by Gerry Hart
O.B. is able to monitor the three colony worlds of the Last Humanity through a succession of satellites. The satellites saturate the colony worlds with a sophisticated infra-red light created by the reclusive scientist, Professor Rank Ibdidgor. Each citizen is registered at birth by OB by recording their light frequency. In the year 2684, it was discovered that, like fingerprints and eye retinas, a person's light frequency is distinct and constant. OB is in constant contact with every registered citizen. If a light frequency is extinguished, OB is instantly alerted and the deceased handled according to the manner of death.
However, in the case of the Dahlias, response time is different. After registering a significant number of Dahlias, OB discovered that all Dahlias have the same light frequency. There was no variance. OB's only solution to determine the identity of a deceased Dahlia was by address. By the time Terrain was alerted, collected his Dahlia partner, and arrived on the scene, a full hour had elapsed. Terrain and his bond partner looked over the room.
“What’ve you got, Doc? " Terrain asked his Dahlia partner.
“A tree in the forest is still alone. A being that helps others needs no rewards. "
“Lived alone. Nothing of value. Got it. Did you read his head? "
His partner nodded. Dahlias have two other telepathic abilities besides communicating with their own kind. They can read the last thoughts of a corpse provided the victim has recently passed on. They can also transmit images to another. Dahlias used the latter ability as a defense mechanism.
Terrain's partner transmitted the image of a man looking down at the victim. The man's face is almost discernable. It looked like the man had brownish hair and was aged. The man raises something then swoops it down. The Dahlias' hands seem to go around its neck. The Dahlia seems to fall then everything goes black.
“Autopsy time. " Terrain said aloud.
Terrain's Dahlia went back to the entrance to the room and picked up a helmet he had deposited earlier. He gave it to Terrain. As a rule, all Crisis Masters on Techno-World must wear a helmet. However, in the case of the Detective division, rules are usually relaxed concerning attire. Terrain's normal attire is a shirt, tie, pants, shoes, overcoat, and old style fedora. However, out of necessity, he convinced his partner to carry his helmet.
Terrain put the helmet on. He extracted a thin black wire from it and attached it to a wand he had taken from his coat pocket. He shifted part of the wand to the right, causing a needle to protrude from one end. He bent down on one knee and injected the corpse. The wand made a pneumatic sound. Terrain rose up and shifted the wand back to its original position. The needle retreated. Terrain pointed the wand at the corpse and pressed a button on the wand. A golden light in a pattern of a net enveloped the Dahlia for a few seconds then focused on the neck. A beeping sound announced that the device had finished its examination.
Terrain turned off the device. He pressed a hidden stud on his helmet. A 3-D view screen emitted through his visor appeared in front of him. Terrain pressed a second button on the wand and spoke into it as if he was talking into a recorder.
“Autopsy readouts shows victim to be 6'7", about 220 in weight, race: Dahlia. According to test results, victim's death was twofold. First, neck was cut with a sharp metallic substance. This is justified because a sonic or laser cutter would have cauterized the wound. Instrument was probably a straight form of razor. There are no jagged or rough cuts on the neck, just straight and smooth. Second, chemical readings detect a trace of Currabdefinyne in the blood of the Dahlia. Currabdefinyne is a poison exclusively lethal to Dahlias. "
“A fisherman will apply few cuts to a fish for a better fillet.” The Dahlia responded.
“Yes, that's right, Doc. The razor or knife was used out of malice. The killer wanted the Dahlia to suffer. The killer made sure the razor or knife was coated with poison to make sure the Dahlia died. A Dahlia’s hide not only protects from the cold but is durable and hard similar to the leather armor used during the Medieval period of Earth."
Terrain tapped the rectangular badge on his coat. “Recovery unit. Send a meat wagon to area 2486, Brownstone apartment 94. "
Terrain tapped the rectangular badge twice more. “OB?”
“Yes, Crisis Master Terrain?” OB responded.
“Show me infra red scans of my location between indexes 4072.93115 to 4072.93200. Display on visor at x6 speed”
OB could tie in his infra red scans into a Crisis Master's display visor, allowing the Crisis Master to literally watch as the crime unfolds.
"Active." OB reported.
Terrain watched the events of the brownstone occur. Even at six times the viewing speed, minutes passed with only the view of a Dahlia meditating. Suddenly, a figure appeared and raised an arm. "
“Stop. " Terrain ordered. “Identify light frequency OB.”
“The light frequency belongs to former Crisis Master Phillip Tork.”
Terrain had felt everything was leading up to a guilty verdict for a Crisis Master but he still couldn't help being surprised.
Phillip Tork was one of the first Crisis Masters to accept Dahlias onto the force. Terrain thought. He was responsible for the mapping of the planet, Legend, for Christ's sake! He was considered a hero and living legend. Why would he suddenly turn on a Dahlia?
Terrain addressed OB again. "OB, present location of Crisis Master Tork?"
“Crisis Master Phillip Tork's present location is on Techno-World Section 136.”
The Spires, Terrain thought.
“.... Techno-World section 5498 ... " Obee continued.
“What?” Terrain spoke in astonishment.
".... Techno-World Section 2768, Techno-World Section 3940, the Continents, Forest Nation Section 369, the Continents, Prohibition Town, Section 590 ...”
“OB, what are you doing ? "
“You requested the present location of Former Crisis Master Phillip Tork, Crisis Master Terrain.”
Terrain was reluctant to ask his next question. “How many locations are Tork at present, OB? "
“I register Crisis Master Tork at fourteen locations.”
“How is that possible?”
“Insufficient data. "
Terrain sighed. “Put me through to headquarters, OB.”
“Channel open. "
“HQ, we've got a problem.”
Headquarters notified Chief Administrator Travis Obee. Administrator Obee looked in his mid forties, stood at 5'9", had coiffure, slick black hair, and a weary face. Obee was actually a decade older than he looked due to an antiquated but still classified program of physical enhancement called P.E.P.
Obee carried two distinctions in life. He and his then partner, Phillip Tork, were the equivalent of Lewis and Clark, having surveyed the mysterious fourth planet of the Last Humanity called Legend. He was one of the few Crisis Masters to survive the war of the Crisis Masters, a civil war that broke out amongst law abiding and corrupt Crisis Masters and that would eventually lead to the reform of the Crisis Masters and the alliance with the Dahlias. These distinctions and a merit able service record quickly raised Obee through the ranks and positioned him as Chief Administrator.
Obee called Terrain to his office.
“Phillip Tork!” Obee cried in disbelief upon Crisis Master Terrain's and his Dahlia's arrival. “Impossible! There has to be another explanation ! "
Terrain understood Obee's reaction. No two shared a bond like Phillip Tork and Travis Obee considering all the adventures they shared.
Terrain decided to demonstrate the understanding. “Chief, you forget that I reported, after identifying the suspect, I asked O.B.S.E.A.C.C. Tork's location. The computer gave me fourteen locations. Tork is either being framed or performing a hell of a diversion. "
“Are you sure that infernal nicknamed machine isn't malfunctioning? I never did like the coincidence that placed that damned computer's two initials after my name. I hate when people call it O.B. for short. "
“I will have to check with P
rofessor Ibdidgor, sir. If it is a frame, Ibdidgor might give us some insight on how it was done. "
“If that's your first step in solving this damnable mess, get to it. I cannot believe Phillip Tork would actually kill a Dahlia! I want him cleared! "
“A few questions about Tork, sir?”
Obee was upset but nodded. He understood the necessity of any insight he might provide on Tork.
“Why would Tork kill a Dahlia ? "
“Come on, Terrain. You know as well as I do that Tork was integral in establishing an alliance between the Dahlias and the Crisis Masters. "
“Yes, I do. Tork said it was integral to have a force which could monitor the Crisis Masters as opposed to an internal affairs division. However, he resigned stating he had earned enough money to spend the rest of his life in retirement. "
Obee became uneasy. “Yes, that was the official version, Terrain. The unofficial version is known only to a few. I'm telling you because I do not want to obstruct your investigation, but, beyond that, the information is classified. Tork resigned because he was uncomfortable with the Dahlias. He considered them a necessary evil.
“Before the Dahlias and corruption aside, Crisis Masters were aggressive, more than should be. Shoot first. Ask questions later, so to speak. A black man going for his wallet in order to produce identification is assumed to be reaching for a laser pistol and is shot. The pistol set on "kill", not "stun". A man refusing entry into his home without a warrant is beaten for the refusal.
“Tork knew that the Crisis Masters had to be kept on a leash. The Dahlias were powerful enough to do this, but, as you know, it required a bonding. A potential officer had to consent to open his mind to a Dahlia for the rest of his career. It was a one way bonding. The Dahlia would know everything about his bonder but the bonder remained ignorant about his Dahlia.
“Tork believed in the necessity, but not the morality. He couldn't get the Dahlias to compromise. Tork was forced to accept the agreement with the Dahlias. Since he refused to let any being into his mind, he resigned. "
Terrain considered Obee's revelation, then asked: “You still think Tork wouldn't kill a Dahlia despite what you just told me?”
“Phillip Tork kills only as a last resort even in self defense.”
“Then I'll go talk to the professor. "
“See that you do. Dismissed. "
The Dahlia turned to Terrain and said: “A hunter stalks a deer. Upon discovering a deer, he aims. The deer falls dead. "
“You forgot to include that the hunter fired, Doc. "
The Dahlia looked at Terrain and nodded.
“What’s he trying to say ?” Chief Obee asked with a little irritation.
"Firing the gun was missing from the scene you described?” Terrain asked Doc. “Nothing else seemed to draw your attention between then and now. Something was missing from this office but what?
The answer hit Terrain like lightning. “His Dahlia.”
“You didn’t know?” The Chief was annoyed. “Did you check who that Dahlia was bonded to before you got here?”
“He was yours?”
The Chief nodded then said: “Now get out of here.”
Terrain was surprised he missed a piece of information like that.
Doc the Dahlia put a hand on Terrain’s shoulder.
“A shell game’s purpose is diversion.” Doc said. “A younger brother may receive an older brother’
“I’m usually quick to pick up your metaphors, Doc, but you got me on this one.” Terrain said, generally confused.
Terrain dropped Doc the Dahlia off at Doc's residence.
Terrain needed to get a few more hours sleep, a shower and a meal before returning to the case. He entered his apartment and was greeted by his daughter, Ori.
“Good morning, Daddy ! I didn't know you were already up." His beautiful girl said while giving Terrain a hug.
“Daddy was called in late last night, hon." Terrain said. Terrain sniffed the air. “Something smells good. "
“Nanna cooked blueberry waffles.”
“Would you like some?” The Nanny-bot asked.
“Mmm.” Terrain agreed, realizing how starved he was.
Terrain received his waffles and talked with his daughter until it was time for her to catch her bus to school. He watched the Nanny-bot help Ori with her coat and made sure his daughter had her books and wallet with ID card and credit card for lunch.
“I’m going to bring Ori to the bus designation now.” The Nanny-bot said. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Bye, Daddy.” Ori smiled and waved.
“Bye, Pumpkin.” Terrain waved back.
Ori and the Nanny-bot left. Terrain finished his breakfast and took a shower. After finishing the shower and leaving the bathroom, he noticed the Nanny-bot had returned as he passed the kitchen. She looked up at him and smiled as she washed the breakfast dishes. Terrain suddenly remembered her advances a few hours earlier.
Terrain had a small office in his apartment. He sat down at a desk with a laptop computer on it. He accessed the Internet, then after inserting a card in his laptop that secured a channel, accessed Crisis Master Department files.
Terrain sighed. It was not considered acceptable but he liked to take his work home with him sometimes. Some of his toughest cases were solved in the relaxed atmosphere of his home. However, he never let his job cross over into his private life. He thanked his daughter for that.
Terrain froze. He made a realization he never grasped before.
The Nanny-bot also made coming home worthwhile. She made her daughter happy. She kept up the apartment, making it look wholesome and inviting. Although he never realized it until recently, she was always there to talk to. She listened and provided advice to him.
Terrain shook his head. He punched up the Administrator's Dahlia’s address on the search engine. A Dahlia’s address was the only way to identify a Dahlia. A Dahlia’s nickname was only known to its Crisis Master partner and considered etiquette not to be revealed in data. The Dahlias were literally outraged at being given identification numbers. They were able to express that ID numbers were not proper etiquette. Another display of their arrogance was not to be classified.
The Dahlia’s profile came onscreen. Terrain requested current and previous partnerships. A Dahlia was like a policeman. It could request or be assigned different partners throughout its service. When switching partners, the Dahlia is required to release his bond from his previous partner in order to establish a bond with his new one.
The computer provided Terrain with a list of fourteen names. Travis Obee was the second name. Former Crisis Master Tork's was nowhere on the list.
The murdered Dahlia was Administrator Obee's former bond partner. Terrain thought for a moment then punched in a link and pressed “send ".
Terrain tapped his rectangular badge and said: “O.B.”
“Responding.” O.B.S.E.A.C.C. declared.
“I’ve emailed you a list of names. I want you to do an analysis based on this question: Do any of the names on this list have motives to kill a Dahlia? "
“If I may, Crisis Master Terrain, shouldn't Phillip Tork be the focus of your investigation ? He was identified as being at the scene of the murder. "
Terrain smiled at the facet of O.B.S.E.A.C.C.'s programming that allowed the computer to serve as guide. “Yes, he was, O.B., but how was he able to turn up afterwards in fourteen different locations simultaneously?”
“Some form of technology such as teleportation?”
“That is one possibility. Chief Administer Obee has dispatched Crisis Masters to investigate each sighting. Instead of waiting, I am pursuing other avenues, other... questions I have.
“Now, please proceed with my request.”
"Received. It will take a few minutes to coalesce and analyze data, Crisis Master Terrain. "
"I'll be waiting." Terrain said, leaning back in his lean-to chair.
The Nanny-bot sat down next to Terrain
, startling him.
"I thought you were going to sleep." She asked.
“I needed to check on something.” Terrain replied.
"You should relax at home." The Nanny-bot said.
Terrain rolled his eyes and smiled. "Oh, you know me. I don't mind bringing the work home. "
The Nanny-bot smiled back.
"You know humor too.” Terrain noticed.
“I’m programmed with a wide range of emotion in order to correspond with a child's needs.”
“And since my daughter requested you make me happy, the humor you display is in response to me.”
You are very perceptive. "
Terrain blushed. "Yeah. That's what they say. "
The Nanny-bot leaned over and kissed him. Terrain couldn't help but return the kiss. It became passionate.
“Crisis Master Terrain?” It was O.B.S.E.A.C.C.
Terrain broke away from the Nanny-bot. He was startled again.
He swallowed and cleared his throat. “Um.. One second, O.B.”
The Nanny-bot rose and said. “I’ll leave you to your work.”
“No. Wait. I --" Terrain was at a loss for words.
The Nanny-bot left the room
Terrain regained his composure. "Go ahead, O.B."
"According to the analysis based on the parameters you gave me, Crisis Master Terrain, None of the twelve names on the list have motive to kill a Dahlia. Travis Obee has no motive. The victim's current partner, Oliver Negatt, is known to you, Crisis Master Terrain? "
“Yes.”
"His relationship with the deceased exhibited a rare friendship. The deceased was quite taken with Negatt's daughter. Acted as a mentor of sorts. As for Negatt's whereabouts the night of the murder, he was off duty. However, I must, again, remind you of Tork's presence at the time of the murder. "
“And I have noted the reminder again, O.B. “A quizzical look overcame Terrain's visage.” Why do you discount Chief Administrator Travis Obee? "
“The Chief Administrator's relationships with his former Dahlia and all previous Dahlias have been amicable. His whereabouts the night of the murder have been established. He was home asleep in bed."