Hi everybody!
I took some time with this chapter because of its importance, and I had to do quite a bit of rewriting as a result.
Enjoy!
Chapter 4:
Vale Port…
Crime scene tapes were all over the heavily guarded area, but one of the officers let BC through when he flashed his badge. The air was mixed with the smell of salt and rotten fish and garbage. Not pleasant, but BC had been in places that reeked even worse than here.
There was a lively sort of activity going on at the moment. Forensic was dusting for prints and taking pictures. A couple of officers were at the side asking questions to workers. However, BC knew too well that the responses were all going to be along the lines of – "I didn't see anything. I know nothing."
BC walked towards a familiar person who was talking to someone with her back towards him.
Agent Theresa…
With simple brown bob hair, she was a five-foot four woman with high standards. She wore a black blazer and a lethal Dust Magnum strapped to the side of her hip. Despite being hot-headed when chasing and arresting bad guys, she was probably the coolest when leading a field investigation. That is, if the people working here weren't so incompetent…
"What do you mean you didn't check the top of the containers?" Agent Theresa snarled, glaring at the forensic analyst before her. Her green eyes narrowed like a hawk, ready to strike without warning.
"Mam, we didn't think it was important. The explosion was here. Besides… there are a lot of them… It'll take all day."
"Well, I say it is," Theresa said, "So even if it takes you all day, get your men up there and start checking before I strap you up there myself."
"Tough as always," BC called out, watching the man scamper away. "Though I would've checked the containers as well. Perfect place to avoid the night patrol. Especially with last night's weather."
"Detective BC. Got the memo," she said calmly, without turning her head away from the scene. "You got some balls to say something like that to the Captain."
"Word still travels fast." BC stood next to his new 'boss' and surveyed the harbor. BC towered over the woman, but her demeanor gave off a more lethal and dangerous vibe. "What's going on? It looks like a circus."
"What is going on is that I have been here since four in the morning to deal with a possible arsonist attack. The ship-" Theresa pointed to the one docked by the harbor and the only one charred – "was almost sunk by a red Dust explosion and we have another one that caused this pile of crates to crash down into an unpleasant heap.
"It took a while, but we removed them all. No bodies, but one of the techs found blood. Already sent to DNA lab."
"Terrorist?" BC asked as he took out his usually notepad and pen. He quickly jolted down some notes.
"Not likely," Theresa shook her head, "Blood was minimal. No deaths, and the location really isn't ideal to spread panic. The first responders on the scene managed to arrest a couple of Red Hawks. They're back at the station and being interrogated as we speak."
"Red Hawks?" BC looked up surprised. "What are they doing all the way out here?"
"My guess is smuggling, but I can't say what at the moment. We're going through the shipping containers and checking with the log."
"Well, it is either Dust or weapons," BC shrugged his shoulders, "Doesn't seem like anything else."
"Agent Theresa?" Another officer appeared with a piece of paper. "The preliminary analysis of the explosion is done."
"What do we have?"
"Well, so far the only thing we came up with is that the explosion is not due to a Dust bomb."
"Not Dust?" Theresa looked mildly surprised. "Then what caused all this damage?"
"The explosion on the ship was caused by a dust bomb. We found some glass shards so we're suspecting the standard Burn Dust type. But the one that caused the damage here with these cargo… well, it is Dust, but the explosion was more direct. Like a laser. You don't get that with a bomb."
"A laser?"
"At least we think so. We've never seen such power like this before though… Jake knows a bit of math and physics so he calculated the estimated trajectory of where it came from and it seems like… well, it came from the sky. Like from an airship or-"
"A Fury Raider," Agent Theresa and Detective BC said simultaneously.
"Excuse me?" the forensic guy said, perplexed.
"A weapon newly developed in Atlas and is the only weapon that can pack power to take out anything in a five mile radius, but still be light enough to be attached to a Bullhead." Theresa explaind briefly.
"But," the tech said, confused, "is it possible that they were on an airship and used a Welder? The damage would be about the same."
"Whoever blew up the area here must have used a Bullhead. A standardized airship is too large and too slow," BC said, contemplating the situation as well, "while the Bullhead is smaller, faster, and has more room for maneuverability."
"Okay, so it is this Fury Raider that caused the damage. What seems to be the problem?" The forensic guy asked, not understanding the grim looks. "We can just look at sales of this Fury Raider and see what pops up right?"
"That is the problem. This scenario… is impossible." BC shook his head. "As far as I know, Fury Raiders is not available on the market yet. And if there was a sale going on the black market, I've would've heard something about it…"
"This is bad," Theresa muttered.
"What? Know something I don't?"
"Have a file ready in an hour," Theresa said to the forensic guy, ignoring BC's question. "Get all of the data and proof needed to prove that this was not a bomb but an aerial strike. I want all those crates analyzed as well. This is now top priority."
"Yes mam."
"Eric!"
"Yes boss?" A tall and pale Asian man who had just finished talking to an officer came over and nodded briefly at BC.
"I want the DNA results back from the lab. Tell them I requested it. Also, I want you to interrogate the Red Hawks personally. I don't care if you break any bones. Make sure you get them to tell you what the hell happened here."
"You got it boss."
"Agent Theresa," BC said quietly, "A regular Dust bomb and a Fury Raider. Two different modes. We need to ask ourselves why that's the case."
"There must have been competition," Theresa mumbled. "And the worst kind."
"Well, when you have things figured out, let me know. I will head back to my car for a nap if you need anything."
"Not so fast BC. You and I are going to do the most important dangerous job."
"Really? And what's that?"
"We still have other people to interview and let's just say that they are the less savory than the ones you are used to."
"Less savory?" BC laughed, "Theresa, I have dealt with a lot of shady people from all parts of Vale. Illegal Dust dealers, thieves, murderers, and gang members. I've been shot, stabbed, and almost blown up once. Who could be less savory than them?"
Theresa told him; BC's face paled.
"Oh… that sort of people…"
Author's Notes
Who are these unsavory people? Seems like Agent Theresa and BC are going to be dealing with someone unpleasant.
Thanks for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter.
-JapanDreamer