How to Nearly Fail an Inspection

Cutlass walks between the trees, stopping often in awe of their bright green leaves flowing underneath the artificial sunlight. She hasn’t been up this early for months, but the creature committee needed a representative for the park inspection and she was the first to volunteer, her arm unmistakable from the light of her bioluminescent tattoos. Curly pink locks bounced against them now as she approached a far shorter woman whose skin nearly glowed white in the day. All four eyes nearly rolled out of Cutlass’s head. She remembered people from the main dome as being corporate frauds only expressing themselves to flash wealth, but this chick took it to a whole new level.
The woman was dressed in an all gray suit, adhering to company policy, however a stylish flap was tailored on the back to release a skirt of translucent betta fish tail fins. A silky smooth bald head emphasized the delicate features and piercing green eyes. One arm hung to the side with the weight of a matte metal clipboard while the other was held up in inspection of the cuticles.
So vain and self centered Cutlass couldn’t imagine how she would give an objective report on anything, let alone the creature committee which requires some level of empathy. Cutlass quietly approached the woman, making sure to keep eye contact at a minimum.
The woman looked Cutlass up and down, furrowing where her eyebrows would be. “Can I help you?” Cutlass nonchalantly shook her head in a silent response.
“Well, can you at least get me a glass of sparkling water? Cucumber and lemon. And make it ice cold. Maybe some food too?” With a wave of a precisely manicured hand in her direction, Cutlass was left agasp. The pure audacity filled her mind, edging her closer and closer to an apropos agitated physical response. Soon her wide eyes were filled with the view of a small squirrel. Four little legs, one big fluffy tail trailing behind, and a large acorn stuffed away in a bulging cheek. She followed it closely as it approached the two of them. Her legs bent and her arm reached towards it to beckon it into an embrace, to which it quickly changed course to hide behind the nearest gray heel.
“Ew!” A leg swung swiftly towards the creature and impacted right into its side. With a small squeak the squirrel was sent into a nearby tree trunk, landing with a thunk and the sound of a breaking spine.
Cutlass, acting on instinct, took no time at all to brandish a concealed dagger from her sleeve. Muscles tensed and her stance widened in an instant as her teeth clenched. A blur of tactical tattoo’s moved towards the abuser. After just a short time together she was sure she would be doing the world a favor by dismembering this cretin. She could just imagine the joy on everyone’s face at the next meeting when they heard how much better the world was now thanks to Cutlass’s actions.
Her arm moved with precision and tact towards the target. Just inches away from the goal when a thick tube of metal blocked her blow.
“Cutlass. Lets not attack our guest just yet.” Elderly Ethyl had finally arrived. As head of the welcoming committee Ethyl was required to meet with all inspectors on their visits to ensure they had a proper tour of their inspection topic. She also served as one of the only shields from dangerous citizens like Cutlass who felt the inspectors were nothing but bad news.
Cutlass quickly dropped her arm and relaxed her posture. Her lower lip folded over as she began sleeving her knife and rubbing her newly forming bruise.
“Puppy dog eyes won’t work this time. You can’t kill everyone you disagree with.” Ethyl said, shaking her head and turning towards the nearly nicked woman. “Now, you must be here for the inspection. Jasmine Rudolf was it?” The woman had taken multiple steps back to recompose herself and gawk at the characters before her. “Yes. And attacking the inspector is grounds for immediate dismissal. I should fail this park right now and walk away” Self pity reformed to fear as Cutlass processed what she had just done. If this inspection fails the creature committee will have to find a new home for all of the animals they had made specifically for this park. 10,000 squirrels and cats and bats and mice will have to be rehomed or put down just because she couldn’t control her anger. “While I understand the rule, I also understand that you just murdered an innocent animal in our jurisdiction.” Ethyl threatened. “While this may be just a job for you, you have to remember that in our town we make the rules and you will be responsible for any that you may break.”
Jasmine audibly gulped. “Well. Perhaps I was a bit hasty with my remarks. Let us get on with the inspection, shall we?”