Part 6: CSI: Seattle

Part 06 - CSI: Seattle

(This one will be a cute lil' mini-update to wrap up the Barrens.)





On our own again, it's time to focus properly on this murder investigation!



Ooh is that a donut stand over there



A little something for the road. Dan also tells us that he was closed at the time of the murder so he didn't see anything, adding that it's nothing particularly unusual in the Barrens anyway.

We've only been here for about 20 minutes and we've already gunned down like eight people so I suppose that checks out.



The crime scene is right across the road, although it seems like we're not the only ones interested in this particular alleyway.







Hey... I got rights!

Look, you SINless garbage. I've got a job to do. Find a new blanket, or I'll find a reason to use my stun baton.

Typical. I hate all you pigs!

The grumbling bum backs away.

[He looks in your direction.] Now what?

Of course, Kuprik here won't just let us pass either. We could try to tell him that Dresden sent us over or talk some bullshit about looking into "spectral DNA", but neither works. A simple ¥100 bribe or the Security etiquette which we don't have would do the job, though. Alternatively...

Long night, eh? You looked cold, so I picked up a donut and some soykaf for you.

Hey... thanks!

[The officer's face lights up as he takes a sip. He seems pretty trusting, for an officer of the law.]

You know... when my dad was a cop... this was back when cops actually worked for the government... he said folks would buy him coffee all the time. But I ain't seen it 'till now. So what can I do for you?

Sad to sacrifice a perfectly fine donut, but maybe it's better this way. The jelly was probably made out of gasoline or something anyway.

My pleasure. I'm here from internal affairs to review the forensics guys' work, to find anything they might have missed.

Sure dig in. I certainly wouldn't mind those guys getting taken down a peg or two. Man do they put on airs if you know what I mean.

Wait, seriously? You swallowed that one without question just because I brought you a donut? You people are all hilariously terrible at your jobs.


Alright, let's see, what do we got here...





So we're looking for an opera singer with an interest in chemistry, gotcha. We take the test tube piece with us as a souvenir.



What a coincidence, that's exactly where Sam was murdered!

We also find the old man's coat and blanket. Might as well return them while... huh?



The Seamstresses Union again? Alright, alright, I get it already, we'll go visit the place. Geez. We take the receipt, and receive 3 Karma for our investigative efforts.

Back on the street...




I think this coat and these blankets belong to you.

My stuff! Might decent of ya... don't see that kinda thing too often out here.

Know anything about the murder that took place here?

[He squints at you, suspicious.] You a copper? Or... working for some corp?

Nope, I'm as SINless as you. Mind answering a few questions?

Hey... what makes you think I'm SINless? Har! Just messin' with ya. 'Course I'm SINless. System I-dee number, my ass. What kinda questions you got?

So... it sounds like you live in this alley?

Sure... for the last coupl'a months I been sleeping there. But I spend my days out doin' odd jobs for the street merchants, or panhandling tourists over near the Seamstresses Union.

The Seamstresses Union you say? Can't say I've heard of the place, maybe I should write down the name in case it comes up again sometime.

Did you see the murder?

Nope - and I can't say I'm sorry I missed it. I was hauling crates for Mrs. James up at th' market. Can't carry as many as I used to... so it took awhile. Got back here in time to see a coupl'a tourists puking all over my home turf. By then, that jerkface in the uniform had already set up shop in my alley.

What else did you see that night?

Hmm. Well... you know, earlier in the night I saw a big 'n ugly troll in green hospital scrubs snoopin' around the block. He bought some donuts and two cups of soykaf off'a Dan over there. Seemed nervous, and he did everythin' with his left hand because his right was all screwed up with some cyberware.

Well this doesn't seem at all relevant. Must've been from internal affairs, you can tell by the donuts.

Can you tell me more about the troll's cyberware?

Well... it was big, and I think it must've had some hospital attachments because I saw some needles. It was a lot like one I saw back in '44, when I got captured by elves. They did all sorts of experiments on me, let me tell you. Never trusted one of them cyber-people.

Hospital attachments on his right hand? What, like stethoscopes or something? I don't get how any of this is supposed to help us at all, but I guess that's to be expected from some crazy hobo who believes in elves.

That's all I needed to know, thanks.

See ya around.



Well, our next destination has been made clear enough. First we go back to Dan the Donut Man, which I genuinely hope is just his full name, to see if he remembers this mysterious donut purchaser.



Ah well, guess that would've made things too easy. We chat up a couple more locals as well, and one of the merchants closing up for the night mentions something interesting.



We already knew about the lights, but nobody had mentioned any explosions. Murphy, I think we have a mystery on our hands!

Last and probably the least, there's this chump hanging around outside the Seamstresses Union entrance.



Bobby here is our first merchant, peddling some cheap drugs combat stims.



The +2 Body from Kamikaze is probably the most useful effect here, but to be honest I'd rather just carry an extra Medkit since inventory space is quite limited. There's no addiction mechanic or other adverse effects beyond what's stated in the descriptions, though.



Time to go see what all the hubbub is about.