Pokémon Mars

Chapter 32: The Investigation

Investigation in to the killing of Joshua Pickett
Interplanetary Police
6 May, 2109
Ironville, Mars

On 5 May, 2109, astronaut Dr. Joshua Pickett and his six Pokémon were found dead. Pickett's spacesuit was slashed open and his helmet smashed. He was found in the shed at the cemetery, but the autopsy revealed that he was stabbed before he reached the cemetery and probably before he left Ironville.

The Pokémon killed were Banette, Lapras, Mamoswine, Weavile, Xatu and Zoroark. All of the Pokémon but Banette were stabbed and knocked out prior to leaving Ironville. Banette was not found in the cemetery but in a dumpster behind Delta Lab 1 after its life energy was released through its mouth, which was forced open. Due to its Ghost typing, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when it died.

These actions suggest the killer was experienced and the crime premeditated.

The suspects

Six potential suspects were confirmed to be at the cemetery when the victim's body was found:

1. Damson Oak
2. Eden Yi
3. Firmino Buckley
4. Mercury Harmonia
5. Nyx Harmonia
6. Phineas Noble

Nyx Harmonia claims she saw Courtney Xiong's rover, but this is unconfirmed. Though there is no evidence to suggest that 'Sonnet' of the 'Origin Village' left Ironville and the crime was unlike those committed by bandits, in which they steal their victim's possessions, Sonnet cannot be ruled out as his motives and true identity are unknown. Dr. Pickett's wife, Clytemnestra 'Nessie' Pickett, is also a suspect.

The priest residing in the cemetery's chapel has been ruled out as CCTV footage proves he was shopping at the Pip Pip Piplup Import Store in Ironville for the duration of the incident.

The timeline

07:03 – The victim meets with his team of scientists at Hexagon Coffee on 8th Avenue. They agree that Eden Yi, Mercury Harmonia and Nyx Harmonia will speak to Yamask at Ironville Cemetery, while everyone but Pickett will return to Delta Lab 1 to plan their next expedition. Pickett plans to examine Martian opals at the lab.
07:18 – Eden, Mercury and Nyx enter the preparation chamber on a rover (ARES 24-04).
07:59 – Damson Oak leaves Ironville on foot through the North Central Gate. His reason for leaving is to polish Seiza Cozmo's remembrance plaque. He skips the preparation chamber but his identity is confirmed by DNA test. Guards note that he is drunk.
08:01 – The victim tells his colleagues that he is making a 'quick trip' home to retrieve his 'lucky' Neon City Nidoking cap because he believes he makes his 'best discoveries' while wearing it.
08:08 – Megara Pickett, the victim's four year-old daughter, claims she sees her father on the street from their apartment's window.
08:14 – Firmino Buckley leaves Ironville by rover (AQ001) through the North Central Gate to tape plastic flowers to his mother's grave after her burial on 3 May 2109. His identity is confirmed by DNA test.
08:16 – Two rovers, ARES 17-27 and ARES 24-03, arrive at the North Central Gate. ARES 17-27 is driven by Phineas Noble and has two more passengers, who are staff members from Ironville's Pokémon Day Care. Mandatory DNA tests are not carried out. Their reason for leaving is to check on the Ghost-type Pokémon they introduced to the cemetery. ARES 24-03 is driven by Joshua Pickett, whose identity is confirmed by DNA test. He is not asked why he is leaving. ARES 24-03 also carries a large and unidentified box. It follows ARES 17-27 to the cemetery.
08:17 – Firmino arrives at the cemetery. The journey time suggests he broke the speed limit.
08:20 – Eden, Mercury and Nyx leave the preparation chamber and exit Ironville through the North Central Gate.
08:25 – Damson arrives at the cemetery.
08:32 – Eden, Mercury and Nyx arrive at the cemetery, where Nyx claims she sees Courtney Xiong's 'stalker rover.'
08:33 – ARES 17-27 and ARES 24-03 arrive at the cemetery.
08:37 – The victim's wife, Clytemnestra Pickett, knocks on the door of Delta Lab 1 to ask if anyone has seen her husband.
08:38 – Jin Oak hacks the lists of people entering and exiting Ironville and discovers that the victim left 22 minutes ago.
08:39 – Epsilon Hjortsberg contacts Firmino, Eden, Mercury and Nyx to ask them to search the cemetery. Firmino repeatedly asks Pickett to respond but there is no response.
08:46 – Mercury finds the victim's body in the cemetery's shed, behind the chapel.
08:48 – Firmino calls the Interplanetary Police.
09:02 – Interplanetary Police officers Altair Hawthorn Hesperia and Osbert LeBlanc arrive. Everyone present at the cemetery is directed to the Interplanetary Police rover.
09:04 – Damson claims he is guilty.