The Diego Diaries: Cat and Mouse (dd6 637)
Sorry about last night. My identity was stolen and its taken a while to get things organized about it. What a hoot. Two JC Penney cards for starters. LOL! :D Update your passwords, my darlings.
=0=In a large meeting room in the Central Labor Halloween
They gathered, those who wanted to make the project happen. Adults, youngsters, all of them came and sat down, surrounding the inspiration for the project. Sitting in the middle of everyone with a data pad and her girl friends, Sadee keep notes of everyone's ideas. It was going to be an epic thing when it came together. By the time everyone gave their input and a plan was formulated, they would all need the following things…
-a location
-a stage
-a 'fabulous' sound system
-stage hands and sound personnel
-set designs for each individual performer
-enough of the fundamental and basic instruments that those who didn't want to drag their big things out would have their use
-all of the food trucks in the colony
-a film crew taking multiple angles of each performer for the special broadcast and live stream
-a still photographer to take images for the website
-a website
-a supervised play area for little kids to allow their genitors to 'rock out'
-child supervisors
-a bar that served both adults and children
-a rest area for those who needed a break and their stuff
-security
-'helpers' to help
-a medical presence (note: talk to First Aid so says everyone there)
-public relations
-a public relations personal
-streaming video
-someone who knew how to stream the video
-someone to make signs advertising the festival
-someone to take charge and make things run on time
-a group to help the person in charge run things on time
-shuttles to bring those who wanted to come and not drive in
-a road to the venue to allow traffic to come
-many unknowns that were needed such as 'green rooms' for artists to relax in waiting for their 'set', food for everyone who was working, a way to thank them that would allow the colony to know they did good deeds, a public address system for announcements and such and who knew what
Thus, 'Auto-Fest 2019' was born.
Maybe.
The discussions would take a while to complete but in the end it was decided that the project needed Trooper and Scout to get off the ground. Mars own version of 'Coachella' was on its way.
=0=In the Police tower in Metrotitan
"What's the story then on the circumstantial case?" Springer asked as he sat with Drift and Sky. The officers involved in the investigation were putting together the case and reviewing it with The Bosses before meeting with Barron and his team.
"The evidence points to the two suspects, Mueller and Anderson as the perpetrators due to the fact that they had opportunity and the tech to do it. All of the sensor scans that Emergency holds for the humans, and they're all on the network grid at all times, puts them where they should be. None of the humans on world were off grid during the times of the murders," Hauser said as he laid out the case for the detectives who sat with him.
"Each of the transponder signals of the humans on this planet are kept in the master computer on file in case something like this happens. All of them were checked and diagnostically run. None of them were anywhere close to the murder site. None of them dropped off the grid at any time. We can tell you where they were on any date you want to ask. The only two who have the ability to be anywhere else and still register as being where they were supposed to be are the two suspects because of the recovered tech."
Springer nodded. "That's good. What else do we have?"
"We discovered a button at the murder site, the one with Lombardi. We ran it against the database of buttons that are used by the clothing industries of Earth and some of the law enforcement forensic data consortiums. We found out that it's a heavy duty utility button used in outdoor wear that's supposed to be rugged and enduring.
"It fits a shirt that Mueller had that we found in his hamper in his apartment. He had a button missing so we ran those on the shirt with the one and its a dead match," Sky said. "It must have been torn off when he killed Lombardi. Lombardi must have somehow gripped it or it was in the folds of his own clothing when he was dumped. The way it got there is up for debate," Sky said.
"We want the debate to be extremely short and to our advantage," Springer said.
Sky nodded. "We found a knife, an RTR knife in Mueller's things. Ratchet remembers the mercs all having one that was made by the shop. We're not clear that Mueller or Anderson had one of their own. Several went out and he could have attained one from the others. We aren't sure yet.
"We took Will Lennox's knife and made some woundings into a special putty-like substance that simulates human flesh. We compared the wound on Lombardi with the ones we made and it's the same configuration. We believe that the knife used to kill Lombardi was the one he got from RTR Tools or maybe ended up with these two from the batch made."
"Did we ever find it?" Springer asked as he glanced at Hauser.
"We've located all of the knives that the mercs had and the one for Lombardi is missing," Hauser said.
"What about the murder of Dobbs? How much evidence do we have that ties into this one?" Springer asked.
"The circumstances are similar. The wounds are identical. Whoever killed Dobbs killed Lombardi. All we need to know to make this tighter is the motive," Hauser said.
"Any theories?" Springer said as he sat back in his chair.
"Only tentative. They both traffic in the Resistance and M.E.C.H, in my opinion and they had a falling out. Maybe Dobbs wanted something or made a threat about their deep cover during an argument. Both of them are military and special ops. They would have no problem sticking it to both men and then dragging them out there with their tech," Hauser said. "Lombardi could have suspected about Dobbs murder and somehow the two found out. It's speculation without anyone talking."
"We need to interview the mercs again," Springer said. He rose, then buzzed Prowl. After a moment, he looked at his mechs. "I'm going to chat up the weak links. Someone knows slag and I'm going to get it out of them. Hauser, you and Drift come with me and look foreboding. I want them to worry that we have more than they know." He glanced at Sky and his mechs. "Good work. Keep going. I'm going to peel me a banana. Or two."
With that, they left the room to head for the Prison Control Center.
=0=At the Prison in the Alt sector
Neo sat at the bars in a chair watching the others. Everyone watched everyone here, though some had taken to recharging their boredom away. There were rumors that more were coming from their own dimensional Cybertron. No one knew who it was but it would be a diversion.
Kudon walked to her, then sat in his chair. Across the way, Springer and Ironhide watched them back. Ironhide raised his beer bottle in salute as a malicious grin cast on his face. "That mech should have been put down a long time ago."
"Prime needed him to do his dirty work," Neo said bitterly. "I asked to see my counterpart. I don't know if the warden will allow it but I'm compelled to see them."
"What will you say if they allow it? I doubt that they will come to your aid. This dimension is filled with do gooders after all," Kudon said bitterly.
"There is someone called Laret who is her bond. That's a difference. I want to know more," Neo said. "I'm bored, Kudon. Aren't you the least bit interested or curious?"
"Of my counterpart? You do remember that he's dead, Neo," Kudon asked with a slight grin.
She looked at him, then smirked slightly herself. "I forgot."
They both laughed together. Across the way lounging in their chairs and drinking near beer, Alt Ironhide and Springer watched.
"I wonder if they just insulted us," Springer asked the big hulking center of his world slouching in his chair next to him.
"I hope so," Ironhide said dryly.
They both laughed together as Neo and Kudon glanced their way. So it would go for a while.
Gee-Gee would turn down Alt Neo's request.
=0=At the Prison Control Center
A big mech carried Carlos Ortega into the room and set him gently on the table top of a conference room off the main lobby before walking out again. Ortega glanced around, then turned to face a grim faced Springer, Drift and Hauser. Prowl had given the go ahead and they were there to put the 'squeeze' on the mercs for intel. Ortega stared at the three with dread.
Springer leaned in closer. "I need to know what you know. I don't have the legendary patience of Prowl nor do I have the scruples of Prime. I want to know what you know about the murders of Dobbs and Lombardi. You need to grow a clue and tell me."
:What makes you think I know anything?: Ortega asked.
Springer leaned in closer. "Practice."
Ortega stared at them a moment. :I played cards with them. I hung out with them when they came to the habitat off duty:
"What about Mueller and Anderson? You're on film hanging out with them all over Earth2," Hauser asked.
Ortega glanced at Hauser. :They came over a lot. They liked the habitat and we played cards:
"You both have a lot in common. You both hate us and you want to help the dissident groups on Earth to get rid of us off Mars. You knew they were working for M.E.C.H. or the Resistance. So tell us about it and save yourself. Do you really think that old Big Jim and the boys will stand up for you?" Springer asked.
It was silent for a moment.
:None of us are happy about you being here. We think it brings the threat but I don't belong to any of those groups: Ortega said. :I work for whoever pays me the best. I don't give a fuck about politics: he replied.
"But they do. Tell us about them. Remember … whoever we squeeze first gets the breaks. You hold back anything and we get what we want out of the others, you get dropped like a hot rock. We need a perp." Springer leaned in. "Be smart."
Ortega thought a moment. :They were political. It bored me, actually. You're here and you're not going anywhere. The others are political, too. They liked talking to Mueller and Anderson. Those dumb fuckers are spies for the Family. They're here to give intel to the group and spy. They said a few things when they got drunk a few times. They thought all of us agreed. They thought all of us were here to do Harris' dirty work, to be his attack dogs: Ortega said.
"And you weren't?" Springer asked.
:I came here for adventure. Diego Garcia was a cluster fuck. Daniels couldn't find his ass with both hands. Harris is a professional and runs a professional game. I want to work for someone who has a clue. I do security. He never asked me to betray anyone and I never did. I hire out to work. It pays damned good and I get to do weird shit in weird places. That's about the extent of my participation. The others can play spy versus spy but I don't care: Ortega replied with some heat. :I didn't kill them:
"You know who did though," Hauser pressed.
Ortega stared at Hauser, then Springer. :Ask Johnson. Ask Hedges. They were close with Mueller and Anderson. Really close. They would know about things better than me. Fuck their politics. I'm here for the adventure and the pay:
It was silent a moment. Then Springer leaned in slightly. "Where's your knife, Ortega? The RTR knife?"
Ortega stared at him. :In my dresser drawer. That knife is so sharp its dangerous to use. Why?:
"We didn't find it when we tossed your place," Drift said with a slight grin on his handsome face.
Ortega stared at him, then Springer and Hauser. :What do you mean? I put it there because it isn't safe to use day-to-day. It's there: he asserted.
"We didn't find it," Drift said. "Where is the knife? We've already discovered that the wound in both men fits the shape of the blade. We found all of them but yours."
Ortega stared at all of them, then shifted nervously. :I don't know why it isn't there. Ask Johnson. He and those two strikers were tight. Really close:
Drift leaned in slightly. "We will. Count on it." He sat back. {You got more or does he go back?}
{Did we not find his blade?} Springer asked as Hauser stared at Drift with a questioning expression.
{We did but he doesn't know it. Shall I get Big Jim or do you want the honor?} Drift asked with a slight smirk.
"And miss the fun?" Springer asked as he stood. He picked up Ortega, then walked out of the room.
Hauser and Drift watched him go, then Hauser glanced at Drift with a slight grin. "Ortega is running for choir boy."
"He's just misunderstood." Drift grinned. "Now Johnson on the other hand," he began to say as shouting and cursing could be heard in the hall coming back toward the room.
=0=TBC 4-15-19