12:30 P.M.
Diana woke Jack up, saying it was time to execute the plan, so he should get ready. Jack woke up at once and got ready. They put on a different attire than yesterday, and Jack put up a fake beard and spectacles to not get recognized. He then took a picture and returned a few minutes later, forging it on another identity card that he had found among the Ortho Sapien bodies.
They headed to the police station. When they reached the station, nothing was peculiar. It was the same as yesterday. Jack headed to the help desk and asked Diana to stay a few feet away from him so that they wouldn't look like they were together, and in case something happened, Jack would be able to protect her with Kana slabs. She nodded.
Jack got out of the car first. Diana got into the car and drove off, parking it in another slot, and then followed Jack inside.
As soon as Jack saw Diana had entered the police station, he headed to the help desk and told them he wanted to file a missing complaint. They told him to go to the same counter they had sent Diana to. Jack spotted Officer Jones sitting there, stroking his beard.
"Hello, Officer. I want to file a missing report. It's about my friend. He still hasn't returned home for a few days. He is an orphan with no living relatives. He lives at my house on rent," Jack informed.
"I see. Let me get the FIR register. Then tell me the details," Jones said, opening his drawer and looking for the register. Jack activated his telepathy Ikanami. He took turns reading everyone's minds. Everyone's thoughts were normal. Some were thinking about their problems, working out possibilities and suspects, or wondering what was for lunch.
"Alright, I have the register open. Tell me the details of the incident," Officer Jones grumbled.
"My name is Dolan Scott. My friend Franklin Rickens hasn't come home since July 20. He is a Kratian who attends the training center for Ikanamis, and he is a speedster." Jack was going to continue, but he noticed something peculiar.
Officer Jones' eyes were wide open, his pupils dilated. His breathing was irregular and strong. His fingers were shaking, and the room fell completely silent.
Jack used telepathy. A voice was repeatedly playing in Officer Jones' head. The voice was the same as the one inside Officer Simian's head yesterday.
"Associate of Kratian. Must be disposed of, must be reported. All Kratians and their associates must be disposed of, must report," the voice repeated.
Jack quickly turned around and surrounded Diana with Kana slabs. He then used telepathy on her and started transferring his thoughts.
"Hey, Diana. Don't move. It's Jack. I am using telepathy right now. There is something strange going on here. Slowly walk outside and get into the back seats."
"Eeep, creepy. Alright, I am going out. Make sure to completely cover yourself with Kana slabs at all times," Diana said in her mind.
"Yeah, in fact, I have already deployed them all around me. Don't worry," Jack said in her mind.
Diana nodded. She hurried outside and got into the car. Jack turned back to Officer Jones. Officer Jones was still sitting like that and was mildly mumbling, "Continue with the details," again and again.
Jack continued with the fake details as he used telepathy on the other officers. The same voice had been replaying in their heads too. It was as if a program was embedded in them and was set to activate after certain conditions were fulfilled. It was the advanced form of telepathy, where the user suppresses the target's inner voice and controls them by using their own thoughts to replace the inner monologue.
The officers that were wearing the Ortho Sapien bands had no such voice in their heads. Jack finished with the details and thanked Jones, who just mumbled something. Jack quickly hurried out and got into the car.
He looked back at the entrance to the station. The officers with the wristbands were standing at the door, doing something on their wristbands. Diana was sitting in the back. Jack told Diana what happened. She was worried. Jack consoled her by saying the vehicle was bulletproof.
They drove out of the building. Two black cars started following them. Jack saw in the mirror that they were speeding toward them. When they got out of the Humans' settlement and onto the road to New Pittsburgh, the stalkers opened fire.
The sound of gunshots filled the atmosphere. Hundreds of bullets were hitting the vehicle every second, yet none managed to pass through. Jack turned to Diana as he was sure an on-road confrontation was inevitable.
"Just lie down on the back seat and make sure they can't see you. Don't come out until the fight is over. If something happens to me… get into the driver's seat and drive off. Morph the car into a racer, you will shake them off easily."
"Can't you do that too? Please, Jack, don't go."
"I am sorry, Diana, but I think it's time for some payback. And I needed some test subjects to check my Ikanami out," he said, smiling at her.
Jack drifted the car as if pretending to have lost control and stopped it, turning in such a way that the door to the driver's seat was facing the opposite side of the stalkers. Though none of the bullets passed through, they still left bullet marks. The terrorists thought one of the bullets got in and killed Jack.
Eleven Ortho Sapiens came out of the cars and assumed formation, arranging themselves in a line facing Jack's car. They were armed with assault rifles and battle vests, which they wore over their suits. They stood at the ready, their guns aimed at the car.
Jack stayed put. He laid back in his driver's seat and took deep breaths. He thought of his kin, the ones that were murdered ruthlessly by the very faction that was standing behind him. It filled him with hatred and determination to avenge them. It was time to have some payback.
"Are you watching me, Dad? If you are, please grant me your blessings and watch. Watch as I show you that I am still keeping our promises," he thought to himself.
Another Ortho Sapien came out of the car. He seemed to be the captain of this unit.
"Strike Team Unit 7, are you ready to engage?" he announced.
"YES, SIR," they said unanimously.
He tapped his wristband, and a screen popped out, showing the details of the members under his command. He bit his lip for a second and announced,
"Officer Number: 98976482, Codename: Hellvasga, go check if the target is still alive. Soldiers, WEAPONS AT THE READY," he shouted.
"Yes, sir."
A man about 27 years of age, who was second last from the right, came forward and started to walk toward Jack's car, his gun at the ready.
He circled around the vehicle and slowly bent forward to look into the driver's window.