Sometimes, quiet is violent.

[explosivecombat]

Who: Solf J Kimblee (explosivecombat; anyone in Olivine City who wants to engage him, really. OPEN LOG, do your thing, tag yourselves in
Where: Olivine City
When: Slightly backdated - morning of February 8, 2014
Summary: Somebody wanted a war. You're going to have an investigation.
Rating: PG-13? ...look, if things go badly this is pretty much Kimblee going Michael Bay on Olivine City, so.
Log:

His timing had, admittedly, been poor.

Namely, the three-day time period he'd thrown down was not accounting for the sudden snow; while he could hold the fort reasonably well in below-zero temperatures, that had never really been his idea of a good time. Fortunately, the most important of those bombs he'd photographed had been set prior to the announcement going out - it wouldn't do to be acting suspicious in public after a bomb threat, after all; those he hadn't set before then...well. He'd been more than capable of waiting until those who were going to move had actually moved before sending Alekhine and the non-human Archer out to go get those taken care of. They're rather skilled at...convincing people that they really, really want to be elsewhere all of a sudden, after all.

The Alakazam is nearby but out of sight, having been instructed to keep an eye on things for him (as he's fully aware that he's not going to be able to one things get underway); the Gardevoir is at his side, as he always is during these sorts of games. His usual white suit has been abandoned in favor of sharply-tailored black, with a black shirt buttoned clear up to his throat beneath it and a bloodred tie around his neck; his face is obscured by the usual hooded mask, long ponytail tucked up beneath the fabric.

It's a lovely day today.

He's got something in his hand that he's playing with once in a while; something that he can rather cheerfully buttonmash if he feels like it, apparently, as there are a good amount of buttons on it. He presses a few of them now, almost idly; he pauses for a moment before clicking the red one at the top of it.

Hopefully no one was partial to a few of those indie bars toward the outskirts of town; that explosion is going to be a large one.

Let's begin, shall we?




[OOC: Okay, apologies for the delay but RL punched me in the throat. AS IT STANDS, HOWEVER, the deal is currently this.

There are currently eight bombs planted throughout the city, including the one that just went off on the northern side of town, because Kimblee clearly hates hipsters this morning and has decided that they can't have nice bars. Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to find either the bombs or the asshole detonating them. Or both, if you all can manage, let's not sell ourselves short. Don't worry, he's somewhere within the city.

You're welcome to search the city if you wish; I'll gladly guide you through that part with meta directions in brackets - letting you know what you find in certain locations, if anything. The NPCs in certain locations (the hotel, the Pokémon Center, those hardware stores Blake was checking out earlier, the guards at the lighthouse) will not remember any suspicious activity having occurred, but they will have really large conspicuous holes in their memories if pressed. And hey, I'll guide you through that as well, if you have something to say to them.

Basically, feel free to investigate at will; throw a location in your comment subject, wherever you want to search. Let's make a game of it.]

[OOC PART II: Here's your current counter, guys.

Bomb 1 - hipster bars, northern side of town: DETONATED
Bomb 2 - Olivine Inn: LOCATED / NEUTRALIZED
Bomb 3 - docks, southern side of town: NEUTRALIZED
Bomb 4 - cargo holds, western side of town: DETONATED
Bomb 5 - specialized shops, city center: STILL ACTIVE
Bomb 6 - restaurants, city center: NEUTRALIZED
Bomb 7 - location currently unknown: STILL ACTIVE
Bomb 8 - location currently unknown: STILL ACTIVE

You've got your work cut out for you, Hero Squad. Godspeed. :|b ]

Comments

[doitrockapella]

[Rather agitated guards? That's certainly enough to kick off her instinctive responses of tension and caution; while she's here for entirely benign reasons today, some old habits die hard and she's just naturally cautious around guards in general, much less worked-up ones.

Might as well walk up and say hello, then. Maybe they'll talk to her, or maybe they won't. But either way she might learn something.]

[explosivecombat]

[Well, at the very least the guards don't seem to be agitated at anyone on this beach; if anything, they straighten up in that "Nothing to see here" sort of way as soon as Carmen's presence becomes known. And if we're going to be perfectly fair there doesn't seem to be too much to see there; the doors to the lighthouse are solidly closed.

That said, they are public officials - complete with engaging in the polite formality of asking whether she needs something, should she seem intent on sticking around.]

[doitrockapella]

[Briskly, as they're greeting her, she's silently running through an assortment of possible stories she could feed them here as she tries to get at what she wants to know — that she's lost, that she's looking for someone, that she wants to get up into the tower for some reason. Any of them seem plausible enough, but as she's considering it, something half-occurs to her:

Maybe it's just that she's got thoughts of Nietzsche prevailing in her mind right now, but — if an answer's what she wants, why not just...ask?]

Gentlemen. I'm investigating the bomb threats that were made against Olivine City recently; this lighthouse having been the target of such an attack before, I need to know if you've seen anything suspicious or out of the ordinary lately.

[When in doubt, pull rank; granted, she may not look like a figure of authority, but a little confidence goes a long way, and when in doubt, might as well act like you're entitled to deference and see if it gets people to follow along.]

[explosivecombat]

[Oooh, that's an awkward topic. It comes with a fair amount of squinting from one of the guys in question - you can practically see the "Officer Janey is that you" flashing through his head - while the other two guys in the immediate vicinity just kind of cast each other anxious glances.

Fortunately, Captain Squinty seems to have this.

"We haven't seen anything out of the ordinary, ma'am - the lighthouse ran all night as usual, and none of the guys on duty reported anything suspicious."]

[doitrockapella]

[In this town, we act like we know what we're doing at all times. If Squinty's going to be the group's spokesman, then that works, she'll direct her questions to him.

...Man, it's been a long time since she was Detective Carmen Sandiego. Hopefully it really is like riding a bike.]

And before last night? The threat was made days ago, on Monday.

[And rolls a 14 to Diplomacy.]

[explosivecombat]

["We heard. And after the attack a couple years ago, this is the first place we checked over; we don't take bomb threats lightly in this city."

Riding a bike indeed, though; Squinty kind of hesitates.

"There've been some complications this morning, but it's nothing we can't handle."]

[doitrockapella]

Complications?

[It's the "this morning" that really pings her interest; she's out here early as it is, so presumably something either happened fairly recently before she got here, or it happened on the night watch.

If it's the former, she wants to know about it. Nietzsche's trail might still be hot, if he was here himself not long ago.]

I'm more than happy to leave the job of securing this lighthouse to you; I'm looking for the person responsible. I'm also familiar with his M.O.; if you think something out of the ordinary has happened, you should tell me. I may be able to shed some light on whether or not he might've had a hand in it.

[explosivecombat]

[Well then! Just let Squinty kind of glance back at his guys there for a second before posing a question of his own.

"Are you some sort of officer?"]

[doitrockapella]

I'm a private detective.

[Technically true, considering they never did take her name out of the ACME files back home; she's been away a long time, but that's not quite the same thing, is it.]

This criminal goes by "Seth". He and I have a long history.

[...ALL ALSO TECHNICALLY TRUE...]

[explosivecombat]

[Huh. Well, that's certainly a thing, isn't it.

"...The current complications involve the doors being sealed off from the inside."]

[doitrockapella]

[Blast.]

Is Leader Jasmine's Ampharos still inside?

[She asks, as she backs up and kind of looks as if to check and see if there's still light shining up there.]

[explosivecombat]

["We think so. The light's been shining all night, like we said. No interruptions."]

[doitrockapella]

You're just locked out.

[Guys...]

Have any of you tried to get in from the top?

[explosivecombat]

[LOOK, THEY ARE FROM THE SORT OF WORLD THAT GIVES MASS MURDERERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE TRUANT FROM WORK THE SAME SORT OF PUNISHMENT, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT.

...hopefully you were expecting getting deadeyed. Because that's what you're getting.

"You think this is your guy's doing?"]

[doitrockapella]

It's something he's done before. More likely than not, he went inside, sealed the doors, and teleported back out again when he was done.

[...Because she remembers that discussion they had about flying things, and while she wouldn't put it past the man to jump or do something absurd with his land-based Pokemon (FOND MEMORIES OF CLIMBING RADIO TOWERS), she'd take the teleportation route if it were her and, well. It's the neat and obvious solution.

Assuming you're not a local rent-a-cop.]

I'm heading up to have a look from the air. Keep the perimeter secured down here.

[She says, as she reaches for one of the Pokeballs at her belt and summons her trusty Baron Grinnit the Dragonite.]

[explosivecombat]

[Well, they will just be adhering to the local rent-a-cop creed of '...you know, that seems legit, let the crazy lady deal with the bomb-wielding psychopath.'

So. Where to?]

[doitrockapella]

[Up, up, and away!

Or at least, well, up onto the Baron's back, after which she'll just be zooming up to the top of the lighthouse to get a look at Presumably Amphy (though perhaps not; just because it's light does not inherently mean it's the light-producer that's supposed to be up here) and whatever else might be around.]

[explosivecombat]

[Up you go, then!

Above the sixth floor is where you'll find the beacon for the lighthouse, which is powered by Presumably Amphy. Fortunately for all parties involved this morning, nothing seems terribly amiss up here - and most relevantly, the role of Presumably Amphy is being played by none other than Actual Amphy.

Who does not get many non-Jasmine visitors up here! So the good Baron is getting kind of an awkward wave that may or may not be extended to the trainer currently riding on him. Hel...lo?]

[doitrockapella]

[Yes, well, that's well and good, but it couldn't hurt to just sort of...double-check that, with some help from Chief (who is likewise coming out and joining her on the Baron's back) and his psychic abilities. Nothing personal, Actual Amphy, but you know how it goes when you're looking for bombs and hunting psychopaths.

But the bit about non-Jasmine visitors is a good point; while Carmen makes her way onto the observation deck of the lighthouse, Chief (following a direction from his trainer) will politely ask if Amphy has had any visitors lately, particularly those of the non-Jasmine variety.]

[explosivecombat]

[The politeness is very much appreciated!

Unfortunately, Amphy hasn't seen any people around today, though she thinks she heard someone walking around checking the floors at early o'clock in the morning. Reeeeeeally early. It didn't sound like Jasmine, but it could have been one of the guards; she can't really go check, though, because she has to stay up here.

...oh! But she did see a Pokémon from Chief's line up here a while ago. One she's seen before, too, though she didn't get his name. He's been up here a couple of times before. Always just kinda checking stuff, never doing anything else. Checks stuff and then disappears.

He's kinda weird like that. :|a ]

[doitrockapella]

[Appreciative of the help, Chief will relay that information on to his trainer, who will proceed to wave him and the Baron down onto the observation deck with her. She'll take Chief into the place when she goes, but the Baron can stick around on the outside and keep watch; with Chief helping out, it's not like they won't be able to stay in mental contact.

...Plus, let's be real; all signs are pointing to HERE THERE BE BOMBS, and if that's the case, having a quick exit at her right hand is never a bad idea.

While they find their way inside, Chief will relay on his trainer's query to Amphy: can she tell them where the aforementioned weird Pokemon was standing when he was checking stuff?]

[explosivecombat]

[Oh! Aforementioned weird Pokémon was generally near the door; that's where he's been on the other days she's seen him, too. Not tooooo recently, but maybe a couple of weeks ago.

He didn't seem to be looking for anything in particular; he seemed more like the guards. Making sure there's no one in here that shouldn't be. :|a She's not sure why, there never really is.]

[doitrockapella]

[Well, much obliged for the help, Miss Amphy.

However, if Amphy heard someone walking around downstairs, it's probably not the guards — assuming their bewilderment about being locked out from the inside is accurate. Quite possibly the walking she heard was the person sealing the door; either way, it's worth going down for a look.

And so, down she goes — taking it slow and careful, always checking her surroundings for anything that seems out of order before she proceeds.]

[explosivecombat]

[Well, Miss Sandiego, your options for going down are as follows:

1. There's an elevator at the back of the room. It appears to go straight down to the lobby with no stops on any of the floors inbetween.
OR!
2. There is a ladder next to Amphy, leading down to the floor directly below you.

Pick a route?]

[doitrockapella]

[C: NONE OF THE ABOVE

No, actually she's going to go have a look at that elevator, but if possible she's going to have Chief help her get the doors open without hitting any of the buttons — largely because she's curious where the elevator car is sitting right now, whether it's up here at the top or down in the lobby.]