Searching the Gardens (part 2)

Posted on Sat Dec 3rd, 2016 @ 12:55pm by Lieutenant Mira Jayna & Lieutenant Illise Hale & Keelan & Logan

980 words; about a 5 minute read

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

Illise turned to face the gardener as he approached and listened to what he said about the plant. Frankly she was surprised that he was even in the garden during the investigation. However, she had no desire to be rude to the man. "I'm sorry for damaging it further." She told him, following his gaze to the other broken flowers.

[NEW]

He waved a hand in the air, dismissing her apology. "You did not do the initial damage." He looked closely at the plant. "The plant doesn't bend very easily, as you see. Pity." He began to remove the broken flowers and leaves so they wouldn't die unused.

Jayna walked over to Illise. "Logan is over there," she nodded to a back corner of the garden. "So far I've seen no signs of a struggle. What did you find?"

The old gardener moved out of the way so the strangers could talk.

The trimming of the shrubs were just fine tuning that the Gardener could do in his sleep, it also allowed him to more subtle an observation of the Federation people. HE must keep track that they do no damage to the garden. He would monitor a little more then take a break and pass his observations along to those that needed them.

Illise opened her ticorder again and scanned the bush, looking for traces of DNA, but finding none except her own where she had grabbed the stem. "It is suspicious," she told Jayna, "significant force is required to break these stems." She gestured to the scuffed pavement and turned soil nearby. "More than would have been applied by brushing against or even falling into the bush. "The damage to this plant appears deliberate."

Jayna looked carefully at the plant, snapped a leaf herself, then nodded. "I agree. But why? Does whoever did this not think we'd check it out?"

The strangers were using their scanning equipment, it was time for him to put his tools to good use in trimming where he could best observe their next and let them find their own way out for the moment. He would wait for the right time to tell of the growth in the garden.

"It's cover." Logan finally spoke up, having finished his visual observation of the garden and scene. He took a few steps before kneeling down onto one knee, running his large claw like hand over a specific print. "This was done late at night. Notice the similar prints and how far apart they are compared to the others around here? That's because these prints are made by someone moving quickly. As if running to, or from, something."

Logan than stood up, his eyes focused on the prints he was referring to as began to point slowly upward, gesturing to a specific direction which seemed to lead toward the bush they were currently examining. "The prints lead all the way to that bush and than vanish." He walked closed to the bush, placing his hand against the wall as he looked up it. "There are no markings against this wall, signifying the running Jenefran didn't escape by climbing, so they did not go over the wall. Which can only mean that this specific bush must be covering some kind of hole, or path, that leads outside these walls. Only someone who knows of it could use it, and since the prints go directly from the entrance to here it only means the Jenefran knew of the significance of this bush. I think if you look past the bush you will find some kind of hidden exit."

"It would make sense that if the Princess got out of the garden without going through the palace, she would have to know of a secret exit," Jayna said. "Growing up here as a child, I imagine she explored every inch of this place."

Illise considered what they had found. It didn't quite add up. "If he knew the way out, and moved quickly through the garden with a purpose, then what is all this?" She gestured to the damaged plants.

Jayna shook her head. "I assume the princess knew the way out. I don't know about anyone else." She waved at the plant. "I'm not sure about the purpose of this."

The large Caitian looked toward his friends before walked back to the position he was at last. "Something also interesting to note. These prints here. They aren't made with a civilian tread. The markings signify some kind of boot or tactical foot wear. What's interesting is that, these prints, were made around the same time as our running Jenefran. However, these prints weren't made by runners. They took there time. Moving slowly. In a search pattern. As if hunting." Logan paused before looking over to Jayna and Illise. "If I were to guess, our running Jenefran, was running from them. A tactical hunting party. Keeping behind their target but also working to cover their tracks and ensure they were not seen."

"So, someone from the palace followed her," Jayna said. "which belies Qunari involvement. Was she running from them, or did they follow her later?"

"This is looking more and more suspicious." Illise said. "The apparent struggle has obviously been faked, but by whom and to what end? If she was running from someone, it is unlikely that the Princess would have had time to plant evidence. However if she was followed later, whoever it was could have tried to make it look like an abduction..." Illise thought for a moment. "It is possible that the Princess is not as happy with her upcoming wedding as we have been led to believe."

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant JG Illise Hale
Chief Science Officer

Gardner NPC

Lieutenant JG Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

Second Gardner
Spy

Logan
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

RSS Feed