Dead to Rights

Posted on Thu Nov 14th, 2013 @ 9:42am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Helga (Hel) Lowe & Commander Alexandra Vance & Commander Hans Munich & Warrant Officer Sterling Kamala IV & Gaia

1,343 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Tabula Rasa
Location: Planetside, in the Compound
Timeline: Early Morning

ON

Helga woke early and went in search of a clean pot to boil water. She was in need of a hot bath -- or what served as a bath. She'd bathed in a creek near the compound, but the day before she'd found -- and thoroughly scrubbed -- a wooden tub and now she wanted to make good use of it.

She found one in the kitchen and with the blessing of one of the workers, took it to the fire pit. She set the pot beside the embers and added several large pieces of wood to get the fire going again, then head for the well.

When the pot was filled as much as she could carry, she went around back to where she'd left the tub to warm in the morning sunlight.

Nearby, leaning against a rock, Helga spotted Barac. "Good morning!" she called cheerfully. When he didn't answer, she moved closer in case he didn't hear her. "Barac?"

His chest was covered in blood, a sharp stick indicating that he was dead.

She couldn't help letting out a cry. She stayed away from the body as there was nothing she could do to help him. She grabbed her tub and hurried back to the fire to find help.

Gaia had made ground mush for breakfast. She scooped herself a bit to eat before every one else would come and eat. She heard the yelp but did not stir.

Sterling was in the middle of his morning exercise and had just finished his set ups when he heard the cry. He immediately jumped up oriented himself and started running towards the source.

Helga saw the man running towards her. "It's Barac. Someone killed him."

Hans came running with a spear in hand; someone screaming is never a good thing. "Someone is dead?" Hans asked while closing the distance.

"Someone killed Barac," Helga said, looking from Sterling to Hans. "He didn't sleep much so he liked to keep watch at night." She occasionally talked to him if she woke up during the night. He was a nice guy, she was sad to think that someone disliked him enough to kill him."

"Well someone obviously did, for whatever reason. We need to find out who it is because its the right thing to do and they may come after one of us next." he said to Helga. He stil didn't like Hans, didn't trust him and wondered to himself if he might be the murderer. Everyone should clear the area so we can start looking for clues." He wasn't sure exactly how he should go about looking for these clues, or really what to do if he did find some, but just looking seemed to be a natural thing for him, a case of deja vu.

She moved closer to Sterling. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Gaia finished her breakfast and grabbed a bowl for Barac he always liked to eat first thing in the morning and she came outside with a smile on her face. The smile however fell as she caught sight of the man slumped over and a stick stuck out of him. The bowl dumped form her fingers and she cried out. "What happened?"

"Someone killed him," Helga said, stating the obvious.

"Yes," Sterling replied, "And the more people we have hanging around here, the harder it will be to figure out who it was. Everybody needs to just back away. There is nothing more you can do for him."

Gaia nodded as she picked up the bowl and spoon. Her eyes filled with tears as she backed away to her kitchen. She hadn't known him for very long but he was a nice fellow.

"Very well," Helga said. "Please, let me know if you learn anything." With that she turned and walked slowly back to her room, no longer thrilled about the idea of a bath.

Sam woke when the heard the scream and dressed quickly. By the time she got to the others most of the crowd had dispersed. She looked at the body, then to Sterling. "Oh, dear. Why would someone kill him?" she asked.


"To protect a secret," came the automatic reply. "I'm not why I said that, just instinct i guess. Any the motive could be to protect a secret, or because of greed, love, wealth, but I am klind of betting on the secret myself. None of us can remember who we are. Maybe someone would kill to make sure that doesn't change."

"I think that's the most likely cause," Sam said. "See what you can find out. You seem to have the best handle on the situation."

[[Brush outside the camp]]

"Lucas did you place the charges where I asked?" Devon said looking to his clueless associate.

"Well...see I kind of lost the little drawing you made so I just placed them all over the place." Lucas replied.

Devon's eyes widened as a sly smile crossed his face as he waved his finger at Lucas. "I like your style."

There was a pause as Devon began to comtemplate. "How exactly did you plan to detonate these charges?"

Suddenly several explosions engulfed the camp in flames sending debris and people all over the area. Screams of panic soon followed.

"WHOA." Devon exclaimed shielding his face.

"Timed fuses." Lucas laughed.

"I REALLY like your style." Devon replied laughing in turn. "C'mon let's go! There still might be some good stuff left."

[[Camp]]

Alexandra and Amarylis were returning with the deer to the camp when they noticed the explosions from the camp. The two rushed towards the camp.

When they arrived people were running all about, some aiding the wounded, some running in fear of the chaos that had ensued. Alexandra looked around for Sam, she would find her talking with a couple people in a group.

"SAM!" Alexandra called out running over. "What happened?"

Sam turned to Alexandra. "I'm here."

Helga raced over to the injured and began to help as many as she could.

Another series of explosions went off from around Sam and Alexandra. "Sam we really need to get these people out of here."

"Is there any way we can take them out?" Sam asked Alexandria. "I don't want to let a handful of hoodlums drive us off. Maybe we can send most of the people out to safety and the let those who can stay behind and stop these people?"

"Agreed, this chaos is helping these guys more then any camouflage could. And they probably know we aren't going to kill our own or risk injury. Once we get these people to safety getting rid of these thugs should be easy," Sterling said.

"That's easy for you to say." Amarylis said with a grunt pulling an arrow from her side. "These jerks have great aim!"

"So do we," Sam countered. She turned to Cam. "Can you organize something?"

[[Bushes]]

"LUCAS! Cut it out with the explosives or there won't be anything left to loot!" Devon exclaimed even though the chaos itself amused him.

"Hey you seem to like a good show I just wanted to start things off with a bang." Lucas replied.

"Ah hell you're right. Forget the loot let's just have some fun! I love a good scream or two." Devon replied retrieving a bow from behind him.

"Hey Stamkos, I bet you I can shoot down more of them then you can!" Lucas yelled over the screaming mockingly at Devon.

Devon smiled. "You're already losing."

"WHAT HOW?!" Lucas exclaimed.

Devon drew a arrow from his quiver drawing the bow back and firing it at a frantic woman. "One."

He drew another arrow. "Two."

Another arrow. "Three."

Lucas drew an arrow of his own taking aim. "One."

OFF

Master Chief Petty Officer Helga Lowe
Nurse

Gaia
Lounge Manager/Owner Bazinga's

Warrant Officer Sterling Kamala IV
Security Investigations

Lieutenant Hans Munich
Chief Operations Officer

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer

Devon Stamkos
Smuggler

Lucas
Smuggler

Commander Alexandra Vance
Executive Officer

Staff Sergeant Amarylis Beckinsale
Marine

 

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