A Simple Patrol [U-21]

Having made her way into town after that whole falling ordeal, 21 managed to be taken in at the Base. Mostly on the merit of having what looked like a valid ID as well as presenting oneself with etiquette like reading straight from the Training- and Guidebook for recruits. Though as she was unwilling to divulge any further Information besides insisting to contact Marineford for retrieval, there wasn't much else the local Branch could really do. It's not like any small-time branch head honcho could just ring up the Heart of the organization and be made privy to all sorts of underground research. So their effort proved fruitless for the moment and the next best thing they could think of doing is putting the extra pair of hands to work. Though nothing crazy, just work almost anyone on the force could handle. Stand guard, groundskeeping, patrols and such, to free up what they thought was more qualified personnel for other things. And this day was definitely a patrol day.

Being told to appear at the Bases main gate at the appointed time to meet the other Person assigned to this task, 21 made her way outside the gate almost exactly on time. It was supposed to be a simple operation. Just walk around town in a given route to show presence and if anything happened, catch the perpetrator in the act or render assistance to any citizens. To this end, the usual way was having a pair or small group take patrols. This time was no exception. With the whole ordeal being a rather impersonal affair unless one was a high ranking officer, they weren't bothered to give out exact details on who she'd be to work with. Just to be at the gathering spot. And so she was. As was someone else, who must've been the assigned partner, as they clearly stood some steps off the men milling about the gates as they followed their assignments. Though this person seemed unremarkable from afar, nothing particularly outstanding about them, no imposing stature -although they were a touch taller then 21 herself- or extra-flamboyant dresscode or any such thing. Incidentally approaching from an almost blind spot, she spared no thought of surprising the person accidentally, announcing her presence only with footsteps before sticking to due protocol by stating "Arrived and ready to perform Patrol duty as instructed." while giving a quick salutation.

Her assigned partner seemed jumpy, even ignoring the initial scare. Anton consistently seemed less like the duty-ready conscripts she'd have imagined practically fighting over who gets to take important duties. Nevertheless, Introductions were exchanged in a fairly normal manner. 'Unit Number Twenty-one" probably rolled off the tongue far less easy then 'Anton D. Lacroix' or any shorthand a more creative individual would come up with over time. Not that the Cyborg cared, for those nuances were mostly lost on her perception. So they marched off in a slightly awkward silence, Anton first and and his companions taking the rear guard.

A somewhat normal part of her mind would likely complain that she doesn't have time for idle nonsense like patrolling a sleepy town. For her main directive was to return home, as she was still officially lost. But the more controlling part of her didn't really care. This was an order, and it loved orders to follow. Especially if they slotted well into the marine hierarchy and chain of command. So there was nothing much for her to do but patrol. Doing so, following after Anton in almost perfect step, 21 could not help but almost viciously look around every corner they passed, down every crossing path or street. Injustices could be anywhere, even if they were as small as drunk fights or some petty thieves. It was almost an instinct to pay close attention and expect duty to happen. But all they got was townsfolk being of a generally favorable disposition towards them. Probably for keeping the peace and such.

For a while she wasn't even noticing Anton, who'd seemed far less eager to perform but made up on interaction with the populace. Although extremely vigilant towards anything that might happen at any given time, the partner she'd been assigned stroked the curious strong in her in just the wright way while also not really gel-ing with what her image of the average soldier was. "How come someone of your personality and apparent disposition is in active duty?" She just spoke, no gesture for his attention, not looking at Anton, but not stopping either. Tact was not exactly something she'd ever had to work with, let alone apply, leaving the question with an indefinable tone that neither conveyed the curious nature of it, nor made it sound like anything but what it was. A neutral question with no sharper, backhanded commentary as a meaning. Mostly because that also wasn't something she'd even be good at.

His reply was flat and left a lot of room for further questions but not much of a tone to start said speculation on. Not that it mattered, considering who he was talking to. The answer was an answer as good as any other, she wasn't necessarily interested in his life story and more wondering about how someone as himself got to where he was, when it seemed to contradict so many of the things she'd been taught and told, that were supposedly important for and at the core of the duty. But, as it goes, conversation attracts more conversation, and so, even if she had wanted to bore into Anton's reasons, there was no time.
What the civilian newcomer to the scene said, pushed basically all of 21's mental buttons in just the right way. Outwardly, nothing major changed, but the presence she exuded changed from an idle standby to fully concentrated attention. "Everything will be fine." A typical sentence they were told to use to reassure rattled citizens so that one may perform their duty without any accidents or distractions. It might've also been a reply to Anton's reaction towards this development. Either way, she wasted no time and took off. Though, of course this wasn't a bust down the door and ask questions later kind of deal. Proper procedure expected to assess the situation first and de-escalate it, arrest offenders if necessary, and use force to do it also only if necessary. Either way, this was a worthwhile activity as well, if 21 wouldn't be able to return to the Main HQ easily.