Chapter 23
Down in the hangar, Panthro was showing Doctor MacComb and his team the surveillance footage from the lab. Whoever they were dealing with knew what they were doing as the security tapes this time were magically shut off for a period over the evening hours so the actual identity of the Cat who had stolen the virus to release into the population remained a mystery. However, the scientists could tell from the footage that the proper procedure was being utilized otherwise.
"I must say the lab is run ship shape. I couldn't see any violations from the video but of course we'd like to see it in person if you don't mind," MacComb explained.
"Of course. Lion-O said that you'd want to but I wondered if you'd seen anything like this before like when the outbreak on the penal planet occurred some years back," Panthro asked, knowing that the organization of the Lab Safety Collection at the Science Academy of the Galaxy had discovered a problem at a lab where a prisoner had been injected with something that wasn't the typical vaccines that prisoners get.
"I didn't help out with that one but I know someone who did. Would you mind if we sent this back to the Academy for them to study?" MacComb wondered.
"No, not at all," Panthro nodded. He then ejected the disk and handed it to the Doctor who handed it off to one of his team who could connect to the Academy via his computer. They conferred for a few moments before the deed was done.
"Now, since Lea has been handling everything until I was cleared to help, she had better take you to the lab," the panther explained.
"Excellent. Thank you," MacComb smiled and Panthro led the group to a transport ship where Lea was waiting for them. He then turned around and headed back inside to find Ben-Gali waiting for him.
"You needed me?" The white tiger asked.
"I do. We have fingerprints that we're running from the lab and from Che's place. If any of them cross reference then we might have something. Now our guy who shut off the video cameras probably was smart enough to wear gloves but we found some things at Che's that seem to be coded messages. I know how you are with that kind of stuff and I was hoping that your brain could make sense of things," Panthro said.
"I could certainly give it a shot. What exactly are we looking at?" Ben-Gali gave him a look.
"Well that's just it. It seems to be a jumble of Old Thunderian and Thunderian. Lynx-O is waiting in my office he might be able to help with the Old Thunderian," the panther explained.
"Che knew Old Thunderian?" Ben was surprised.
"I'm guessing not but if he had a key he wouldn't need it," Panthro shrugged.
"Yes but the whole point behind a cipher is to keep the key in your head or somewhere where no one would find it. You find a key anywhere at Che's house?" Ben wanted to know.
"Not yet but some things are being incinerated due to the nature of what he was touching so…" the panther just gave him an apologetic look.
"I best get to work then," Ben nodded and headed into Panthro's office where Lynx-O was waiting.
"Shall we get started?" The lynx asked.
"Yes we better," Ben-Gali told him. Using the large electronic board that Panthro had had wheeled into the office, Ben began to lay out the words on the screen while reading the words out loud to Lynx-O.
"Best order some coffee," Lynx-O said to Panthro. The panther agreed and headed down to the kitchen.
To Be Continued…