And... continued...
Conference - Day 1, 1430 hours
Within forty minutes almost everyone had been seated and served their choice of several dishes. Odo and numerous other security members were not eating - Odo of course did not have to. The others had eaten before lunch or would be eating after lunch. A rumor that Odo was inclined to believe had circulated amongst security that it had taken 57 federation diplomats, negotiators and several chefs (both in and out of the federation) two months to figure out all of the menus for all of the meals. It had to be inclusive of all cultures, delicious and not messy. The security around the food was great. Almost half of the security in place at the conference was dedicated to making sure no one was poisoned.
Yet, Odo's mind was far away from this. It was on the fact that H'Kevi was no where to be found. He had not come back from where he'd been and the computer had been unable to locate him. It was peculiar indeed. He had a growing feeling that H'Kevi not being there was due to foul play. If he'd had a gut, Odo would have said that he had a gut feeling.
He gestured an older woman over. Her name was Adya Horan and she was in charge of security. Quickly Odo explained the situation to her. The Betazoid agreed with Odo that something was probably not right. She tapped her comm. badge swiftly.
"Horan to Golwhal: Take an officer and go search conference room 33-T for H'Kevi, a Betelgeusian man. Constable Odo and myself are going to search his room." And with that Odo and Horan headed off. As they walked swiftly to the turbo lift Horan asked Odo a few more questions regarding H'Kevi.
"Do you know anything else about him?"
"No. Very enigmatic. I'd only seen him a few times before this. He kept to himself on the ship as we were coming over-"
"To Betazed? That's a two week journey!"
"Yes," Odo agreed, "And I saw him maybe twice that entire time - both times in the mess hall. Apparently his replicator was on the fritz,"
"Very interesting. I wonder if-" her words were interrupted by a message from Golwhal.
"Horan, we have no sign of H'Kevi here. But we did run into a woman who says that H'Kevi wasn't present at the meeting,"
"Interesting. Return to your posts,"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Very interesting indeed Odo," Horan said. He grunted his agreement as the turbo lift arrived in the section where H'Kevi was residing. They did not have to go far. His room was practically right across the hall from the exit of the turbo lift. When they entered Odo's suspicions were confirmed. H'Kevi had been murdered.
Conference - Day 1 1600 hours
"According to my readings, he's been dead about ten hours. That means he died at about six this morning. I suspect that-"
"The afternoon meetings are underway. The whole building's been locked down, but no one really wants to leave anyway. The rain out there could rival Ferenginar! It's a good thing, I guess... but I prefer Betazed when it's warm."
"Horan doesn't want people to say it's a murder. It's not going to help if people are panicking-"
"-a level nine security clearance around this room. And also the meetings with high priority people. Got it?"
"Sorry Odo, but we're not going to be able to find whoever did this telepathically. They're so many emotions and thoughts running around... Even if someone seemed guilty or like they did it... well, there are other things for them to feel guilty about."
The talk and chatter of an investigation filled the room as Odo debated what the next steps in the investigation would be. So far he'd been in charge of things in general, but Horan had been hinting that Odo would not be leading it. She didn't want anyone from Deep Space Nine involved, worried that it might be seen as a conflict of interest.
Conference - Day 1 2200
The rain outside was heavy and thick. Odo stood in his room pacing back and forth. Sisko, Bashir, O'Brien, Westveiw, two security and Horan were all waiting in the same room, quietly waiting for Quark, Worf, Dax, Nerys and Bork to arrive. Bashir has tried once or twice to find out why they were there, but a look from Sisko had gotten him to stop talking.
A small deep was heard over the rain and Odo gruffly said "enter".
Happy and laughing Worf and Dax entered the somber room, holding an oddly shaped bottle.
"We brought-" Dax began happily, before her voice trailed off "...kanar...". the pair exchanged a worried look. This was not the party that they had obviously been expecting. Somehow the pair had gotten it into their minds that they were going to be celebrating something. Obviously not.
As they were taking they're seats Quark entered looking annoyed.
"This had better be important Odo. You interrupted my winning streak at Tongo!"
"Have a seat Quark," Odo said simply. Defiantly the Ferengi took a seat.
The mood was still tense and each person was alone was alone with their thoughts. No one knew what to expect, but all knew that it was something bad. Yet no one could figure out what. It was obviously not personal news, nor was it news that warranted talking to the whole conference. Perhaps the station had been destroyed in some random event... perhaps it had to do with Bajor.
Kira entered and, without prompting, took a seat. She could all ready tell that something was wrong. For another ten minutes the rain pounded down and still no one spoke. It the passing time Odo allowed himself to be vaguely surprised that Quark had managed to keep quiet for the whole time.
Sooooo you've gotten a taste. Should I keep going... or keep it to myself?
