Chapter One Part Four: New Beginnings

Jack slammed his hand on the snooze button as he was ripped out of his deep slumber. He lay in his bed for a few moments as his mind slowly regained consciousness. Jack rolled out of bed and walked out of his room and turned on the light in the kitchen. The brightness which flooded his vision burned for a few seconds and caused Jack to squint briefly. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as they adjusted to the light around him. On the white tile counter was a note… which Jack assumed was from Liara. After their late night swim he had let her shower off in his apartment before she left for her own hotel room. He had washed her uniform while she cleaned up and then she had been on her way… or so Jack had thought. Jack reached for the note and briefly scanned the message.

It was a pleasure getting to know you last night Sergeant, I hope we get to go swimming again soon. Maybe next time on Thessia?

Safe Travels,

Liara

Jack's face warmed up at the thought of swimming. He grinned sheepishly before turning on his coffee machine. Jack had a good feeling about the day ahead.

The rest of the morning was fairly routine, coffee and toast followed by a shower and beginning the usual drive to the precinct by 6:30 SPT(Standard Pacific Time). On this particular morning Jack hit no traffic and arrived at the Head Quarters by 7. Jack felt a little nervous about his meeting with the Captain. He was sure about his decision, but not about how the Captain would handle his resignation. No way to find out without going for it though. Jack knocked on the captain's office door.

"You're resigning from the force?!" the captain asked, plain shock on his face. The captain rubbed his hands through his thinning gray hair before placing them together firmly on his desk. He then looked right into Jack's eyes, as if looking deep within Jack's soul.

"Sir, I'm absolutely positive about my decision… I have to be honest, I'm not afraid of the promotion you offered me… that's not why I'm doing this," Jack stated as he tried to find the words to explain his decision. He could see the obvious sadness in the old man's eyes, but he could also see recognition and respect for his decision. "Sir, the years I've served in this department have been some of my proudest years… I truly believe what I have done in this uniform has mattered to me and most importantly to the people of Earth, but I know now that this isn't where I belong… at least, not yet."

"You're going to rejoin the Alliance, aren't you son?" Captain Lovett asked, as he took a deep sigh and briefly closed his eyes.

"Yes, sir… I feel like I need to support more than just our own race. The whole galaxy could use my skill set." Jack began pacing back and forth while he explained his decision. "I realize I have a responsibility to all races… and though I had felt I was absolved of that responsibility, I realize now I was wrong… I owe it to everyone who fought and died against the Reapers… I owe it to my friends, my family, hell even to you Captain."

Jack paused for a second allowing his heart rate, as well as his breathing to settle down. The process of explaining his reasons for rejoining the Alliance was making him emotional. Once he had settled down he looked at the Captain again. Jack realized he had been pacing the entire conversation. He pulled back a chair and took a seat across from Captain Lovett.

"If something else is out there that threatens the galaxy again, I want to be the one stopping it, sir. That's why I'm rejoining the Alliance. I am extremely honored by your offer of promotion… it's just… I just can't accept it yet."

The captain looked at his hands on his desk. He then looked back at Jackson before standing up out of his chair and walking towards the window. He peered out the window for a few moments before speaking again.

"If I were you, son, I'd do the same damn thing."

"Sir?"

"You don't have to worry about me Sergeant, I'm sad to see you go, but I know you're leaving for the right damn reasons… all I have to say is this…"

The captain turned around and looked at Jack once more.

"Whatever you face out there in this great milky mess of a galaxy we live in… promise me that you will kick its' ass right back where it came from… because you are the best damn officer this force has seen in twenty years and that's what Earth Police force do… we kick ass."

Jack could only stare in awe at the captain's words of encouragement. Jack then reacted in the only way he knew how.

"Sir! Yes ,SIR!" shouted Jack, as he stood and saluted his captain.

The captain nodded and saluted back. After a few seconds the two broke the salute and Jack turned to leave, but before he could the Captain had one more thing to say.

"Jack, good luck out there and just between you and me… consider that promotion a standing offer."

Jack nodded, turned, and left the office with a large grin on his face.

With that out of the way there was only one thing left to do… give Will a call. Jack held a black bag full of items which had been in his locker. As he headed for the exit of the HQ, he ran into Officer Kuypers again. Laurens looked at Jack, saw the bag and immediately feared the worst.

"You got fired?!" Laurens asked, completely dismayed at the sight of what he believed to be Jack's long walk from the captain's office.

Jack laughed, which made Laurens all the more worried about his friend.

"Look, Jack, being fired isn't funny… what did you do? You're one of the best officers in our force… at least you were."

"Laurens, I'm not fired…" Jack began, his voice clearly amused by his friend's assumptions.

"Wait, what? Why aren't you on your patrol then?"

"I'm leaving the force intentionally… I'm going to rejoin the Alliance," Jack finished, still chuckling a bit.

Laurens placed his hands on top of his head in relief and took a step back.

"Oh… damn, and here I thought you had just been given the pink slip… well… I'm going to miss you… Most of us are."

"I'll be sure to visit whenever I'm on Earth, but you make sure to be careful alright!"

"Sure, Jack, sure thing."

The two gripped hands and leaned in for a chest bump and hug. Laurens smiled at Jack as they ended the embrace.

"Good luck out there, Jack… I hope you won't have to fight anything too big."

Jack simply smirked and waved back to Laurens in response as he walked towards the street.

He stopped at the corner and pressed the crossing button. The traffic came to a stop quickly thereafter. Just as he stepped forward a roaring motorcycle with a black armored rider raced right past his nose, almost clipping him. Jack stumbled backwards, blown away by the near accident. Laurens ran over to him and helped his friend back onto his feet. The rider didn't look back, but simply raised his/her middle finger behind him/her.

"You okay Jack?" Laurens asked as Jack brushed off his clothes.

"Fine, you know my day was going pretty well until just now."

"Well don't let some road crazy motorcyclist ruin your day… go do something fun on your last day in orbit."

Jack smiled at his friend.

"Oh, believe me, Laurens, I'm going to enjoy my last day the only way I know how."

Laurens looked Jack over before replying,"Oh yeah? And how's that?!"

Jack just continued to smile.

Jack sat out amongst the waves on his longboard as the sun began to sneak behind the horizon of the pacific. It had been a few months since he had surfed, but his Alliance shuttle wouldn't be shipping out until 22:00, giving him plenty of time to catch a few waves. The swells hadn't changed even after the Reaper attack, giving Jack plenty of surfing action. A large mound of water began to roll towards Jack. Jack turned the board towards shore and began to paddle. Water rushed behind him as the powerful ocean swell pulled his board into the wave. Jack and his board began to move quickly along with the force of the seven foot slope of water. When it was certain that the board was firmly in the wave, Jack pushed himself up on the board, and planted his feet beneath him. He put slight pressure on the right rail to turn along the face of the surf. He was a regular footed surfer so his left foot was forward on the board with his right foot behind. The sun was glancing brilliantly off the tip of the wave. The golden glory was still slowly sinking beneath the dark depths. Jack did a quick cutback so that his board would stay within the force of the wave and proceeded to ride the giant piece of foam and resin into the sand. As he picked up his board and placed the nine foot length under his arm he turned once more to look out into the golden sunset. Jack then made a silent promise to himself that he would return here when his duty was over. This was where he was born… and he wanted to die here too, while in the warmth of the sun and with a cool sea breeze brushing his face while the gentle rumble of crashing waves caressed his ears. This was his home. And it always would be.