Psycher Chronicles

Mission Grant-ed

(Jasmine)

(Two Days Later)

Teamwork, where one person does one task that helps complete one goal or overall mission.

Whatever that task is doesn't really matter, in the long run, as there are only two main factors that go into play in such scenarios. The first is that the person doing the task manages to perform the task with as much energy and passion as possible. At this point Jasmine realized there were a few nuances to this distinction, namely that part of her success hinged on how her work would feed into the overall goal or mission to be accomplished.

This led Jasmine to her second major insight related to teamwork, namely that her work and the work being conducted by the other members of the team didn't truly matter if the overall scheme or purpose of the Teams' overall mission was lacking or off even a minor fraction.

While playing basketball, the Team's overall goal was to win the game. As such, the individual tasks assigned made sense, apply a pick, grab the rebound, screen the defender. All those minor actions led to multiple minor goals that were in fact easily referred to as buckets or goals. The more goals you get in a game, the better your score and better your team's overall chances of victory. Simple, but it wasn't as there was still a team of at least five other motivated individuals who wished do the same but opposite action to you.

In this case, Jasmine's job was simple, find the one creepy van on Main Street, where she would park behind the back side parking lot of the local police station. Once here, she would wait until a spot opened behind it, then park Misha's car there. Once parked, she was to ensure all the cameras were up and running. One would be angled towards the street, to monitor for cars and people passing on the street. One would capture people coming from the backdoor of the police station. This part made no sense, for once the cops went to their police cruisers, they left the range of the camera and were thus not recorded. Then the third and final camera faced forward and managed to record the back doors, and anyone entering the creepy vans from the sides. The positioning of this last camera was the most important, and often one that required her to roll the camera rest a few centimeters to the right or left, until a perfect view was recorded. Then once all the cameras were in place, she would wait.

These were the tasks Jasmine would do from the driver's seat, but only once the GT was firmly in park. This was a security feature that Jasmine both didn't understand how Misha had rigged her car to perform but was immensely thankful for. As there was one time right at the beginning, when she got distracted and the car rolled forward. Fortunately, she managed to stop the car, put it quickly in reverse and back up those very same four inches she had just gained. Then, she proceeded to turn on the auxiliary battery supply in the back, and let the electronics do their part.

There were a few checks, Jasmine showed herself to the camera and flashed both her watch and cell phone at the camera, both revealing the indicated time. Then she was able to leave to do training or whatever. Honestly, Jasmine was just happy to be able to drive Misha's car. The power and precision were evident, the way the car reacted smoothly to her movements was refreshing. Also, the vehicle seemed like it could handle a bit of wear and tear, as Jasmine herself was not gentle on vehicles, her kind never were. But her anger and rage made it hard for her to get and keep a vehicle in tact. That said, whatever Misha did to the GT was amazing.

Jasmine had first felt the thrill of driving the GT on their mad dash away from Pittsburg, related to the concert that would forever be avoided being spoken about at all costs. Being back in the GT, the same GT that managed to get them all to safety, Jasmine realized that she now only felt truly safe while in this car.

Even while going home for the holidays, or other events, she found herself wanting to be in the familiar leather seating that this vehicle offered. A virtual bastion of safety that would easily get them from point A to point B in style and comfort. That was why this task was both highly wanted and disquieting. While she got to drive and operate the vehicle of her dreams, one she secretly referred to as Grant, a name she created the day she learned that the GT in Mustang GT stood for Gran Turismo, which she felt the need to roll and curl the words as she spoke them into one melodic purr. Of course, she would only do that when she was alone with her car, with her Grant.

To her defense, she had tried other Mustang GTs, wanting to see if newer ones were in fact better. However, those tests were lacking by comparison. Used to the ease with which her Grant shifted, she expected a newer vehicle to be better. But they were all wrong, there was a noticeable drop in each vehicle as the car shifted between gears, the first time that happened during her test drive, she thought she had done something wrong. The salesperson who was with her assured her that this was normal, while she had experienced similar acts from other cars, she assumed that the GTs were special. Yet, she was mistaken, it was just her Grant. Well, Misha's Grant, which she would be more than happy to let her borrow.

There was a time when Jasmine tried to work with Misha, to see what she was doing that was different than every other mechanic. All she got from the ordeal were a few clothes with unremovable grease stains and the realization that Grant and Misha were a package deal. No, if she wanted to keep her Grant, she would need to keep Misha around. Ultimately, this was not the worst of options as she had found that of all the girls she had ever been around, Misha was the only one who never annoyed her.

Thinking on their odd relationship, even Darcy got on Jasmine's nerves every once in a while. With Darcy the issues were simple, her self-entitled attitude was slightly annoying at times. Then there was the way she always butted in to their actions. Something that Misha never seemed to mind. Which given her background, this made sense as Misha apparently had no friends while growing up, so it would be understandable that she would be more accommodating to people she accepted as friends.

Here in her Grant, with her cameras up and running, she knew she did everything Misha had asked for her. From here, her job was to remain in the car, ensure the cameras were rolling the entire time, and not move.

Simple, right?

Her job was to try to catch and record anything suspicious happening on the street. By her setting up shop here, behind this specific vehicle every night, Jasmine knew she was doing her part. Just as she would set a pick, to block a trailing defender, her job now for the team was to sit here, record, and wait. What was she waiting for, she didn't know, but it didn't matter, as she got an excuse to be alone with her Grant.

Taking a moment to caress the leather seat beneath her, and the smooth dashboard that never seemed to have an ounce of dust on it, everything about this car was always pristine. Looking at the car, it was a testament to how much effort Misha put into everything she did. Worst of all, when there were stains, or mishaps, Misha never complained. If anything, she would give the same canned response.

"Machines are meant to be used, to not have a stain or blemish makes them appear unloved," that's what Misha replied one time after Jasmine accidentally spilled a soft drink inside her Grant. Honestly, by the expression, it was clear that Jasmine was more distraught by her action than Misha was.

Ping.

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Just when Jasmine's mind could go towards negative thoughts, she was saved by the helpful chime of her phone.

P: How are you?

Just seeing the one letter name caused a smile to form on Jasmine's face. For the number belonged to the one man who ever spoke to Jasmine like she was truly a lady, something she found quite enjoyable for some reason.

J: Pretty good, just performing the lookout task again.

P: Looking for those predators?

J: Something like that.

Honestly, Jasmine didn't know exactly why she was here, as the predators that he was talking about were clearly being held behind bars. While she didn't know for certain, likely a safety measure provided by Misha to avoid her potential lying to the police when or if she was asked why she had parked out here on this street every night for the past four night, she could read enough into the situation. Misha didn't trust the police, or at least she didn't trust these police.

P: You sure you are okay?

J: Yeah, M swore she saw something last time and just needed me to make one more night.

P: She isn't pushing you too hard, is she?

J: M? Never, besides I relish the opportunity to be inside the G…GT as much as possible.

For a moment she almost let it slip that she had a secret name for her Grant, which every time she said it out loud made her feel like a little child. A child with a secret crush.

P: Well stay safe.

J: I…

Jasmine was about to write out that she would, but an emergency text came through her phone.

M: It's coming, stay in the car, regardless of what you do, and do not stop recording.

The message had to somehow be accepted, not clicked away, not dismissed. Jasmine literally had to hit the accept button which had been moved to the side. For a moment Jasmine thought that her phone was hacked.

Thunderclap.

Off in the distance, Jasmine could hear the sound of distant blasts of lightning about to crackle through the sky. Feeling the sudden build up of pressure from the impending storm, Jasmine realized that this was oddly the second thunderstorm within a week, something that seemed statistically improbable. Before she could think too much about the second December thunderstorm in a week, she saw something happening.

Just as she saw the flicker of light dance across the sky, she saw the power first flicker out, then seem to come back with a vengeance as two people wearing police patrol uniforms began exiting the back door of the police station with a large black tote case in their hands. It was sort of dark, but fortunately, as the two made their way across the parking lot, the lights all seemed to glow brighter, easily illuminating the two individuals as they both carried the large tote case and tried to protect themselves from the sudden onset of rain that seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

For a moment, Jasmine felt confused as the two officers completely avoided the parking lot, and instead began to go up the side of a steep hill leading to the street, and inevitably towards the creepy van that was parked right in front of her. The one she had been instructed to set up behind every night so far this week.

Thunderclap.

A burst of lightning erupted nearby illuminating the two officers, showing their faces clearly as they were making their way towards the back of the van. At the same time, the blast was close enough to cause the front leading officer to drop the tote on the ground, causing multiple items in sealed plastic bags to spray forth onto the side of the street.

Seeing the items on the ground, Jasmine felt her voice catch in her throat, a good thing as she almost screamed out loud at the moment, revealing that she was there in the car.

Ping.

Just then a message vibrated in her hand, the intensity was so much that Jasmine had to look and see that it was Misha.

M: Don't move, just keep quiet.

With that, Jasmine looked to the recording equipment and saw that she was in fact still recording, but the display had gone dark. Even her phone went pitch black, the only reason she knew everything was going as prescribed was that three tiny red lights from the three cameras glowed in the darkened car cabin.

Thunderclap.

"You get it open, I'll gather all the evidence," the second trailing officer cried out.

With that, the first one who had gathered two items nodded his head, and threw the items casually into the tote, not realizing that only one managed to stay in the tote. From there, he went over opened up the van, and scanned the area.

Darkness.

"I thought, they fixed that?" The first officer spat out, looking straight up into the blindingly bright streetlight that clearly illuminated him, the box, the van, the van's license plate, and everything almost as if it was in the middle of the day.

"They did, but I guess someone switched out the blub this afternoon," the second cop commented. With that both made the mistake of looking up into the blindingly bright light. A light that somehow seemed to be as bright as the light arrays used to illuminate a nighttime sporting event.

Fortunately, Jasmine was already bathed in darkness and possibly blinded by the light, the cops who gave one more look around failed to notice Jasmine who had already reclined her seat to avoid the chance of being seen.

Thunderclap.

"Come on, let's get out of her Freddie," the second cop hissed as he lifted, pushed and moved the crate, but was not able to lift it by himself. As he moved, he failed to see the fact that he had run over the one misplaced bag of evidence.

Being this close, Jasmine closed her eyes, and tried to avoid being seen at all costs. She didn't know what she was filming, but it was clear that these two cops did not want their actions to be noticed.

Clump-clack.

Even with her eyes closed, Jasmine swore she could feel the doors of the van before her closing shut, a testament of how close she was to the operation.

Drizzle.

The rain began pouring so fiercely that it made metallic clacking sounds against the roof, a minor relief as it meant her improved hearing couldn't hear each and every step the two took, but she could hear them moving.

Vrrm.

Jasmine felt a moment of relief as the van before her revved to life, and then finally opened her eyes once she heard and felt the minor tremors of the van leaving.

Opening her eyes, she saw that the entire interior of the car was still pitch black. Only the three red lights were still going, three red lights that soon turned into one monitor that showed all three cameras rolling at once.

Ping.

At that her phone vibrated again, with a somewhat shaky hand, she looked and saw that it was another of Misha's messages.

M: Good job. Now you just need to wait for what will come next.

Hearing that, Jasmine looked out the windshield and realized that there was a thin film of polarized material that was all that had protected her from being discovered earlier. For a moment Jasmine wondered how the cameras could record from behind such a film, but then realized it was Misha and electronics.

What happened next was another moment of concern, for a moment later a third cop left the precinct, searching the sidewalk as if looking for something. Then under the blinding light of the brightly lit halogen streetlamp, saw a package in a clear plastic bag that he reached down and picked up. Then he proceeded to make a call.

"You left one, you need to come back for it," the officer stated.

While Jasmine couldn't hear the response from the individual on the other end of phone call, it was clear that this person was working with the other two who drove off earlier.

For a moment Jasmine felt fear as she was right next to the officer, but the officer was either blinded by the blaring streetlamp, or focused on finding his two accomplices that he too somehow missed Jasmine sitting there in the vehicle.

"No, just come back, I'll meet you at the corner of Main and Courthouse road," the third officer stated as he began walking forward with the bag dangling for all to see by his side.

As the officer began to leave the area, the light began to dim ever so slightly, until finally the light that had been broken all week suddenly died once more. Almost like it had gone back to its natural state, which given how intense the light it could produce was, made the whole thing a bit confusing.

Jasmine waited in her Grant, suddenly feeling more protected by the darkness that surrounded her.

For a moment it looked like the cop would take the evidence bag back into the station, but then seemed to war with himself before continuing down the sidewalk to the street, where the third camera clearly caught the moment the creepy van came back from wherever it had gone, made a quick left, cutting off a grey sedan heading the opposite direction on Courthouse road. Where the van pulled up next to the officer, rolled down the passenger window, before the bag was given.

There was a moment when it looked like the van would have to drive past Jasmine. Then an even greater moment of fear hit her as she saw the van seem like it would try to park headfirst facing her. Only to have the streetlight flare to life, as if it was somehow motion activated. With the sudden burst of light, the van driver seemed to get spooked, revealing his face clearly for a moment, before yanking the wheel hard to his right, thereby performing an illegal U-turn right on Main Street, before whipping around, turning right again on Courthouse Road and leaving.

Badump, badump, badump.

At that, Jasmine's heart began to pound, only now did she let her mind and body relax as she realized just how close she had come to getting caught. Then almost as if reading how jittery her body movements were, she received another message from Misha, the ringleader of this whole operation.

M: Good job, take a moment, then come back home when you feel comfortable.

Jasmine paused, still not understanding exactly what she had just witnessed, but she knew two things. First, whatever she just witnessed was big, and second, she knew she would gladly do this type of operation again.

Vrrm.

Particularly if she got to drive her Grant, Jasmine thought to herself as the vehicle purred to life and all but guaranteed she was now safe.

Ping, ping, ping.

Only now did Jasmine realize that her phone was once again active and apparently receiving all the texts that she had somehow missed during her little operation. For a moment she thought about how odd that was, but then mentally she knew the real reason why it worked, she trusted Misha and her plan, and did her task as asked, the two components of what she now knew to be teamwork.