The Killer Among The Stars Pt. 2

The Killer Among The Stars Pt. 2 By Evan Renfro [[Begin]]

Compiling Name... (set: $firstname to (prompt: "Enter First Name:", "")) (set: $lastname to (prompt: "Enter Last Name:", "")) [[next]]

Detective $firstname $lastname, welcome back. Let's [[catch up]]

You are aboard the [[Intersystem Ascendant]] investigating the muder of [[William Vega]]. [[Suspects]]

The Intersystem Ascendant is a luxury cruise ship made by the Luxis Corporation for interplanetary vacations. It has advanced technology and amenities that provide comfort and relaxation to its passengers.

William Vega was the successful CEO of SolCore, a mining company that extracts resources from planets close to the Sun. Despite being respected for his business acumen and innovative mining technology, he faced criticism for his prioritization of profits over worker safety and ethical practices. Vega was known for his love of high-stakes gambling and loyalty to his employees.

Your three suspects are: [[Captain Eris Novon]] [[Dr. Sophia Chen]] [[Sable Vega]] [[Next]]

Eris Novon is an experienced and highly-regarded captain in the field of interstellar travel. Her career has seen her pilot advanced and high-profile starships, and she is known for her reliability and skill. While her methods are sometimes viewed as morally ambiguous, her crew trusts her to make tough decisions.

Dr. Sophia Chen is a compassionate and dedicated Chief Medical Officer at SolCore, who advocates for the health and well-being of the company's workers. Despite clashing with Vega over worker safety concerns, she is known for her brilliant medical expertise and tireless efforts to ensure workers receive the best care possible. She comes from a long line of doctors, was raised on Mars, and graduated at the top of her class from the University of Mars.

Sable Vega was a wealthy and well-known model who struggled to maintain her status as a top model as she aged. She met William Vega, who was significantly older than her, at a social event, and they soon became serious. Despite criticism that Sable was only interested in William's wealth and status, they eventually married in a lavish ceremony. Sable became a socialite and attended high-profile events, but her relationship with William was often contentious, with some questioning her loyalty and motives.

You have already examined Vega's suite. It shows signs of [[struggle]], raises the question of what happened on [[Luna Station 3]], and has led you along a bloody trail to the elevator you're currently shut inside of. The lights flick back on, and the elevator automatically brings you to its default floor, the [[lobby]].

You know that Vega was stabbed to death, and the objects scattered around the floor suggests that the killer was looking for something specific.

You've learned that Luna Station 3 was created by SolCore and the Luxis Corporation and quickly shut down. It was regarded as a quiet failure by both companies. The question is: what does it mean? And what happened there?

As the elevator doors open, you are met with a chaotic scene. Everyone on the ship seems to have gathered in the lobby, all talking and pointing in different directions. You step out of the elevator, trying to make sense of the commotion. That's when you see Becca, the ship's engineer, frantically trying to calm down a the first mate, visibly shaking. "What's going on?" you ask, making your way over to [[them]].

"It's Nova," Becca says, her voice shaking. "She's missing." The blood drains from your face as you realize the implications of what she's saying. Nova, the captain of the Intersystem Ascendant, is nowhere to be found. The first mate looks up at you, tears in his eyes. "We were all in the lobby when the lights went out. When they came back on, she was [[gone]]."

You take a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "We need to start a search party," you say, turning to the crowd gathered in the lobby. "Everyone, split up and [[search the ship]]. We need to find Nova."

You glance through the crowd and see Dr. Chen. As your eyes pass over her, you get a [[vision]].

<a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1PJlTLmwLOf1cRSEaNBpujdZaMfRINQ71u-9k8iZSDPk/present#slide=id.p" target="blank">Vision</a> You sense an opportunity. Do you [[recruit]] her to your search team? Or look [[elsewhere]]?

Bringing Dr. Chen into your accumulating search party, you [[set off]] towards the captain's quarters.

After milling about the lobby for a moment, splitting people up, you come across Sable Vega. You know this is your chance for some prime detecting. You get [[another vision]].

<a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Ea1CaU4Jx7dU1axpfgDGcI_8s-Q4e02B00RwJun5yzc/present#slide=id.p" target="blank">Vision</a> You ask Sable to join your search party and head back towards Vega's room. Perhaps the killer struck twice in the same [[location]]?

Entering Novon's quarters, you notice a distinct lack of personality. A very plain room, with a bed and a desk. A few empty shelves line the walls. You pick the locks on the desk drawers and discover they contain old business contracts and records. Sifting through them, you find some that further link the Luxis Corporation to SolCore. [[Interesting...]]

The room is the same as before. Nothing looks more or less disorganized than the last sweep of the place. A bit frustrated, you turn to Sable. "If you wanted to harm the ship's captain, where would you take her?" This was a hypothetical question. But you get an [[answer]].

"Detective $lastname, there's a knife under the captain's pillow!" You turn towards Dr. Chen, who's holding a pristine switchblade. It's too clean to be the murder weapon, but why would the ship's captain have a [[knife]]?

It's clear that she hasn't been here for some time. You try to think of other locations that she may have been taken. Probably somewhere remote. Quickly, you recall the buttons in the elevator. One was marked (text-colour:red)[RESTRICTED] No time to waste, the captain might be in [[trouble]]!

"Where's the deepest part of the ship, Detective $lastname?" You recall the buttons in the elevator. One was marked (text-colour:red)[RESTRICTED] No time to waste, the captain might be in [[trouble]]!

Engineering. The deepest part of the ship. The belly of the beast. It's dark down here. (text-colour:black)[[Really dark]]

Becca turns on her flashlight, and you all press deeper into the ship's engineering section. You keep going... And going... and [[going]].

It feels like there's no end in sight, when suddenly, you come upon Captain Novon! Armed and unharmed. You [[tackle]] her before she can make the first move.

Decades on the police force come back to you in an instant. You get Novon pinned in the blink of an eye, and the crew members help get her under control. "Why did you do it, Novon? Why did you kill William Vega?" "I had to. He was going to [[expose]] Luna Station 3."

"Expose it? Expose what?" "Luxis Corporation was using it for their own gain. They were mining resources from the moon without SolCore's knowledge. Vega found out and was going to go public with it. I couldn't let that [[happen]]."

"So you killed him? That's not the way to handle things, Novon. You could have gone to the authorities." "The authorities wouldn't have done anything. Luxis Corporation has too much power and influence. I had to take matters into my own [[hands]]."

"You realize you just made things worse, right? Now not only are you going down for murder, but Luxis Corporation will face even more scrutiny." "I don't care. I did what I had to do to protect SolCore and keep Luxis Corporation in check." "You could have found another way, Novon. Now you'll pay the price for your [[actions]]."

Eris Novon contained, you tell the first mate to head straight for Earth. Justice needs to shine its light on what took place here, aboard the Intersystem Ascendant.