Missing Documents

We returned to the station, and I still had the idea lingering in my mind of my documents being tampered with and removed from history. I looked down thinking what could have happened as I walked towards the office. Me and Officer Uni entered the squad office.

"What's with Rook?" Asked Officer Tim.

"He's been wondering about his criminal record being wiped off." Officer Uni replied while taking her seat.

"Maybe because it was unusual for someone to completely clear out his name without his consent or knowledge. I mean for a guy who used to be in a maximum prison sentence it is quite unusual for his name to just suddenly wipe clean isn't that right, Officer Rook?" Officer Weiss finished organizing his papers and looked straight at me.

"I'm just as surprised as anyone would if they heard their criminal record just mysteriously disappeared one day," I replied.

"Why wouldn't you be happy I mean you're as clean as a free man again. I was genuinely surprised when I first saw your document that it was as thin as a single piece of paper. Only your medical info, and some piece of your history."

As the sound of paper being signed while Weiss continued to talk about me...

"You had a small family, a father working at the offices, a mother working at home to tend to your sister who was still a baby. While you her older brother locked up in a maximum prison for zero reasons. Since we don't have details on how you got locked up, you're a John Doe in terms of a criminal. And I can't blame you for it since someone from up top or some external force is controlling your very history." Officer Weiss continued talking as he grabbed another cup of coffee from the table.

"I was never informed of anything. Not even what was happening outside but that's part of the cause of me facing my lifetime sentence. No letters, no visits, nothing. I spent 10 years inside that prison with zero communication. Though I'm still in debt to the RTR Program for giving me another chance." I replied.

"You shouldn't be burdening yourself with what it says on a piece of paper Rook. As your superior, I know better that you should remember that no one is really angry at you. The public has probably forgotten 10 years might not be long but it's long enough for people to overlook details such as your crime in the past. Though it depends if it scarred an entire generation of people then surely you won't be forgotten but you didn't and I believe in that." Officer Weiss pats me on the shoulder as he gave me a cup of coffee.

Soon after I took my seat on my desk I thought about it and remembered what it was back in the day. 12 years, it's been 12 whole years. I'm deep in thought of what could have possibly happened when I was in prison. What was happening outside those cells?

"Can I ask what happened 12 years ago outside I haven't been informed of what happened while I was in prison," I asked everyone.

"What's with the sudden question Rook?" Asked Officer Uni sitting across from me.

"I mean can't I keep up with current affairs even if it's from 12 years ago? I can't find any clear answer when I look up events." I replied.

"You know that 6 years ago we had our current running Mayor and established the RTR Program right?" Officer Tim joined the conversation.

"Yeah? I know that at least since the Mayor personally visited our prison to announce it." I replied.

"Then you know that the last 6 years you've been in prison was the preparation for the council to pick appropriate prisoners to be recruited for the RTR Program." Officer Tim replied.

"Yes, pretty much that was the final years of my sentence when everyone was talking that they could get a chance to see outside again. Or that they can go back to their families. While I was there stuck up in my cell knowing I didn't have any chances." I replied.

"Sounds like a rough time you got there." Officer Uni replied.

"It was but it's prison it's expected to be rough in there," I replied while chuckling.

"If we go back further then nothing too major happened. A lot of criminals were persecuted for doing illegal activities which got them life sentences some mostly for heavy criminal charges like multiple murders and such. Your crimes would have been covered up by others at that point." Officer Weiss entered the conversation.

"You think so? I mean, to be honest, I never heard any reports or news coverage of Rook's crimes." Officer Tim looked in Weiss's direction.

"I mean if it's normally a life sentence kind of crime it's usually announced to the public. Maybe it was overshadowed by the crimes that are often happening everywhere else." Officer Uni was also confused.

I looked skeptical when they said my crimes weren't reported to the public.

"You think we're kidding we overview every criminal that goes through life sentence we knew you existed we just really don't know why, and how you've become a prisoner with the highest punishment before the death penalty." Officer Uni supported Officer Tim's words.

"I think from the looks of it, you want to learn about your past. No one would fully remember their past but people outside might help you. Tell you what, Rook, what about trying to apply for a Special Officer position?" Officer Weiss looked at me.

"You sure can't be serious Weiss, you sending him into that kind of hell?" Officer Uni stood up from her seat.

"Didn't he already face hell and back Uni? What's the Special course would do to him when he already experienced prison." Officer Tim thought otherwise.

"Umm... Can I ask what's the Special Course and what's this me applying for a Special Officer position?" Confused I asked everyone about it.

Special Officers are positions not often given to N.E.P.D. Officers without passing the Special Course. Being an SO or Special Officer gives an officer independence from any police, military, or government work unless required to. Giving an officer the freedom to do whatever they want as long as justice is involved. They get provided with their weapons, outfits, and permissions to any branch of the N.E.P.D. and some aspects of the military.

Not a lot of officers pass though on the Special Course. With a passing rate of just below one percent. Especially me an ex-felon challenging the Special Course would probably not go well with those people on the higher up.

"It's understandable that Rook might get discriminated against for being an ex-felon on those courses and you know they particularly rig those courses every year. Might not even give him a chance." Said Officer Uni as she was worried about me getting discriminated against.

"He'll get his chances if he might impress our chief which is one tough cookie to impress. But once you do it perfectly, he'll make sure you'll pass as a Special Officer. And you'll be able to research about your past. That way he can finally understand why he was imprisoned for an unknown reason even to us. You do act a bit differently from everyone here so maybe a great chance to know yourself better." Officer Weiss replied.

I should look into this Special Officer rank but until then I have to work hard and maybe answer some questions that I am afraid to ask them yet...