Another Murder In Space

"Looks like his stomach exploded from the inside," Shane observed the state of the body. "Took out half his chest with it."

"The inside?" Zach asked.

"I know, weird," Shane remarked. "Whatever killed him it definitely wasn't a laser blast. If I didn't know better I'd say someone planted a small bomb on the inside of him."

"We brought the doctor," Niko said as she and Doc walked in with a portly man. "Someone is looking after Mrs. Maddox."

"Huh, Maddox always did make a mess of things but this is really too much," Doc remarked as he looked at the body without any remorse.

"So what do you think Doctor?" Zach asked.

"Yep, he's dead all right," The doctor looked over the body.

"So glad we were able to find an expert," Doc quipped. "Do you know what killed him?"

"I think something blew up inside of him," The doctor said.

"Yes, but what blew up inside of him? That's the million dollar question?" Doc asked.

"I gotta get him on the slab and examine him," The doctor said. "But from the smell it seems like some kind of explosive."

"Oh this case is just going great!" Zach threw up his hands.

"Guys! Give the man a chance!" Niko warned.

"I can't believe the boss is dead!" A man called out. A throng of hired human men were standing in the doorway looking at the crime scene.

"Well he is," McKay was guarding it. "So much for these highly trained Galaxy Rangers! Wouldn't surprise me if they were in on it!"

"Makes sense! You Earthers are always trying to push your noses into situations where they don't belong!" Another man shouted. The group agreed with them.

"Maybe we should teach these Rangers a lesson?" A third man called out. A loud grumbling and rustling was heard from the gathering mob.

"May I remind all of you that the second Maddox died all your paychecks stopped," Doc casually reminded them. "And the legality of your asylum is in question now."

That stopped the majority of men. They looked at each other muttering. "It's them damn aliens' fault!" One man shouted.

"You don't know that for sure," Niko said.

"Well who else could it have been?" The same man asked.

"I got an idea," McKay growled as Soko walked up to the crime scene. "Speak of the devil."

"So, he's dead is he?" Soko looked over the scene.

"This is a crime scene Soko," Zach warned. "Stand back."

"It's not my intention to interfere," Soko held up his hands. "I merely want to make sure Maddox is really dead and not pulling some kind of scam."

"If he is, he's a hell of an actor," The doctor remarked.

"Don't pull that crap with me Soko! You had something to do with Maddox's death and you know it!" McKay growled.

"Me? How could I kill the man? I was in the custody of these fine upstanding officers here," Soko pointed to the Galaxy Rangers.

"Oh yeah right!" Someone shouted. The crowd seemed to agree with him.

"Now that they mention it, it is pretty convenient for you that you were surrounded by us at the exact same time Maddox was getting blown up into bits," Shane looked at him.

"I'm also an alibi for all of you, in case you've forgotten," Soko said casually. "I'm sure with Maddox gone, so are Earth's debts. Unless Ms. Maddox holds a grudge."

"That's right," A thin man with glasses was brought in. "I know for a fact that Mr. Maddox didn't have a will."

"And how do you know that?" Zach asked.

"I'm his lawyer," The man introduced himself. "Herbert Hammett at your service. Without a will, Ms. Maddox is the only heir."

"Well technically no," Doc sighed. "There is someone else…Me. Maddox was my father."

"Father?" McKay and Soko said at the same time.

"You're Maddox's son?" Soko frowned as he looked at Doc. "I didn't know he even had a son."

"He used to have two but I'm the only one still alive," Doc told him.

"That's right," Hammett blinked. "I'd forgotten he had a son. Never spoke of you much."

"We didn't exactly get along," Doc said.

"If you're his kid how come your name is Hartford?" McKay asked.

"Changed it when my mother remarried," Doc explained. "I was just a kid then."

"I see…" Soko said.

"Hold on a second here…" McKay barked. "If you're his kid then that means…"

"It means that Ranger Hartford here is an heir," Zach said.

"It also means you had a pretty good personal motive to want your old man to croak," McKay snarled.

"Oh for crying out loud! I didn't even know where he was until…" Doc began.

"Why don't we take a look at the tape and find out?" McKay shouted.

"Tape? What tape?" Zach asked.

"Whatever you call it," McKay waved. "The boss has a hidden camera in his office. He records everything on it. Maybe it'll show us what happened?"

"Hidden camera?" Doc asked.

"In that clock over there!" McKay pointed. "If you push a button on the computer on his desk you can see what it records on that TV over here!"

"Doc can you turn it on?" Zach asked.

"Why not? But isn't this…" Doc began.

"I have nothing to hide! I want to see Maddox's demise with my own eyes!" Soko said. The crowd shouted it's approval.

"This is kind of irregular…" Doc said.

"Just show 'em Doc," Shane growled.

"Okay…" Doc was able to figure it out. Soon the screen showed Maddox.

"See, there's Maddox…" McKay pointed on the screen. "Just sitting there and then…" An alarm on screen went off and then.

"The guy just exploded!" One man gasped.

"That's not a good way to go," Another man said.

"And he's dead," Doc remarked. "Okay fine. We all saw how he died. Maybe we can analyze…"

"How about we go back further?" Zach asked.

"Uh how about we do this at the ship?" Doc asked. "This is an investigation after all."

"Why? You Rangers got something to hide?" McKay shouted.

"Of course not!" Shane was insulted by the accusation. "We all took oaths to uphold justice!"

"That don't mean squat on this planet!" Another man shouted.

"Fine! We'll show you what we said!" Shane said.

"Uh I don't think that's a good idea…" Doc began.

"Come on Doc maybe there's a clue?" Shane moved him out of the way and pushed some buttons. "Let's start when we showed up to meet with him. Maybe something else happened?"

"Uh Goose I think we should…" Doc protested.

"Get over yourself. I have," Doc's voice was heard on screen.

"Oh boy…" Doc winced as they watched Doc's 'conversation' with his father.

"To be honest, seeing your eyes filled with terror at the sight of me is enough for now. Having you being afraid of me for a change. It's very liberating. I'm going to tell you something so listen. I don't know how you weaseled your way into this, but will not get away with what you're doing to these people. I don't know how but I will find a way to help them. I don't care if you grabbed yourself a tin plated crown from a discount store and call yourself a king, you are nothing but a money grubbing degenerate who one day will not be able to outrun justice. And on that day, I'll be waiting to watch them shove you into a cold dark cell where you belong."

Everyone turned around and glared at Doc. "This is awkward," Doc winced.

Soko managed to make his way from his throngs of followers and enemies into the back room of a dilapidated building. He took out a small headset communicator and put it on. He pushed a small button on the side, activating a number.

"We need to talk," Soko spoke into the communicator. "You didn't say anything about Maddox having a son! It does matter! The wife was supposed to be the only heir! Not only that the son is a Galaxy Ranger! A Galaxy Ranger damn it! If he gets his hands on this planet do you know how much that ruins everything? Oh really? I'm supposed to trust you? I did! For all I know you purposely kept this information from me! Why would you do that? Oh I can think of a few reasons!"

Soko frowned. "Don't you criticize me! Look it's my plan that's got us this far in the first place! Of course I recognize your contribution it's just…There's no need for that! What? Oh really? You know something I'm glad you know! Really? You think you can do this without me? Fine! Go ahead! Let's see how far you can get! You know I was going to share this with you…Don't you dare criticize her! You want out! Fine! You're out! Good luck! You're going to need it!"

"Looks like I may have to take this planet by force after all," Soko frowned as he cut communications. "And I don't have the luxury of getting my men on Lunar 12. Then again…I may not need them. Why go off planet to get an army when there's an army right here?"

"When I said for all of you to find a creative way to deal with Maddox this is not what I meant!" Commander Cain barked at the Galaxy Rangers through a video communicator on their ship.

"Don't look at us! We didn't kill him!" Zozo said. He looked at Doc. "Well most of us…"

"I didn't kill my father! I just said I wanted to kill him!" Doc snapped.

"On video…" Niko said.

"Yeah…" Doc winced.

"We were lucky to get out of there without a lynch mob forming," Zach groaned.

"That's because half of them decided to make travel plans instead of getting revenge," Shane pointed out. "Even though they were on the payroll I got a feeling Maddox wasn't anyone's favorite boss."

"Any word on the coroner's report? Or is it too soon?" Cain asked.

"The physician we have says that he ingested some kind of ground up explosive," Zach looked at a report. "A new man made material called oscoleticite. Apparently it's used in mining as an explosive. Especially around unstable material."

"How is it activated?" Cain asked.

"It's pretty stable and only activates by certain high pitched frequencies," Zach said. "It's specifically designed for mining delicate areas so only a small amount is needed."

"It was enough to blow Maddox up," Shane grunted.

"I don't suppose other than the wanted criminal McKay there are any other lawmen there?" Cain asked.

"Well McKay has a posse but since most of them are probably wanted for something or other…" Zach said.

"I get it. Despite Ranger Hartford's…closeness with the subject you are the only real lawmen there," Cain said. "In legal circles this might be deemed as suspicious."

"We were already considered suspicious before this happened," Shane pointed out. "Those debts Earth acquired are a pretty good motive."

"Not to mention me being related and now a possible heir," Doc added.

"All right, I'm coming over there myself to help sort this out along with a few lawyers. You continue with the investigation as much as you can and try to keep the planet in one piece," Cain ordered. "I should be there on the Hamilton by tomorrow. And maybe I'd better bring a few troops just in case. Cain out."

"Don't say it Gooseman," Doc glared at Shane after Cain cut communications.

"Now Doc you know I can't do that," Shane smirked. "I gotta admit, I'm impressed."

"Gooseman…" Doc groaned as he put his head in his hands.

"Your form and technique are good," Shane patted him on the back. "But the one thing you need to work on is your growl."

"I hate my life…" Doc moaned.

"It needs to be more guttural," Shane went on. "Use the back of your throat more."

"Goose, shut it!" Doc growled.

"Yeah like that!" Shane said cheerfully.

"Goose! Enough! This isn't funny!" Zach barked. He folded his arms. "Well Doc?"

"Okay…Maybe Maddox got to me a little," Doc admitted.

"Really? I didn't notice," Shane quipped.

"Goose, don't encourage the man!" Niko threw up her arms.

"This from the woman who was two seconds away from clocking him," Doc gave her a look.

"All right that's enough!" Zach barked putting his full authority in his voice. "Doc we all know you had nothing to do with Maddox's death. But we need to solve this murder fast or else this incident is going to get even worse. Tensions on this planet were bad enough and until we find out the truth they are going to explode."

"I know Soko had something to do with this," Shane said. "Call it a gut feeling."

"I've got that same feeling too," Doc said. "I think we need to have a talk with a few people. Like my stepmother. Maybe she knows something?"

"Doc are you up for this?" Zach asked.

"I'm under control captain," Doc said. "I let my temper get the better of me once and it won't happen again. I promise."

"It's not like you to be so emotional," Niko said. "Then again considering the circumstances…"

"Right now Maddox is just another murder victim," Doc interrupted her. "And since the legality of McKay's appointment is dubious at best we're the only law. And you're going to need all the help you can get."

"All right," Zach let out a breath. "Doc you interview your stepmother while we take another look around Grand Hill. Maybe we can get more answers there?"

"Thanks for agreeing to talk to me," Doc told Laura as they entered a parlor. "To be honest I didn't think you'd want to. Considering the circumstances…"

"That you threatened my husband?" Laura asked.

"Well yes," Doc coughed.

"To be honest you're not the one I'm worried about," Laura sniffed as she fingered her broach. "People used to threaten my husband all the time. But I'm not so experienced with it. I've just had some threatening phone calls from both McKay and Soko! They both want me to sign control over this planet to them. I don't know what to do! I don't even know if this is legal yet!"

One of the men that had been with Laura earlier looked in the parlor. "You okay Ma'mm?" He asked before glaring at Doc.

"I'm fine, Harold. You go check the pantry and see if we have enough food for a wake," Laura told him. Harold moved off. "One of my many bodyguards my late husband insisted I have ever since the trouble started. They always watch over me like a hawk. Seems McKay wants them to keep an eye on me too."

"I'm sorry about all of this," Doc said. "My father and I never got along but…Just out of curiosity…Why did you marry him? I mean…"

"I know. I'm a bit younger than him," The young woman who was Doc's age shrugged. "I have no family and I've been drifting from here to there all my life. When I came to work for Dante…He was so kind to me. So protective…And now he's gone!"

She started to sob. "I'm sorry," Doc said. Before he knew it he was holding her.

"I don't know what to do," Laura sobbed. "I feel so lost without my husband. He was so strong…So protective. So much like you."

The next thing Doc knew Laura gave him a passionate kiss. A very passionate kiss. "Thank you Walter…" Laura said shyly before she left.

Just then Zach, Niko and Shane walked in. "Did you find anything out?" Zach asked.

"Uh huh…" Doc was still stunned.

"We found traces of oscoleticite all over the place," Shane frowned. "There's a barn down a ways that's full of the stuff. And it's not exactly guarded well. Doc? Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"I think my stepmother just made a pass at me," Doc blinked.

"What?" Niko did a double take.

"I'm serious! The woman practically threw her tongue into my mouth!" Doc threw up his hands. "I am in serious need of mouthwash!"

"Oh man Doc you got one twisted family," Shane shook his head.

"Wonderful," Doc didn't appreciate the irony of who made that comment.

"Seriously, I thought my family was weird but your family makes my situation seem almost normal," Shane remarked.

"No Goose, your family is still weirder than mine," Doc barked.

"But not by much," Shane smirked.

"You are enjoying my pain," Doc moaned. "What did I ever do to you?"

"Do you want the whole list or the more recent offenses?" Shane asked.

"Knock it off you two," Zach ordered. "Okay Doc what happened?"

"Did I not make myself clear?" Doc snapped. "I went to interview her. She told me Soko and McKay were pressuring her to sign over control of the planet to them and the next thing I knew she was kissing me." He winced. "Sorry, this day has really been disturbing. On so many levels."

"So now Soko and McKay are trying to grab control of this planet?" Niko frowned. "This doesn't sound good."

"Let's go talk to Soko again…" Shane suggested. "Maybe we can find something out at…"

The sound of gunfire was heard. "Now what?" Zach barked as they ran out of the building.

"Rangers! We got trouble!" Zozo rode up with Waldo on their steeds.

"What do you aliens want?" One of the hired hands on the property pointed a weapon at them.

"Stand down! We're here to talk to the Galaxy Rangers!" Waldo bristled. "There's a fight in the middle of town!"

"Between who?" Zach shouted.

"McKay and his goons are being attacked by Soko and a whole lot of angry alien workers," Zozo told them.

"This day just keeps getting better!" Doc groaned as the Rangers raced to their horses and rode into town. There was wild blaster fire as well as rocks being thrown all over the place. Humans and aliens were fighting each other, often with their fists.

"This is insane!" Doc barely dodged a rock.

"GALAXY RANGERS! GET THEM!" Someone shouted.

"STAND DOWN!" Zach powered up his thunderbolt and fired it into the sky. Everyone gasped in terror and awe at it's power. "THE NEXT IDIOT THAT STARTS SOMETHING WILL GET A THUNDEBOLT BETWEEN THE EYES!"

"You can't threaten us Galaxy Ranger!" Soko stood up on a podium made of orange crates so he could be seen and heard. "You have no jurisdiction here! This planet is ours! It's time the workers took what's rightfully…"

ZAP!

Suddenly a laser hit Soko in the chest and he fell off the podium with a gurgle. A scream came from the audience. "HE'S BEEN SHOT!" Someone shouted.

"Oh this just got worse…" Doc winced as they got to where Soko fell but it was too late.

"He's dead all right," Shane looked at the body.

"WHO SHOT SOKO?" An alien yelled.

"WHOEVER IT WAS DID US A FAVOR!" McKay shouted back.

"MURDERERS!" An alien screamed. The aliens formed into a mob and started shouting and throwing rocks. The humans began to shout back and shoot with their weapons.

"I don't think they're going to listen to us Captain!" Doc shouted tried to move out of firing range.

"I have an idea," Niko touched her badge. "Everyone hold my hand. I'm going to try a technique Ariel once showed me."

"How long ago?" Shane asked as they put their hands in circle.

"A while," Niko took a deep breath.

"Define a while?" Zozo yelped as more gunfire went on.

"It was before I came to Earth," Niko focused on her powers. "Here we go…"

A purple aura surrounded the Rangers and the two alien ambassadors. The aura grew stronger. PEACE….YOU WILL BE AT PEACE….STOP FIGHTING…THERE IS NO NEED TO FIGHT….

The aura stretched over the entire town. Everyone stopped fighting and stood in a trance. "What are we doing?" One human blinked.

"I dunno…" An alien said in a daze. "For some reason I don't wanna fight."

"Me neither," Another human said.

The crowd dropped their weapons and staggered away. "It worked," Zach let out a breath.

"That's one way to stop a riot," Shane remarked. "It's not as much fun as my way but…"

"I don't want to do that again," Niko grumbled as she leaned on Shane for support. "Captain…That suggestion isn't going to last forever. They're going to snap out of it soon enough and this is going to start all over again. Only next time it will get worse."

"And they'll tear this planet apart," Zach said as they made their way back to Soko's body. "Okay…Let's get this murder solved to while we're at it. Definitely a regular blaster shot."

"Based on the angle of the wound I think the shot came from that way," Shane pointed to a derelict hotel. "What's that building there?"

"The sign says Brokedown Boarding House," Zach said. "Niko you okay?"

"Yeah I'm all right," Niko nodded. "Just had to get my breath for a moment. Let's go."

They went into the building. "You in charge here?" Zach asked an older man with a beard and glasses.

"I'm Barkley the assistant manager," The older man told them. "I don't know where Mister Maypole is. He runs this place. Probably will be back soon."

"There's been a murder," Zach said. "We think the shot came from this building."

"Probably on the second floor," Shane said. "How many rooms overlook the center of town?"

"Just one," Barkley said. "It's a small building. Only ten rooms and most of them are on the other side."

"Who's in that room?" Shane asked.

"Some alien, blue and fat," Barkley looked at the register. "Calls himself Specs. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him leave his room all day. Came in yesterday right after Mr. Maddox was murdered. Was kinda nervous."

"Can we see his room?" Niko asked.

"Yeah I got a key. You think he may have had something to do with all that fighting out there and Mr. Maddox's death?" Barkley asked as he got it.

"Only one way to find out," Zach said. They followed him into the room. "Galaxy Rangers! Open up!"

When they did get into the room they were surprised. Specs was lying face down on the floor in a pool of orange blood. "Okay maybe he didn't have anything to do with Soko's death," Zach blinked.

Shane looked at the body. "Hasn't been dead long."

"Do you think he killed Soko?" Niko asked.

"No, he's been dead at least a couple of hours," Shane said. He picked up the weapon. "Blaster's been fired more recently, been wiped for prints. Doc do a scan of the room."

"Hold on…I got something…" Doc scanned the room with his crime scanner component of his CDU. "There's some wiring…a listening device that's hooked up to…" He held his scanner up. "The room on top of this one."

"There's a smell in here…I've smelled it before," Shane took a whiff. "Perfume. It's familiar."

"We need to check the upstairs room too," Zach opened up the closet to check it out. Suddenly something fell out of it. "WHOA!"

"Who is that?" Zozo yelped. It was another body that was shot.

"That's Mister Maypole! He's the manager of the Brokedown Boarding House!" Barkley said.

"What's he doing in the closet?" Zozo asked.

"Being dead, apparently," Waldo remarked.

"Great! Now we got two more people dead!" Zach threw up his hands. "And our main suspect! This case is getting more complicated by the minute!"

"On the contrary Captain I think this case is now solved," Doc smiled. "Niko…"

"I think I have just enough on my charge…" Niko focused and was able to sense the last minutes of the manager. "The manager found the listening device on a routine cleaning of the room. Someone snuck up behind him and killed him. But I got a sense of who was living in this apartment. It's familiar…You won't believe it."

A minute later…

"I don't believe it…" Doc groaned.

"It figures," Shane rolled his eyes. "Okay so how do we prove it? Psychic abilities aren't always admissible in court."

"We get a DNA scan and a print scan of both rooms," Zach said. "Now that we know what we're looking for we're sure to find some proof in either room."

"Barkley can you get us the register from the front lobby so we can find out who checked the upstairs room out and for how long?" Niko asked.

"Can do Ms. Ranger," Barkley ran down to do so.

Doc nodded. "We also need to call Hammett and ask him to go through a few documents. Particularly the ones that claimed Maddox as an independent planet."

"Why?" Shane asked.

"Let's just say it's going to come in handy," Doc said. "And after we have a few words with him we're gonna get all the suspects together and have a little meeting."

Next up: The mystery is solved! You've probably already figured it out but tune in next time anyway!