Chapter Text
David was a simple man. If there was money, he’d do the job.
He stared down at the photo of the three kids with disinterest and, with the same cool detachment, stabbed it into the pinboard.
He had a job to do, and he wouldn’t rest until his targets were gone.
Miss Acnee paid well, after all.
“Gosh, I’ll never understand how senior officers do this,” Hera muttered, gripping her baton awkwardly.
She raised her arm, poised to strike the training dummy—
“Officer Oh!!!” Her walkie crackled to life.
Hera flinched. The baton slipped from her grasp, sailing clean past the dummy and straight into the back of Officer Phan’s head.
CRASH!!
Hera froze for half a second before dissolving into frantic apologies, rushing to the senior officer’s side as he groaned on the floor.
“I am so, so sorry, Officer Phan!” She helped him sit up.
He turned on her with a glare, mouth opening— no doubt to scold her— when—
“Officer Oh!” the walkie growled, “You better get your butt over here or I swear to God—!”
Both officers winced. Officer Phan’s irritation softened into pity as he patted Hera’s shoulder.
“Good luck, rookie.”
Hera nodded and hurried off.
The call centre greeted her with a peculiar sight.
Chief Michaels stood with his arms crossed, and beside him—
“Ryan?” Hera blinked, eyeing the boy.
“Ah, so you know the twerp,” Chief Michaels muttered, “Great. He’s your problem now.”
He nudged Ryan forward and turned away, completely missing the glare the boy shot after him.
“Hey, bud,” Hera said gently, crouching to Ryan’s level, “Why are you here? And… alone?”
“I was looking for you, Officer Oh,” Ryan said, “We need your help.”
“Oh?” Something in Hera tightened, “Did something happen?”
Ryan opened his mouth, hesitated, glanced around— then, without thinking, held out his hand to her.
“Can we talk somewhere more private?” He seemed to realize what he’d done and started to pull back, “It’s— it’s about— you know.”
“Ah.” Hera caught his retreating hand, offering a warm smile when he looked up in surprise, “Of course. We can talk outside.”
She led him out.
They stopped beside her patrol car, and Hera released his hand when she felt the gentle pull away.
She crouched again, “So… what’s up?”
“It’s— well—” Ryan hesitated, and Hera’s unease deepened, “The Tobots noticed someone watching us.”
For a moment, Hera faltered, caught off guard— then a steady, resolute calm settled in her chest.
“What can I do to help?”
Over the next few days, Hera found herself strangely on edge.
It wasn’t until the fifth day that she finally got a chance to act on it.
.
She’d been helping the kids shoo away a few pesky bikerbots when she caught it out of the corner of her eye—
A faint metallic glint from a nearby alleyway.
She blurted out an excuse without missing a beat: “Hey, kiddos! I think I just saw a coupon for a yummy free chicken fly over this way! Be right back!”
The kids didn’t even blink as she stepped away.
Hera moved toward the alley, hand instinctively reaching for her baton—
Her heart sank when her fingers closed around nothing but air.
She paused.
Took a breath.
And stepped into the alley.
Hera froze, blinking as she scanned her surroundings.
No one.
A frown tugged at her lips, but she refused to turn back— not when the kids could be in danger.
She moved deeper, steps quiet and controlled.
Her gaze swept over the bins, the trash bags, even the fire escape above… but—
Nothing.
Hera let out a slow sigh, her shoulders slumping as she finally turned back.
She told herself it was probably nothing — just the flash of the dumpster.
Still, the feeling followed her as she returned to the kids’ side — an itch between her shoulders, the faint sense of being watched.
Later that day, she caught it again.
A silhouette reflected briefly in a shop window as she passed. Gone when she turned. A shape at the end of the street that slipped out of sight a heartbeat too fast. Once, the soft click of something mechanical, just barely audible beneath the city noise.
Hera started positioning herself differently after that — always a step closer to the kids, always with a clear line of sight to alleyways and rooftops. She laughed, joked, waved off concern, but her eyes never stopped moving.
On the third glimpse, she was sure.
A man stood across the street, half-hidden behind a delivery truck, head tilted down as if checking his phone. The moment her gaze locked onto him, he shifted — and disappeared between two buildings.
Hera didn’t follow right away.
She exhaled slowly, steadying herself, and tapped her baton once to make sure it was still on her belt. Her grip tightened, resolve settling heavy and firm in her chest.
She glanced back at the kids —safe, distracted, unaware— then turned toward the alley the man had vanished into.
This time, she didn’t bother with an excuse.
David was losing his patience.
He’d done his research after his first encounter with the wannabe cop.
Officer Hera Oh. Nothing but a rookie.
His hand brushed the gun at his belt, eyes hard and unfeeling.
He’d been given permission to use lethal force on any and all… obstacles.
It seemed he’d finally found one.
Hera didn’t hesitate this time.
She stepped into the alley — and barely suppressed her surprise when she came face to face with the culprit.
The man wore a dark blue suit, a stereotypical fedora pulled low over his eyes.
“You are under arrest, mister,” she said, her voice only just wavering, “You won’t be causing any more trouble for my kids.”
The man smirked, letting out a light, airy chuckle.
“We’ll see about that, Hera Oh.”
Hera’s eyes narrowed. The noise of the world fell away, fear bleeding out as adrenaline flooded her veins. Her hand moved toward her baton.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you…”
She remained unflinching as she looked up to find a pistol leveled at her chest.
“Hope you enjoyed getting in my way,” the man snarled, his grin cold, “’Cause this will be your last shift, I’m afraid.”
Hera tensed. A spark of fear slipped past the calm she clung to.
Her eyes widened.
BANG.
Her training barely saved her life.
Hera twisted on instinct, the world blurring as the shot rang out — but not fast enough.
White-hot pain tore through her chest, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. She staggered, breath hitching violently as something warm flooded her mouth. She coughed, choking, and tasted iron.
Still, she moved.
Adrenaline drowned out everything else as she surged forward, shoulder-first, trying to tackle him—
BANG.
Pain exploded through her shoulder, dull and heavy, her arm going numb as the force spun her sideways. She cried out, but her momentum carried her through, fist swinging out of pure instinct.
Her knuckles met his sternum.
It barely hurt him.
But it startled him into bending over.
Just enough.
Hera reeled back, vision swimming, then forced herself upright and yanked her baton free. With a shaky grunt, she brought it down hard against the back of his neck.
The man collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
Hera stood there for a second, swaying, then stumbled back until her spine hit the brick wall. She slid down it, leaving a dark, smeared trail behind her.
Her walkie crackled as she fumbled for it, fingers slick.
“Sus— s’suspect down,” she tried, words slurring together. She coughed again, red spilling over her hand, “I— I need—”
The sentence dissolved into another fit of coughing.
Footsteps. Panicked voices.
“Officer Oh—?”
She barely managed to lift her head as the kids rounded the corner.
The man lay motionless on the ground. Officer Oh was slumped against the wall, her uniform soaked through with red.
“Don’t—” Hera rasped, forcing herself upright just enough, “Don’t look. Get— get somewhere safe.”
Tears poured down Kory's face as he rushed to her side, grabbing her arm with both hands, “You’re bleeding—you’re bleeding a lot— are you okay? Are you gonna be okay?”
Dylan shoved past him without a word, pressing his hands firmly against her shoulder wound. Blood soaked through his fingers almost instantly.
“Oh,” Hera murmured dazedly, blinking at him, “That’s… that’s a good idea…”
Her hand trembled as she lifted it to her chest, pressing weakly against the wound there.
Ryan hovered close, frozen in place, hands clenched so tightly they shook. Kory sobbed openly now, and Dylan’s jaw was locked tight, eyes glassy as his hands grew slick and warm.
Hera looked at them — and smiled.
“I know we aren’t really…” She laughed weakly, the sound bubbling and breathless, “Friends or anything. That’d— that’d be weird…”
Ryan’s face crumpled as he started crying too.
“But I’m…” Hera swallowed hard, “I’m so proud of you kids. You are… you are true heroes.”
Dylan’s eyes shone, tears finally slipping free.
“You boys will—” Hera’s voice faltered, eyelids fluttering, “You…”
“Please save your energy, Officer Oh,” Dylan whispered, his voice breaking, “Please.”
Hera only smiled at him, softer now. Her hand slipped from her chest, strength bleeding out with every breath.
“I’m…” She gave a tiny, breathless giggle, “I’m happy I got… got to meet such great kids…”
Warmth settled around her — three small, shaking forms pressed close. Somewhere far away, sirens wailed, growing louder.
Hera’s eyes slid shut.
She slipped into darkness with a smile.