Bob

CHAPTER SIX - "WATCH YOUR STEP..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was nighttime in Lexington, however this night would be far more sinister than the others... "I do believe we're lost, Spock!" Doctor McCoy said. "Don't worry, I'll guide you all to safety!" Ensign O'Neill says. "Gah! I didn't see this coming!" The ill-fated ensign says as he crumples to the ground. A horrible looking figure took the sword out of the deceased ensign's stomach. "Aha, it is I, Ridiculously Looking Costumed Alien #4! Prepare to meet your doom!" "If only there was someone who could save us!" Engineer Scott said. Pew! "Agh! No, my mortal enemy!" "Yes, it is I! Captain Marcus Baker!" He struck a heroic pose as a hand took the deceased alien away. "And I will lead you to safety, come my fellow-" Knock, knock, knock! "Gosh Darnit! Who is it?!" an angry Marcus asked. Knock, knock! "I heard you, I'm coming, I'm coming." "What do you-" WHAM! ~~~ "He's awfully heavy." the first figure said. "I can't heft around a person like this." "I don't even know how to use this thing." the figure with the gun said. "Whatever, did you move that couch from the door?" "Yes, but the door is locked and I'm not strong enough to break it." "That's why we have him." the first figure said, motioning to Marcus. The second figure called out above. "We have your brother-in-law Jackson! Come down here!" Officer Jackson and Ashley came downstairs, Jackson had his gun raised and the second figure quickly brought its gun up. "Put down the gun!" "You put down the gun," the first figure said. "Or we'll shoot your brother-in-law." "Oh, put the gun down Steven!" Ashley cried. Fearing for his new family member, Officer Jackson lowered his weapon. "Now it's your turn." "No." BANG! Officer Steven's hat flew off his head as he fell back onto the couch. The sound of a gun reverberated throughout the area. "Nooooooooo!" Ashley cried. "You killed him!" "Be quiet!" the two figures said in unison. But Ashley continued to wail. BANG! And Ashley stopped crying. "What have we done?" the second figure said. "Let's get out of here, we've already caused enough damage." the first figure said as the sound of tires screeching to a halt became louder and louder. "Get down on the ground! FBI!" Special Agent Stone said. "Run!" the second figure says to the first. "I'll hold them off for you!" The two sides engage in a gunfight, when a drunk Alex Jordan approached the scene. "Whooooo, a gunfight! I better stay and watch!" But he's hit several times, and he falls back to the ground in a heap, bleeding profusely. "Nooooooo!" Sarah Jordan screamed. She had been following her husband. "Get down!" Deputy Chief Scott said, tackling Sarah. "Are you crazy?" "Come get some!" Agent Stone said, firing his shotgun wildly at the second figure. "Boss, you might hit someone else." FBI Agent Ron said. "Just keep shooting at this guy!" Deputy Scott pulled out her weapon, but didn't fire it. In her line of fire, she might hit Officer Jackson or his fiance. "Screw this." the second figure said, running off. ~~~ About an hour later, after Officer Jackson and his fiance were taken to the hospital, the coroner was putting a white sheet over Alex Jordan, covering him up for his long trip to the morgue. Sarah Jordan sat on the steps of the Baker Grocery Store, crying her eyes out. "You're my Nurse Chapel." a delirious but otherwise unharmed Marcus Baker said. The nurse giggled. "We better take you to the hospital just to make sure you don't have any injury to that sexy head of yours." the nurse said. "I'll perform an autopsy to see who shot him." the coroner said. "Does it really matter who shot who?" Deputy Chief Scott asked. "I suppose it doesn't." "This whole scene is disgusting." Special Agent Stone said. "I'm compelled to leave all of you to your own devices, but I will not abandon this case. It's not for you people, it's for my own ego." "Come on, Special Agent Ron, let's get out of here." The two drove off, leaving the town alone. "Watch your step, don't stand in the blood." The Mayor said. ~~~ Alex Jordan (cralegoboy) now has 0 life points, and is dead. Ashley Baker (K-nut) now has 2 life points, and is currently at the hospital all chapter. Officer Steven Jackson (ProfessorFlitwick) now has 2 life points, and is currently at the hospital all chapter. Marcus Baker (CallMePie) now has 7 life points, and is currently at the hospital but my return later in the chapter. Deputy Chief Jackie Scott (Fugazi) now has 10 life points, and is fully healed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Players (14) Mr. Jack Montgomery --- Mrlegoninja Mrs. Julia Montgomery --- Dannylonglegs Jeremy Montgomery --- ADHO15 Mrs. Sarah Jordan --- Brickdoctor Mr. Winston Robertson --- Rumble Strike Amber Robertson --- Peanuts Officer Steven Jackson --- Professor Flitwick Ashley Baker --- K-nut Marcus Baker --- CallMePieOrDie Officer Ryan Hutch --- badboytje88 Mr. James Swanson --- CorneliusMurdock Robbie Swanson --- Jedi master Brick Deputy Chief Jackie Scott --- Fugazi Deceased: Police Chief Arnold McGovern --- def Mr. Alex Jordan --- Cralegoboy Rules: (Borrowed partly from Dragonator’s Mystery Manor and Red Scare Mystery) 1. There are 16 participants. If you commit to the game you are committing to contributing to the story and sticking with it to the end. 2. You must search for clues. This means that an action must be specified. For example, you wish to search a room for hidden objects. The following is an example of how not to go about this: "I wish to look for suspicious or hidden objects in this room". Instead, you must be able to specify what you want to do. For example: "I would like to open the drawers of the cabinet." It is not required for you to specify exactly what you are doing and what you are looking for, but a generalized statement will not find you anything. Act like a detective and you will be fine. I will always give a detailed explanation of a room, however, feel free to ask for clarification. 3. Please be patient with me between chapters, I will try to put up the chapter topics as quickly as possible, but, this might not be so all the time. 4. Please try to avoid editing your posts. If you made a spelling error, simply post immediately after correcting your spelling error. If you wish to add more, a double post can be made, however use this rule wisely. Obviously, you may not make a quadruple post. Please wait for someone else to post before you post something else, unless absolutely necessary. 5. You can reference anything in pop culture, as this is being played real time. You can mention current events if you want to. You can use any electronic device that you wish to use, with exception. For example, you can’t take out your time machine to determine who the killers are. 6. I won’t keep you in a certain room if you don’t want me too. However, you may not return to a room that you were already in, so ensure that you have searched every part of the room before leaving. 7. There are a few NPC’s in certain areas of the town. These NPC’s might have evidence, however they might not. Also, the evidence given by them might be false information. You cannot do anything other than talk to these NPC’s. You can only go and speak to them when you arrive in their area. For example, each NPC is in a certain part of the town. If you’re at point A, you cannot go and speak to an NPC at point B. 8. Failure to follow these rules will result in a warning. A second failure will result in the death of your character. 9. There are no night actions or chapter actions. However, there are Miscellaneous Actions. With this system, if you’d like to PM me a non-lethal action (I.E; “I’d like to go visit Player A”), then that’s fine. However, things that could harm people (I.E; “I’d like to go kill Player A”) are not allowed. These are only allowed at night. Night comes at the end of every chapter. I’ll allow most anything, so let your imaginations go wild. However, you can’t leave Lexington. That is not a valid action. 10. No Metagaming please. Also, don’t base suspicions on how the person looks. 11. There will be a life-point system. Every player starts out with ten life-points, and regenerates one life point at the end of a chapter. For example, if you fall and twist your ankle, you’d likely lose one life point. If you fall off a boat into an engine prop, you’re likely to lose most if not all of your life points. Think logically. Perhaps walking along the rickety boards in the construction zone is not a good idea. 12. The host is usually always right. If you think he’s wrong, feel free to send me a message about it. 13. Most of all have fun. This game is meant to be enjoyable despite the "questionable" things occurring. Rules may be added or deleted as the game goes on based on game play. Alex Jordan (cralegoboy) now has 0 life points, and is dead. Ashley Baker (K-nut) now has 2 life points, and is currently at the hospital all chapter. Officer Steven Jackson (ProfessorFlitwick) now has 2 life points, and is currently at the hospital all chapter. Marcus Baker (CallMePie) now has 7 life points, and is currently at the hospital but my return later in the chapter. Deputy Chief Jackie Scott (Fugazi) now has 10 life points, and is fully healed.

Oh you're going to wish you did. Teaser Image: Spock, RandomRedshirt, Doctor McCoy, and Engineer Scott.

Oh, and some other people (3) are in the hospital and cannot post Chapter Six. I hope the suspense is killing you.

If you thought the last chapter was surprising, this one is even more so. Someone died.

There will be an extended break between the end of Chapter Five and the beginning of Chapter Six. Use this time to get in Chapter Actions and get ready for the next few chapters. Today might have been the last day for a few people.

"I want a lawyer! I don't have to tell you anything." And with that, the police officers took the criminal off to jail before returning. Night fell again. "Hey Ashley." Officer Jackson says. "What do you have behind your back?" she asks inquisitively. Officer Jackson gets on one knee, and produces a fish ring. "Ashley Baker, will you marry me?" "Oh, I don't know what to say!" "Say Yes. " "Oh yes!" The two hug happily. "Yay, group hug! Welcome to the family!" Marcus says. "Three's a crowd, Marcus." Elsewhere, while one marriage was beginning to form, another one was ending. "You get out of this house! It's mine, my family has owned it for years!" Sarah screams. "You're overreacting a bit, Sarah!" Sarah then literally and figuratively kicks Alex to the curb. "Mr. Jordan?" a man asks. "Yes?" Alex grumbles. "I'm divorce attorney Carter Wright, you've been served." Alex moans. "You have a nice day Mr. Jordan." The attorney then leaves. -------- Elsewhere, Mayor Bob and Special Agent Stone were drinking in a bar in Santa Cruz looking at Agent Stone's laptop. "The numbers are bad, Mr. Mayor. I predict very bad misfortune." "What did you even chart?" the Mayor asks. The FBI Agent continues on, ignoring the Mayor's question. "I'd call in for help, but the Bureau already wants me to drop the case and return home." "It would be terrible if you left us." The Mayor said. "Luckily for you, I'm a loose cannon that doesn't play by the rules." Standing up with his vodka martini, he makes a bold statement. "I will catch these killers even if it's the last thing I do." he says boldly. "Why are you standing up? You're making a scene." Later, as the Mayor was returning to his office for a late night, he was ambushed by the media. "Mr. Mayor! Brenda Barrett with Channel 7 News! What can you tell me about your progress in the case of the Chief's death?" "We've been progressing somewhat slowly." "That's terrible!" "I mean, we're doing a great job. The police are closing in on the killer as I speak. This killer has nowhere to run too." "Oh, that's much better." she says. Finally, Deputy Chief Scott returns to where her home was. "Isn't there a door?!" she asks incredulously. "Neigh." Horace the Horse says. End Chapter Five Get in your actions!

"They thought I murdered some guy at the docks." "Five or six times." "Nothing yet, my lawyer is still fighting for it." "He was an idiot, but no, I didn't have any problems with him." "Heck if I remember." " " "This dumb broad threw me in jail for attempted murder. I wasn't even near here." "I was in the police station with Officer Jackson, Officer Hutch, and the Chief himself."

Upon entering the docks, Deputy Scott finds a familiar face. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Deputy Chief Jackie Scott, back again." "Branhauser. I'm surprised you're not in jail." "I'm innocent, and I'm expecting a big payout from that lawsuit." "We're investigating a murder, Branhauser. So get out of our way." "You aren't thinking of bringing me to jail again, Jackie?" Branhauser asks rhetorically, pulling out a knife. "I won't be framed by you again!" "Put that knife down!" Scott says. "I guess you'll have to fight me!" Prepare for Battle! Richard Branhau-- Officer Hutch tackles the dockworker and Deputy Chief Scott kicks the knife away. Shortly thereafter, Officer Hutch has put him into handcuffs, while Deputy Chief Scott holds the knife and Officer Jackson keeps his firearm pointed at the criminal. "Richard Branhauser, you're under arrest for threatening to assault a police officer. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided to you at the expense of the state." Officer Hutch recites. "Do you understand these rights as I have said them to you?" Branhauser mumbles. You may now question Branhauser, but you may not investigate due to the lateness of the day.

The group decides to head on over to the docks. It's getting late. "What's this? You're fighting each other? I knew I should have brought the rest of my agents to help me out here." Amber slaps Marcus across the face.

On one side is the docks of Lexington. On the other side is the Fire Brigade. Further down is the Pet Shop and Officer Hutch's place. Also, as a Police Officer, Deputy Chief Scott is within full jurisdiction to arrest Marcus.

"You terrible bitch!" Marcus says He starts hitting Amber. "Get away from me you freak!" "Hey! Stop it!" Marcus is stopped. Amber Robertson (Peanuts) now has 9 life points.

For sake of understanding, I'll label the dates as "Chapter One", "Chapter Two", etc.. Chapter One Wasted time at the police station today. Annoyed with the lack of progress. This journal thing pisses me off, I hate it so much. I know that one day it'll come back to bite me, but whatever. Crap, what else is there to write? I hate this thing. That super hot James kept giving me looks today. He's like, twice my age, but who cares. Do I still need to write? Damn online therapist telling me to express my feelings in a journal. Chapter Two Wasted more time at the police station today. This old coroner doctor dude showed up and explained what we already knew. That was pretty boring I'll have to say. My dad got some lame artifact today. I think it was some Egyptian thing. That's just one more delicate object I have to look out for when I go downstairs. As much as I love my dad, I can't wait to move out. One day I'll run off with the love of my life. This investigation is totally lame. Why can't we let the police handle this? The dumb Mayor said that the town should help. Then why are only eleven of us regular people actually investigating? What about the other like hundred or so people. I don't even remember electing this guy, where did he come from? Whatever. Chapter Three Wasted more time at the police station today, then the town finally got the hint to go somewhere else. Looked at Deputy Chief Scott's house. It's nice. I liked the animal-skin pillow she had. That must have been really difficult to acquire with all those new laws against skinning animals. I watched her throw paper away last night, I'm glad I can contribute somewhat. Marcus also got beat up last night. Can't say I feel bad for the guy. What a loser going out in his Starfleet Uniform to go follow someone. Um, let's see, what else can I ramble on about? Nothing, that's what. Chapter Four We investigated a bunch of stuff today, like the grocery store and the apartment building above it. Nothing really happened that's memorable. Had a lot of popcorn today, that was a bad idea. We watched a really poorly put together "video" of the murder scene. I'm going to go take a nap. I have no feelings to let out. The journal only goes back a few weeks. "She grew to be dissatisfied with my never being home. She was angry that she had to deal with Amber all the time while I spent my days in Manhattan. She never wanted a child, which is why she resented Amber. Eventually, Amber and I returned home one day to see that she had packed her bags and left. We haven't seen or heard from her since." "Stop embarrassing me dad! Our house is on the other side of town next to the Jordan Residence!" "Oops! Now I remember!"

The books are pretty standard, however there is a diary there.

There is not enough time left in the day to go across town. Is there somewhere closer you'd like to visit?

Some more clothes, a few books, and some other souvenirs from various trips around the world with her father.

I wouldn't test him, either. Hinckley's killed off people that don't participate, so I shudder to think what he'll do to people that don't read the rules.

Julia does an excellent search of the bed, looking under the mattress. There's nothing evident there. Under the bed, however, is a few more boxes with postage stamps on them. There's nothing under the pillow or blankets. Marcus tears all of Amber's hard work away, however he can't see anything suspicious or out of place in the garden. "That's my ex-wife. She left Amber and I many years ago." Winston says sadly.

Amber opens the boxes; they're packed with clothes, personal mementos, and other various items including a Lexington High School Class of 2003 Yearbook, a photograph of Amber with Winston and another woman, a copy of "So You Want to Buy a Home: Tips for First Time Homeowners", and a ring with the words "Together Forever" engraved in it. "Wow, you were Class of 2003? Me too!" "No Robbie, you were Class of 2006." "Oh."

This floor belongs to Amber. There's a bed, a few boxes, and also, not pictured, a door leading outside to a terrace garden and a television set.

Winston quickly puts the out of place glass container back on its pedestal.

The box is empty. There's no fingerprints on the glass either. "Nope, just that. Bye now." Very carefully, Officer Jackson holds the tablet up. It is heavy, and holding it to the light doesn't reveal anything interesting. The carvings are very intricate. It portrays a map, featuring a few pyramids, some obelisks, and a few other ruins. It details the kingdom of Pharaoh Tuoteconan.

Nothing appears to be overly suspicious, other than the red jewel that is knocked onto the ground. Scott touches the Golden Dinosaur's head, and its mouth opens, revealing a few single dollar bills. "Chief Who? Whatever, why didn't you say you were with the police? Mr. Robertson recently purchased a stone tablet from Egypt. It's carved with hieroglyphics. Any other questions?" The stone tablet in question is the item on the gray box.

There's nothing in the toilet. The shower is empty as well, save for some toiletries. The sink appears just as normal as the other items in the bathroom.

"You don't even sound like Winston. He's my best customer. Who are you?"

Officer Jackson hits redial. "Phoenix Antiques, this is Jacob speaking. How may I help you?" There's nothing outside. Not pictured is the stairs leading upstairs. Amber enters her bathroom. It's a small one, with only a toilet, shower, and sink.