You know what the best thing about being a cop is? The fact that I'm able to help so many people. Oh, the sense of adrenaline is great, and so is being able to use high tech gear the public doesn't have access to… but even putting that aside, the feeling of a job well done, and knowing that I've made a difference is the reason why I keep doing this—why I come in day after day.

⋯Including the days I don't need to come in.

⋯⋯Including the times I'm supposed to be off-duty.

Okay, look. I may have a bit of a problem… but that doesn't mean HQ needs to mandate for me to have time off! Oh, they call it a reward for all the hard work I've done, but I know what they're really saying! And besides, there's always something that can happen! What if there's a bank heist? A mutant outbreak? An alien invasion? A—

I forced the thoughts out of my head, and took a deep breath. Chill, Patricia, I thought to myself. It's only a three-day weekend. You can deal with not being a crimebuster for three days. There are other officers out there just as capable. It'll be fine. It'll be fine.

You know what wasn't fine? My absent-minded self bumping into a random civ. Way to go, me. (Hey, at least I wasn't driving.)

"Ack!" I cried out, stumbling backwards. I was surprised, but I'd be fine; my cyber-synth body was made of sterner stuff. As for them? Well, I was about to find out. After all, I was the one who bumped into them; it'd be rude not to.

"Hey, sorry," I said with a sheepish smile. "My mind was off with the fairies. You alright? I didn't break anything, did I?"