❧ I shot the sheriff! - Interlude

[luministimods]

[all CATs and vidscreens turn on suddenly and without ceremony. sitting in this room is Sheriff Iussus, his feet up on the desk while he regards the broadcasting CAT device.]

Attention all new residents of Luministi. None of you are in trouble, so don't think that, but I do have some questions for you. And I do mean all of you. Consider this an official summons from your sheriff. If you want the paperwork provided, I can send a deputy to your location, but let's see if we can save a tree today, huh? Lord knows we have enough paperwork to do lately.

Anyway, come down to the office as quick as you can. Might want to bring a book, though. Could be here a while.

[he turns the CAT off]

And now, we wait. [folds his hands over his stomach and relaxes until people arrive]

[ooc: Come one, come all! The sheriff has put out the call and he wants you! Feel free to knock, barge in, etc. to get the sheriff's attention.

EDIT: Also, please be sure that when the Sheriff dismisses you, that you reply back. It's important.]

Comments

[luministimods]

Regret, perhaps. Or Teger wasn't dying fast enough for the killer's liking. Murder itself is unnecessary and stupid no matter what method is used, in my opinion.

[collector]

Destruction invariably is. But if the latter were the case, he could have just slit his throat. A gunshot just draws attention to the crime and reduces the chances of a clean getaway. And unless you've an ambidextrous murder or one with an accomplice, that would be extra time in putting away the knife and drawing the gun. Have you found the murder weapons?

[luministimods]

[nods] We have. Found the barest hint of a partial print on the knife used, and we found the gun stashed in a side of beef near poor Bruno yesterday.

But I think you might be a little off-base. Why stop at seven stab wounds when another one or few could do the job just as easily? Why follow it up with a shot to the head? My hunch is telling me there's more to this than we realize.

[collector]

Indeed so. But you, Sheriff, will have a better idea of what we're missing than I do. You know far more about this place and its people than we do.

[luministimods]

[sighs, leaning back in his chair] Actually, that might be the problem. I've lived here all my life, so I've gotten used to how things are. A fresh pair of eyes just might be what this case needs. Ones that are still objective and can see the oddities where old hands like myself wouldn't.

[collector]

It is a little one-sided to ask for our help when you're keeping things from us, Sheriff.

[luministimods]

[doesn't move from his reclined position] Like what exactly, Mister Braxiatel?

[collector]

[Braxiatel doesn't move either. He just looks at Iussus, watches him.] I asked not just where we are, but what planet we're on. What year we're in. If you thought Luministi to be what it is presenting itself as, you would have responded with shock. Surprise. Confusion. Twenty-first century Earth and I'm talking about other planets and time travel? You'd think I was mad, and I doubt you'd keep quiet about it. So you know Luministi is not what it seems.

But you also know that the 'new residents' don't know. That, whatever Cal's program is, the people in it are taken without their knowledge or consent. Because if you know that Luministi isn't what it looks like, and if you aren't somehow complicit in it, then why not tell me the truth when I reveal that we neither know nor agree to be here? If you weren't complicit in it, you would have responded directly to what I said, but you didn't. You stepped around the issue and moved on.

So. Whatever happens next, to us or to this town, because of the program - and I know you think that program has something to do with it, even if you aren't sure what - you're a part of it. You allow it to happen by playing to script.

[He clasps his hands together and shows half of a smile.] But you can ask me about the night of the second murder, if you'd rather talk about that.

[luministimods]

[while he's writing something down] I sidestepped the issue because what you said was ludicrous and I thought you'd like to save some face. [glances at Brax] I would have thought you knew all those things before coming here. That's why you signed up, right?

The program I spoke about was an outreach program to all the cities beyond Centropolis. To bring new blood into this town before the citizens around here grew too inbred for their own good. [laughs] Though I can't say much for myself, can I? Family's been here since sometime in the third century.

That's all the program is. An opportunity at a fresh start. Why do you think you've all been given brand new homes? When I left, the construction had just begun on those housing complexes, and never mind what the library used to look like. Caligin's done it all for you.

But if you're interested in silly details...[and he bets Brax is] Then we are in the year 700, and the planet we're on is known as Terra.

[collector]

[And his smile widens.] Thank you. But assume that I don't have any face to lose. Is Terra a colony planet? And why are the constellations in the sky from different points in history?

[luministimods]

[he sighs] I can't answer either of those, I'm afraid. The sky has always looked like that, and as far as I know, Terra isn't a colony.

[collector]

Seven hundred years ago is when Luministi was founded. But I can't imagine why you would start your calendar with the founding of one small town. So what happened seven hundred years ago that warranted starting up a new calendar?

[luministimods]

Well, to be honest, it's something that never really crossed my mind. From what I remember of my history lessons, the Calhiggins family--the founders of Luministi--wanted to start over, so starting a new calendar seems like a reasonable thing to do too.

[collector]

Hm. Does Centropolis use it? Or any other nearby cities. And what country are we in?

[luministimods]

Not sure about Centropolis or any of the others for that matteer. I always thought our calendar was normal, you know? We're the country known as Nidea--unless that changed without my knowledge too--and before you ask, it's found on the Northern Continent.

[collector]

I appreciate your patience on this matter, Sheriff Iussus. But it is a little odd that one town alone would start up a calendar and the whole country would follow it. And it's rare for just one country to use a calendar. Systems like that would generally be spread across an entire culture. How long have you known Ernesto, by the way?

[luministimods]

For you, perhaps. It's all I've even known.

[frowns a bit] Dr Resarci and I have known each other for the past twenty years. Came to town when I was just a rookie. He was the first new person to come to Luministi in ages. I think he's the one who inspired Cal to start that program.

[collector]

So not 'forever' this time. How do you feel about him? Do you like him very much? Or perhaps it's better to ask if you trust him.

[luministimods]

Now, you're better off asking me that when I'm not incredibly pissed off at him because right now? I'd give him a good punch in that nose of his as my way of saying hello. I trust the guy enough, but really, some people can be downright aggravating when they're late.

[he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose] My apologies. My job would be so much easier if all the lab work wasn't so damn late.

[he flips through his notes a bit. while he's doing this, a fly buzzes into the room and flying in little loops around the office before it settles on Brax's ear, giving it a quick nip] Actually, I believe that's all I have here to ask you about, Mister Braxiatel. I don't see any reason to question you about you whereabouts this past Tuesday. No doubt you were enjoying a cup of tea again--unless you'd like to prove me wrong, that is.

[collector]

[Braxiatel becomes very still the moment the fly lands on his ear. Cold, unmoving, and silent. Slowly, he lifts a hand and touches the place where he was bitten.]

Yes... Yes, I suppose we are finished.

[Then he snaps back to attention.] Yes. I'm sorry for all these questions. One thing, though. A short story, if you don't mind. You might have heard it before with different details.

There was an occupation of a small autonomous state. And that state resisted its occupiers, but, as often happens, they had to in part cooperate with the ones they loathed. The occupiers, who were very set on the pretence of civilisation, brought with them a criminal investigations division, and the man at the head of that division was disgusting and cruel. Everyone hated him. The man ranking immediately underneath him was in love with a woman and couldn't date her unless he had his superior's job. One day, the occupiers held an event jointly with the people they were oppressing. The superior officer would be attending; the inferior would not. But the inferior did do all the security checks. He had a chance to see the blank spot where a murder could easily be committed - the opportunity. He had a chance to acknowledge that many people who were there wanted to kill his superior officer - the motive. And he even knew that one individual who would be attended was uniquely suited to committing a quiet murder - the means. But the inferior officer didn't mention any of that.

And the much-loathed superior officer was murdered there. Went missing, or so the official report went. The inferior officer got the top job. He could finally marry the woman he loved. And, oddly enough, he never closed the case that got him his position.

[Brax gets to his feet and smiles.] So I've always been very suspicious of the incompetent. Either they don't deserve their jobs or they're guilty of something much worse than stupidity. Either way, someone should keep an eye on them. Good day, Sheriff Iussus. And good luck with the investigation.

[luministimods]

[he doesn't say anything while Braxiatel talks; he merely watches him closely and doesn't even see the fly buzzing around the room. once the story is done, he sits back, his smile mirroring Brax's own.] Have a good day yourself, Mister Braxiatel, and I thank you for your time. [he reaches over, turning the recording function on his CAT device off before returning to his notes, writing furiously away on the notepad.]

[once Braxiatel has left the Sheriff's office, he receives a text message from an unregistered CAT device that reads:]

"The one at fault had the power to save you all but did nothing before, and will continue to do nothing but destroy if given the chance! This person isn't interested in evidence, or any of your lives, despite what has been said in the past."

[ooc: Based on the following scale, please reply back with how you think your character answered questions in the session with the Sheriff: truthfully, mostly truthfully, mostly untruthfully, or untruthfully. This can be a strictly ooc comment if you wish.]

[collector]

[Brax glances at the message and sighs.] I hate it when people are needlessly mysterious. [Then he walks briskly home to take care of something.]

[ooc; Mostly truthfully, because despite everything, he only lied about his age.]

[luministimods]

[ooc: Mostly Truthful: Once the bite had time to work on your character, you'll be overcome with a need to babble happily about anything and everything, and won't have control over what you're saying. Also, you'll feel a touch of loneliness and a slight desire to stay around people. This effect will last for the duration of the plot.