ic Zombie vs Zombie

[Supercape]

GM

 

1st June

 

Mid morning

 

Lecture: Violent Death - From theory to practice, Doctor Getrude Whallington-Bridgecastle

 

Dr GWB welcomed the group of four Forensic science students into the cold air and metal furnishings of the morgue. Lamentably, there was only one corpse to examine, a rarity in Freedom City. 

 

The consensus opinion that Dr GWB was a stiff, prentetious and deeply clever pathologist who had a reputation for marking exams harshly, and being just as harsh in her teaching sessions. And yet, she had the deep knowledge and occasional acidic wit that kept her in her job. She clearly was somewhat aggreived that she only had once cadaver on which to wax lyrical, but she was determined to make do. 

 

The dead body was clearly a thug. Tattoo's of skulls, machete's, dancing skeletons and murder. Scars from knife fights, dreadlocks, dark brown skin, medallions - this was presumably a member of some Carribean-origin gang. A Yardie. Even the most inexperienced student amongst the four could give a good guess at the mode of death. 

 

The corpse had the centre of his chest blown out - a ten inch diameter hole straight through. 

 

Looked like a shotgun blast. At close range. 

 

"So, who would like to walk us through the preliminary examination?" asked Dr GWB, her eyebrows raised in challenge, peering over her rimmed glasses, her bronze hair wound tightly into a bun. Her hands gripped a clip board and pen in eager anticipation. She would be taking notes...

[Spacefurry]

Jennifer stood with the other three students. Short hair pinned back out of her face. A student’s lab coat over a simple shirt and a conservative skirt. She had had to stand firm on that despite her roommate’s insistence that it, in her ‘professional opinion’, it wasn’t cute enough. It was a morgue day, and she didn’t want to chance getting anything she actually cared about soiled. She supposed it was what she got for living with a best friend that was a fashion/business double major.

 

Dr GWB, as she was referred to by others, was a hard professor but had a well deserved reputation in her field and Jennifer was eager to learn what she could every class.

Her eyes scanned over the corpse as Dr GWB revealed it. She mentally noted the various scars and tattoos. At first glance she didn’t notice any other body modifications, though the ears were probably pierced. A closer examination would be needed for more details she thought. The hole in the young man’s chest was impossible to miss as the most likely cause of death.

When the other students seemed hesitant to step forward Jennifer squared her shoulders and took up Dr GWB’s challenge.

 

Stepping forward Jennifer glanced over the body again as she spoke.

“At first glance, cause of death is most likely severe trauma from close range, wide spread ballistics. Swabs from the wound for gunpowder residue and projectiles lodged within the cavity would narrow down possible range and weapon used.”

She said clearly, hoping to get the most obvious part out of the way first.

“The first step though should be the external examination of the body. Beginning at the head and moving down the body one should make note of any deviations, body modifications, or injuries new or old. Careful attention should be made to areas not normally noticed or normally covered, such as the scalp, insides of joints, between the finger and toes or under the nails.”

She answered looking up at Dr GWB. Jennifer held her breath as she tried to gauge her professor’s judgment before daring to continue.

[Supercape]

GM

 

Dr Gwib, as the students (and often the faculty) called her, pursed her lips and scribbled. Her handwriting was an almost impossible combination of elegant and quick. Bordeline caligraphy. 

 

Unfortunately it was also out of Jennifer's view. 

 

"A satsifactor start, Ms. Gale... entirely satisfactory. Thankyou for enlightening us that oblitrerated lungs and heart were the likely cause of death. I am sure your fellow students would have otherwise struggled to indetify the cause had you not shared your insight with them."

 

Acid wit, hard ass. That was Dr Gwib. 

 

"Well then, if we proceed to a more nuanced investigation, which would be expected of you should you wish to graduate, perhaps you could demonstrate further examination, followed by conclusions, speculation, recommendations, and further laboratory tests. I am sure such basic skills are within the grasp of even a mediocre forensic science undergraduate, wouldn't you say?"

 

The pen stopped scribbling. Dr Gwib drummed her enamel nails against her clipboard, her face an impenetrable mask that might speak of boredom, contempt, amusment, or a blend of them all...

[Spacefurry]

Jennifer’s cheeks flushed a little as she tried to collect herself. But she felt the need to at least defend her wording.

“Of course, Doctor. I simply said ‘most likely’, as it’s not completely unheard of for a gun wound to be use to distract from or hide a different cause of death. I just didn’t want to state fact prior to the exam.”

Jennifer quickly looked back at the corpse having used up her courage for the moment. Withdrawing a small audio recorder she started it and began like this was a real exam.

“This is Jennifer Gale, student ID JG2217. Subject is a male with dark skin, dark brown hair. Approximately five feet eleven inches in height and weighing approximately 150-160 pounds. Subject appears approximately 34-37 years old at time of death.”

She judged the height from the length of the table. Moving to the head of the corpse, she pulled on a pair of examination gloves. The body was cool to the touch, even through the gloves as she open one eye, then the other. Pulling out a pen flashlight and leaning in close to get a good look.

“Light brown eyes. No evidence of contacts or use of corrective lenses. I don’t see the usual scratching on the corneas or the marks on the bridge of the nose where they would sit and rub the skin.”

Putting the other students out of her mind Jen focused on the body now. Bodies didn’t bother her, well not ones that had already been bagged. She was able to think about them in a more clinical manner. 

“Nasal passage show signs have having been broken at least once before and attempted to be reset, judging by it’s angle.”

She moved her fingers through the hair and checked behind each ear.

“The head doesn’t show any sign of recent trauma. Ears are pierced as is the right nostril.”

She had guessed right she thought as she ran her fingers down along the jaw to the mouth.

“Some dental work, subject has a number of fillings. A request for proper documentation of the dental records should be made.”

Jennifer noted moving on to the mouth, opening it to check the tongue. Finding nothing of note she closed the mouth and moved on. She voiced mention of the various scars and tattoos as she reach them, pausing to note size and description, as well as approximate age based on how faded they appeared as she took pictures of them.

She checked one arm before moving around the table to check the other. Noting more scars and ink work as she did. Finally, Jennifer began examining the chest. Using her camera as she measured the wound, including depth. She took samples from around the wound before using tweezers to recover what projectiles she could see. She carefully recorded and bagged everything she collected. Once she was satisfied with her work in the chest she continued on down the body. Once she finished checking the feet. (She did not feel it necessary to record the man had badly needed to clip his toenails, but she had made a footnote in regards to the ‘athlete’s foot’ he had apparently been suffering from.)

She waved over one of the other students to help her lift the corpse so she could examine its back and record it. (None of them needed to know she could technically do it on her own with the help of her symbiote.) She thanked the other student once finished and the body was carefully replaced on its back. She resisted the urge to step back, but unconsciously held her breath under the stern unreadable eyes of their professor.

[Supercape]

GM

 

"Hmph. Yes, quite satisfactory, Ms. Gale. Quite satisfactory for this stage in your undergraduate training."

 

Dr. Gwib turned to the other three students. "No doubt you would have found the same, if I had asked you, hmm?"

 

The three students nodded emphatically, the shaking of the heads cutting past the tremors in the hand. Their eyes were wide, their skin was sweaty. If any had the courage to speak, one would imagine the throats to be dry. 

 

Dr. Gwib turned back to Ms. Gale. 

 

"And what would your conclusions, be, Ms. Gale? How would you advise our talented and brave police force if you were the on call pathologist, hmm? Any further investigations? Any recommendations? What would you tell them? How should they proceed? They have a murderer to catch. That is, if you conclude that our body is dead."

 

A nervous chuckle richocheted around the other three students. 

 

A sensible conclusion, death. 

 

But then, if that was so, why did Ms. Gale see the sheets over the corpses left hand twitch???

[Spacefurry]

Jennifer relaxed a bit. Dr Gwibs comments were the closest to ‘well done’ or ‘good job’ anyone ever got from her.  As the doctor turned to address the other students Jen’s brain raced with doubt though. Had she missed something? No, no, none of that now. Jamie would give her hell for her self doubt again. Her attention snapped back to Dr Gwib when the woman turned back to her with a follow up question.

“Ah,”

Jennifer hesitated for a moment as her thoughts caught up to the question. 

“I would have to say, toxicology report not withstanding, no signs of the wound being self inflicted could be found. The shape,…”

Something caught Jennifer’s attention for just a moment. Movement? Did she just see something under the cover twitch? It had to be her imagination, just the AC blowing the sheet. She quickly tore her attention away and back to Dr Gwib.

“The shape, angle and close proximity of the wound suggest deliberate aim and intent.”

She finished confidently.

“I would feel justified in reporting this as a homicide and that the officers should look for some kind of shotgun as the murder weapon.”

[Supercape]

GM

 

"Some kind of shotgun, hmm? Have you been attending your ballistic science lectures? Providing you did, and you were actually paying attention rather than catching up with sleep that you missed from a weekend of all night partying, you might consider an analysis of the shotgun pellets by the ballistic laboratory, hmm?"

 

Dr Gwib turned to face the four students. Her fingers tapped out a rhytmn on her clipboard that would not have been out of place in one of those very same forty eight hour student parties. 

 

"Now, this is your case Ms. Gale, how should we proceed from this point? To the scene of the crime, or the balistic lab?"

 

The thre other students turned to Ms. Gale, wondering whether this would a field trip. 

 

All eyes on her, Ms. Gale could see the corpse behind them slowly, and silently, sit up. Dead, bloodshot eyes turned towards the three students and Dr. Gwib. They didn't blink, but the Jaw fell open. The teeth looked particularly like teeth; retraction of the gums giving them a long appearance, like a hungry dog. 

Edited June 6, 2023 by Supercape

[Spacefurry]

Jennifer winced at Dr Gwib’s jab. There was a reason there were only four students had the courage to sign up for this class. True, from time to time there were things other than partying that kept her up late. Of course, Jamie would love it if Jen loosened up a little.

“Of course Dr Gwib.”

Nodding, she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. Both destinations were valid options, the lab work might give them an idea of what to look for. But, the crime scene may yield more useful evidence. She weighed the choices and opened her mouth to respond.

Her eyes went wide as the corpse slowly sat up and turned its attention towards them. The others had no idea, which was probably for the best right now. How was she not screaming herself? Was this shock? No, it was too soon for that. Was this a hero thing? She wasn’t sure she liked that idea. She kinda wanted to freak out, even if it was just a little…

Oh right, zombie…

Jennifer forced a smile.

“Yes, right, I think we should,”

‘Don’t say run screaming.’

She thought quickly.

“Go to the crime scene.”

Jen nodded. She stepped aside and motioned to the let Dr Gwib and the others go first. Her eyes darting back to the now not-quite-so dead corpse just waiting for it to moan or something to give it away to the others.

[Supercape]

GM

 

"Very good. The scene of the crime it is."

 

Dr Gwib and the three other students trotted out, with the Doctor passing out questions and the students evading the answers. 

 

"Are you familiar with Uwabe's method of ballistic fragmentation recontruction in hypothermal environments?"

 

"It rings a vague bell, Dr. Gwib."

 

"How would you approach tissue dynamic analysis for a shotgun blast?"

 

"I would take a multi-disciplinary approach, using comprehensive analysis of the tissue in a dynamic fashion."

 

"What are the legal ramifications of unisolated partial evidence recovery in situ?"

 

"It would have certain legal ramifications within a court of law."

 

Dr Gwib met every non-answer with a tsk and a few explanatory notes. As frightening as her manner was, she did at least teach. 

 

More importantly, the two and fro of torturous examination and anguished answers provided a background sound. The clunk of the corpses feet hitting the morgues floor was not heard. Dr. Gwib and the students were two dozen feet past the Morgue door when the corpse started clumsily lurching towards Jennifer, jaw agape, hands forward as if suspended by puppet strings. 

 

The morgue sheets fell of its body, revealing the entirity of its dead skin over dead flesh. It did not appear bothered by its nudity, nor did it appear bothered by the gaping hole in its chest. Jennifer could see right through it, to the other side of the Morgue. 

 

 

[Spacefurry]

Jennifer forced a smile as the others passed her. Their idle back and forth was a blessing as she watch them leave, not even having noticed she hadn’t followed.

“Now for the corpse.”

Cause damn it, she refused to call it a zombie… at least not out loud. Jennifer turned back, a small squeak of surprise as it stood itself upright. She didn’t even blink at the sheet feel to the floor. It was still just a corpse and she once you’ve seen one, as the saying went. She did grimace a bit as her eyes flickered to the gaping hole but her shook it off.

“Okay you,”

She shook a finger at it, a little surprised by her own anger.

“I will not have you jeopardizing my grade this semester. So you’re gonna have to get back on that slab.”

Silvery grey tendrils snaked out of her sleeves, wrapping around her hands and wrists. She needed to put this thing to rest before someone walked in.

Stepping forward she shifted to the side and reached out. Electricity crackled along her palms and fingers as grabbed for the corpse.

[Supercape]

GM

 

The fingers of Chimera found two sides of the corpses head. The flesh felt sticky, unstable. It was being articulated, being held together, by something more than bone and blood. 

 

And then, in a flash, the burst of electricity crossed from one hand to another, and back again. The corpses eyes rolled up to the top of the head, the eyes lit up and crackling with sparks. The whole body convulsed. 

 

"Bzzzzzz!" it groaned. Some echo of life reverberating through the vocal cords and out of the mouth, The jaw opened further - to far for normal human anatomy - and sparks flew between the teeth. One particular molar, replaced with a golden tooth, started to glow and shed more sparks than the other. 

 

And then it was over. Who could say what the shock had done to the dead synapses in the corpses brain? To the lifeless muscles that still stubbornly lay attached to the bones?

 

It appeared not much. 

 

The corpse took a clumsy swing at Chimera. Clumsy, but not slow. Easy enough to evade. this time. 

 

Bar some smoke from burnt flesh, and a few residual sparks, the corpse was still walking, and unharmed. 

 

Although the golden tooth had fallen out. It was a regular golden tooth - nothing magical, nothing arcane. But it had had quite a shock. 

 

 

[Spacefurry]

Jennifer’s nose wrinkles at the smell as sparks danced and the corpse twitched under her touch. The smell was a bit disturbing but at least it should do minimal damage, she thought. Unfortunately, the symbiote was a bit over zealous and the charge it released was more than she had intended. 

“Shit.”

That was going to damage the evidence. Maybe no one will notice, she grimaced as the gold tooth bounced along the floor.

“At least that should do i-“

The corpse had other ideas it seemed as it turned on her again, taking a wide awkward swing. Jennifer easily stepped aside the avoid it. Her eyes darting back to the door briefly. She needed to end this faster. She could come back later to figure out what was happening. She turned her attention back to the corpse and silver grey techno-organic spread over her mouth and nose.

“Need to keep damage to a minimum.”

Chimera darted in close and struck at the neck. If the a shock wouldn’t work, maybe she could break the connection with a little physical trauma.

[Supercape]

GM

 

The silver scimetar speedily sliced the solidified skin of the supernatural stiff. 

 

Slash!!!

 

Zombie flesh was no match for super organic symbiote swords! 

 

With a crack as the blade broke the cervical spine, the blade passed straight through the zombie. Chimera managed a mostly clean cut. 

 

The head wobbled, the body wobbled. But they did not wobble in synch. A few seconds, and the head rolled of the body. It landed with a crunch, causing an indentation on the skull. Some brain matter and other unidentifiables oozed across the floor. The head happened to land face up, the undead pale eyes, still rolled up from the electric shock, glaring at Chimera, challenging her, inviting her to question her morals or continue the fight. 

 

But there was no more fight. The zombie was an inanimate now as it had been the minute before. Arguably, less animate still. 

 

No more fight, but plenty of mess. A decapitated body still standing still, a decapitated head leaking brains over the floor. One could smell a certain fleshy smell over the strong scent of formaldehyde. 

 

At least the sheet that had been covering the zombie was clean. 

 

"Are you COMING Ms. Gale, or are you DAWDLING!" yelled Dr Gwib from outside the morgue. 

 

 

Edited June 6, 2023 by Supercape

[Spacefurry]

Chimera cursed under her breath as the head left bits on the floor.

“Dang it.”

 She hesitated a moment before crouching to pick up the head. She squinted at it, waiting to see if it moved again. When it didn’t show signs of continued animation she relaxed a little.

The techno-organic material pullers back from her face as she set the head on the table. 

“Just what at was that?”

Jennifer wondered as she sighed as she scooped up the body to return it to the table. She thanked her super strength for the effortlessness of moving the body.

 

1 hour ago, Supercape said:

"Are you COMING Ms. Hale, or are you DAWDLING!" yelled Dr Gwib from outside the morgue. 

 

Jennifer squeaked a little at Dr Gwib’s call.

“Coming doctor!”

She called back as she used her increased speed to shove the head in place and pull the sheet back over it. She would have to come back later to investigate. The cover was barely stopped fluttering as she raced for the morgue’s doors.

She paused, took a breath and exhaled before putting on a ‘nothing-wrong-here’ smile and walking out.

“Just almost forgot my recorder.”

She said meekly and waved the little device, silvery-grey tendrils already withdrawing back up her sleeves, before shoving it back in her pocket.

[Supercape]

GM

 

And so, later....

 

...In a side alley...

 

And not the most salubrious of alley's either... everything was crumbling, broken. Trash blew in a faint vortex, rubbish filled the gutters. When the next gobal pandemic struck, this mountain of disease vectors would be a strong candidate for point of origin. 

 

The body, of course, had been removed. But the blood stains had not. Blood on the floor, blood on the walls. Blood all over the place - quite the pollock of blood, splattered like street art. 

 

Which, some cynics might argue, it was. 

 

There were traces of flesh, too, although decomposing. Rats had taken to feasting on the scraps, but slivers had decomposed with enough force that even Rats turned their noses up. On the wall that had been splattered with blood, there was chipped masonry, ballistic fragments. 

 

"So, Ms. Gale. Where would you start your investigation?" asked Dr Gwib, still scratching on her clip board. "And without consulting a text please. Or Wikipedia. I know all the tricks the less athletically inclined minds use. You will have to make do with your own intellect, which I appreciate may be a frightening task and unpleasant company, but nevertheless, for a proper degree such as forensic sciences is something that you will need to rely on. Novel concept, I know, but if it suits you ill then you may of course transfer to Integrated horticultural sciences."

 

Edited June 6, 2023 by Supercape

[Spacefurry]

Jennifer was happy to be away from the morgue for the time being. Although part of her did worry if one got up, then… She shook her head. She need to concentrate on her class.

Standing with her classmates in the alley Jennifer looked around. Outside scenes could be problematic if not investigated quickly and properly. As her gaze scanned the scene she took note of the immediate details. The blood, the damage to the wall,  stupid trash and debris. When Dr Gwib called on her again Jennifer stiffened a little.

“Yes, Dr Gwib.”

She said as she carefully stepped forward.

“Well, the first thing is determining the center of the crime scene and establishing the perimeter. Taking into account the victim, the wound, and what we can see here we should be able to determine where the victim was at the time of attack. From that we should be able to determine we’re the attacker was.”

Jennifer moved carefully around the scene.

“Possible threats to evidence should be determined and accounted for. From here an initial survey of the crime scene should be made.”

She recited as she pulled out her camera again.

“From the evidence we can determine the victim was standing there. And the shooter must have been over here. If the weapon’s chamber was cycled directly after firing, the spent shell would have ejected in that direction.”

She noted almost clinically off-hand as she continued to circle the scene, taking pictures.

“After the initial survey, detailed recovery and processing of evidence should proceed. Followed by a second survey.”

Jennifer turned to the other students to direct them each to a specific area of the alley. She included herself in sectioning the scene and began to carefully comb through the various detritus of the alley for clues they may have been overlooked in the first pass.

[Supercape]

GM

 

Dr Gwib appeared somewhat irritated; she could not find any crack in Ms. Gale's flawless execution of forensic science. No crack meant not withering heckle. No withering heckle meant Dr Gwib was somewhat irritated. She might even have to give a grade B for this. 

 

B minus, of course. 

 

"Very good, Ms. Gale. One day you will be an acceptable forensic scientist. You may even aspire to the lofty heights of being merely mediocre."

 

She turned to address the other three tremulous students, explaining the details of this, the minutae of that. The three students nodded in tandom, eager to escape the lash of a complicated question. 

 

Jennifer Cale collected, with tweezers;

 

Textile threads!

 

Shotgun pellets!

 

9mm Bullet casings!

 

A chip of edged metal embedded in the masonry!

 

And had photographed a number of footprints, when...

 

"What... hffff.... happened? What the hell... hfff... happened?"

 

At the perimeter was a man in a hat and a suit. He was slightly short, slightly rotund, cigar in mouth, hands in pocket. His neck seemed particularly corpulent, with impressive dangling jowels. Every now and again he exhaled a tic - a hfff - a puff of air that inflated his cheeks in the manner of an old trumpet player. 

 

On either side, considerably taller and larger men in dark glasses stood. Bodyguards. 

 

For good reason. Even Jennifer knew this guy. The mafia boss everyone knew as Blowfish. Hands as clean as a saint, as long as you didn't count sleazy media and poker nights clean. Maybe not clean, but Blowfish always made sure he was legal. 

[Spacefurry]

Jennifer restrained herself at Dr. Gwib’s praise. Damn it, she was going to fight tooth and nail for that B+. It was the highest grade the fickle and demanding professor ever gave, and the reason no one had graduated with a 4.0 since she joined the faculty.

 

Lost in the process, Jennifer completely forgot about the incident in the morgue. Their search had turned up a number of potentially useful finds. She had recovered several fresh looking clothing fibers from the cracked edge of an old metal bin. And after taking into account the slope of the alley floor, not only had she found spent shotgun shells, but a number of 9mm handgun shells.

”There was at least a second weapon. Small caliber handgun.”

She commented, holding up one of the spent brass with her tweezers. After that find Jennifer took another, closer look at both walls and found bullet holes for the spent rounds. She managed to recover some for examination later by the ballistics lab. With neither weapon found she could only speculate that the surviving shooter must have taken both with them. As she contemplated this another glint caught her attention. A piece of metal imbedded in the brickwork of the building. 

Jennifer glanced over her shoulder and, using her body as cover, a thin tendril of techno organic matter snaked out to nudge the fragment loose enough for her tweezers to pull it free. A piece of some kind of edged weapon. She gave it a thoughtful look before bagging it with the other evidence and continued on.

Multiple blood sample were gathered from around the scene. Judging from the locations there may have been a second person injured.

”Possible second victim I would guess. Not enough evidence to determine how badly they were injured. Police should check any possible clinics in the area.”

As she paced the scene again with her camera taking more pictures of the blood splatter, she carefully documented a number of shoe prints in the muck and grime of the alley. It was whole photographing one of these that a voice echoed into the alley.

Jennifer looked back at the entrance to see the shorter man flanked by two others. She frowned as she recognized the howled man from the news. The man they called Blowfish. A silly name for someone with their reputation. Her frown became a scowl and she looked to Dr Gwib, wondering where the officer that should have been watching the scene was.

[Supercape]

GM

 

Dr Gwib knew Blowfish; she was hardly streetwise, but she muddied around the grim world of crime, and she would have to be stupid not to. And Dr Gwib was not stupid. 

 

"This is a crime scene. Not, I repeat not, for public consumption, sir..."

 

She was unflappable. To the point of being brave. To the point of being stupid. 

 

"Hfff. Stick that up your backside, doll. I got me business here."

 

His gaze settled on Ms Gale. 

 

"One of my... ah.... friends... got shot up here. Got shot up by some yardie boy. Shot up so bad, he bled out all over my carpet. Now I gotsta get a new carpet, and I wantsta know who to send the bill too."

 

He puffed his cigar once more, and lay his beady eyes on to Ms Gale. Beady eyes, black like a shark. 

 

"Looks like you gots more sense, honey. To whom shall I send my carpet bill to?"

 

"Don't answer him" snapped Dr Gwib. 

 

"Oh now, I ainst so bad. Just cos I gotta big stick, dont mean I gotta big carrot too! Hfff... you do me a favour, I dooze you a favour. Thats how the world works, ain't it?"

 

He stopped. hffing twice more, waiting for Ms Gale to answer. 

[Spacefurry]

Jennifer looked between Dr. Gwib and Mr. Blowfish, the man’s tone doing nothing to alleviate she scowl. When the short wanna-be Goodfella turned his attention on her she could feel her hackles raise. His beady little eyes made her feel more icky than anything she might run across in the morgue…

‘Oh ya, I needed to check on that tonight.’

She wrinkled her nose at the cigar smell and gave the mobster a disapproving glare.

“All inquiries should be directed to the Freedom City Police Department.”

Jennifer said coldly as she crossed her arms. She could feel an itch just under her skin. The symbiote was restless, especially after what happen earlier.

[Supercape]

GM

 

"Careful, kid. Hffff!" blew Blowfish. "I dont want ya to have an accident. Like, say, someone accidentally fell onto some pliers and accidentally extracted all your teeth. That wouldn't look pretty. Would cost a fortune to get a dentist, and I guess ya would be in an awful lot of pain. Especially if someone accidentally fell on to a chisel and accidentally jammed out all ya fingernails..."

 

Blowfish puffed out a ring of cigar smoke, then tapped the cigar ash on to the ground. He put the tip of his polished shoe onto the ash, and ground it into the tarmac with disdain. 

 

"Fine, fine. I'll get my answers elsewhere. But ya better watch out. Creepier things than me out tonight. I seen it wit' my own dang eyes!" he proclaimed, pointing to fingers to his sharp brown eyeballs. 

 

"Does an honest citizen good to know Freedom City's finest hard at work tryin' to solve murders and not take bribes. I guess the folks down the station will be just as honourable. Yes sir. Maybe they might help me out, from the kindnest of their hearts and them being smartz enough ta know that it might save them an accidental accident with a crowbar inserted in an orifice. I guess ya don't want the detes..."

 

He tipped his hat at Jennifer, then tipped his hat at Dr Gwib. 

 

"Ladies. Have a pleazant evenin' Hfff Hfff..."

 

He turned heel and strode off with his two bodyguards. 

 

Dr Gwib pushed her spectacles back on to her nose and frowned. "What a villain!" she whispered, making sure it was out of Blowfish's earshot. 

[Spacefurry]

Jennifer did her best to maintain a visage of merely annoyed, as opposed to the absolute loathing she felt. She ignored Blowfish’s repeated attempts to scare her. Even if they managed to get the jump on her,  she thought she could take care of herself. As long as no one was around to see it and reveal her identity. But then, who would believe little ol’ her could handle whatever goons tried to hurt her.

 

Jennifer nodded absently at Dr Gwib’s comment.

“One of these days, someone is finally going to find the evidence to put the little bastard away.”

Being a part-time hero was well and fine, but it took real solid evidence to put the crooks behind bars.

“I can only I’m the lucky one to find it.”

[Supercape]

GM

 

Later... the evening...

 

Back at the Morgue...

 

Fortunately, nobody else had been at the Morgue the whole day. 

 

Unfortunately, the Morgue had been locked.

 

The door was flimsy enough for Chimera to easily pull it off, or cut through it, but that would indicate a break in. And maybe leave Jennifer's finger prints on the the scene of the crime!

 

One of the advantages of a degree in Forensic Science was to know how to get away with murder, or in this case, breaking and entering. Fingerprints could easily be washed off, or concealed, or prevented from happening in the first place. But broken doors were broken doors. 

 

No camera's, fortunately. There would be no tape of Chimera, no tape of zombies. 

 

There was no sound coming through the door, at least, other than the very soft whine of the refrigrators and the air cooling system. 

 

Ventilation ducts? They were there, but it would be a squeeze. Had Jennifer eaten to many pizza's at the last undergraduate "Screw Dr Gwib!" party? 

[Spacefurry]

Jennifer walked purposefully through the halls to the morgue. Sometimes the easiest way into a place was just walk it like you belonged there. It was made easier since she wasn’t a stranger and knew exactly where she was going. No one paid the student a second glance as she came to the metal double doors.

The forward approach seemed the best idea. As Jamie liked to remind her, fast food and late night studies did not a skinny butt make. That had ruled out any of the ‘sneakier’ entrances she might have tried. But that was neither here nor there, she was outside the morgue and everything sounded quiet. No moaning hoard had greeted her at the building’s entrance. No screaming civilians running out of the building. No police barricades surrounding the block.

[i]’All in all, a good sign.’[/i]

She thought to herself. She reached out for the handle and silvery-grey techno-organic matter formed a second protective layer over her hand. The door was locked and Jen cursed under her breath. She glance at her watch only to find it missing.

“Really? Again.”

She scolded the symbiote and pulled out her phone to check the time.

“This is why I’ll never buy a smartwatch.”

It was technically after hours and her student ID wasn’t going to get her in now. She frowned, she didn’t want to do anything to damage the doors. She wondered for a moment, looked around to make sure no one was about to witness what she did.

A thin tendril of silvery-grey snaked off her hand to slide between the doors. Jennifer could remember the inside handle of the door if she pictured it. The tendril spread out  in search of the inner handle and she tried to open the door.

[Supercape]

GM

 

Click!

 

The fluid metal slipped elegantly into place, and without a single scratch the doorway swung open silently. 

 

The head of the zombie lay on the floor, untouched, eyes somehow rolled up to the skull but with the whites of the eyes gazing straight at the doorway that Chimera had entered through. At Chimera herself. Eyes that accused Chimera of decapitation. 

 

But not murder, for the head was still very much without life. 

 

The body, however, had gone. The sheet that had covered it was tossed, crumpled, into the corner of the room. 

 

Where did the body go?

 

Perhaps the smashed window was a clue. Smashed from the outside. Somebody had, presumably, broken in!

 

A soft night time breeze drifted through the window and over the shattered glass on the floor. Pale moonshine driften in from the skies, and illuminated the fractured glass shard that glittered in its gaze. 

 

Footsteps - dirty footsteps on the otherwise immaculately clean (nay, clinically clean) floor. Boots. They had come in to the morgue, examined the head, and, it seemed, stolen the body.