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Chapter 1:
Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here
The sunny weather shone done on the Life Foundation parking lot as Lassiter pulled next to Gus' company car; however, the beautiful weather didn't lift the Head Detective's mood. As he and O'Hara got out of the crown Vic, Lassiter spotted the third and a really un-welcomed guest: Ryan "Lying Ryan" Bains. The older detective barked, "Why are you here?"
Before Ryan could...well...lie, Gus said "He's here because he saw Eliza-our victim- talking to Dr. Zien."
"And I over heard a bit of their conversation."
"What'd you hear?" asked Juliet.
"They were talking about how alien monsters were here to exact their revenge on humanity!" Needless to say, nobody believed this.
"This crap better not be in one of your long winded reveals, Spencer."
Shawn tsked at the older man then saying in a patronizing voice, "Now Lassie, after all these years you know there's an art to my Big Reveals. But I understand that my powers are still very intimidating for you."
"Spencer..."
"No no that's something you should talk to your therapist about but right now I have a case to solve." Shawn said as he flamboyantly led the way into the building.
As the team and Ryan were escorted from the front desk to Dr. Rit Ephraim Zien, who was in his lab, Lassiter couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that has begun to fill his belly. However he simply tries to shake it off and attempts to focus on what was going on.
As they approached the doctor and Juliet introduced everyone, Lassiter took note that Dr. Zien was a pleasant but pompous looking man. The detective assumed the doctor to be in his early to mid thirties. Dr. Zien was of average height, blondish brown perfect hair, and meticulously groomed stubble surrounding his face.
"What may I help you all with?" Lassiter heard the doctor ask.
"We're currently investigating the death of a reporter named..."
"Oh that Courier girl Eliza? I heard about that on the news. As tragic as that is, what does possibly have to do with me?" Dr. Zien asked as he rudely interrupted a now fuming Lassiter. Before anyone could answer however Shawn asked, "Say doc, what's this freaky thang?" As he persistently and curiously taped the container with a thick navy blue liquid that kept reacting almost fearfully to the loud tapping.
"Please don't do that. It's very sensitive and expensive."
"But what the hell is it doctor." Lassiter insisted, his curiosity quelled his nerves for the moment.
"In short, it's an organic, amorphous, and multicellular crystal. The purpose is on a need to know information." As much as a statement like that bugged the detectives, they knew that until their investigation warranted their need to know they couldn't push the stuck up doctor.
"Dr. Zien, we're here to ask you a few questions," said Juliet. Before the questions could be asked though, Shawn notices a torn partial of clothing that matched the victim's and begins an impromptu wrap up. Lassiter couldn't muster the strength to focus on the ramblings that Shawn's visions usually take on. Especially since, this is only Shawn's third guess at who the bad guy could really be. It usually takes the pseudo psychic four or five times to get the right culprit.
Lassiter's mind wandered to the female victim they found in the woods two weeks ago. She was a Hispanic woman in her 30s who was initially found by a couple looking to camp out in those very woods. The vic's name was Eliza Brockwell. She was a reporter for the Santa Barbara Courier. From what her coworkers told the police, Eliza was working on exposing a huge huge story! One that would make Yin and Yang look like child's play. Unfortunately, her home was destroyed along with all her digital notes and computer. Only a tiny strand of physical paper with the name Life Foundation is what led them here. In addition to this, Shawn had a "vision" earlier about this Dr. Zien knowing the reporter. Which added to Ryan's so called witness to the doctor and reporter meeting gave the police just enough leeway to investigate further. Thus why they were talking to the snobby doctor right now.
At some point, however, Lassiter's inner train of thought was cutoff as he noticed that Dr. Zien had narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest saying, "I don't see how that's any of your concern?"
"Actually, in this case, it is otherwise you'll be taken down for obstructing our investigation." Juliet said.
"Then I'll have to take you down to FBI headquarters and put the screws to ya!" exclaimed Ryan.
"Who are you again?" Dr. Zien demanded.
"I'm a lead investigator for the FBI jack," lied Ryan.
"No sir, he's not and will not do any such thing. Actually, he's a lying nobody."
"Carlton!" Juliet whispered in a harsh admonishment.
"Look I have an alibi!"
"Regardless, you'll have to come down to the department to give us a formal statement of this alibi of yours."
Dr. Zien seeing no way out panicked and ran away from the detectives and psychic detectives and Ryan. As the four immediately gave in to pursue the scientist, Ryan planned to cut off Zien at the pass by going behind the containers.
As the chase continued through the enormous lab, Zien constantly threw things into their way to deter them from capturing him. Thankfully this did nothing to his pursuers as they dodged and weaved skillfully and carefully through the onslaught of obstacles.
Eventually the scientist panicked even more as he glanced behind him and saw the long legged Irish detective hot on his heels. The scientist then takes a sudden risk by grabbing a powerful canister and sprays an unknown substance directly at Lassiter. O'Hara kept Shawn and Gus behind to protect them from the blast; however, she desperately wanted to go over to Lassiter. Seconds later, Zien drops the canister and continues to flee while Shawn and Gus give into the chase as Juliet checked on Lassiter. Only for him to bark, "O'Hara we don't have time for this let's catch this bastard!" Before Juliet could react and disagree, Lassiter was gone and had already passed Gus in a few long strides.
Seeing that Zien was getting closer to the door, Ryan resumed his plan to cut the scientist off at the pass. Thus, Ryan reached the last two containers filled with a red liquid like substance and the other filled with a black liquid like substance. Ryan then, with a lot of effort, pushed over the black goo filled container. The fallen container crashed loudly onto the floor and brought down a big scientific looking machine which was still miraculously plugged in. Somehow though, Zien was able to avoid the giant spill and escape. Ryan then did the same thing with the container filled with the red goo. Unfortunately, Zien had already left the building and just as Shawn was slipping on the black goo Lassiter shoved him forcibly out of the way of the oncoming container. The container lands on the older detective and crashes him to the ground. Unable to brace himself, Lassiter hits the ground and unfortunately he was immediately and horribly electrocuted by the plugged in but badly frayed chord of the scientific machine.
Immediately Juliet called for backup and an ambulance exclaiming "Officer down!" As she was calling backup, Gus, Ryan, and Shawn watched in horror as their friend was electrocuted and shaking on the ground. As Juliet got off the phone, she barked orders saying, "Shawn, go find the woman at the front desk and have her find maintenance! Tell them to turn off the power to this room due to an officer being electrocuted. Gus, be on standby to help me move and help Carlton. Ryan stay-the-hell where you are!"
No more than five minutes later, the power was turned off and maintenance helped Juliet and Gus with the electrocution rescue procedures.
Just as they revived a previously unresponsive Lassiter, the paramedics could be heard arriving outside. What no one has noticed however-not even Shawn at first- is that the red and black goo has seeped into Lassiter's open cuts and wounds with lightening speed.
The paramedics came prepared in hazmat suits and took Lassiter to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. While the others had to take decontamination showers.
No one knew that because of this ordeal, Lassiter would never be quite the same again.
A/N: A bit of Lassiter whump going on but I promise there is a method to my madness! ;)
TBC