The Way Forward, Part 2

By the time the Captain reached his office, he had decided on the course of actions that he would take. Any crime was crime, so he would approach this as any other crime.

Nascut took the datachip that the people had left behind, and inserted it into a reader. The information first took the form of ordered numbers, but they looked oddly familiar. A code? Why, if they gave it to me... Hmmh...

His eyes strayed from the screen to the wall of the office where a poster-map of this section of the capital lay. He started scanning the sectors on the map with his eyes, hoping to find something which would tell him what to do.

Knowledge that his work might destine the fate of the people living in the neighbouring sectors was a burden. Centralization...

Captain Nascut's previous post had been in the Office for Central Domestic Investigations -- an organization which had set as its principle to improve upon the current order, and to support the governmental orders in bringing peace, prosperity and safety to the people. Nascut's transfer to the police had been partly because he had requested to be transferred into a more active part of public safety, but also that he had been ready to assume command and responsibility and no such offices were readily available in the OCeDI.

Nascut was almost ready to regret that it was he who should take these decisions. But, his mind raced forward, if it would have been someone else there today... would he have even considered acting for the public good?

The Way Forward, Part 1

Captain Nascut was resting himself when the alarm sounded. He was on his feet in a matter of seconds, ready to react to the call. The signal on the wall had registered a crime quite near the location of his present office, so he had to do something. Ready for everything, as always, he ran out in the direction of the signal's source. The door to the office locked automatically after him.

By the time the Captain made it to the location, everything seemed quiet. Nothing was out of the ordinary. However, the Captain was far too professional to allow such thoughts to take the better of him so he started to scan the area in order to reveal the perpetator of the crime. Seems to be.. breaking? robbery? What could anyone want from this neighbourhood...

Hearing a small click just to his back, he turned around and noticed three tall figures standing there. They were not the usual type he'd liked to have met in a rather deserted alleyway. Yet, he was reassured by the fact he saw no open hostility by these people.

'Cop! We've got an offer for you.'

An offer? Did not get this far taking bribes. Suppose it's too late to start now as well.

'We come from Delvyn. You know him? Of course you do. Not a hard name to remember. Well, this is the deal -- you solve the crimes in this neighbourhood, and the police can remain here. Otherwise, Delvyn will call for a veto on this section of the world, and you'll get no where. Precious government plans broken again... Got it?'

Before Nascut had thought of a suitable reply, the men threw a small item just before his feet and left. He looked down, and the item resembled a datachip which he slowly picked up. He looked back up again, and could discern nothing noteworthy.

The Captain turned around, and resumed his scan of the crime-scene. His mind, however, was deep in thought.