J36: Prototype 4b

Chapter 1.3

Jack and I made our way to the police department of Nova City, to tell them about the cause, which we assume they don't know about. Jack flings the door open, and I try to keep up with Jack's pace.

"We would like to report evidence we found to the Malagan case.", Jack said to the woman sitting at the reception. She was fairly young, a human with blond hair. She glanced at us and stopped reading her book. She looked kind of confused as she heard the name Malagan.

"Sorry, evidence in what case?", she replied. Jack pointed on the TV in the hall which was showing the news channel Jack and I watched. "It was in the news just a few minutes ago. Y'know, the crash at the anti-grav race?", Jack explained.
Though, on the news, they showed nothing of what we saw. Not even something in the bottom scroll text where they show minor news.

After the woman at the reception looked for anything about that incident, she turns back to us. "Let me have a look if I find anything in our database", she says, and types in his name. A few seconds later, she shook her head. "Sorry, but I can't seem to find anything about that."

Jack then left a picture of what seems to be from the news show. A picture where the marksman is visible, to be exact, with a red circle around him. I didn't even notice him taking the picture.
"Then I'm just gonna leave this here for you..", Jack said in a darker and upset tone. He then makes his way to the door again, and I follow him soon after.

"Jack, slow down for christ sake!" I yell as he is already meters ahead of me. He then comes to a stop and turns around, his face showing that he's still visibly upset.
"What is up with you?", I continue. "Why does this bother you this much? Because you look like you are about to lose your fucking marbles."

Jack sighs, takes a deep breath and tries to calm himself down before speaking.
"David was a good friend of mine... We've been knowing each other for 7 years.. I met him in a bar where he was sitting next to me, and we somehow got talking.. I- .. I remember him saying that he wants to get his head into racing and all.. It was his dream, and he accomplished it, up unitl...up until today.."

Within seconds Jack turned from being extremely upset to being close to crying a river.
And I turn from being confused about his behavior to finally understanding what is going through his mind right now.
I walk up to him and hug him, not only because he needs it, but also because his legs looked like they are about to give in, and I wouldn't want to see Jack crying on the floor in the middle of downtown.

While Jack keeps sobbing and hugging me tighter and tighter, almost to a degree where it hurts me, I get thinking: There is no way they haven't heard of the crash at the race. In the news, you could clearly see ambulances, firefighters, police and whatever other department is needed in stuff like this.
"Something is not right about this, Jack.", I say to my sad bean sack that is my friend. I then take his arm around my neck and walk home with him.

[POV change]

Meanwhile, after Jack and Nex left, in the police station:

A few seconds after they left, the woman from the reception takes the picture, jumps up from her chair and makes her way through the department until reaching the office of Chief Janko. She knocks on the door gently before entering his office.

"U-uhm, Chief?", she shyly begins. "What is it, Caren?", Janko said, facing the window in his office. "Two anthros just came in here and gave me what seems to be evidence to that incident with Malagan at the anti-grav race.", she continues.
Janko turns around and seems to be slightly surprised. Caren gives him the picture, at which Janko then stares for a little while.
"..Hm..thank you Caren..", he then says. Caren nods and leaves his office again, and Janko continues to stare out the window, now with an unsettled mood.