10 Minute Tales

Feb 8 (Untimed)

The ride to the hospital was silent; Sentinel, sensing the tension and Queenson's bad mood, didn't offer any music. He disembarked as soon as the door opened, storming into the hospital's bright interior. The corridor, usually echoing with idle conversation of unoccupied nurses and the reverent whispers of relatives, instead buzzed with the too-familiar conversation of security officers, the blips of communicators, the low monotone of a security vehicle. Alyssa came over, clutching the tablet to her belly.

"What do we have this time?"

"Nothing, sir." she sighed. "The feed was out again. The only reason we knew about it this time was because one of the nurses was getting the doctor a drink."

"I assume you're interrogating her, at least."

"We're interviewing him now, yes." She held the tablet out. Queenson took one.

"No autopsy report yet?"

"Doctor Barb had no G.A.T.E. chip." Sentinel explained. "I am unable to provide an accurate death simulation yet. The subject was stabbed through the head, however; given the angle and size of the wound, death was likely to be instant." A hologram of the skull appeared, a dim blue. A red line stroked through it, going between the eyes. Queenson frowned.

"From in front? Any signs of a struggle?"

"None." Alyssa frowned. "It's weird, you'd think he'd fight off whoever killed him..."

"So either the doctor knew and was expecting the guy, or it happened faster than the old coot could react to."

"Doctor Barb was only fifty-eight, thank you." Alyssa snapped, almost stiff. Queenson just stared at her, and she sighed. "Sorry, I just... this one's personal, you know? I saw him last week, he was setting up the last of my treatment."

"What, the water one?"

"Yup, that's it. Was gonna put the vacation request in once he got back to me..."

"... if you need it, let me know, alright? I don't mean just for this gene stuff, either." Queenson's irate frown softened. Alyssa smiled, chuckling an empty chuckle.

"If you're worrying about me, I must be pretty bad." she shook herself, breathing in and straightening her back. "Don't worry about me, sir. I'll be fine."

"We'll see." Queenson almost smiled at her, but was soon marching towards the office again. "So, we have a better ID on the weapon, then?"

"The weapon seems to be an illegal aug, sir, a hidden blade of some sorts. It's the only way to explain the precision and depth of the attack." Alyssa tapped the tablet a bit; another hologram formed, this one showing a simplified arm. A long blade projected from above the wrist, stretching out to most of the length of the forearm.

"So, motive?"

"He was a doctor, nobody would want to hurt him as far as I can tell. The only thing I can think of is extremists or... anti-gene protestors? What's the term again?"

"Gene purist, I think." he shrugged. "Point is, that's a pretty broad net to cast. Sentinel, any footage showing any matches?"

"Footage suggests three possible suspects." Profile images came up, showing three faces. Alyssa frowned as she examined one.

"Sentinel, this one's the nurse that saw the body. He doesn't seem like a suspect..."

"Nurse Liam Johnson has no registered G.A.T.E. chips, and has posted several times in the past that he did not enjoy the prospect of genetic manipulation."

"Why work in it, then?"

"At the time, he believed that it would provide wages suitable for his requirements."

"Right, right." Queenson frowned. Something wasn't adding up... he would find out what soon enough.