Nova Sol - Rebellion (Being Translated)

An unexpected message

David had gone out after lunch, trying to clear up his head, since he still felt blocked. He walked along the Botanical Garden in São Paulo, and stopped at a café, his favourite since he had gone there. As he was a man of routines, he sat down at the same table as usual, and ordered the double expresso. While he was checking the local newspaper, Folha de São Paulo, his mobile vibrated. He checked the screen, and saw the symbol of missed call. He decided to check it later, and put the mobile in the left pocked of his pants. He finished the coffee and headed towards his apartment. 

On the way he saw something that wasn't commonly seen since 7 years ago, when the biometric identification scanner was implemented in every major city. A large man tackled a woman, and stole her purse. Immediately after, an alert signal was sent from the nearby street surveillance camera and warned the closest police officers. In his run, the robber headed towards David, who decided in a fraction of a second to do something. He knew it was foolish to intervene, but his justice sense, the same one that drove him to create his inventions, pushed him to act. A few seconds later, David took a defense position, ready to tackle the robber with his feet well placed on the ground. The man ran at full speed against David, giving him the chance to take a step forward, lean down and put his right shoulder straight up the robber's stomach. The movement had so much energy, that the man flew a couple of meters back fallin on the sidewalk. David felt a pain in his shoulder due to the hit. The robber was getting ready to stand up and hit David, when two cops showed up at the scene on motorcycles, and pulled their guns at the two men on the sidewalk. David immediately put his hand up, and indicated that the robber was the one getting up. One of the police officers approached the robber at gunpoint, but the robber stoop up in a fast movement, and took the officer's gun, struggling to overpower the cop. A shot was fired, and the police officer that was struggling fell to the ground. The second officer did not hesitate and shot four times at the robber, who fell on the ground wounded. David immediately gave first aid to the fallen police officer. Fortunately, the bullet had hit the bulletproof vest, but at close range, the policeman probably had a couple of broken ribs.

- Sir, what you just did was extremely stupid. You could have been hurt... - Said the officer that shot the robber.

- Yes, officer, but I couldn't stand by watching as it all went down...

- Anyways... Thank you... Few people do anything nowadays... - Said the policeman who was shot, breathing heavily as the pain was setting in.

- Could you show me your papers? - Asked the cop, to report to headquarters.

- Sure, officer. Here - Said David, reaching for the documents in his inner jacket pocket, where he had his checkbook.

The police officer took his ID, and noticed he was an american citizen first, and right after that, the last name "Dryden". His eyes opened wide and looked at Dev again, who simply returnet a doubtful look.

- Is there a problem officer?

- No... You are David Dryden... THE David Dryden, the one that created the thugscanner right?

- Yes, that's right, I created the biometric scanner.

David had won a certain reputation when his creations came out to the public. Almost everyone on the planet had, at least, heard the name. But not many people were able to put a face to the name, since Dev had been pretty reserved when his company presented new gadgets and devices. Most people recognized Jack Huggins, since the was the visible face of Dryden Corp. And Dev wouldn't have had it any other way, since that way he could carry a low profile and relaxed life.

- All the more reasons to be careful, mr. Dryden... How is it that you're not with a bodyguard?

- For the same reasonos I don't give my last name to anyone, officer.... I don't want to be recognized....