Part Thirty

Town Council Office / Community Rec Center

Omicron Theta Colony

Fifteen Days Before the Attack

"Murder?" Tom Handy snorted and shook his head. "No. An accident, I could believe. Even some puerile teenage hazing ritual gone too far. But, murder?"

Handy stood and walked around his desk. He leaned back against the front edge and crossed his arms, his incredulous frown fixed on the small group clustered on his worn office carpet. Principal Roberts, Eileen Forrester, Juliana, and Dee frowned back.

"Such a heinous act requires intent, and I just can't picture it," Handy said. "Not here. Not from these kids. Seriously, Juliana, fond as I am of this D-7 prototype of yours, you and Soong should check if its wires are crossed. We're a tight-knit community on this world. Everyone knows everyone else. Murder… It just doesn't happen in places like this!"

"If I may interject, sir, I assure you my 'wires' are not 'crossed'," Dee spoke up, confusedly narrowing his eyes at Juliana's hushing gesture. "In fact, my report lays out clear evidence of highly malicious, if not homicidal, intent. If you do not trust an android's findings, however, perhaps you would be more inclined to believe a human witness to my investigation. Amalthea Jones has been—"

"Thea Jones is a teenager," Handy said with a dismissive wave. "Her imagination is likely even more wild than yours."

"With respect, sir," Dee said. "Was not the fact that the victims, themselves, were teenagers a primary factor informing your decision to recruit me to investigate this matter? Did not my status as a high school student allow me to root out informants and, ultimately, infiltrate the so-called "Petal-Head" gatherings where I discovered—"

Handy lowered his head to his hand, squeezing his eyes shut as he pinched his nose. "Juliana," he said tiredly, "tell your prototype it's been viewing too many ancient mystery vids. Its deranged descriptions of psychedelic spores and clandestine cults—"

"Maybe aren't so deranged, Tom," Eileen broke in, her voice firm enough to make him look up. "Unlike you, I've been down to view Dee and Thea's evidence for myself. As difficult as it may be for colony Founders like us to accept, they do make a compelling case."

Handy stared. "You mean you're buying this android's cock-and-bull about the masked boogeyman in the woods?"

"Tom," Principal Roberts said somberly. "I've overheard students whispering among themselves about a nameless 'Storyteller'. I admit, I dismissed it too, initially. After all, kids love scaring each other with tall tales and ghoulish legends. But, the mirror-like mask, the unsettling speeches… It all fits with Dee's report."

"I'd like to add that these 'Petal-Head' groups Dee describes have been blamed for the recent rash of vandalism," Eileen said. "Not just here in town, but out among the farms as well. So far, much of the damage has been passed off as random acts by a few disgruntled kids. But if there is a guiding voice directing these acts, planning them…"

Juliana stepped forward, her expression fierce.

"I think the time for denial is past," she said. "This man in the mask, whoever he is, isn't going to just fade away on his own. If he's organizing our children, radicalizing them to the point of committing, not merely vandalism, but murder—!"

"All right, all right!" Handy raised his hands against her fiery glare. "I still think this may all be some schoolyard legend blown out of proportion by our literal-minded android friend, here…"

Dee blinked. Juliana glowered.

"But, if you truly want to continue this line of investigation, you have my official support. OK? Now," Handy said, stepping forward and stretching out a hand to grip Dee's shoulder. "Your report was…densely packed, shall we say? Honestly, lad, I feel for your teachers. Not that I didn't read it through, mind you. Still, you've convinced me. Maybe a bone-dry report's not enough. Take me to those boats you dragged up from the reservoir. I want you to demonstrate to all of us what makes you so damned sure this drowning tragedy was not an accident."

Dee slid open the Jones family's heavy barn door with no discernible effort and led the group inside. Handy gave the door an experimental tug as he passed, frowning deeply when he could barely get the painted wood to budge.

"Hmm…" he grunted, and turned his frown on Dee as the overhead lights came on with a flicker, revealing an enormous, lumpy black tarp.

"Thea and I stored the damaged boats I recovered from the reservoir in this barn to prevent further weather damage," Dee explained, pulling the tarp away. "She figured her parents would not be needing this space while she and her family are off-world attending her big track meet. But now that this is truly becoming a murder investigation, perhaps you might prefer a more secure location?"

Handy regarded the cracked canoe and three water-warped wooden dinghies. "Let's see this evidence first."

Dee gave a short, sharp nod and strode to the center dinghy.

"Traces of DNA evidence verify this is the boat Keith and Elias were in when the incident occurred. If you will observe," he said, leaning in and scraping his fingernail between two floor planks. Straightening up, he held out a whitish residue for the others to see.

"That doesn't look like caulk," Principal Roberts said.

"That's because it is not caulk," Dee pronounced. "Repeated tests, performed both by myself and by scientists at OTHER Labs, indicate it is a mixture of white poly vinyl acetate crafting glue and confectioner's sugar. A mixture that mimics marine caulking in appearance yet, as you can see from the way it has pulled away from these boards, does not maintain a watertight seal. Particularly after prolonged submersion."

Juliana somberly lowered her head. "Do you see it now, Tom?" she said. "The boys' boat was sabotaged. Intentional, premeditated sabotage."

"Not necessarily," Handy countered. "Who's to say it wasn't a prank? Perhaps the intent was only to make the boys think they were sinking, and force them to swim back to shore."

"Seems pretty labor intensive for a prank," Eileen commented. "I think Dee's turned up enough evidence to go on. Tom," she looked Handy straight in the face, "I want to take this to the JAG office on Starbase 82."

Handy straightened in alarm. "You want to rope Starfleet into this?"

"I think we have a case here," Eileen said. "We have two victims and a viable list of suspects. But, we'll need Starfleet resources to track down the ringleader."

"This masked 'Storyteller', huh," Handy snorted.

"It may not be necessary to involve Starfleet security just yet," Dee spoke up. "As I explained in my report, I have successfully insinuated myself among the Storyteller's followers. I have heard him speak. I believe I can get close enough to apprehend him…if you will allow me the chance."

"The android's got a point," Handy said. "If Starfleet Security starts snooping around, it might drive this creep into hiding. Or worse – trigger some kind of witch hunt. The last thing we need is our colonists turning on each other. Dee, go ahead and—"

"Just a minute," Juliana broke in. "What about the danger to Dee? This group has already proved they're capable of violence. If he's to confront their leader, shouldn't we at least make sure he has professional back-up waiting in the wings?"

"Juliana, come on," Handy said. "It's not like the thing's defenseless. We've all seen demonstrations of its inhuman strength and speed. What could this 'Storyteller' and his crowd do against that?"

"I don't like it, Tom," Juliana said firmly.

"And your concern is noted," Handy said, causing her glower to deepen. "But Dee's already volunteered." He looked to Roberts and Forrester. "Eileen? Mary-Lynn?"

Principal Roberts picked at her thumbnail. "It would probably take a few weeks for Starfleet to dispatch a team to investigate. I say we contact them now, but allow Dee to keep attending the Petal-Heads' meetings."

"I agree," Eileen said. "I don't think Dee should confront this 'Storyteller' outright. But, the more information he can gather about him and his followers, the easier it will be for Starfleet to identify and extract the primary suspects with minimal disturbance to the community."

"How's that sit with you, Juliana?" Handy asked.

"All right," she allowed. "But I don't want him going back there alone. Dee…" She took in a heavy breath. "I think, the next time you go, you should ask your brother to accompany you."

"Lore?" Eileen furrowed her brow. "Juliana, I know he's your son and all, but—"

"Lore has had his ups and downs," Juliana admitted. "After all he's been through…perhaps he's had some cause. But he's always been protective of his younger brothers."

Handy rubbed his chin. "I don't like the idea of bringing that android in on this," he said. "The thing's been straight-up moody and misanthropic since Soong brought it here as a sarcastic talking box. And taking on its android form's only made it worse."

"If we do bring Lore in on this," Eileen said, "can he be trusted to see it through?"

"I think it'll do him good," Juliana said. "Lore needs a sense of purpose in his life. If we come to him with this, show him we believe him to be trustworthy and responsible… I believe he'll live up to our expectations."

"I'm not so sure," Handy said, and Eileen nodded. "But aside from that caustic mouth of his, I can't say I really see much harm." He straightened his shoulders and tugged the wrinkles from his vest. "All right. Eileen, you and I will make the call to Starbase 82 the minute I get back to my office. In the meantime, Dee, you're to continue observing these so-called 'petal-heads.' With Lore as your back-up. If he agrees."

Dee gave another of his quick, efficient nods. "Very well," he said. "There is a meeting planned for tonight. Mother, where can I find Lore?"

Juliana rubbed her forehead, considering. "This time of day, he's probably off on one of his walks," she said. "He should be back by dinner."

"That will be too late," Dee said, already striding for the door. "I'll go find him."

"Thank you, Dee," Principal Roberts called after him. "We really do appreciate all you've done. And all you've had to give up this semester."

Dee paused and turned, his white-gold features tight with unspoken gratitude. "There is always next year," he said, and sped out into the sunlight.

"Amazing," the principal said. "How two brothers can look so alike, yet be so utterly different…"

"Comes down to programming, I suppose," Handy said. "And Juliana's good influence. Ol'Soong never could have designed a machine as personable as Dee on his own. Lore's proof of that if nothing else."

"Oh, I don't know," Juliana said, turning out the light as the group headed out of the barn. "Charlie was very sweet. And dear B-4…"

Handy smiled, just slightly. "They were sweet, I have to admit," he said. "But your D-7's on some other level. Juliana, there are times that boy acts so…well…human it's downright spooky." He glanced at the heavy barn door. "Apart from that mechanical super-strength… OK, who's gonna help me with this door?"

To Be Continued...

References Include - TNG: Brothers; Law and Order: Criminal Intent - Sound Bodies

Hi! Sorry for the super-long wait - I've been working on several original stories and my poor fanfics got stuck on the back burner for a while - but they're never out of my mind. Also, and I am sorry about this, but I do tend to slow down hard when I get near the end of a fanfic I really like playing with. This one, Mind the Gap, and Alternative Data especially. I'm just not ready to put them up on the shelf! Still, all good things... Anyway, there's a few more chapters left in this story and I hope you'll stay tuned for the conclusion! :)

Thanks so much for reading, for your patience with me, and for your reviews! Your thoughts and comments are always welcome! :D