Comrade Tortoise wrote:"Yeah, but this is a quad, you can draw straight lines to anything in it... Now, if they form a triangle with equal sides... that would be significant"
"How do we know they do not?" Supiyaw asked tersely.
"I can't see anything... there's a small rise and a garden in that direction." The young Hindu woman looked at her companions with a frown. "Ashley was the first one found. It started here." A line, possibly a triangle, started with the point 'down', towards the South.
Dogs are Man's Best Friend
Cats are Man's Adorable Little Serial Killers
"Come in," came the voice from the other side. The door was unlocked and when opened revealed an organized mess. Against one wall was an overflowing bookshelf filled with medical books and computer manuals. The bed was made and looked liked nobody had slept in it in awhile. Stacks of empty soda and energy drink cans formed four-sided pyramids next to the stacks of computer equipment. The smell of strong, bitter coffee filled the air.
James was still sitting at his desk, doing Kibo only knew what.
"What's up?"
Saint Annihilus - Patron Saint of Dealing with Stupid Customers
"Just wanted to peek in on the magic man. Right now you're the only game running. Also wanted to make sure you're okay? The Techno seemed to get under your skin. You got history with the guy or something else?" Boxer asked.
"it takes two sides to end a war but only one to start one. And those who do not have swords may still die upon them." Tolken
"Been busy, keeping occupied. Got into the CSU system, managed to pull the files for the most recent murder and the murder before that, nothing on the first murder though. Hard copies are in the printer."
There was a whirr as the printer came out of standby. It hummed for a moment before spitting out sheets of paper.
"Map of the quad with notations regarding locations of the murders, autopsy reports, associated images, general findings. I haven't had a chance to fully review them yet, was waiting till everyone got back."
James' face hardened at the reference to his problems with the 'Crat.
"Not him specifically, just his ilk. I hate them. They fucked me over at the beginning, fucked me over a few more times then got me hung out to dry and ostracized from every chantry I've ever been involved with.
"Ever have a bunch of angry, decieved mages confine you against your will, anaylize, scrutinize and generally fine tooth comb your mind till every secret, every desire, every thought you've ever had has been laid bare for them all to see? It's not nearly as fun as it sounds," he stated bitterly.
Saint Annihilus - Patron Saint of Dealing with Stupid Customers
Boxer grunted as he sat down. He didn't know anything about Jame's past. To be honest he didn't know much about anyone's past. He honestly didn't give much of a shit, to wrapped up in his work, his need to prove that he wasn't a waste of time or resources.
"Can't say I have. Worse problem I had to deal with was my "Pater," my teacher was a hidebound idiot who hated my guts. I wasn't fond of him either. I left on lousy terms you could say. Not nearly as bad has your situation though. You don't trust him I'm betting?" Boxer asked.
"it takes two sides to end a war but only one to start one. And those who do not have swords may still die upon them." Tolken
"Who, Stark? Not on my life, your life, Arkady's life or anyone else's here. Once a 'Crat, always a 'Crat. Just waiting for a chance to fuck us over. So no, no trust, no love, lots of hate and I'm keeping my eye on him."
Saint Annihilus - Patron Saint of Dealing with Stupid Customers
"Alright. You do that and keep an eye on him. That's fine, might even save our asses later. But, it's more effective if you don't pick fights with him. I'm not saying be his buddy or even like him. Nor do you have to let shit slide if he picks one with you, but... But no need to get into arguments. It's not like you'll change his mind anyways right?" Boxer said mildly. What he really wanted to do was shake James and yell quit acting like your five! But that wouldn't help. Besides James was more or less a grown man, he should be able to deal with stuff given a nudge... Right?
"it takes two sides to end a war but only one to start one. And those who do not have swords may still die upon them." Tolken
James shrugged.
"You're right, I guess. I shouldn't try to provoke him, and I shouldn't let him get to me. I do, and I have theories on why I do it, but whatever, they're not important at the moment. Figuring out what's happening with those murders is. I'll just avoid him like the plague and hope I'm wrong. I sincerely doubt it, but hey, stranger shit happens to us on average of seven times a day before breakfast. "
Saint Annihilus - Patron Saint of Dealing with Stupid Customers
Once again, Supiyaw walked along the border of the node, a visual warning for Russell and Jason where it lay so they could avoid accidentally crossing over. She could feel the eyes of the black-haired student on her, but tried to ignore it.
Dogs are Man's Best Friend
Cats are Man's Adorable Little Serial Killers
James shrugged.
"You're right, I guess. I shouldn't try to provoke him, and I shouldn't let him get to me. I do, and I have theories on why I do it, but whatever, they're not important at the moment. Figuring out what's happening with those murders is. I'll just avoid him like the plague and hope I'm wrong. I sincerely doubt it, but hey, stranger shit happens to us on average of seven times a day before breakfast. "
Boxer nodded. James was right pretty much on all counts.
"I appreciate it man. If it gets that he won't leave you alone let me know and I'll take care of it okay? Now have you found anything?" Boxer asked.
"it takes two sides to end a war but only one to start one. And those who do not have swords may still die upon them." Tolken
Russell went with the others,carefully skirting the dragon's territory
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
Jason was following as well for now, though his mind had begun to wander towards thoughts of culprits and what various design shapes in the way the bodies were found would mean.
The walk across the Quad took quiet sometime, the Quad was a massive affair, nearly a full acre in size, and the Node which was the Guardian's jealously guarded domain, consumed the vast majority of it, leaving very little room between the boundary and movable buildings that marked the ends of the Quad.
They made the round of the perimeter, away from the latest scene under investigation, till they came to the second marker, another simple cement pedestal, colored white with tinges of red, like it was made from marbled granite or some sort. On the plaque adorning the top of this pedestal was the name "Tina Ledet" and the date of a week ago. The marker was outside of the boundary of the Node once more, the area around it similar to the "aura" surrounding the last. Arkady's vision picked up stronger hints of the Jhor tainting, but once more, it was fading in comparison to the rest of the Quintessence flowing and ebbing in this area.
Allen Thibodaux | Archmagus | Supervillain | Transfan | Trekker | Warsie |
"Then again, Detective....how often have you dreamed of hearing your father's voice once more? Of feeling your mother's touch?" - Ra's Al Ghul
"According to the Bible, IHVH created the Universe in six days....he obviously didn't know what he was doing." - Darek Steele bani Order of Hermes.
DS's Golden Rule: I am not a bigot, I hate everyone equally. | corollary: Some are more equal than others.
James shrugged again.
"Like I said, I just got the info myself and was waiting for everyone else."
He reached over and grabbed the printouts from the printer and flipped through them.
"Looks like it's the same M.O. No arcane carving this time that I can see. Just a tramp stamp. Missing organs again, looks to be the same ones. Hell the woman was even a similar build to the first we looked at. I'm sure there's something useful in here, but we're going to have to compare notes and fine tooth comb it to get anywhere."
Saint Annihilus - Patron Saint of Dealing with Stupid Customers
"Should I try to peer into memories o the past once more, or would the lot of you prefer I didnt? The memories will be slightly more fresh this time I think"
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
Jason's mind had already begun to wander to watching the girls who were walking through the quad. His eyes bounced back and forth between them and the young mage briefly considered using his magick to get a peek of the goods before he remembered they were next to a very unfriendly node.
Jason silently cursed to himself before he smiled broadly at another girl who was walking by and carefully stepped away from the weirdos who were carfeully encircling the quad.
As Supiyaw waited for the Magi do to their thing, she herself was trying to see the other two sites from where they were now. Unfortunately, there was too much Quad to cover, and the damned fountain was in the way again. She was pretty sure her theory would hold -- this spot made a triangle with the others -- but what were the angles involved?
She didn't notice Jason slipping away. If she'd been in cat-form, the pheromones alone would have warned her.
Dogs are Man's Best Friend
Cats are Man's Adorable Little Serial Killers
Russell started doing the same thing he had done the last time.
He started something that sounded like an Ohm or near silent prayer, but was in reality, him chanting emotional pathways that link to setting down memories, and perceiving emotions in the brain, very slowly. He felt outward with his mind, gathering together the strong emotions left behind at this place, and tried to form them into a coherent memory about what caused them. He would go back through the log of memories stored here, until he came to the one he wanted, if it was there.
Mind 2
4d10 = 886207138
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
The images Russell obtained where clearer this time, less faded, but still completely obscured by the sheer amounts. They overlapped at times, students moving about, police officers moving over the area, and the faceless shadow standing over the desecated corpse of a girl, before disappearing.
The images remained to horribly vague still. But it was obvious for one thing, the bodies were not mutilated where they were found.
Allen Thibodaux | Archmagus | Supervillain | Transfan | Trekker | Warsie |
"Then again, Detective....how often have you dreamed of hearing your father's voice once more? Of feeling your mother's touch?" - Ra's Al Ghul
"According to the Bible, IHVH created the Universe in six days....he obviously didn't know what he was doing." - Darek Steele bani Order of Hermes.
DS's Golden Rule: I am not a bigot, I hate everyone equally. | corollary: Some are more equal than others.
This time the effort was harder, he did not as successfully navigate the strands of memories by an objective standard, but the images were clearer due to less passed time. Still, he visibly strained at the effort.
WHen he came out of his trance he had but one sentence
"The bodies were not...processed here. This is a dump site, how specially selected by the killer remains to be seen, but they were not killed or mutilated here"
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
"That much is as we thought..." Supiyaw sighed, looking back at Russell. "I cannot be sure, since there is too much in the way, but I believe we have a triangle."
Dogs are Man's Best Friend
Cats are Man's Adorable Little Serial Killers
"Does it have equal sides. Three objects in any spatial arrangement can form the corners of a triangle..."
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
