<div class="floatleft">(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af196/daisygirl1200/ddf435a3-2926-47ca-a945-2846ded513d5.jpg)</div><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;"> When Carlos arrived on scene, Jack was standing as a manly oasis of calm in the otherwise stormy air around the diner. Even the backwash from the helicopter rotors slapping at him didn’t rock the SSP officer on his feet. Much. Jack congratulated himself on once again living up to the SSP standards, a grin flashing above his lantern jaw. He took in the scene with a sense of anticipation. Or at least Jack told himself it was anticipation. It might have been gas. He <em>had</em> eaten three alarm chili at the Desert Flower Bowling Alley and Arcade Fun Complex for dinner last night. But no, Jack was almost positive that slightly queasy “I can’t breathe” feeling was anticipatory.<br/><br/>The Probie on the other hand looked a little green around the gills. But Jack figured he could coach the kid through this. It <em>was</em> quite the experience to meet both Carlos <em>AND</em> the Sheriff in one fell swoop. Jack figured he’d let the kid keep her dignity though and left her to her own devices while he continued to assess the controlled – not counting the swirling, diner dissolving vortex of course- chaos in the parking lot.   ‘Fake it ‘til you make it’ was a core tenant of any good police force after all. <br/><br/>The boys from the station had things well in hand the moment they were feet down on the scene. There was a little crack up with one of the units behind him, but Jack was sure the officer involved would just write out a ticket to the negligent driver and be on the scene in a moment. He on the other hand was standing in reserve to liaise with Carlos. Jack felt his chest expand just a bit again at the importance of his role today. <em>It will be a feather in my proverbial cap,</em> he thought as he watched the handsomely disheveled scientist approach.<br/><br/>Jack patted himself on the back that he only jumped slightly as the Sheriff’s wise words split the air around them. A quarantine. BRILLIANT Idea! Of course they were probably going to have to make room in the quarantine zone behind the playground at Mission Park. But on the upside, the weaving production in town would probably skyrocket. Jack never considered for a moment that he and the Probie would be “invited” to join those who would become sequestered in the quarantine zone should it become necessary. He was just too vital to the community and the Probie of course would have immunity to these types of things just by virtue of being Jack’s protégée. <br/> <br/>“Vacate the area?!?!” Jack asked the Probie, trying to keep the incredulousness out of his voice, (and failing only slightly.) He shook his head at the girl, including Carlos in a “Kids, Whatta ya gonna do?” kind of smile.<br/><br/>“We’re the proud. The Brave. The <em>FEW</em>. Members of the Sheriff’s Secret Police, Probie. We don’t run from danger!” He finished passionately, one pointing finger shooting skyward. Carlos blinked at Jack again slowly. <em>Awed with my dedication to duty and upholding the honor of the SSP and Night Vale,</em> Jack congratulated himself silently as the little device in Carlos’ hand started vibrating. The great man looked down, a frown creasing his brow as he turned and hurried away from them mumbling something that sounded suspiciously like ‘<em>No time. There’s just not enough time!</em>’  <br/><br/>Jack watched him go with a mixture of sadness and devotion that was tempered with the understanding that they all had roles to play in this crisis.<br/><br/>“No. What we need is to find a volunteer to run directly at the purple, swirling mass, shrieking and waving their arms just to see what it does. Any good detective will tell you, you can never have enough intel in a situation like this.” Jack’s gaze began panning the crowd that had gathered across the street. <br/><br/>“Sure. We know the swirling purple mess melts walls. But what about people? Or even cars. The back wall of the diner probably didn’t have much metal in it at all. Maybe we should send someone into the cloud on foot and another in a car…” Jack mused, his gaze slipping over Old Woman Josie and the Angels which were not acknowledged to exist standing at her side. <br/><br/>“Or it might only melt walls of diners. It could be if we build a different kind of wall around it, like the kind that was never really built but was all a figment of our collective imaginations at the Waterfront Recreation Area <em>that was in fact never built</em>, that’s how we’ll solve this little dilemma. Maybe that’s even why we all had that collective dream!” He finished sounding excited by the thought as he looked around for a likely candidate. Most of the crowd was avoiding making eye. Some were even shuffling off as they watched Jack taking in the crowd. <br/><br/>“Don’t worry,” Jack assured the Probie off handedly as a little frown drew together his brows. “It takes years of government and city training before you start putting together the puzzle pieces like I can. But I’ll teach you everything I know,” he finished glancing back at her with a helpful smile. <br/><br/>After only a second and a rather awkward pat – that he redirected several times before it actually touched down so as to pick the most innocuous body part he could find – to the left shoulder, he snapped up straight and called out “You there! What are you doing here and were did you come from?!?!”<br/><br/>The clipped words voiced loud enough to cover the distance between the parking lot and the fender bender were directed at a woman Jack had never seen before. And he’d know because if he had seen her before, he would have seen her before. As anything new was suspect, Jack suddenly had his first lead in the case. “Stop right there!” he called out to the stationary figure and started marching in her direction.</span><br/>