Shadows

"I hope the launch codes aren't all 12345." *glances at codes* "Son of a ... I'm kidding, of course. Yep, kidding." "No, really." "This little 'accident' involving the luggage seems awfully convenient. It will also raise our insurance rates outrageously,. so let's investigate carefully before jumping to any conclusions."

"And I have the stun weapon, so there will be no funny business. Seriously, Emily, what were you thinking? Destroying evidence, trying to openly steal a weapon from the security locker. What is your story?"

"I figure you're a good choice, you won't feel guilty about it and you just might have some fun at the same time. I wonder if we have a leash around here."

"You know what, I think that's a fair point and a good idea. I'll let you do the honors." *hands Gabby a set of cuffs* "Do we have a brig? Maybe the security closet, since I'm the only one who can open it." "Additionally, I must correct my earlier point, it was Arthur who tried to establish that no one knows anyone else, when clearly the murderer and victim had to, at the very least. So that's suspicious."

"Hand it over, immediately. That is not intended for you." I take the stun weapon from Emily, who is lucky to not get shot with it immediately. I also take the handcuffs and a first aid kit for good measure. "I feel like I was so clear on this point that it makes me suspicious of Emily and her motives. She also seemed to be trying to establish that no one knows anyone else on this trip, which makes me wonder if maybe she did know someone and was trying to cover it."

"Ooh, closet. I'll open that!" "No say at all, I just have to deal with what they send me." "By the way, the security closet is not the lost and found, so no one will be putting their hands inside and grabbing things that aren't meant for you. As the only person aboard who is supposed to have access to it, I will be the one searching it. Naturally, you may all watch closely."

"So, here and your cabins. And apparently, the lounge, or how would you have cleaned it up? How did you even know it needed cleaning and why was that more important than staying on your assigned posts?"

*taking my card back from Gabby, hoping it wasn't stored anywhere unpleasant* "I'd like to scan my card." "Is there anyone else there, or have you seen anyone recently?"

"I was told there would be scratching and clawing. I was even going to offer some of my personal stash of hot oil if things got going properly. This was lame. Try harder, ladies." "I'm kind of unclear on this. Shouldn't they be on the bridge? Why are we treating any of the crew as missing when they have jobs to do and should be in those places? We can't all violate the privacy of the guests and then stand around drinking martinis all day."

I think I'll look around the room and see who is missing, then say their names aloud, since we should probably be suspicious of them for being with the missing person. "I have no problem with heading to the bridge after that, but it's hands in pockets for everyone, no touching my knobs without permission. And dinner. I have standards!" "Ok, Daphne and I will head upstairs, Velma, Scooby and you can check the basement. Seriously? You know what happens if people split up, why would you even suggest it???"

"A lot of them blink. Some make a little sound with you push them. Mostly they just sit there. I'll let Gabby explain, this is her greasy baby."

"Is that on your bucket list?"

"You're not part of the crew, you can assume any position you think will earn you a party." "Let's head to engineering. I'm not at all convinced you lot can be trusted on my bridge. Probably steal all the knobs and switches we no longer use."

*taps whatever it is I'm wearing that makes me talk to the whole ship* "This is your Captain speaking." "We are very, very happy to have each and every one of you aboard The Excelsior. We are throwing a party in your honor. Please lie on your stomach with your arms at your sides. A party associate will arrive shortly to collect you for your party. Assume the party escort submission position or you will miss the party." *turns off the talky thingy* "That should do it!" *glances over as one of the crew assumes the position* "Not you..."

"More respectable passengers? They're the most likely suspects!" I'd like to jettison all the knives, and the teapots, just to be safe.

"I don't know what I'm drinking, but make mine a double." "Also, put out a ship-wide alert to arrest Ezra on sight. Wherever he is and whatever he's doing, he doesn't belong there."

"If he's not dead, he's a prime suspect and off somewhere he doesn't belong. If he has a problem with any of this, he can have a word with me. Keep searching." "You're loud and obnoxious. I might like you. Carry on." "Anyone looked under the bed? If not, I will."

"I'll pop open the closet."

"Sure, I think you still have mine." "I didn't assume any of them would be that interesting, really."

"That should be our next stop. Let's go to Ezra's cabin and I'll secure lock this cabin to preserve evidence." "We don't know if they did, which is why I want everyone and every cabin searched, but even that is tricky, since we don't know what we're looking for."

"That sounds a lot more likely." "I see no one suggesting accidental, we're leaning towards unintended, as in the murderer didn't plan to be one, they were there for some other purpose." "Exactly. Maybe he was as tea crazed as that other one and it ended up being the instrument of his demise." "To get in what they hoped was an empty room to steal something. It may have had as much with preventing security footage as door access. For all we know, they did steal something, the stuff left behind might not be all there was. We'll need to search everyone and their cabins to be sure." "Still odd, here is this guy with his old-timey letter and envelope and the only known injury aboard is from a pencil."

"That was the joke." "Seem awfully obsessed with tea, Mr. Hudson. What do you know about what Gabby has in her pants, hmm?"

"As Captain of the ship, I know everything about her. Except how some of the weird techie stuff works, like those pesky engines, that's not my job. I also can't find any regulation that requires Gabby to have that silly hairdo, but that's a matter for another time. I definitely disagree with whomever 'Bob' is, as I can assure you that a power failure does not automatically open every door on the ship, that would be silly. It does, however, unlock some doors that would be required in the event of an emergency, which would include the cabins. They would also lock again after the emergency had passed." *looks up 'Bob' in the crew and fails to find him* "If you weren't all thieves and vandals, we might have a better grasp on where everything is. As for this teapot, I don't see how you can conclude that it's the same one, you just decided that before your attempt to destroy the potential evidence. I still think it makes a horrible murder weapon, one that indicates a lack of planning. Just lazy and unprofessional, a product of this modern generation. You're ruining the sanctity of murder. If I was going to kill someone and we were all out of deadly neurotoxin, I'd trick the computer into detecting a fire in a cabin with the intended victim, then flush the whole thing out to the vacuum of space. Make it look like an accident, you know." "Speaking of which ... Computer! How many of these teapots are aboard the Excelsior? Counting the broken one in Gabby's pants." "So let's summarize this latest theory while the ship counts pottery." "The murderer, who clearly had to be in the lounge at some point, stole a teapot because it's the perfect murder weapon. They snuck to and hacked a terminal to turn off the power. They made their way in the dark to Alfie's cabin which they knew would be unlocked because they are some kind of ship savant, the same way they knew how to hack the terminal and that none of their movements would be on any kind of camera. Alfie didn't notice anything, like the door opening or the sound of someone entering, so he didn't turn, and he liked being in the dark without known reason, so he didn't bother to investigate the sudden loss of power. He just patiently waited, facing the other way while the murderer snuck in, broke the teapot just enough to get a piece but not enough to shatter completely, since you had to do that, then used the piece to stab him in the back. They then left the piece because that wasn't important, didn't steal any of the stuff we've discovered, like papers and unknown bits of technology that appear to be the likely motive. They then made their way somewhere to clean up from the blood, still likely in the dark, and returned to the group undetected." "I'm sticking to my theory, a struggle and weapon of opportunity."

"Why do you assume that the teapot wasn't already here?" "Wait everyone, Gabby has hit upon a brilliant idea! Someone is missing their teapot, having chosen to bring it here to use as the most efficient possible murder weapon! Let's round up all the teacups and see who is left out, that's our murderer!" *chuckles a little*

*thinks* I think it's safe to say we're all a little worried about that. "Carry on." I would like to examine the prescription medicines, specifically who they belong to, what they are for, who prescribed them. when and how many are missing/left..