The Birth of The Unity (sequel to Chronicle of Nautilus)

Chapter 14: An Unexpected Loss

With old Adam gone, Jason continued the investigation on his own. At first, he thoroughly searched Adam's, Nikki's and Haas' death scenes for leads.

By Adam's pool of blood, Jason found a trace of bloody footprints. Even when the visible bloody trace disappeared, the ultraviolet light revealed a long walking line toward the elevators. He measured that the foot size was larger than that of an average male. He also measured the length of the steps and calculated the probable average height: around one hundred and eighty-five centimeters. The angle of the killing blast and specific traces of gloved hand movements indicated a high probability of the attacker being left handed.

Nikki's body was found in the same spot Jason had last seen her. Because people visited her rarely and no one cared much about her, her body was discovered only when Jason paid her a visit. Pharmacy warehouse reeked of rotting flesh. He left the contains of his stomach right in front of the eroding body. Even the nurse who he brought to the assistance could not resist doing the same. Since the nurse was one of the least significant positions on the ship, Jason trusted her. Together they did the first inspection and later, autopsy.

It revealed heavy drug poisoning. What kept her alive during the last days was not food but drugs. The initial suspicion, that her death cause was an act of mysterious force had to be rejected. She had died from intoxication.

Later, he revisited the room where Haas 16 had committed suicide and did not recognize the place. Using the UV lamp he checked the afterimage of the bloody scene. Usually, suicides were peaceful, but in this room, the blood had been splattered all over the walls and floor. Stabbing oneself mercilessly multiple times was not what sane people did. Jason had difficulty imagining that even person could do that.

Time passed and nothing new came to his attention, now new murders occurred, yet in his gut, he could feel the sinister presence working in the shadows. He felt he was too small of a person to solve the problem at hand. He knew only one man whom he could trust: the young captain. Even though Adam might have been the wisest mind on board, he was still young, inexperienced and had problems of his own. Jason wanted to share the information with Adam but doubted if it was the right time. Though, he needed to get at least one favor from the captain so that the investigation would advance faster.

During the last month, he checked the database on male passengers meeting the feet length and height criteria. The information about their primary hands was not provided. After making a list of suspects, he spent time watching people in the canteen, in the library, and found out that at least half of them were left handed. In the end, he narrowed the suspects to thirty-two individuals. They included half of the control room crew, three engineers, a dozen gardeners and everyone in top positions from librarians, kitchen chef to Grover, to Chuck. Both captains fit the description as well.

For the last few hours, he had been sitting in his minimalist white room, looking at the list and thinking. He tried to put the few puzzle pieces together and imagine the whole picture behind the crimes. But the information and evidence he gathered were not enough. The image did not materialize.

A young voice from outside the room broke his concentration, "Hey, Jason, got time for me? May I see you?"

"Of course, I was thinking of visiting you myself. Come in."

The door opened up and the captain stepped into the room. Adam glanced at the tiny table, at the contours of bed on the ceiling and instantly recognized the layout of the room: identical to everyone's else living on the top floors.

He said, "Remembered your request to report anything strange. I stumbled on something weird recently and wanted to tell you about it."

"Come and sit down then. I'm listening. I must excuse for the absence of chairs. You are the first visitor I ever had."