over her face again.
“Brace. One, two, three!”
All five of them were screaming, grunting and using all their strength to move. Once Allison got free, the firefighters let go of the concrete, turning to look at their patient.
Allison was cradled into her friends arms, sobbing, while her leg was limp and stretched out outside of the cocoon made of the two girls.
Grabbing their equipment, Buck and Eddie moved towards the girls and slowly separated them enough to lift Allison onto the gurney.
—
Allison and her friend got transported towards Cedars Sinai with Hen and Chimney. With the building cleared and the place secured, the 118 headed back towards the firehouse.
Mulling over his conversation with Allison, Eddie sat quiet in the back of the truck, this eyebrows furrowed as he looked straight ahead. Social media got her into politics, just like Buck had said, but it also got her eventually crushed underneath concrete. Is that really the future he wants for his son?
“What’s going on in there?” Buck nudged his shoulder against his partner’s and got him out of his spiral.
“Huh,” Eddie looked up beside him. “Oh, just thinking. Social media, you know.”
“I do, but what do you know about social media? I don’t think I saw you this focussed on social media before, you know? You’ve got that ‘Am I doing this parenting thing right’-face going on.”
“I do not have such face,” Eddie rebutted. “I was just thinking. Is social media really a good thing for teenagers? Even if they get into politics, which could be a good thing because it makes them aware of the world, is that even a good thing? We literally had to save a girl who only got into that situation because of the social media! Not to mentioning the algorithm you were mentioning before. If you keep scrolling on those apps, eventually they learn what you like, you literally told me that, Buck.” He turned towards the curly haired firefighter with desperation in his eyes. “What if Christopher gets sucked into one of those spheres where all he sees are men degrading women and stimulating toxic behaviour? What if he became politically radical and ends up in jail?”
Buck’s eyes softened as he listened to his partner ramble. The way Eddie was always concerned about Chris’ wellbeing was something he’d always loved. From their first week as co-workers and now eight years later, still the same concern and urgency for his son. “Slow down, cowboy,” he smiled softly. “Let’s take it one step at the time. So, you’re correct about the selective exposure: people tending to seek out to information and news that confirm their own beliefs and values, so pro-attitudinal information. And you’re also correct about the filter bubbles on social media, where algorithms only serve you posts aligning with your previous online behaviour, giving you a warped version of the world, as you are not met with posts that challenge your beliefs, counter-attitudinal information. Those are indeed slight problems with social media nowadays.”
“I had a good teacher,” Eddie muttered softly, looking at Buck through his lashes, his hands finding Buck’s on his thigh, slowly interlinking their pinkies.
“Well, give him my compliments when you see him next time,” Buck winks. “There are however enough sources online that will guide people to counter-attitudinal information and also enough accounts that give an overview of news found on different winged news sites, so for now you shouldn’t have to worry too much. Also, you’re a great parent. I’m sure you’re already helicopter-parenting Chris on his online presence, so you’ll catch him straying off the golden path before it’s too late.” He slapped his thigh softly. “So, worries gone?”
“Slightly. I still don’t trust it. There’s a lot of fake news online. And also all the new AI videos; if I can’t differentiate those now, how will I survive in the future. Is it too late for Chris as well? Will we all fall into the hands of fake news and AI videos?”
“You’re adorable, you know?”
“Guys, you’re still not in a private line,” Ravi chimed in.
“Free entertainment for you guys,” Buck countered. “But, okay, fake news and AI videos, right? So, how would you feel if I told you that fake news isn’t as bad as it seems. Like it’s not as much as you might think it is.”
“I’d say you’re lying, Buck,” he offered sceptically. Of course, he knew Buck wouldn’t just outright lie to him to ease his mind, but from what he’s seen and heard, a lot of the content online is fake news, in whatever sub-genre of it: be it satire, malicious, unintended.
“Can’t believe I trust you to have my back and you won’t even trust me with basic scientific research summaries,” Buck joked. “Well, according to this one study, sharing fake news during the 2016 U.S. election campaigns was actually quite rare. It was mostly found in conservative groups and people over the age of 65; so unless you’re ready to retire and haven’t told me yet, I think you’re safe. It’s good that you at least acknowledge the existence of it.
“As for those AI videos: people growing up with it will have more years existing with those videos and years without, so you shouldn’t worry about Chris. He’ll have more years with experience on how to spot those AI videos than us, which should make it easier for him to navigate through all the videos. He’ll know the tell tale signs and hopefully he’s nice enough to teach them to us.”
As they arrived at the station, the conversation was slowing down already and they slowly climbed out of the vehicle. The ambulance and truck needed restocking and checking of equipment.
“I’m so glad we didn’t have all that social media back in my day,” Bobby announced to no one in particular.
Before anyone could reply the alarm went off again. That damn curse had not left them yet, it seemed.